375th Operations Group
The 375th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force's 375th Air Mobility Wing, based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 375th Operations Group is a United States Air Force operational unit assigned to the 375th Air Mobility Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Although its current designation dates from 1991, the organization traces its lineage to the 375th Troop Carrier Group, established during World War II. The group served in the Southwest Pacific Theater, where it transported personnel, ammunition, equipment, and other supplies between rear areas and forward bases in New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon Islands, the Admiralty Islands, and later the Philippines and the Ryukyus. Its wartime record included participation in the airborne assault at Nadzab, New Guinea, on 5 September 1943, an operation regarded as the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific. The predecessor group also supported the liberation of the Philippines and received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. After World War II, the organization moved between active and reserve status. It was inactivated in March 1946, reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in August 1947, and called to active service during the Korean War in October 1950. During that period it supported troop movements within the United States rather than returning to its earlier Pacific combat role. It returned to reserve status in 1952 and was finally inactivated in 1957. The lineage was retained through a 1985 redesignation as the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Group, although that designation remained inactive. On 1 December 1991, it was redesignated and activated as the 375th Operations Group. The present-day group combines aviation, medical evacuation, training, airfield management, flight inspection, executive airlift, and aerial refueling functions. It encompasses more than 500 military, civilian, and contract personnel distributed among six squadrons and one detachment at several United States locations. Its aeromedical personnel train, organize, and deploy evacuation crews for worldwide contingencies using aircraft such as the C-21A, C-17A, C-130, KC-135R, and KC-46. The group also provides initial, instructor, and requalification training for aeromedical evacuation personnel from units across the Air Force. Its airlift responsibilities include operational support airlift and special air missions. C-21A aircraft carry priority passengers and support operational requirements from Scott Air Force Base and a forward location. The 54th Airlift Squadron operates specially configured C-40C aircraft in partnership with the Air Force Reserve's 932d Airlift Wing, transporting senior government officials, members of Congress, cabinet officials, foreign heads of state, and other authorized passengers. Through the 906th Air Refueling Squadron's active association with the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing, the group also supports aerial refueling of Department of Defense assets. The 375th Operations Support Squadron acts as the wing's executive agent for airfield operations at the shared-use Scott Air Force Base and MidAmerica St. Louis Airport complex. Its responsibilities include air traffic control, weather services, airfield management, transient aircraft support, aircrew scheduling and training administration, flight records, life support, and related operational services. Detachment 1, located at the Federal Aviation Administration's Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, operates Challenger 600-series aircraft for contingency flight inspection of navigation aids, instrument landing systems, radar systems, and instrument procedures. The group therefore functions not as a commercial brand but as a multifaceted military aviation organization supporting air mobility, medical evacuation, command priorities, and aviation infrastructure.
History
The organization was established as the 375th Troop Carrier Group on 12 November 1942 and activated six days later. It trained for overseas service before moving to the Southwest Pacific in mid-1943. From bases in New Guinea and Biak, it transported troops, supplies, ammunition, and equipment to forward locations in New Guinea, New Britain, the Solomon Islands, and the Admiralty Islands. For especially hazardous missions, including landings at fields threatened by enemy action, it operated armed B-17 Flying Fortresses in addition to its transport aircraft. On 5 September 1943, the group participated in the airborne operation at Nadzab, New Guinea. Its aircraft dropped paratroopers who seized enemy positions and disrupted overland supply routes. In February 1945, the group moved to the Philippines, where it supplied forces on Luzon and nearby islands. It later transported cargo to the Ryukyus and, after the Japanese surrender, carried troops from Luzon toward staging areas in Japan and evacuated liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Luzon. The group moved to Japan in September 1945 and continued supply and courier missions until its inactivation on 25 March 1946. The unit entered the Air Force Reserve on 3 August 1947 and was redesignated the 375th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, in 1949. It was ordered to active duty on 15 October 1950 during the Korean War and supported troop movement missions within the United States. The group returned to reserve training in July 1952 and remained there until its inactivation on 16 November 1957. The lineage was redesignated the 375th Aeromedical Airlift Group in 1985 while inactive. On 1 December 1991, it was redesignated and activated as the 375th Operations Group. In its modern form, the group has conducted operational support, aeromedical evacuation, training, executive airlift, aerial refueling, flight inspection, and airfield-management missions. Its current organization includes the 54th, 311th, 457th, and 458th Airlift Squadrons; the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron; the 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Training Squadron; the 906th Air Refueling Squadron; the 375th Operations Support Squadron; and Detachment 1. The group operates or supports aircraft including the C-21A, C-40C, KC-135R, C-17A, C-130 variants, KC-46, and Challenger 600-series aircraft.
- 2021
Support for Allies Refuge and Allies Welcome
[1]The aeromedical organization supported refugee evacuation and medical augmentation during the two operations.
- 1991
Activation as 375th Operations Group
[1]The organization was redesignated and activated as the 375th Operations Group on 1 December.
- 1950
Korean War active service
[1]The reserve group was ordered to active duty on 15 October to support troop movements during the Korean War period.
- 1945
Philippines and Ryukyus operations
[1]The group supplied Allied forces in the Philippines and Ryukyus and later supported postwar troop movements and prisoner repatriation.
- 1943
Nadzab airborne operation
[1]The group supported the 5 September airborne assault at Nadzab, New Guinea, helping seize enemy bases and sever supply routes.
- 1942
375th Troop Carrier Group established
[1]The predecessor organization was established on 12 November and activated on 18 November as a World War II troop-carrier group.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force operational group positioned as a diversified air mobility, aeromedical, training, airfield-management, and flight-inspection organization rather than a consumer-facing brand.
Medical air mobility
Aeromedical evacuation
The 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron organizes, trains, deploys, and commands aeromedical evacuation personnel for contingency operations. Crews can operate aboard several mobility platforms, including C-21A, C-17A, C-130, KC-135R, and KC-46 aircraft, supporting the theater aeromedical evacuation system at multiple locations.
Military airlift
Executive and operational support airlift
C-21A aircraft provide operational support airlift for priority passengers and missions from Scott Air Force Base and a forward location. The 54th Airlift Squadron operates C-40C aircraft for special air missions involving senior United States officials, members of Congress, foreign heads of state, and other authorized dignitaries.
Air mobility
Aerial refueling
The 906th Air Refueling Squadron conducts aerial refueling with KC-135R aircraft through an active association with the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing.
Aviation safety and infrastructure
Flight inspection
Detachment 1 operates Challenger 600-series aircraft for contingency inspection of airfield navigation aids, instrument landing systems, radars, and instrument procedures in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense.
Military training
Aeromedical evacuation training
The 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Training Squadron provides initial qualification, instructor qualification, and requalification training for aeromedical evacuation personnel and command positions serving units worldwide.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Operation Allies Refuge
United States · Afghanistan evacuation air bridge
The group's aeromedical personnel helped test and employ the Passenger Medical Augmentation Personnel concept while supporting the evacuation and medical care of refugees.
Outcome. The operation contributed to the movement and medical support of approximately 13,000 refugees cited in the unit description.
- 2021Operation Allies Welcome
United States
Following the Afghanistan evacuation, the aeromedical organization continued applying the medical augmentation concept in support of arriving refugees.
Outcome. The group coordinated medical support as part of the broader reception and resettlement effort.
- 1943Nadzab airborne operation
Southwest Pacific Theater
The World War II predecessor transported and dropped airborne forces during the seizure of Nadzab, New Guinea.
Outcome. The operation seized enemy bases and disrupted Japanese overland supply lines.
Recent events
- 2021
375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron supported refugee evacuation operations[1]
Other
The 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron helped pilot the Passenger Medical Augmentation Personnel concept during Operations Allies Refuge and Allies Welcome, coordinating medical support for approximately 13,000 refugees.
Sources1 sources
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