374th Operations Group

The 374th Operations Group, commonly abbreviated as 374 OG, is a United States Air Force operational unit assigned to the 374th Airlift Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Its principal role is to provide responsive air mobility and aviation support across the Asia-Pacific region. Rather than being a commercial brand, it is a military organization whose identity is associated with airlift, aeromedical evacuation, distinguished-visitor transport, search and rescue, humanitarian relief, special operations support, and other missions conducted in support of United States and United Nations security interests in the Far East. The group traces its lineage to the 374th Troop Carrier Group, established in November 1942 during World War II. Drawing personnel and equipment from the Allied air transport organization in the Southwest Pacific Area, the wartime group operated a varied fleet to move troops, cargo, and wounded personnel. It became heavily involved in operations across Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. During the Battle of Wau in Papua New Guinea in early 1943, its crews landed at an airfield under enemy fire while supplying Allied forces. These operations produced a Distinguished Unit Citation, adding to the group's record of wartime honors. The unit also supported the airborne assault at Nadzab in September 1943, then transported engineers, artillery, ammunition, and other supplies needed to consolidate the captured airfield and advance Allied operations in New Guinea. After World War II, the group continued troop-carrier, courier, and airlift work in the Pacific. It moved to Japan in 1949 and became particularly important when the Korean War began in June 1950. At that time it was described as the only air transport group in the Far East. From June through September 1950, it transported critical personnel and cargo and evacuated wounded service members, earning another Distinguished Unit Citation. In the postwar period it also transported repatriated prisoners of war from Korea to Japan and, beginning in 1954, evacuated wounded French personnel from Indochina to Japan for onward movement to France. The historical group was inactivated in 1958. Its lineage was later redesignated as the 374th Tactical Airlift Group and, under the United States Air Force's objective-wing reorganization, as the 374th Operations Group. The current group was activated on 1 April 1992 to assume operational control of the wing's flying squadrons. Since that reactivation, its subordinate units have supported theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, humanitarian assistance, special operations, and priority passenger movement throughout the Pacific. The group's present operational structure includes the 36th Airlift Squadron, which operates C-130J aircraft and provides tactical airlift, aerial delivery, assault airland, evacuation, repatriation, and humanitarian support; the 459th Airlift Squadron, which operates C-12J and UH-1N aircraft for priority passenger movement, distinguished-visitor transport, aeromedical evacuation, and search and rescue; the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron, associated with MQ-9 operations; and the 374th Operations Support Squadron. The support squadron provides flight operations, intelligence, aircrew training, mission scheduling, weather, airfield management, air traffic control, combat survival, aviation resource management, and related operational functions. The group has not been assigned to the continental United States and remains oriented toward forward operations in the Indo-Pacific.

The unit was established as the 374th Troop Carrier Group on 7 November 1942 and activated five days later in the Southwest Pacific Area. It inherited resources from the Allied air transport organization and included troop-carrier squadrons with prior Pacific experience. During World War II, the group transported troops and supplies, evacuated wounded personnel, and operated across Australia, New Guinea, and the Philippines. Its missions frequently required operations from rough or threatened airfields. It received Distinguished Unit Citations for its performance in Papua New Guinea, including the Battle of Wau in January and February 1943, when crews delivered supplies and landed under enemy fire. From February through July 1943, the group supported Allied bases and advancing forces at Dobodura, Wau, Bulolo, Lae, and Salamaua. In September, it led aircraft from other troop-carrier groups during the airborne assault at Nadzab. It subsequently landed engineers, artillery, ammunition, and other equipment at the captured airfield and transported large quantities of matériel after the fall of Lae. From late 1943 through 1944 it maintained a broad flow of personnel and cargo across Australia and New Guinea, later extending regular missions to Leyte and the Philippines. It moved to the Manila area near the end of the war and remained active in Pacific training and transport operations after Japan's defeat. The group was inactivated on 15 May 1946, then reactivated on 15 October of that year. It was redesignated the 374th Troop Carrier Group, Heavy, in 1948 and moved to Japan in March 1949. When the Korean War began in June 1950, the group provided a major share of Far Eastern air transport. Its movement of vital cargo and personnel and evacuation of wounded troops between 27 June and 15 September 1950 earned another Distinguished Unit Citation. It later carried repatriated prisoners of war from Korea to Japan and, from January 1954, transported wounded French troops from Indochina to Japan for onward travel to France. Its remaining 1950s activities included mobility exercises and routine theater airlift in the Western Pacific. The historical group was inactivated on 18 November 1958. It was redesignated the 374th Tactical Airlift Group in 1985 but remained inactive under that designation. On 1 April 1992, it was redesignated the 374th Operations Group and activated at the same time as the objective-wing structure was implemented. The new operations group assumed control of the 374th Airlift Wing's operational squadrons. Since 1992, its components have conducted theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, humanitarian relief, special operations support, and other missions across the Far East and wider Pacific in support of United States and United Nations security objectives. The group is stationed at Yokota Air Base and maintains a forward posture rather than operating as a domestically based unit. Its current missions are organized around three broad functions: intratheater airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and distinguished-visitor transport. These functions are supported by aircrew training, intelligence, weather, mission scheduling, airfield management, air traffic control, combat survival, and aviation resource management.

• 1992

  Activation as the 374th Operations Group

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was redesignated and activated as the 374th Operations Group on 1 April under the objective-wing structure.

• 1958

  Historical group inactivated

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 374th Troop Carrier Group was inactivated on 18 November.

• 1954

  Evacuation of wounded French troops

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began transporting wounded French personnel from Indochina to Japan for onward movement to France.

• 1950

  Korean War airlift

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  During the opening months of the Korean War, the group moved personnel and cargo and evacuated wounded service members, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1949

  Move to Japan

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to Japan in March, establishing a long-term Far Eastern operating presence.

• 1946

  Postwar reactivation

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After wartime inactivation in May, the group was reactivated on 15 October and resumed Pacific transport activities.

• 1943

  Battle of Wau airlift

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group supplied Allied forces at Wau while making landings under enemy fire, contributing to a Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1943

  Nadzab airborne operation

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group led aircraft from several troop-carrier organizations in the airborne assault at Nadzab and then delivered engineers, artillery, and supplies.

• 1942

  Establishment as a troop-carrier group

  [1]374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 374th Troop Carrier Group was established on 7 November and activated on 12 November in the Southwest Pacific Area.

A forward-based United States Air Force air mobility organization providing rapid, flexible aviation support throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

• Military airlift

  C-130J tactical airlift

  The 36th Airlift Squadron operates C-130J aircraft for responsive movement of personnel and equipment across the Pacific. Its mission set includes theater airlift, aerial delivery, assault airland operations, special operations support, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, repatriation, and humanitarian relief.

• Priority transport and support aviation

  C-12J and UH-1N aviation support

  The 459th Airlift Squadron maintains C-12J and UH-1N mission-ready aircrews for distinguished-visitor movement, priority passenger and cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation, and search and rescue missions throughout the Pacific.

• Uncrewed reconnaissance

  MQ-9 expeditionary reconnaissance

  The 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron is identified as an MQ-9 unit within the group's current component structure, supporting expeditionary reconnaissance requirements.

• Operational support

  Operations support

  The 374th Operations Support Squadron provides the planning and enabling functions needed by the group, including intelligence, flight operations, scheduling, aircrew training, weather, combat survival, aviation resource management, airfield management, and air traffic control.

• 1992Post-Cold War Pacific support missions

  Far East · Asia-Pacific

  Following its activation as an operations group, assigned squadrons conducted theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation, search and rescue, humanitarian relief, and special operations support.

  Outcome. The group continued to provide forward aviation support for United States and United Nations security interests.

  Source
• 1954French troop medical evacuation

  Indochina · Japan · France

  The group transported wounded French troops from Indochina to Japan as part of their onward return to France.

  Outcome. Japan served as an intermediate air-mobility point before the personnel continued to France.

  Source
• 1950Korean War air mobility support

  Korean Peninsula · Japan

  The group transported vital cargo and personnel and evacuated wounded troops during the early Korean War.

  Outcome. The period of operations from 27 June to 15 September 1950 earned the group a Distinguished Unit Citation.

  Source
• 1943Battle of Wau airlift

  Papua New Guinea

  The wartime troop-carrier group delivered supplies to Allied forces at Wau and operated into the airstrip despite enemy fire.

  Outcome. The operation supported Allied forces and contributed to the group's Distinguished Unit Citation record.

  Source
• 1943Nadzab airborne assault

  New Guinea

  The group led a multi-group airborne operation that dropped United States airborne troops and Australian artillery paratroops at Nadzab.

  Outcome. The group subsequently landed engineers, artillery, and other equipment to repair and defend the captured airfield.

  Source

1. 1374th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org