406th Air Expeditionary Group

The 406th Air Expeditionary Group is a United States Air Force provisional unit associated with United States Air Forces in Europe. It is described as the operational flying component of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing, although the unit's current status is not clearly established in the available reference material. Unlike a commercial brand, the group is a military organizational designation whose identity is defined by lineage, mission, assigned squadrons, aircraft, honors, and relationship to higher headquarters. The unit's historical lineage began during World War II. It was constituted as the 406th Bombardment Group (Dive) in February 1943 and activated at Key Field, Mississippi, on 1 March 1943. Initially organized for dive-bomber operations, it trained with several types of attack aircraft in the United States before being converted into a fighter-bomber formation. The group deployed to the European Theater in 1944 and was assigned to the Ninth Air Force. It entered combat with P-47 Thunderbolts during the period leading up to the Allied invasion of Normandy. In Normandy and subsequent operations across Western Europe, the group performed armed reconnaissance, interdiction, dive-bombing, close air support, and escort missions. Its targets included transportation columns, bridges, rail facilities, ammunition dumps, artillery positions, and other military infrastructure. The group supported the Allied advance from the Normandy beachhead, contributed to operations around Saint-Lô, and later participated in the reduction of German positions at Saint-Malo and Brest. It subsequently supported the advance across France and the drive toward the Moselle and Saar regions. The 406th received two Distinguished Unit Citations for combat operations. The first recognized a September 1944 attack against a large German armored and transport column attempting to pass through the Belfort Gap. The second covered operations near Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge from 23 to 27 December 1944, when the group concentrated on attacks against tanks, vehicles, defended buildings, and gun positions in support of Allied forces resisting the German counteroffensive. In early 1945, it continued escort, interdiction, and close-support missions in the Ruhr Valley and during the Allied crossing of the Rhine. After Germany's surrender, the group remained in Europe as part of the occupation force. It was assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe and based at Nordholz near Bremen, Germany, before being inactivated on 20 August 1946. Its personnel and equipment were transferred in accordance with Air Force force-structure policy. The unit was reactivated in the United Kingdom in 1952 as the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group. It operated F-84G Thunderjets and combined fighter-bomber duties with air-defense responsibilities. The group later transitioned to F-86F Sabres and, in 1956, to the F-86D interceptor variant as its mission shifted toward support of the United Kingdom's air-defense system. It was inactivated on 1 May 1956 when the associated wing adopted a tri-deputate structure and assigned operational squadrons directly to the wing. The lineage was retained while inactive through later redesignations. In 1985 it was redesignated the 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group without being activated. On 5 February 2001, it was redesignated the 406th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status. The provisional organization was active in Turkey during the period surrounding preparations for the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Available material indicates that the group may have been inactivated after Turkey declined to permit its territory to be used for the invasion, but the present status is undetermined. Its enduring significance rests on its World War II combat record, two Distinguished Unit Citations, Cold War air-defense service, and later expeditionary lineage.

The 406th's lineage began with its constitution as the 406th Bombardment Group (Dive) on 4 February 1943 and activation at Key Field, Mississippi, on 1 March 1943. It trained in the United States with a variety of attack aircraft and was redesignated the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group in August 1943. By May 1944 it had become the 406th Fighter Group and deployed to the European Theater, where it joined the Ninth Air Force and flew P-47 Thunderbolts. During the Normandy campaign, the group provided cover for the Allied landings and then conducted armed reconnaissance, dive-bombing, interdiction, and close-support missions. It attacked transport columns, gun positions, ammunition depots, railways, marshalling yards, bridges, and other targets that supported German military movement. The group helped prepare the Allied breakthrough at Saint-Lô and then moved onto the continent as the ground advance continued. It supported operations at Saint-Malo and Brest and participated in the Allied drive across France. The group earned its first Distinguished Unit Citation for a 7 September 1944 action in which it attacked and destroyed a large German column of armored vehicles and transports attempting to withdraw through the Belfort Gap. It later shifted toward the Saar region and then the Ardennes. During the Battle of the Bulge, it operated almost exclusively within roughly ten miles of Bastogne from 23 through 27 December 1944, attacking tanks, vehicles, fortified buildings, and gun positions in support of the besieged Allied garrison. These operations earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation. In 1945 the group flew escort, interdiction, and close-support missions in the Ruhr Valley and during the Allied advance to and across the Rhine. After V-E Day it remained in Europe as part of the occupation force, serving under United States Air Forces in Europe from Nordholz near Bremen, Germany. It was inactivated on 20 August 1946, with its personnel and equipment reassigned to the 86th Fighter Group. The group returned to active service in the United Kingdom on 10 July 1952 as the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group. It replaced the federalized 123d Fighter-Bomber Group and included the 512th, 513th, and 514th Fighter Squadrons. Equipped initially with F-84G Thunderjets, it carried both fighter-bomber and air-defense responsibilities. In 1953 it transitioned to F-86F Sabres, and in 1956 it received F-86D interceptor aircraft as its mission shifted toward assisting Royal Air Force Fighter Command with the defense of British airspace. The group was inactivated on 1 May 1956 when the 406th Fighter-Interceptor Wing adopted a structure that assigned operational squadrons directly to the wing. The lineage remained inactive after later redesignation as the 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group in 1985. On 5 February 2001 it was redesignated the 406th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status. The group was active in Turkey in the period before the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. The available account indicates that it was probably inactivated soon afterward, but its current status is listed as undetermined. The unit's history therefore combines World War II tactical air support, Cold War fighter and interceptor operations, and a short-lived modern expeditionary role.

• 2001

  Conversion to expeditionary status

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was redesignated the 406th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 5 February.

• 1956

  Cold War inactivation

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 1 May after the wing adopted a tri-deputate structure.

• 1952

  Cold War reactivation

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was reactivated in the United Kingdom as the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group with F-84G Thunderjets.

• 1946

  Postwar inactivation

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The World War II group was inactivated at Nordholz, Germany, on 20 August after serving with the occupation forces.

• 1944

  Deployment to the European Theater

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Redesignated the 406th Fighter Group, the unit deployed to Europe, joined the Ninth Air Force, and began combat operations with P-47 Thunderbolts.

• 1944

  First Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its 7 September attacks on a German armored and transport column near the Belfort Gap.

• 1944

  Second Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Operations around Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge from 23 to 27 December earned the group a second Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1943

  Constitution and activation

  [1]406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 406th Bombardment Group (Dive) was constituted on 4 February and activated on 1 March at Key Field, Mississippi.

A provisional United States Air Force flying group defined by expeditionary readiness, combat aviation lineage, air-ground support, and air-defense capability.

• Fighter-bomber aviation · 1944

  P-47 Thunderbolt operations

  The group's principal World War II combat aircraft was the P-47 Thunderbolt. It used the aircraft for armed reconnaissance, close air support, escort, interdiction, and attacks on transportation, artillery, armor, bridges, and fortified positions across Western Europe.

• Jet fighter-bomber aviation · 1952

  F-84G Thunderjet operations

  After its 1952 reactivation in Britain, the group operated F-84G Thunderjets in a combined fighter-bomber and air-defense role under United States Air Forces in Europe.

• Jet fighter and interceptor aviation · 1953

  F-86 Sabre operations

  The group transitioned to F-86F Sabres in 1953 and later to F-86D interceptor aircraft in 1956. The latter transition reflected a stronger emphasis on air defense of the United Kingdom in cooperation with Royal Air Force Fighter Command.

• 1945Rhine and Ruhr operations

  Germany

  The group flew escort, interdiction, and close-support missions in the Ruhr Valley and during the Allied advance toward and across the Rhine.

  Outcome. The operations supported the final Allied advance in Western Europe before the end of the war in Europe.

  Source
• 1944Normandy campaign

  France

  The group provided cover during the Allied landings and then conducted armed reconnaissance, dive-bombing, interdiction, and close-support missions against German military positions and logistics.

  Outcome. It supported the Allied advance and helped prepare the breakthrough at Saint-Lô.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge

  Belgium

  From 23 to 27 December, the group concentrated its operations near Bastogne, attacking German tanks, vehicles, defended structures, and gun positions.

  Outcome. The Bastogne operations were recognized with the group's second Distinguished Unit Citation.

  Source

• 2001

  Conversion to provisional expeditionary statusStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force retained the lineage for potential contingency use within an expeditionary force structure.

  Action taken

  The 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group was redesignated the 406th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status.

  Aftermath

  The group operated in Turkey during the period preceding the 2003 Iraq invasion, although its subsequent status is not clearly documented in the supplied material.

  Source

• 1956

  Transition to direct squadron controlStrategy

  Background

  The 406th Fighter-Interceptor Wing adopted a tri-deputate organizational structure.

  Action taken

  The group was inactivated and its operational squadrons were assigned directly to the wing.

  Aftermath

  The group ceased active service while its subordinate fighter squadrons continued under the revised wing structure.

  Source

• 1943

  Conversion from dive-bomber to fighter-bomber organizationStrategy

  Background

  The unit was initially constituted as a dive-bomber group but was reorganized during its training period before deployment to Europe.

  Action taken

  It was redesignated the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group in August 1943 and subsequently employed in tactical fighter-bomber missions.

  Aftermath

  The change established the operational role in which the group served during its World War II combat deployment.

  Source

1. 1406th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org