403d Operations Group

The 403d Operations Group is a United States Air Force Reserve operational unit headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi. Rather than being a commercial brand, it is a military organization responsible for flying and operational support missions within the 403d Wing. Its principal capabilities include the airlift of personnel, equipment, and supplies; aeromedical evacuation; operational weather support; and hurricane reconnaissance. The group traces its lineage to the 403d Troop Carrier Group, which was established and activated in December 1942 during the Second World War. It trained for overseas troop-carrier operations before deploying to the South Pacific in 1943. There, its aircraft moved troops, cargo, and passengers among forward areas in the Solomon Islands and across routes linking New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and New Caledonia. For part of this period it operated under the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command, commonly known as SCAT. Its wartime duties expanded beyond routine transport: the group supported operations in New Guinea and the Philippines, evacuated casualties, delivered supplies to isolated forces and guerrilla units, and carried personnel belonging to Thirteenth Air Force organizations. One of the unit's notable wartime operations took place on 23 February 1945, when it dropped paratroopers at Laguna de Bay on Luzon as part of an operation to liberate civilian internees held by Japan. From April through June 1945, the group transported ammunition, food, and other supplies to Eighth Army forces on Mindanao while using jungle airstrips to evacuate wounded personnel. These actions contributed to the group's receipt of a Distinguished Unit Citation. Its wartime service also earned a Navy Unit Commendation during its South Pacific assignment. After the campaign in the Philippines, the group transported occupation forces to Japan, evacuated liberated prisoners, and continued cargo and passenger flying to Japan and Australia. Following inactivation in October 1946, the organization returned to the Air Force Reserve in June 1949 as a medium troop-carrier group. It trained in Oregon until being ordered to active service on 1 April 1951. In March and April 1952, it moved to Japan for operations associated with the Korean War. Flying aircraft such as the C-119, it transported troops and equipment, dropped paratroopers and supplies, and evacuated casualties. The group was relieved from active duty and inactivated in Japan on 1 January 1953. It was activated again in the Reserve the same day and continued training for airlift, air evacuation, and aeromedical evacuation until its inactivation in April 1959. The inactive unit was redesignated the 403d Military Airlift Group in 1985 and then redesignated the 403d Operations Group in 1992. It was activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992 as part of the modern 403d Wing. Since that reactivation, its mission has included Air Force Reserve airlift and weather reconnaissance. The 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, known as the Hurricane Hunters, gives the group a distinctive civil-support role: it is the Department of Defense organization tasked with organizing, equipping, training, and conducting hurricane weather reconnaissance in support of the Department of Commerce. The group therefore combines military air mobility with specialized atmospheric observation that supports forecasting and public safety.

The 403d Operations Group originated as the 403d Troop Carrier Group, established on 7 December 1942 and activated five days later. During the Second World War it trained for overseas troop-carrier work and moved to the South Pacific in 1943. From forward bases, it carried personnel, equipment, and supplies throughout the Solomon Islands and flew passenger and cargo routes to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, and New Caledonia. From August 1943 through July 1944 it was associated with the South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command. The group supported wider Allied operations in New Guinea and the Philippines by transporting combat personnel and matériel, evacuating wounded troops, and delivering supplies to forward and guerrilla forces. On 23 February 1945 it participated in the airborne operation at Laguna de Bay on Luzon, dropping paratroopers to help free civilian internees held by Japanese forces. Between April and June of that year, it delivered ammunition, food, and other supplies to Eighth Army units on Mindanao and used improvised jungle airstrips to evacuate casualties. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this service and a Navy Unit Commendation for its South Pacific operations. After the liberation of the Philippines, it moved occupation personnel to Japan, evacuated liberated prisoners, and maintained routes between Japan and Australia. The wartime group was inactivated on 15 October 1946. It was redesignated the 403d Troop Carrier Group, Medium, in May 1949 and activated as a Reserve organization in June of that year. The group was ordered to active service on 1 April 1951. During March and April 1952 it deployed to Japan for missions connected with the Korean War. Its C-119 aircraft were used to transport personnel and equipment, drop paratroopers and supplies, and evacuate casualties. The group was released from active duty and inactivated in Japan on 1 January 1953, then activated in the Reserve on the same date. It trained for airlift, air evacuation, and aeromedical evacuation until its inactivation on 14 April 1959. The organization remained inactive under the redesignation 403d Military Airlift Group from 1985. On 1 August 1992 it became the 403d Operations Group and was activated in the Air Force Reserve. The modern group operates from Keesler Air Force Base as the flying component of the 403d Wing. Its contemporary responsibilities include airlift using C-130 aircraft, aeromedical evacuation, operational weather functions, and hurricane reconnaissance using WC-130 aircraft. The group's weather mission is especially distinctive. Through the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the Hurricane Hunters, it supports the Department of Commerce by collecting observations inside and around tropical systems. The group is identified as the only Department of Defense unit charged with organizing, equipping, training, and performing all hurricane weather reconnaissance for that support mission. Current subordinate elements listed for the group include the 403d Operations Support Squadron, 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, 815th Airlift Squadron, 5th Operational Weather Flight, and 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.

• 1993

  Weather reconnaissance squadron assigned

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron joined the group on 1 November and continues to perform hurricane reconnaissance missions.

• 1992

  Reactivated as the 403d Operations Group

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated and activated in the Air Force Reserve on 1 August as the operational flying group of the 403d Wing.

• 1985

  Redesignated as a military airlift group

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The inactive organization received the designation 403d Military Airlift Group.

• 1952

  Deployed to Japan for Korean War operations

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group operated from Japan with C-119 aircraft, performing troop and equipment transport, airdrops, and casualty evacuation.

• 1949

  Returned to the Air Force Reserve

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated as a medium troop-carrier group and activated in the Reserve on 27 June.

• 1945

  Supported Luzon airborne liberation operation

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 23 February, the group dropped paratroopers at Laguna de Bay on Luzon during an operation to free civilian internees.

• 1945

  Received Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was recognized for delivering supplies to Eighth Army forces on Mindanao and evacuating wounded personnel from jungle landing strips.

• 1943

  Deployed to the South Pacific

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to the South Pacific and began transporting personnel and supplies through the theater, including routes to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and New Caledonia.

• 1942

  Established and activated as a troop-carrier group

  [1]403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 403d Troop Carrier Group was established on 7 December and activated on 12 December to prepare for overseas transport operations.

A reserve military aviation organization combining airlift, medical evacuation, operational weather, and hurricane reconnaissance capabilities in support of national defense and civil authorities.

• Military airlift · 1942

  Air mobility operations

  The group provides airlift of personnel, equipment, and supplies for Air Force Reserve and broader United States military missions. Its modern airlift capability is associated with C-130 aircraft, while its historical fleet included C-47, C-46, C-54, and C-119 transports.

• Weather reconnaissance · 1993

  Hurricane Hunter reconnaissance

  Through the 53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, the group conducts hurricane reconnaissance in support of the Department of Commerce. WC-130 aircraft collect atmospheric and storm data used by civil weather authorities and emergency planners.

• Medical air transport · 1952

  Aeromedical evacuation

  Aeromedical evacuation is one of the group's operational capabilities, enabling the movement of injured or ill personnel by air. The mission continues a lineage that includes casualty evacuation during the Pacific and Korean War periods.

1. 1403rd Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org