398th Air Expeditionary Group

The 398th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization whose designation can be activated or inactivated as operational requirements dictate. It is associated with United States Air Forces in Europe and has supported a variety of expeditionary missions, including air refueling, rescue, air-base operations, security, evacuation, and transportation support. The unit traces its heritage to the 398th Bombardment Group, a World War II heavy-bomber formation equipped with B-17 Flying Fortresses. Constituted in February 1943 and activated the following month, the group trained in the United States before moving to England in April 1944. From RAF Nuthampstead, it became part of the Eighth Air Force and flew 195 combat missions against strategic and tactical targets in German-occupied Europe. Its targets included industrial facilities, rail yards, oil installations, aircraft plants, ports, bridges, airfields, and military positions. It also supported the Normandy invasion, the Allied campaign in the Netherlands, the Battle of the Bulge, and the assault across the Rhine. Its final combat mission took place on 25 April 1945 against an airfield at Plzeň in Czechoslovakia. After the war, it helped move liberated prisoners before returning to the United States and being inactivated on 1 September 1945. The lineage was revived in the post-Cold War period as the 398th Operations Group. Activated in 1992, the organization initially served with the 340th Air Refueling Wing and later the 97th Air Mobility Wing. During this phase it included the 93d Air Refueling Squadron and the 330th Flying Training Squadron, and it supported KC-135 air-refueling activities until its inactivation in March 1995. The designation returned to provisional expeditionary service in 2001 as the 398th Expeditionary Air Refueling Group and was renamed the 398th Air Expeditionary Group in March 2003. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, a 398th AEG organization operated from Naval Support Activity Souda Bay in Greece. Later in 2003, it supported Operation Shining Express, a United States European Command evacuation and humanitarian operation connected with the Second Liberian Civil War. Its contributions included transporting a Marine security element and supporting the evacuation of civilians. The deployed organization included rescue, air-base, and security-force units and operated HH-60 helicopters, while attached Marine forces used AV-8B Harrier aircraft. In March and April 2008, the group deployed to Budapest International Airport with the 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron. Assigned to the 323d Air Expeditionary Wing, it provided air-refueling support for fighter operations associated with Operation Noble Endeavor and the 2008 Bucharest summit. Because the designation is provisional, the group does not have the stable commercial identity, product portfolio, or permanent headquarters normally associated with a consumer or corporate brand. Its significance lies instead in its historical lineage and its ability to assemble personnel and subordinate units for particular overseas missions.

The unit's lineage began with the 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy), constituted on 15 February 1943 and activated on 1 March at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington. Its four bombardment squadrons were the 600th, 601st, 602d, and 603d. The group assembled at Blythe Army Air Field, moved to Geiger Field, and then relocated to Rapid City Army Air Base. It initially trained B-17 crews as a replacement-training organization, preparing 326 crews between August and December 1943 before returning to combat preparation. The ground echelon began its overseas movement in April 1944, sailing from the United States aboard USS Wakefield and arriving at Liverpool on 21 April. Based at RAF Nuthampstead, the group joined the Eighth Air Force and entered combat in May. Its 195 missions covered strategic bombing of targets across Germany and occupied Europe, including factories, warehouses, rail facilities, ports, oil refineries, power stations, bridges, aircraft plants, and airfields. The group also conducted tactical missions during the Normandy invasion, the Allied operation in the Netherlands, the Battle of the Bulge, and the Rhine crossing campaign. Its final mission was flown on 25 April 1945 against an airfield at Plzeň. After V-E Day, it transported liberated prisoners from Germany to France. The aircraft returned to the United States in May and June 1945, and the group was inactivated at Drew Field, Florida, on 1 September. The designation reappeared on 1 June 1992 as the 398th Operations Group. It was assigned first to the 340th Air Refueling Wing and then, from October 1992, to the 97th Air Mobility Wing. The group included air-refueling and training components, notably the 93d Air Refueling Squadron and 330th Flying Training Squadron. It was inactivated on 31 March 1995. On 5 February 2001 the lineage was redesignated the 398th Expeditionary Air Refueling Group and converted to provisional status. The title became 398th Air Expeditionary Group on 18 March 2003. In the same year, a deployed group operated from Souda Bay, Greece, during Operation Iraqi Freedom and later supported Operation Shining Express in Liberia. The 2003 organization included rescue, air-base, and security-force elements. It was activated and inactivated repeatedly as missions required, including periods in 2004, 2006, and 2008. In 2008 it deployed to Budapest International Airport with the 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron under the 323d Air Expeditionary Wing. The group's provisional structure allows the Air Force to tailor its personnel and subordinate units to specific contingencies rather than maintain a permanent commercial-style operating footprint.

• 2008

  Budapest deployment

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group deployed from 14 March to 30 April with the 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron to support Operation Noble Endeavor.

• 2003

  Redesignated 398th Air Expeditionary Group

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The designation was changed in March and used for deployed operations in Greece and Liberia during the year.

• 2001

  Converted to provisional expeditionary status

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated 398th Expeditionary Air Refueling Group and converted to provisional status.

• 1992

  Reactivated as 398th Operations Group

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was reactivated on 1 June as an air-refueling and air-mobility organization.

• 1945

  Final World War II mission and inactivation

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group flew its last combat mission on 25 April and was inactivated in Florida on 1 September after returning from Europe.

• 1944

  Arrival in England and entry into combat

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to England in April, joined the Eighth Air Force, and began B-17 combat operations from RAF Nuthampstead in May.

• 1943

  398th Bombardment Group constituted and activated

  [1]398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 398th Bombardment Group was constituted on 15 February and activated on 1 March at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington.

A flexible United States Air Force expeditionary organization that aggregates aviation, rescue, security, and support capabilities for missions assigned in the European and overseas theaters.

• Heavy bomber operations · 1943

  B-17 Flying Fortress operations

  During World War II, the predecessor 398th Bombardment Group operated B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers from England. Its missions ranged from strategic attacks on industrial and transportation infrastructure to tactical support for major Allied ground campaigns in Western Europe.

• Air refueling · 1992

  KC-135 air-refueling operations

  In its 1992–1995 incarnation as the 398th Operations Group, the organization supported KC-135 air-refueling activities through the 93d Air Refueling Squadron and related air-mobility structures.

• Expeditionary aviation · 2003

  Expeditionary rescue and support operations

  The provisional 398th Air Expeditionary Group assembled rescue, air-base, security, and aviation elements for overseas contingencies. The 2003 Liberia deployment included HH-60 helicopter operations and support to an attached Marine security force.

• 2008Operation Noble Endeavor

  Hungary · Europe

  From Budapest International Airport, the group and the 712th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron provided refueling support for fighter operations associated with the 2008 Bucharest summit.

  Outcome. The group completed its temporary deployment and was inactivated on 30 April 2008.

  Source
• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Greece · Middle East

  A 398th Air Expeditionary Group organization operated from Naval Support Activity Souda Bay, Greece, as part of the United States response to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  Outcome. The group provided an expeditionary framework for deployed aviation and support personnel; the cited material does not specify a separate campaign outcome.

  Source
• 2003Operation Shining Express

  Liberia · West Africa

  The group supported a United States European Command operation responding to the Second Liberian Civil War, including civilian evacuation and delivery of a Marine security element.

  Outcome. The deployment contributed to evacuation and security support for civilians and personnel in affected areas of Liberia.

  Source

• 2003

  Redesignation as 398th Air Expeditionary GroupStrategy

  Background

  The provisional organization was being used for deployed operations rather than as a permanent conventional group.

  Action taken

  The Air Force changed the designation from 398th Expeditionary Air Refueling Group to 398th Air Expeditionary Group.

  Aftermath

  The title was used for missions in Greece, Liberia, and later European deployments, with activation and inactivation determined by operational need.

  Source

• 2001

  Conversion to provisional expeditionary statusStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force required a flexible organization that could be activated for overseas contingencies and tailored with different subordinate units.

  Action taken

  The lineage was redesignated the 398th Expeditionary Air Refueling Group and converted to provisional status.

  Aftermath

  The designation was subsequently used for expeditionary operations and renamed the 398th Air Expeditionary Group in 2003.

  Source

1. 1398th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org