322d Air Expeditionary Group
The 322d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit that has been activated for expeditionary support operations in Europe and Africa.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 322d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Unlike a conventional continuously active unit, a provisional air expeditionary group can be activated, attached to a designated command, and inactivated as operational requirements change. The modern group represents the latest form of a lineage that reaches back to the 322d Bombardment Group, constituted in June 1942 and activated the following month during the Second World War. The group's wartime predecessor operated Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers. It trained in Florida before moving to England in late 1942 and early 1943. Initially assigned to the Eighth Air Force, it transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943. Its combat missions covered France, Belgium, and the Netherlands and included attacks on airfields, power facilities, shipyards, construction sites, railway yards, bridges, oil installations, missile sites, and other targets supporting German military operations. The unit participated in the Normandy invasion and subsequent Allied campaign, attacking coastal defenses, fuel and ammunition depots, bridges, and road junctions. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations from May 1943 through July 1944. The predecessor's combat history also included both notable achievements and severe losses. Its first operational B-26 mission, flown from England on 14 May 1943, targeted an electrical generating plant near IJmuiden in the Netherlands. A second low-level mission three days later resulted in the loss of the aircraft that penetrated the enemy coast and the deaths of 60 crew members. Later, the group shifted to medium-altitude operations and resumed combat. Aircraft associated with the unit included Mild and Bitter, identified as the first B-26 based in England to complete 100 combat missions, and Flak Bait, which survived 202 combat missions. After its final wartime mission in April 1945, the group performed occupation duties in Germany, helping inventory and dismantle German Air Force equipment and facilities. It returned to the United States and was inactivated in December 1945. The lineage was subsequently revived in the Air Force Reserve as a light bombardment group in 1947, with Douglas A-20 Havocs, but that incarnation ended in 1949. It was reactivated again in 1954 as a fighter-day group equipped first with F-86 Sabres and later with F-100 Super Sabres. The fighter formation was inactivated in the late 1950s. The lineage was redesignated in 1985 and converted to provisional status as the 322d Air Expeditionary Group. The modern group has been activated periodically since 2004 under United States Air Forces in Europe and related expeditionary commands. Documented activation periods supported U.S. and partner activities in Africa, including the airlift of African Union personnel to Sudan's Darfur region in 2004. The group was also associated with operations connected to Libya in 2011–12, including Operation Odyssey Dawn. Because its activation is episodic and mission-specific, a continuously operating headquarters, commercial ownership structure, consumer product portfolio, and public corporate leadership are not applicable.
History
The unit's lineage began on 19 June 1942, when the 322d Bombardment Group (Medium) was constituted during the expansion of the United States Army Air Forces. It was activated on 17 July at MacDill Field, Florida, and trained with Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers. The group later used Lakeland Army Air Field and Drane Field before deploying to England. A forward movement to RAF Bury St Edmunds began in late 1942, but construction delays meant that two squadrons operated temporarily from RAF Rattlesden and the group's aircraft did not arrive until late March 1943. The group entered combat with two low-level bombing missions in May 1943. On 14 May, 12 aircraft attacked an electrical generating plant near IJmuiden in the Netherlands in what was the first operational combat mission flown by B-26 aircraft. The second mission, on 17 May, was disastrous: 11 aircraft were dispatched, and 60 crew members were lost to anti-aircraft fire and German fighters. A further accident at the airfield on 29 May caused additional deaths and damaged a hangar. The unit subsequently retrained for medium-altitude bombing and moved to RAF Andrews Field in Essex on 13 June. The 322d transferred from the Eighth Air Force to the Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943. Its missions expanded across France, Belgium, and the Netherlands, striking airfields as well as power stations, shipyards, construction works, marshalling yards, bridges, oil tanks, and missile sites. The group supported preparations for the Normandy invasion and flew against coastal defenses and gun batteries on D-Day, 6 June 1944. During the Normandy campaign it attacked supply installations, bridges, and road junctions in support of Allied operations around Caen and the Saint-Lô breakthrough. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the period from 14 May 1943 through 24 July 1944. The group moved to Beauvais in northern France in September 1944 and supported the advance of the Third Army across France. It flew its last combat mission on 24 April 1945. After Germany's surrender, it performed occupation duties, including the inventory and dismantling of German Air Force equipment and facilities. It returned to the United States in December and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 15 December 1945. The lineage was revived in the Air Force Reserve as the 322d Bombardment Group, Light, at Reading Army Airfield, Pennsylvania, on 9 August 1947. Equipped with Douglas A-20 Havocs and associated with several bombardment squadrons, this version was inactivated on 27 June 1949. The unit was reactivated at Foster Air Force Base, Texas, on 1 July 1954 as the 322d Fighter-Day Group. Assigned to the 450th Fighter-Day Wing, it initially flew North American F-86 Sabres and later received F-100 Super Sabres. The fighter-day group was inactivated during the late 1950s after Foster's closure and a budget-related force reduction. In 1985 the lineage was redesignated as the 322d Tactical Airlift Group and later converted to provisional status as the 322d Air Expeditionary Group. The modern organization belongs to the expeditionary structure of United States Air Forces in Europe and is activated only when needed. Recorded activations occurred in 2004, 2006, 2007, and during 2011–12. These periods included support for U.S. and Australian activities in Africa, an airlift supporting an African Union deployment to Darfur, and operations associated with Libya, including Operation Odyssey Dawn. The group was inactivated after each recorded period, consistent with its provisional status. The available reference material does not establish a permanent current activation or a fixed headquarters.
- 2011
Libya-related expeditionary operations
[1]The group was activated during the period associated with Operation Odyssey Dawn and related operations involving Libya, remaining active into 2012.
- 2004
Modern expeditionary activation
[1]The 322d Air Expeditionary Group was activated within United States Air Forces in Europe and supported activities in Africa, including an airlift to Darfur.
- 1985
Redesignation before provisional conversion
[1]The lineage was redesignated as the 322d Tactical Airlift Group before conversion to the provisional air expeditionary organization.
- 1954
Fighter-day reactivation
[1]The organization was reactivated at Foster Air Force Base as the 322d Fighter-Day Group and initially operated F-86 Sabres.
- 1947
Air Force Reserve reactivation
[1]The lineage returned as the 322d Bombardment Group, Light, equipped with Douglas A-20 aircraft.
- 1945
End of wartime operations and inactivation
[1]The group flew its final mission on 24 April, performed occupation duties in Germany, and was inactivated on 15 December.
- 1944
Normandy invasion support
[1]On D-Day and during the Normandy campaign, the group attacked coastal defenses, fuel and ammunition facilities, bridges, and transport junctions.
- 1943
First operational B-26 mission
[1]The group conducted the first operational combat mission flown by B-26 Marauders on 14 May, attacking an electrical generating plant near IJmuiden in the Netherlands.
- 1943
Transfer to the Ninth Air Force
[1]The group transferred from the Eighth Air Force to the Ninth Air Force on 16 October.
- 1942
Lineage constituted as a medium bombardment group
[1]The 322d Bombardment Group (Medium) was constituted on 19 June and activated on 17 July at MacDill Field, Florida.
Products and positioning
A provisional military aviation organization providing expeditionary command, airlift, and operational support when activated by the United States Air Force.
Medium bomber · 1942
Martin B-26 Marauder
The B-26 Marauder was the principal aircraft of the group's World War II predecessor. The 322d used it for low-level and later medium-altitude bombing missions against targets in occupied Europe, including airfields, infrastructure, transport facilities, and coastal defenses.
Light bomber · 1947
Douglas A-20 Havoc
The Douglas A-20 Havoc equipped the Air Force Reserve incarnation of the lineage after its 1947 reactivation as a light bombardment group.
Fighter aircraft · 1954
North American F-86 Sabre
The F-86 Sabre was operated by the 322d Fighter-Day Group after its 1954 reactivation at Foster Air Force Base.
Supersonic fighter-bomber · 1956
North American F-100 Super Sabre
The F-100 Super Sabre replaced the group's F-86 aircraft during the late 1950s as the organization transitioned to a more advanced fighter capability.
Military transport aircraft · 2003
Lockheed C-130 Hercules
The C-130 Hercules is identified in the reference material with the group's later tactical airlift and expeditionary lineage, although a specific aircraft assignment period for the provisional group is not detailed.
Marketing campaigns
- 2011Operation Odyssey Dawn and Libya-related operations
Libya · Africa · Europe
The provisional group was activated during the period associated with U.S. and allied operations involving Libya, including Operation Odyssey Dawn.
Outcome. The group was later inactivated in 2012 after the documented expeditionary activation period.
- 2004African Union Darfur airlift
Sudan · Africa
Elements of the modern expeditionary group supported the deployment of African Union personnel to Sudan's Darfur region.
Outcome. The operation provided airlift support for the African Union deployment.
- 1944Normandy campaign
France
The group attacked coastal defenses on D-Day and later struck fuel and ammunition dumps, bridges, and road junctions in support of Allied operations around Caen and Saint-Lô.
Outcome. The unit supported the Allied advance after the Normandy landings and later moved to northern France.
- 1943European bombing operations
France · Belgium · Netherlands
The wartime predecessor conducted bombing missions against German airfields, industrial and electrical facilities, shipyards, construction sites, railway yards, bridges, oil installations, and missile sites.
Outcome. The group continued operations through the European campaign and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for part of its combat service.
Brand decisions
1985
Conversion toward tactical airlift and expeditionary useStrategyBackground
The lineage was redesignated as the 322d Tactical Airlift Group and subsequently converted to provisional status.
Action taken
The Air Force retained the lineage while shifting its designation toward airlift and air expeditionary missions.
Aftermath
The modern 322d Air Expeditionary Group became an on-demand organization within the United States Air Forces in Europe structure.
Sources1 sources
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