316th Operations Group
The 316th Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force's 316th Wing at Joint Base Andrews, providing rotary-wing contingency response, executive airlift, and aviation support services.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 316th Operations Group is a United States Air Force operational unit assigned to the 316th Wing of the Air Force District of Washington. Based at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, it provides rotary-wing contingency response capability for the Washington, D.C., region and supports national, regional, and global aviation requirements. Its current responsibilities include executive and distinguished-visitor airlift, helicopter operations, airfield and aviation infrastructure support, and related services for flying organizations located at Andrews. The group oversees the 1st Helicopter Squadron and the 316th Operations Support Squadron. The 1st Helicopter Squadron operates Bell UH-1N Huey helicopters and supports airlift requirements for members of the Executive Branch, senior government officials, high-ranking military leaders, and other authorized VIP passengers. The 316th Operations Support Squadron supplies the operational coordination, airfield services, aviation infrastructure, and other support functions required by the group and by tenant flying units at Joint Base Andrews. The organization carries a long historical lineage. Constituted in 1942 as the 316th Transport Group and later redesignated the 316th Troop Carrier Group, it became a decorated Douglas C-47 Skytrain unit during the Second World War. It served in the North African, Mediterranean, and European theaters, transporting troops, supplies, ammunition, fuel, water, and rations, evacuating wounded personnel, and conducting airborne operations. The group participated in the Allied invasion of Sicily, the invasion of mainland Italy, the Normandy landings, Operation Market Garden in the Netherlands, and the airborne assault across the Rhine near Wesel. It received three Distinguished Unit Citations for its wartime service. After returning to the United States in 1945, the group trained with the Fairchild C-82 Packet and C-119 Flying Boxcar. It was transferred without personnel or equipment to Japan in 1954, where it was reequipped and performed theater airlift missions involving Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and South Korea. The wartime lineage was subsequently continued through several redesignations and periods of activation and inactivation, including service as a tactical airlift and airlift support organization. The modern 316th Operations Group was redesignated and activated in 2006 as the flying component of the 316th Wing. It was inactivated in 2010 and reactivated in 2020. The group is a military organization rather than a commercial consumer brand; its identity represents an operational command, its historical lineage, and its aviation mission within the United States Air Force.
History
The unit was constituted as the 316th Transport Group on 2 February 1942 and activated on 14 February of that year. It trained under I Troop Carrier Command with Douglas C-47 Skytrain and C-53 Skytrooper aircraft. Redesignated the 316th Troop Carrier Group on 1 July 1942, it moved into the Mediterranean theater and began operational missions in November 1942. During the North African campaign, it transported supplies and evacuated casualties in support of Allied forces advancing across Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. In February 1943, the group became part of the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing within the Northwest African Troop Carrier Command. It trained for the invasion of Sicily and dropped paratroopers over the assault area on the night of 9 July 1943. On 11 July it carried reinforcements into the battle area despite intense opposition from ground and naval forces. These operations earned the group a Distinguished Unit Citation. It received another citation for its broader support of Allied air and ground operations in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Sicily between 25 November 1942 and 25 August 1943. The group was assigned to Twelfth Air Force and moved to Sicily for the invasion of Italy. On the night of 14 September 1943, it dropped paratroopers over the beachhead south of the Sele River during Operation Avalanche. It then continued theater cargo operations until February 1944, when it transferred to England and joined Ninth Air Force in preparation for the invasion of France. During Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944, the group dropped paratroopers near Sainte-Mère-Église before the principal amphibious landings. It flew a reinforcement mission on 7 June and received a third Distinguished Unit Citation for its Normandy operations. In September 1944, during Operation Market Garden, it again dropped paratroopers and released gliders carrying reinforcements. On 24 March 1945, it dropped paratroopers near Wesel during the Allied airborne assault across the Rhine. Between airborne missions, the group performed conventional transport work, moving ammunition, gasoline, water, rations, and other supplies and evacuating wounded personnel to rear-area hospitals. The group returned to the United States in May 1945 and continued training under Tactical Air Command. Its aircraft included the C-47, Fairchild C-82 Packet, and Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar. It was redesignated the 316th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, in 1948, the 316th Troop Carrier Group, Heavy, in 1949, and the 316th Troop Carrier Group in 1950. On 15 November 1954, it transferred without personnel and equipment to Japan, where it was assigned to the Far East Air Forces, reequipped with C-119 aircraft, and performed theater airlift missions principally involving Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and South Korea. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957. The lineage was later continued through the 316th Tactical Airlift Group, activated in 1978 and inactivated in 1989, and the 316th Airlift Support Group, activated in 1992 and inactivated in 1994. The organization was redesignated the 316th Operations Group on 21 June 2006 and activated on 22 June 2006 as the operational flying component of the 316th Wing in the Washington, D.C., area. It was inactivated on 1 October 2010 and reactivated on 25 June 2020. In its current form, the group operates from Joint Base Andrews and oversees the 1st Helicopter Squadron and the 316th Operations Support Squadron. Its present mission centers on rotary-wing contingency response, executive and senior-leader airlift, and aviation support for Andrews-based flying units.
- 2020
Reactivation at Joint Base Andrews
[1]The group was reactivated on 25 June and resumed its current National Capital Region aviation mission.
- 2006
Modern operations-group activation
[1]Redesignated as the 316th Operations Group on 21 June and activated on 22 June as the flying component of the 316th Wing.
- 1957
Inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on 18 June after its postwar Far East airlift service.
- 1954
Transfer to Japan
[1]The group transferred to Japan without personnel or equipment, was reequipped with C-119 aircraft, and performed Far East theater airlift missions.
- 1945
Return to the United States
[1]After European combat operations, the group returned to the United States and continued transport training under Tactical Air Command.
- 1944
Normandy and Market Garden
[1]The group dropped paratroopers near Sainte-Mère-Église during D-Day and later supported Operation Market Garden with airborne and glider missions.
- 1943
Sicily and Mediterranean airborne operations
[1]The group supported the invasion of Sicily, dropped paratroopers, transported reinforcements, and earned Distinguished Unit Citations for its Mediterranean service.
- 1942
Constitution and activation
[1]The organization was constituted as the 316th Transport Group on 2 February and activated on 14 February.
- 1942
Redesignation as a troop carrier group
[1]The unit became the 316th Troop Carrier Group on 1 July and began combat operations in the Mediterranean theater later that year.
Products and positioning
A specialized United States Air Force aviation organization focused on rotary-wing contingency response, executive airlift, and operational support in the National Capital Region, supported by a distinguished lineage in airborne transport and theater airlift.
Rotary-wing airlift · 2006
1st Helicopter Squadron
The 1st Helicopter Squadron provides rotary-wing airlift in the Washington, D.C., capital area. Its missions include transportation for Executive Branch officials, senior dignitaries, high-ranking military leaders, and other authorized passengers. The squadron operates Bell UH-1N Huey helicopters and forms a principal operational element of the modern 316th Operations Group.
Aviation operations support · 2006
316th Operations Support Squadron
The 316th Operations Support Squadron provides aviation-related infrastructure, coordination, and operational support for the 316th Operations Group. It also supports the broader community of flying organizations based at Joint Base Andrews, helping sustain airfield activity and mission execution.
Military air transport · 1942
World War II troop carrier operations
Under its earlier troop-carrier designations, the group operated Douglas C-47 Skytrain and C-53 Skytrooper aircraft for airborne assaults, reinforcement missions, supply transport, and medical evacuation. Its combat operations covered North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, the Netherlands, and the Rhine crossing.
Military air transport · 1945
Postwar theater airlift
After the Second World War, the group trained and operated with Fairchild C-82 Packet and C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft. During its Far East assignment it performed theater airlift missions connecting Japan, Okinawa, the Philippines, and South Korea.
Marketing campaigns
- 1945Operation Varsity
Rhine River region · Germany
The group dropped paratroopers near Wesel on 24 March 1945 during the Allied airborne assault across the Rhine.
Outcome. The mission supported the final major Allied airborne operation in the European theater.
- 1944Operation Overlord
Normandy · France
The group dropped paratroopers near Sainte-Mère-Église during the airborne phase of D-Day and flew a reinforcement mission on 7 June.
Outcome. The Normandy operations earned the group a third Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1944Operation Market Garden
The Netherlands
The group dropped paratroopers and released gliders carrying reinforcements during the Allied airborne offensive in September 1944.
Outcome. The group continued transport support in Europe between airborne missions.
- 1943Operation Husky
Sicily and the Mediterranean theater
The group dropped paratroopers over the Sicilian assault area on 9 July 1943 and transported reinforcements on 11 July during the Allied invasion of Sicily.
Outcome. The missions contributed to the airborne and reinforcement phases of the invasion and were recognized with a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1943Operation Avalanche
Southern Italy
On the night of 14 September 1943, the group dropped paratroopers over the beachhead south of the Sele River during the Allied invasion of mainland Italy.
Outcome. The group continued theater transport operations after the airborne insertion.
Sources1 sources
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