349th Operations Group

The 349th Operations Group, commonly abbreviated as 349 OG, is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base in California. Rather than a commercial brand, it is an operational military organization whose role is to command and coordinate the wing’s flying and air-mobility support elements. Its present portfolio combines strategic airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and operational support functions. The group traces its institutional lineage to the 349th Troop Carrier Group, established in October 1943 during the Second World War. The predecessor trained for troop-carrier missions, including paratroop drops, glider towing, and the movement of personnel and equipment. After deploying to Western Europe in March 1945, the group transported vehicles, fuel, and other supplies. During the closing phase of the war it also evacuated patients and Allied former prisoners of war, returning to the United States during July and August 1945. After the war, the organization went through several reserve-era configurations. In 1946 it trained Chinese aircrews to operate Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft. It was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1949 for troop-carrier training, briefly ordered to active duty in 1951, and then redesignated as a fighter-bomber group in 1952. The fighter-bomber designation was not permanent: the unit returned to a troop-carrier role in 1957 and was inactivated in 1959. The lineage was revived in the modern air-mobility structure in 1992, when the organization was redesignated the 349th Operations Group and activated in the Reserve. Its initial modern mission centered on managing strategic airlift squadrons. Beginning in 1994, the group also incorporated aerial-refueling capabilities. Its subordinate structure has subsequently included airlift squadrons operating large transport aircraft, KC-10 tanker squadrons, an aeromedical evacuation squadron, and operational support elements. The group supports joint training, channel and special-assignment airlift missions, humanitarian relief, contingency operations, and other worldwide mobility requirements. Its aircraft and personnel provide capabilities rather than consumer products: moving troops and cargo, refueling aircraft, transporting patients, and coordinating air-mobility operations. The group remains an active Air Force Reserve organization under the 349th Air Mobility Wing; individual aircraft assignments and subordinate-unit structures can change as the Air Force modernizes its mobility fleet.

The organization’s lineage begins with the 349th Troop Carrier Group, established on 23 October 1943 and activated on 1 November 1943. During its Second World War service it trained at multiple locations for troop-carrier operations, practicing airborne drops, glider towing, and transport missions. The group moved to Europe in March 1945 and served in Western Europe under successive troop-carrier commands. Its wartime work included transporting vehicles, gasoline, and supplies, followed by the evacuation of patients and Allied former prisoners of war as the conflict ended. It returned to the United States in July and August 1945 and was inactivated on 7 September 1946. The unit entered the postwar reserve system in 1949. It was redesignated the 349th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated on 27 June of that year. One notable activity during this period was the training of Chinese crews to operate C-46 Commando transports. The group trained reservists in troop-carrier operations until it was ordered to active service on 1 April 1951 and inactivated the following day. It was redesignated the 349th Fighter-Bomber Group in May 1952 and activated in the Reserve in June. In September 1957 it again became a medium troop-carrier group, continuing in that role until inactivation on 14 April 1959. The lineage remained inactive under the designation 349th Military Airlift Group from 1985. On 1 August 1992 it was redesignated the 349th Operations Group and activated in the Reserve as part of the 349th Airlift Wing, later renamed the 349th Air Mobility Wing. The modern group was formed to oversee the wing’s operational flying squadrons. The 301st and 312th Airlift Squadrons became part of the structure at activation, while additional airlift and tanker elements joined or departed over subsequent years. The 70th Air Refueling Squadron was assigned from 1994 and the 79th Air Refueling Squadron from 1995. Since its modern activation, the 349th Operations Group has supported strategic and operational airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation, joint exercises, channel airlift, special-assignment missions, humanitarian activity, and contingency operations. Its listed operational elements have included the 70th and 79th Air Refueling Squadrons, the 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, the 301st Airlift Squadron, the 312th Airlift Squadron, the 349th Operations Support Flight, and the 349th Air Mobility Operations Flight. The group is stationed at Travis Air Force Base and remains assigned to the 349th Air Mobility Wing.

• 1995

  Second tanker squadron added

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 79th Air Refueling Squadron became part of the group’s operational structure.

• 1994

  Aerial-refueling capability added

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 70th Air Refueling Squadron joined the group, expanding its modern air-mobility role beyond strategic airlift.

• 1992

  Modern operations group activated

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was redesignated as the 349th Operations Group and activated in the Reserve to manage the operational flying squadrons of the 349th Airlift Wing.

• 1959

  Inactivation after reserve troop-carrier service

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 14 April after its postwar reserve troop-carrier and fighter-bomber periods.

• 1952

  Fighter-bomber redesignation

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated the 349th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated in the Reserve before later returning to a troop-carrier designation.

• 1949

  Reserve reactivation

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve for medium troop-carrier training and related aircrew development.

• 1945

  Wartime deployment to Western Europe

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to Europe in March and transported vehicles, fuel, supplies, patients, and former prisoners of war during the final phase of World War II.

• 1943

  349th Troop Carrier Group established

  [1]349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor organization was established on 23 October and activated on 1 November to conduct troop-carrier training and operations.

A reserve military aviation organization focused on global air mobility, combining strategic transport, aerial refueling, medical evacuation, and operational coordination.

• Strategic and operational airlift

  C-17 Globemaster III airlift operations

  The 301st Airlift Squadron operates the C-17 Globemaster III within the group’s listed structure. The aircraft supports long-range movement of personnel, vehicles, equipment, and supplies, as well as expeditionary and humanitarian missions. This is an operational military capability rather than a product sold by the organization.

• Strategic airlift

  C-5 Galaxy airlift operations

  The 312th Airlift Squadron is associated with C-5 Galaxy strategic transport operations. The Galaxy provides heavy-lift capacity for outsized cargo and major deployments, complementing other airlift assets in the Air Force mobility system.

• Aerial refueling

  KC-10 Extender aerial refueling operations

  The 70th and 79th Air Refueling Squadrons were listed as KC-10 Extender units assigned to the group. Their mission was to extend the range and endurance of receiving aircraft while also supporting the movement of fuel and mobility forces. Aircraft assignments may evolve as the Air Force fleet changes.

• Medical air mobility

  Aeromedical evacuation

  The 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron provides the group’s listed patient-movement capability. Aeromedical evacuation missions move ill or wounded personnel by air and form part of the broader military mobility and humanitarian-response system.

• Operational support

  Operations support and air-mobility coordination

  The 349th Operations Support Flight and 349th Air Mobility Operations Flight support planning, coordination, scheduling, and execution of air-mobility missions. These elements connect flying squadrons with the wider wing, command, and deployment structure.

1. 1349th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org