330th Aircraft Sustainment Group
Corporate brand
UnclaimedThe 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group was a United States Air Force organization responsible in its final incarnation for sustaining C-130 Hercules aircraft at Robins Air Force Base.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 330th Aircraft Sustainment Group was a United States Air Force group whose lineage extended from a World War II heavy-bomber training and combat organization through postwar Air Force Reserve formations and, finally, an aircraft sustainment unit at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. Although its best-known wartime identity was the 330th Bombardment Group, the organization underwent several redesignations as its missions and force structures changed. Constituted in July 1942 and activated at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, the group initially supported the Second Air Force's heavy-bomber training system. It trained crews and replacement personnel on Consolidated B-24 Liberators, with operations conducted at Alamogordo Army Airfield in New Mexico and later at Biggs Field near El Paso, Texas. In 1944, as the Army Air Forces reorganized heavy-bomber forces for the Pacific war, the unit became a very-heavy bombardment group equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. It trained at Walker Army Air Field, Kansas, before deploying to Guam and joining XXI Bomber Command of the Twentieth Air Force. The group entered combat in April 1945 against targets in Japan. Its missions included attacks on aircraft-related and industrial facilities, strikes against airfields associated with Japanese attacks on Allied forces at Okinawa, incendiary raids against urban-industrial areas, and postwar humanitarian and demonstration flights. The unit received two Distinguished Unit Citations for combat operations, including attacks involving industrial areas at Tokushima and Gifu, the Kofu hydroelectric center, and the Nakajima-Musashino aircraft-engine plant near Tokyo. After Japan's surrender, it remained in the Western Pacific for a period while personnel and aircraft were demobilized. The group was inactivated in January 1946. The lineage returned in the Air Force Reserve in 1949, when the organization was redesignated as a medium bombardment group and trained with B-29 aircraft at March Air Force Base, California, as a corollary unit to the active-duty Strategic Air Command's 22d Bombardment Group. The Korean War led to its activation for federal service in May 1951 and subsequent inactivation in June of that year. It was reactivated in the Reserve in 1952 as a medium troop carrier group at Greater Pittsburgh Airport, operating with Curtiss C-46 Commandos, but this phase lasted only about a month. The group was redesignated the 330th Military Airlift Group in 1985. In 2005 it was reactivated at Robins Air Force Base as the 330th Tactical Airlift Sustainment Group, reflecting a shift away from operating combat aircraft toward depot and logistics support. It became the 330th Airlift Sustainment Group in 2006. In this final role, it managed sustainment activities for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules weapon system, coordinating maintenance and support functions intended to keep aircraft available for assigned missions. The group was inactivated on July 30, 2010. It was therefore not a commercial brand, manufacturer, or publicly traded enterprise, but a military organization whose identity was carried through successive Air Force missions and designations.
History
The organization's lineage began during the rapid expansion of the United States Army Air Forces in World War II. The 330th Bombardment Group was constituted on July 1, 1942, and activated several days later at Salt Lake City Army Air Base. Assigned initially to the Second Air Force, it performed heavy-bomber operational and replacement training, using B-24 Liberators and working from training bases in New Mexico and Texas. The group's early purpose was to prepare aircrews and replacement personnel for the expanding bomber force rather than to conduct overseas combat operations. In 1944, the unit was redesignated as a very-heavy bombardment group and converted to the B-29 Superfortress. It moved to Walker Army Air Field in Kansas for preparation for the Pacific theater and was assigned to the 314th Bombardment Wing. The group deployed to Guam in late 1944 and became part of XXI Bomber Command within the Twentieth Air Force. Combat began on April 12, 1945, with an attack on the Hodogaya chemical plant at Koriyama, Japan. Subsequent missions included attacks on Japanese airfields, particularly those connected with operations against the Allied invasion effort at Okinawa, followed by incendiary and industrial strikes across Japan. The 330th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a series of July 1945 operations involving industrial districts at Tokushima and Gifu and the hydroelectric center at Kofu. It received a second citation for an August attack on the Nakajima-Musashino aircraft-engine plant near Tokyo. Following the end of hostilities, the group conducted food and supply drops to Allied prisoners and participated in show-of-force flights over Japan. The unit stayed in the Western Pacific while its personnel were progressively demobilized and its aircraft were either scrapped on Tinian or transferred to storage in the continental United States. It was inactivated on January 3, 1946. The lineage was revived in the Air Force Reserve. Redesignated the 330th Bombardment Group, Medium, the unit was activated on June 27, 1949, at March Air Force Base, California, under the 330th Bombardment Wing. It trained with B-29 aircraft in association with the active-duty Strategic Air Command. On May 1, 1951, during the Korean War, the group was ordered to active federal service. It was inactivated in June 1951, while many of its personnel were sent to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, for combat-related duties. On June 14, 1952, the organization was activated again in the Reserve as the 330th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, at Greater Pittsburgh Airport. Its aircraft included Curtiss C-46 Commandos. This iteration was short-lived: it was inactivated on July 14, 1952, and replaced by the 375th Troop Carrier Group. The lineage later carried the designation 330th Military Airlift Group from 1985. A major functional transformation occurred in the twenty-first century. The group was activated at Robins Air Force Base on March 4, 2005, as the 330th Tactical Airlift Sustainment Group. Its role was no longer primarily to train or employ bomber and transport aircrews. Instead, it supported aircraft lifecycle management and sustainment activities. The organization was redesignated the 330th Airlift Sustainment Group on April 17, 2006. In its final form, it managed sustainment for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules weapon system, with the objective of maintaining sufficient aircraft availability for operational missions. Associated sustainment squadrons included the 560th and 561st Aircraft Sustainment Squadrons, while the 330th Aircraft Sustainment Support Squadron existed for part of the period. The group was inactivated on July 30, 2010, ending its final period of activity while preserving a lineage that linked World War II bombing operations, Air Force Reserve service, airlift support, and aircraft sustainment.
- 2010
Final inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on July 30, ending its final organizational incarnation.
- 2006
Airlift sustainment redesignation
[1]The group adopted the name 330th Airlift Sustainment Group on April 17 and focused on C-130 Hercules sustainment.
- 2005
Reactivation as a sustainment organization
[1]The lineage returned at Robins Air Force Base as the 330th Tactical Airlift Sustainment Group on March 4.
- 1952
Troop-carrier Reserve phase
[1]It was activated as the 330th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, at Greater Pittsburgh Airport, but was inactivated on July 14.
- 1951
Korean War federal activation
[1]The group was ordered to active duty on May 1 and inactivated in June as personnel were assigned to overseas combat support.
- 1949
Air Force Reserve reactivation
[1]The group returned as a medium bombardment formation at March Air Force Base, California, training with B-29 aircraft.
- 1946
Postwar inactivation
[1]After demobilization in the Western Pacific, the group was inactivated on January 3.
- 1945
Pacific combat operations
[1]The group deployed to Guam, entered combat against Japan in April, conducted bombing and incendiary missions, and received two Distinguished Unit Citations.
- 1944
Conversion to a B-29 very-heavy bombardment group
[1]The organization was redesignated the 330th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, and prepared at Walker Army Air Field for Pacific operations with B-29 Superfortresses.
- 1942
Constitution and activation
[1]The 330th Bombardment Group was constituted on July 1 and activated on July 6 at Salt Lake City Army Air Base for Second Air Force heavy-bomber training.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force operational and sustainment organization rather than a commercial brand. Its final mission centered on aircraft availability and lifecycle support for the C-130 Hercules fleet.
Aircraft lifecycle support · 2005
C-130 Hercules sustainment
In its final incarnation, the group managed sustainment activities for the Lockheed C-130 Hercules weapon system. Its function was to coordinate the support and maintenance activity needed to keep aircraft available for assigned airlift missions. This was a military readiness service rather than a commercial product.
Strategic bombardment · 1944
Boeing B-29 Superfortress operations
The 330th operated B-29 Superfortresses during its World War II Pacific deployment and again during its Air Force Reserve period after 1949. In 1945, the aircraft were used for attacks on Japanese industrial, aviation, and urban targets, as well as postwar prisoner-support and show-of-force missions.
Bomber training · 1942
B-24 Liberator training
During its first operational phase, the group trained crews and replacement personnel with Consolidated B-24 Liberators as part of the Second Air Force's heavy-bomber training system. Training took place at Alamogordo Army Airfield and Biggs Field before the group transitioned to B-29 operations.
Tactical airlift · 1952
Curtiss C-46 Commando operations
The short 1952 Air Force Reserve incarnation as the 330th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, used Curtiss C-46 Commandos. The group was based at Greater Pittsburgh Airport and was inactivated after approximately one month.
Brand decisions
2005
Shift to aircraft sustainmentStrategyBackground
The Air Force reactivated the lineage at Robins Air Force Base in a support role rather than as a flying bombardment or troop-carrier group.
Action taken
The organization was established as the 330th Tactical Airlift Sustainment Group to manage sustainment activities for the C-130 Hercules system.
Aftermath
It was renamed the 330th Airlift Sustainment Group in 2006 and remained active until its inactivation in 2010.
Sources1 sources
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