405th Air Expeditionary Group
Trademark
UnclaimedThe 405th Air Expeditionary Group is a United States Air Force provisional unit lineage associated with tactical air support, bomber operations, and expeditionary combat missions.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 405th Air Expeditionary Group is a United States Air Force unit lineage whose modern provisional designation is associated with expeditionary air operations under Air Combat Command and United States Air Forces Central. Its historical lineage reaches back to the 405th Bombardment Group (Dive), constituted and activated in 1943 during the buildup of American air power for the European campaign in World War II. The unit initially trained with dive-bombers and P-39 Airacobras before being redesignated the 405th Fighter-Bomber Group and equipped with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. It deployed to England in 1944 as part of Ninth Air Force and IX Tactical Air Command, operating from RAF Christchurch and later continental European bases. During the Normandy campaign and the subsequent Allied advance, the World War II predecessor performed ground-attack, interdiction, and close-air-support missions. Its targets included German troop concentrations, railways, locomotives, bridges, vehicles, supply installations, and armored formations. The group began combat operations over France before D-Day, was temporarily held out of the invasion-day flying program because of concerns about friendly anti-aircraft identification, and resumed operations shortly afterward in support of the beachhead. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a September 1944 operation near Laneuveville-en-Saulnois, where its squadrons attacked German armor, vehicles, warehouses, and defensive positions under difficult weather and intense ground fire. The group flew its final World War II missions in early May 1945 and was inactivated later that year. The lineage was revived in the Cold War. Reactivated at Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, in December 1952 as the 405th Fighter-Bomber Group, it assumed the operational role and resources of a unit transferred to the Air National Guard after Korean War mobilization. It first operated F-47 Thunderbolts, then moved to Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it transitioned to Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks. The group supported Tactical Air Command training, tactical-bombardment work, gunnery, firepower demonstrations, and rapid-deployment exercises. It became the first Tactical Air Command unit to operate the North American F-100 Super Sabre after replacing the F-84F in 1956. The group was inactivated in 1957 when the wing reorganized and assigned operational squadrons directly to the wing. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the dormant lineage was converted to provisional status as the 405th Expeditionary Operations Group. Assigned to the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing, the expeditionary organization supported combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Public historical accounts associate it with B-1B Lancer and, possibly, B-52H Stratofortress operations, tanker support, and the 968th Expeditionary Airborne Air Control Squadron. During the opening phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the group reportedly generated bomber sorties that struck planned targets with GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions, while later operations included recurring bombing missions and responses to requests for close air support. In 2010, the provisional designation was changed to the 405th Air Expeditionary Group. The available reference material does not establish a current headquarters, command staff, or active operational status.
History
The lineage began on 4 February 1943, when the 405th Bombardment Group (Dive) was constituted and activated at Drew Field near Tampa, Florida. The new organization initially had limited numbers of Douglas Dauntless and Curtiss Helldiver aircraft and received P-39 Airacobras during its early training period. In August 1943 it became the 405th Fighter-Bomber Group, and after moving to Walterboro, South Carolina, it prepared for overseas service with P-47 Thunderbolts. The group comprised the 509th, 510th, and 511th squadrons, with headquarters elements and approximately 73 aircraft. The group sailed for England in early 1944 aboard RMS Mauretania and established itself at RAF Christchurch in Dorset. It began combat flying over France on 1 May 1944, conducting ground-attack and interdiction missions in advance of Operation Overlord. The unit attacked transportation networks and German positions, including locomotives and the Seine River bridge at Mantes-Gassicourt. It did not fly on 6 June because Allied authorities feared that newly deployed anti-aircraft units might mistake its P-47s for German fighters. Flying resumed on 10 June in support of Allied forces ashore. On 18 June the group was redesignated the 405th Fighter Group. The group supported the Allied advance through France and was particularly associated with attacks on German armored and motorized formations. Its September 1944 mission near Laneuveville-en-Saulnois earned a Distinguished Unit Citation after aircraft operated through poor weather and heavy ground fire to attack tanks, trucks, armored vehicles, buildings, and defensive positions. The unit continued operations until the end of the European war, with its last missions taking place in early May 1945. It was inactivated on 29 October 1945. The historical record also associates members of the group with receiving the surrender of Luftwaffe ace Hans-Ulrich Rudel and other German personnel near the end of the war. On 1 December 1952 the lineage returned to active service as the 405th Fighter-Bomber Group at Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky. It replaced the 108th Fighter-Bomber Group, which had been called to federal service during the Korean War and subsequently returned to the New Jersey Air National Guard. The reactivated group inherited F-47 aircraft and assumed the 509th, 510th, and 511th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons. Because Godman was scheduled to close, the organization moved to Langley Air Force Base in May 1953. There it transitioned to F-84F Thunderstreak jet fighters and briefly operated alongside a B-26 light-bomber squadron and a KB-29 air-refueling squadron. Its Cold War mission emphasized Tactical Air Command operational training, tactical bombing, gunnery, firepower demonstrations, and readiness for rapid deployment through the Composite Air Strike Force concept. It participated in transatlantic exercises including Operation Mobile Able and Operation Sharkbait. In December 1956 it replaced the F-84F with the F-100 Super Sabre, becoming Tactical Air Command's first F-100-equipped unit. The group was inactivated on 8 October 1957 when a tri-deputate reorganization assigned its operational squadrons directly to the wing. The designation remained inactive until the post-September 11, 2001 expansion of United States expeditionary operations. On 4 December 2001 it was redesignated the 405th Expeditionary Operations Group and converted to provisional status under the 405th Air Expeditionary Wing. The expeditionary group supported the opening phase of the war in Afghanistan and the 2003 invasion of Iraq, with public accounts linking it to B-1B bomber operations, possible B-52H operations, tanker support, and airborne battle-management functions. During early Operation Iraqi Freedom, it reportedly launched ten aircraft and attacked 240 planned targets with 2,000-pound JDAM weapons. Subsequent activity included near-daily bombing missions and close-air-support responses. On 21 April 2010, the unit was redesignated the 405th Air Expeditionary Group. The available sources do not document a permanent base, a complete list of commanders, or whether the provisional organization remains active.
- 2010
Redesignated as the 405th Air Expeditionary Group
[1]The provisional unit received its present canonical designation on 21 April 2010.
- 2001
Converted to provisional expeditionary status
[1]The inactive lineage was redesignated the 405th Expeditionary Operations Group and converted to provisional status after the September 11 attacks.
- 1957
Cold War inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated during a wing reorganization that assigned operational squadrons directly to the wing.
- 1956
First Tactical Air Command F-100 unit
[1]The group replaced its F-84Fs with F-100 Super Sabres and became Tactical Air Command's first F-100 unit.
- 1953
Move to Langley and jet transition
[1]The group moved to Langley Air Force Base and transitioned to F-84F Thunderstreaks.
- 1952
Cold War reactivation
[1]The 405th Fighter-Bomber Group was reactivated at Godman Air Force Base with F-47 aircraft.
- 1945
World War II service ended
[1]The predecessor flew its final European missions in early May and was inactivated on 29 October.
- 1944
Entered combat in Europe
[1]The group began combat missions over France from England on 1 May, supporting the Allied invasion and advance through ground attack and interdiction.
- 1944
Distinguished Unit Citation action
[1]The group conducted the cited mission near Laneuveville-en-Saulnois under severe weather and ground-fire conditions while attacking German armor and support positions.
- 1943
Constituted and activated
[1]The 405th Bombardment Group (Dive) was constituted and activated at Drew Field, Florida, beginning the lineage later carried by the expeditionary group.
Products and positioning
A military expeditionary aviation organization rather than a commercial brand; its role has centered on deployable airpower, tactical strike, close air support, air interdiction, training, and command-and-control support.
Marketing campaigns
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq
The group supported the invasion and subsequent combat operations with bomber sorties, precision-guided weapons, recurring strikes, and responses to close-air-support requests.
- 2001Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan
The provisional expeditionary organization supported the opening phase of the war in Afghanistan with bomber and associated expeditionary air operations.
- 1944European Theater ground-attack campaign
France · England · European Theater
The World War II predecessor conducted P-47 ground-attack, interdiction, and close-air-support missions against German transportation, armor, positions, and logistics during the Normandy invasion and Allied advance.
Outcome. The group continued operations through the end of the war in Europe and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a September 1944 mission.
Sources1 sources
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