385th Air Expeditionary Group
The 385th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit with lineage extending from a World War II heavy-bomber group and a Cold War strategic aerospace wing.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
The 385th Air Expeditionary Group is a United States Air Force provisional unit whose lineage connects three distinct eras of American air power: the 385th Bombardment Group of World War II, the 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing of the Cold War, and the modern 385th Air Expeditionary Group. Unlike a commercial brand, it is an organizational identity used by the Air Force to preserve unit lineage, honors, and operational continuity. The lineage began when the 385th Bombardment Group was constituted in November 1942 and activated on 1 December 1942. After training at bases in Arizona, Texas, Washington, and Montana, the group deployed to England in 1943 and operated from RAF Great Ashfield as part of the Eighth Air Force. Equipped primarily with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, it conducted strategic bombing missions against industrial facilities, aircraft plants, airfields, oil refineries, communications centers, and transportation infrastructure across German-occupied Europe. Its combat record included missions to Regensburg, Zwickau, Berlin, Oschersleben, Marienburg, Stuttgart, Ludwigshafen, Merseburg, and other targets. The group also performed tactical support missions. It attacked coastal defenses before the Normandy invasion, struck transportation networks during and after D-Day, supported ground forces around Saint-Lô, and conducted operations during the Battle of the Bulge. In the final months of the European war, it supported Allied advances through attacks on troop concentrations and communications facilities. It received Distinguished Unit Citations for demanding missions against the aircraft factory at Regensburg on 17 August 1943 and the aircraft repair plant at Zwickau on 12 May 1944. In May 1945, the group took part in Operation Chowhound, dropping food to starving Dutch civilians. It subsequently transported displaced French laborers from Austria to France before returning to the United States and being inactivated at Sioux Falls Army Air Field on 28 August 1945. A separate phase of the lineage began during the Cold War. The 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing was organized at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, on 1 January 1963. It inherited the mission and resources of the 4321st Strategic Wing and combined strategic air-refueling operations with responsibility for the SM-65 Atlas-D intercontinental ballistic missile mission. The wing maintained missiles on alert and operated Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers in support of Strategic Air Command's worldwide air-refueling commitments. It was inactivated on 15 December 1964 as the Atlas force was phased out. The World War II group and the strategic aerospace wing were consolidated in the 1980s. In June 2002, the consolidated lineage was redesignated the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under Air Mobility Command. Provisional status allowed the command to activate or inactivate the group as operational requirements changed. The unit had modern expeditionary associations with locations including Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, and Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. At Al Udeid, it was associated with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and supported air mobility activities in the Middle East. The group's recorded modern components included the 90th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron and the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. The group's most prominent modern recognition came from Operation Allies Refuge in 2021. During the evacuation from Kabul, Afghanistan, the unit helped airlift vulnerable Afghans during a 17-day operation that formed part of the largest evacuation airlift in history. For this service, it received the Gallant Unit Citation, becoming the first Air Mobility Command unit reported to have received that decoration. The group was inactivated on 1 May 2022. Its historical significance therefore rests not on consumer products or commercial activity, but on the preservation of an Air Force lineage spanning heavy-bomber combat, nuclear deterrence, strategic air refueling, airlift, and humanitarian evacuation operations.
History
The 385th lineage originated with the 385th Bombardment Group, constituted on 25 November 1942 and activated on 1 December 1942. Its initial bombardment squadrons were the 548th, 549th, 550th, and 551st. The group trained at Davis–Monthan Field, Biggs Field, Geiger Field, and Great Falls Army Air Base before moving to England in 1943. Its aircraft and ground personnel traveled separately, with the air echelon using the northern ferry route and the ground echelon sailing aboard the Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth. Based at RAF Great Ashfield, the group joined the Eighth Air Force's campaign against Axis military and industrial infrastructure. Its B-17s attacked aircraft factories, repair plants, air bases, oil facilities, marshalling yards, communications centers, and other strategic targets in Germany, France, Poland, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Norway. On 17 August 1943, it participated in the long-range attack on Regensburg and received a Distinguished Unit Citation. It earned a second citation for leading the 4th Bombardment Wing through heavy opposition during the attack on Zwickau on 12 May 1944. The group also led the attack on the Focke-Wulf assembly plant at Marienburg in East Prussia on 9 October 1943. Its missions expanded beyond strategic bombing. Before and during the Normandy invasion, the group attacked coastal defenses, rail yards, road junctions, and other choke points. It supported the fighting around Saint-Lô in July 1944 and attacked German communications and fortifications during the Battle of the Bulge. During March and April 1945, it struck troop concentrations and communications targets in support of the Allied advance. On 6 March 1944, a group formation involved in the Berlin raid carried Brigadier General Russell Wilson, commander of the 3d Bombardment Division. His aircraft was hit by flak and exploded; several crew members survived by parachute, while others were killed. The group's final credited combat mission in Europe occurred on 2 May 1945 during Operation Chowhound, when a B-17 was hit by ground fire while dropping food to starving Dutch civilians but returned safely. After the German surrender, the group transported displaced French laborers from Austria to France. It returned to the United States during June and August 1945 and was inactivated at Sioux Falls Army Air Field on 28 August. The Cold War branch of the lineage emerged from the 4321st Strategic Wing at Offutt Air Force Base. The 4321st was established in 1959 as an operational headquarters for the 566th Strategic Missile Squadron, equipped with SM-65 Atlas-D missiles, and the 34th Air Refueling Squadron, which operated KC-135 tankers. In 1962, Strategic Air Command sought to replace temporary major-command-controlled strategic wings with Air Force-controlled units capable of preserving historic lineages. The 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing was therefore constituted and organized at Offutt on 1 January 1963. The 549th Strategic Missile Squadron replaced the 566th, and the 34th Air Refueling Squadron joined the wing. The wing maintained missile alert duties and supported SAC's global refueling mission until its inactivation on 15 December 1964. The 385th Bombardment Group and 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing were consolidated in 1984–1985. The consolidated organization remained inactive until it was redesignated the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 12 June 2002. Under Air Mobility Command, the group could be activated when needed for expeditionary operations. Its documented modern activity included service at Incirlik Air Base and a later period at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, approximately from May 2018 through May 2022. At Al Udeid it was associated with the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and supported air mobility missions involving airlift and refueling units. In 2021, the group participated in Operation Allies Refuge, the evacuation of vulnerable Afghans following the fall of Kabul. Over 17 days, its air mobility personnel contributed to an unprecedented evacuation effort. The group received the Gallant Unit Citation for its actions, reportedly becoming the first Air Mobility Command unit to receive the award. The provisional group was inactivated on 1 May 2022.
- 2022
Modern group inactivated
[1]The 385th Air Expeditionary Group was inactivated on 1 May.
- 2021
Operation Allies Refuge
[1]The group supported the evacuation of vulnerable Afghans from Kabul and received a Gallant Unit Citation.
- 2002
Redesignated as a provisional expeditionary group
[1]The consolidated lineage was redesignated the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and assigned to Air Mobility Command for activation as required.
- 1964
Cold War wing inactivated
[1]The wing was inactivated on 15 December as the SM-65 Atlas force was phased out.
- 1963
Strategic Aerospace Wing organized
[1]The 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing assumed the mission, personnel, and equipment of the 4321st Strategic Wing at Offutt Air Force Base.
- 1945
Operation Chowhound
[1]The group dropped food to starving Dutch civilians and flew its last credited European combat mission on 2 May.
- 1945
World War II group inactivated
[1]The group returned to the United States and was inactivated at Sioux Falls Army Air Field on 28 August.
- 1944
Zwickau Distinguished Unit Citation
[1]The group led its bombardment wing through intense opposition during the 12 May attack on an aircraft repair plant at Zwickau.
- 1943
Deployment to England
[1]After training in the United States, the group moved to RAF Great Ashfield in England and joined the Eighth Air Force bomber campaign.
- 1943
Regensburg mission
[1]The group participated in the 17 August attack on the aircraft factory at Regensburg and received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
Products and positioning
A lineage-bearing United States Air Force expeditionary organization focused on air mobility, strategic support, and operational readiness rather than a commercial market offering.
heavy bomber operations · 1942
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress operations
During World War II, the 385th Bombardment Group operated Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses from England. Its missions included strategic bombing, interdiction, close support, attacks on transportation networks, and humanitarian food drops during Operation Chowhound.
air refueling · 1963
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker operations
The Cold War wing operated KC-135 Stratotankers for Strategic Air Command's worldwide air-refueling mission. Expeditionary-era components also included air-refueling capabilities supporting broader Air Mobility Command operations.
intercontinental ballistic missile operations · 1963
SM-65 Atlas-D readiness mission
From 1963 to 1964, the wing supported the 549th Strategic Missile Squadron and maintained SM-65 Atlas-D intercontinental ballistic missiles on alert as part of the United States strategic deterrent.
air mobility · 2002
Expeditionary airlift
The provisional group supported expeditionary air mobility through airlift and associated operations. Its recorded components included the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and activities at Middle Eastern operating locations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Operation Allies Refuge
Afghanistan · Qatar · United States
The group supported the emergency evacuation of vulnerable Afghans from Kabul over a 17-day period following the collapse of the Afghan government.
Outcome. The operation contributed to the largest evacuation airlift in history, and the group received a Gallant Unit Citation.
- 1945Operation Chowhound
Netherlands
The group dropped food to starving Dutch civilians in the Netherlands during the closing phase of World War II. A B-17 was hit by ground fire on 2 May but returned safely.
Outcome. The mission delivered humanitarian relief and was the group's last credited combat mission in the European theater.
Brand decisions
2021
Support Operation Allies RefugeOtherBackground
The evacuation from Kabul created an urgent requirement for large-scale airlift and supporting mobility operations.
Action taken
The group participated in airlifting vulnerable Afghans during the 17-day evacuation.
Aftermath
The group received the Gallant Unit Citation and was identified as the first Air Mobility Command unit to receive that recognition.
2002
Convert the consolidated lineage to a provisional expeditionary groupStrategyBackground
Air Mobility Command required an organization that could be activated or inactivated in response to changing expeditionary requirements.
Action taken
The consolidated unit was redesignated the 385th Air Expeditionary Group and placed in provisional status.
Aftermath
The group served in expeditionary air mobility roles, including operations associated with Incirlik and Al Udeid.
1963
Replace the 4321st Strategic Wing with the 385th Strategic Aerospace WingStrategyBackground
Strategic Air Command sought Air Force-controlled units that could preserve the lineage and history of historic inactive combat organizations.
Action taken
The 385th Strategic Aerospace Wing assumed the 4321st's mission, personnel, and equipment while combining missile-alert and air-refueling responsibilities.
Aftermath
The wing continued strategic deterrence and global refueling duties until its inactivation in December 1964.
Sources1 sources
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