387th Air Expeditionary Group
A provisional United States Air Force expeditionary organization providing base-support, force-protection, logistics, and operational support in the U.S. Central Command region, with lineage reaching back to a World War II B-26 Marauder bombardment group.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 387th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization assigned to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. It is based at Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base in Kuwait, also known as Cargo City, and has operated in association with Ali Al Salem Air Base and the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Since 2022, the group has reported directly to United States Air Forces Central Command, reflecting its role as a flexible support organization rather than a conventional permanent flying group. The group’s modern mission centers on the integration of base-operating support for coalition forces and civilian contractors at a major aerial port of debarkation. Its responsibilities have included security, antiterrorism, force protection, civil engineering, emergency management, personnel services, convoy and line-haul operations, vehicle and fleet management, and supply. These functions sustain the movement of personnel and materiel through a critical intra-theater airlift hub serving operations connected with Iraq, Afghanistan, and other missions in the region. The group may be activated or inactivated by Air Combat Command as operational requirements change. The organization’s lineage is connected to the 387th Bombardment Group, a World War II medium-bomber unit. Constituted in November 1942 and activated at MacDill Field, Florida, the earlier group operated Martin B-26B and B-26C Marauders. It trained in the United States before deploying to England in June 1943. From bases including RAF Chipping Ongar, RAF Stoney Cross, and the advanced landing ground at Maupertus, France, the group attacked airfields, coastal defenses, V-weapon sites, bridges, railways, road junctions, fuel installations, and defended positions. It supported the Normandy campaign and Allied ground operations in Western Europe until combat operations ended in April 1945. The bombardment group returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, in November 1945. The modern expeditionary designation was created in 2003 during the Global War on Terror. One early activation combined A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and personnel from Connecticut and Massachusetts Air National Guard units. The deployed force performed combat sorties, combat-search-and-rescue support, and medical-evacuation missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The group later developed a broader support identity, with expeditionary airlift, reconnaissance, electronic-combat, weather, air-support, logistics, security, and individual-augmentee elements appearing among its associated units at different times. In 2021, personnel associated with the group supported the evacuation of more than 124,000 Afghan people from Hamid Karzai International Airport, part of the large-scale humanitarian airlift following the collapse of the Afghan government. In 2024, members deployed into the Central Command region in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Because the group is provisional, its component structure and activation status can change rapidly in response to mission requirements.
History
The unit’s lineage begins with the 387th Bombardment Group (Medium), constituted on 25 November 1942 and activated on 1 December at MacDill Field near Tampa, Florida. Its four bombardment squadrons were the 556th, 557th, 558th, and 559th, equipped with Martin B-26B and B-26C Marauders. After stateside training, the group deployed to England in June 1943 and joined the Eighth Air Force’s 3rd Bomb Wing at RAF Chipping Ongar in Essex. It began combat on 15 August 1943 with an attack on coastal defenses near Boulogne, France. Early missions concentrated on enemy airfields. On 16 October 1943, the group transferred with other Marauder formations to the Ninth Air Force. During the winter of 1943–44, the group struck V-weapon sites and other tactical targets in France. It participated in the intensive February 1944 attacks associated with Big Week, including raids on airfields at Leeuwarden and Venlo. In preparation for the Normandy invasion, the group attacked coastal batteries and bridges. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, and during the following month, its Marauders supported Allied ground forces by striking railways, bridges, road junctions, defended areas, fuel dumps, and other tactical objectives. In July 1944, the group moved to RAF Stoney Cross in Hampshire as Ninth Air Force relocated Marauder groups closer to the invasion area. It became operational there on 21 July and crossed to the continent in early September, operating from the former Luftwaffe airfield at Maupertus, France. Combat operations ended in April 1945. The group moved to Rosières-en-Santerre Air Base later that month, returned to the United States in November, and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 17 November 1945. The bombardment group was redesignated in 1985 but remained inactive. On 1 January 2003 it was redesignated the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under Air Combat Command. It was activated in January 2003 for Global War on Terror operations. An early deployment combined A-10 aircraft and personnel from the 104th Fighter Wing’s 131st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and the 103rd Fighter Wing’s 118th Fighter Squadron. The force included 11 aircraft from Barnes Municipal Airport and seven from Bradley Air National Guard Base. Its A-10 personnel flew more than a thousand sorties and supported combat search and rescue as well as medical evacuation. The group was later associated with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing in Kuwait and evolved into a major base-support organization. Its mission included integrating security, civil engineering, emergency management, personnel, supply, transportation, convoy, vehicle, and force-protection functions for a busy aerial port serving U.S. and coalition operations. Components documented at different points included expeditionary electronic-combat, reconnaissance, airlift, weather, air-support, logistics, security, and individual-augmentee units. In 2021, the group supported the evacuation of more than 124,000 Afghan people from Hamid Karzai International Airport. Since 2022 it has reported directly to United States Air Forces Central Command, and in 2024 members deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Its provisional status means that activation, inactivation, assignments, and component structure remain subject to changing operational needs.
- 2024
Operation Inherent Resolve deployment
[1]Members deployed to the Central Command area in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
- 2022
Direct reporting to Air Forces Central
[1]The organization became a direct reporting unit of United States Air Forces Central Command.
- 2021
Afghanistan evacuation support
[1]The group helped support the evacuation of more than 124,000 Afghan personnel from Kabul’s international airport.
- 2003
Expeditionary group established
[1]The lineage was converted to provisional 387th Air Expeditionary Group status and activated for Global War on Terror operations.
- 1985
Lineage redesignated
[1]The inactive unit was redesignated the 387th Bombardment Group without immediate reactivation.
- 1945
World War II inactivation
[1]The wartime bombardment group was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 17 November.
- 1944
Normandy campaign support
[1]The group attacked invasion-related targets and supported Allied forces during and after D-Day.
- 1943
Deployment to England
[1]The group arrived in England and joined the Eighth Air Force’s 3rd Bomb Wing at RAF Chipping Ongar.
- 1943
First combat mission
[1]The B-26 group began combat operations against French coastal defenses on 15 August.
- 1943
Transferred to Ninth Air Force
[1]The group moved from the Eighth Air Force to the Ninth Air Force on 16 October.
Products and positioning
A flexible, mission-oriented U.S. Air Force expeditionary group positioned as an integrator of air-base support and coalition operating capability in the Central Command region.
World War II medium-bomber operations · 1943
Martin B-26 Marauder operations
The predecessor 387th Bombardment Group operated B-26B and B-26C Marauders in the European theater. Its missions covered tactical targets such as airfields, coastal defenses, bridges, railways, fuel facilities, defended areas, and V-weapon sites, particularly in support of the Normandy invasion and subsequent Allied ground operations.
Close air support and tactical attack · 2003
A-10 Thunderbolt II expeditionary operations
During its 2003 activation, the modern group incorporated A-10 forces from Connecticut and Massachusetts Air National Guard units. The deployment generated combat sorties and supported combat-search-and-rescue and medical-evacuation missions in the Operation Iraqi Freedom environment.
Expeditionary installation support
Kuwait base-operating support
The group’s contemporary core offering is the integration of installation-support capabilities for coalition operations. Functions include security and force protection, civil engineering, emergency management, personnel services, supply, transportation, convoy operations, vehicle maintenance, and fleet management at Kuwait-based aerial-port facilities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Operation Inherent Resolve
U.S. Central Command area
Members deployed into the Central Command area of responsibility to support Operation Inherent Resolve.
Outcome. The reference material confirms deployment but does not provide further operational results.
- 2021Afghanistan evacuation airlift
Afghanistan
The group supported the large-scale evacuation from Hamid Karzai International Airport during the 2021 Afghanistan crisis.
Outcome. More than 124,000 Afghan personnel were evacuated with the group’s assistance.
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq · Kuwait
The modern expeditionary group deployed A-10 attack forces and associated personnel for combat operations, including combat-search-and-rescue support and medical evacuation.
Outcome. The deployed A-10 contingent completed 1,119 sorties and reported no combat losses or battle damage in the reference material.
- 1944Normandy invasion support
France · United Kingdom
The wartime predecessor attacked coastal batteries, bridges, railways, road junctions, defended positions, and fuel dumps while preparing for and supporting the Normandy landings and the Allied advance through France.
Outcome. The group continued tactical support missions through the Normandy campaign and later moved to the continent to operate closer to the front.
Brand decisions
2022
Move to direct reporting under Air Forces CentralStrategyBackground
The group’s expanding Central Command support role required an organizational relationship suited to its regional mission.
Action taken
The group became a direct reporting unit of United States Air Forces Central Command rather than operating under the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.
Aftermath
The change clarified the group’s relationship with the theater air component while it continued operating from Kuwait-based locations.
2003
Convert the inactive lineage into a provisional expeditionary groupStrategyBackground
The Air Force required a flexible organization for Global War on Terror operations and converted the historic bombardment-group lineage to provisional expeditionary status.
Action taken
The unit was redesignated the 387th Air Expeditionary Group and activated under Air Combat Command.
Aftermath
The organization could be activated or inactivated as mission requirements changed and later evolved from an A-10-centered deployment into a broader base-support group.
Sources1 sources
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