407th Air Expeditionary Group
The 407th Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force organization that supported air operations, airfield management, security, logistics, and coalition missions in Iraq and Kuwait.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 407th Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force unit whose modern operational identity was created to organize expeditionary air operations in Southwest Asia. It was assigned to Air Combat Command for activation or inactivation as operational requirements dictated and was associated with United States Air Forces Central and, at different times, the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing and the 321st Air Expeditionary Advisory Wing. The group’s institutional lineage reaches back to the 407th Bombardment Group (Dive), constituted in March 1943 during the Second World War. That predecessor trained in the United States, operated an air echelon from Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands, and conducted combat operations against Japanese forces. It was later redesignated the 407th Fighter-Bomber Group and used aircraft including the A-24 Banshee, A-36, P-51D Mustang, and P-47 Thunderbolt before being disbanded in April 1944. A separate successor formation, the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing, was established in 1953 and activated at Great Falls Air Force Base, Montana, in December of that year. Equipped initially with F-84G Thunderjets and KB-29 tanker aircraft, and later with F-84F Thunderstreaks and KC-97 tankers, it provided fighter escort and aerial-refueling support for Strategic Air Command bomber operations. The wing deployed to Misawa Air Base in Japan in 1954 for northern Japanese air defense. It was inactivated in 1957 as the strategic-fighter concept was phased out. The modern 407th Air Expeditionary Group was activated in Iraq in April 2003 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based at Tallil Air Base, also known as Ali Base, it became the senior airfield authority and supported the base’s air operations, defense, infrastructure, communications, logistics, maintenance, and force support. Its operational environment included A-10 attack aircraft, C-130 transports, and Predator unmanned aircraft. The group helped provide air operations support for coalition air dominance, battlespace control, tactical airlift, aerial-port activity, and security during the stabilization of southern Iraq. Ali Base also supported U.S. Special Operations activity, including the evacuation of Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch. When all U.S. forces left Ali Air Base on 16 December 2011, the group was inactivated. It was subsequently activated again during the U.S.-led military intervention against the Islamic State, operating from Al Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber air bases in Kuwait as part of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing. The available reference material places this later activation in 2016 and records operations at Ahmad al-Jaber through January 2022. A United States Air Force report in July 2022 documented the group’s inactivation and the relinquishment of command by Colonel Jason R. Barnes; Jane’s Defence Weekly later confirmed that the group had been inactivated. As a result, the 407th Air Expeditionary Group is best treated as an inactive or defunct provisional military organization rather than a continuing commercial brand.
History
The lineage associated with the 407th Air Expeditionary Group began on 23 March 1943, when the 407th Bombardment Group (Dive) was constituted. It was activated five days later at Drew Field, Florida, with the 632d, 633d, 634th, and 635th Bombardment (Dive) Squadrons. An air echelon deployed to Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands from July to August 1943 and conducted combat operations against Japanese forces under the Eleventh Air Force. In August, the group was redesignated the 407th Fighter-Bomber Group. Its squadrons were correspondingly redesignated, while the 635th Squadron was disbanded. The group operated or trained with A-24 Banshees, A-36 aircraft, P-51D Mustangs, and P-47 Thunderbolts. After moving to Lakeland Army Air Field and then Galveston Army Air Field, it served as a training and replacement organization until being disbanded on 1 April 1944. The lineage was revived in the Strategic Air Command era. The 407th Strategic Fighter Wing was constituted in March 1953 and activated at Great Falls Air Force Base, Montana, on 18 December 1953. Its principal operational elements included the 407th Air Refueling Squadron and the 515th, 516th, and 517th Strategic Fighter Squadrons. The wing initially used KB-29 tankers and F-84G Thunderjets, later transitioning to KC-97 tankers and swept-wing F-84F Thunderstreaks. A reconnaissance squadron equipped with RF-84K aircraft was attached for part of 1954 and 1955. From August through November 1954, the wing deployed to Misawa Air Base, Japan, where it supported northern Japanese air defense. Back in Montana, its principal role became long-range fighter escort and refueling support for B-36 Peacemaker and B-50 Superfortress bombers. As strategic-fighter doctrine declined, the wing was inactivated on 1 July 1957. The World War II group and the strategic wing were later consolidated in 1984. The consolidated lineage was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 407th Air Expeditionary Group in the early 2000s. The group was activated at Tallil Air Base, Iraq, on 14 April 2003, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and under the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing. It became the senior airfield authority at Ali Base, responsible for airfield defense, control, operations, maintenance, and associated land and facilities. During the expansion of the base’s mission in 2003, the flight line hosted A-10 attack aircraft, C-130 transports, and Predator unmanned aircraft. The group supported coalition air dominance, battlespace control, security, tactical airlift, and aerial-port operations in southern Iraq. The base was also used in the rescue and evacuation of Army Private First Class Jessica Lynch. The group was inactivated when U.S. forces vacated Ali Air Base on 16 December 2011. It was activated again in 2016 during the military intervention against the Islamic State, operating from Al Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber air bases in Kuwait as part of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing. The later mission continued the group’s expeditionary model, combining air operations with support, security, logistics, and base-management functions. The available record places activity at Ahmad al-Jaber through January 2022. The United States Air Force reported the group’s inactivation in July 2022, and Jane’s Defence Weekly confirmed the inactive status in 2023.
- 2022
Group inactivated in Kuwait
[2]The United States Air Force documented the group’s inactivation and the relinquishment of command by Colonel Jason R. Barnes.
- 2016
Reactivated for the anti-Islamic State intervention
[1]The group returned to service in Kuwait as part of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing.
- 2011
Ali Base mission ended
[1]The group was inactivated when U.S. forces completed their departure from Ali Air Base on 16 December.
- 2003
Modern expeditionary group activated in Iraq
[1]The 407th Air Expeditionary Group was activated at Tallil, or Ali, Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- 1957
Strategic wing inactivated
[1]The 407th Strategic Fighter Wing was inactivated as the strategic-fighter concept was phased out.
- 1954
Deployment to Misawa
[1]The wing deployed to Misawa Air Base from August to November to support northern Japanese air defense.
- 1953
Strategic Fighter Wing activated
[1]The 407th Strategic Fighter Wing was activated at Great Falls Air Force Base on 18 December.
- 1944
World War II group disbanded
[1]The 407th Fighter-Bomber Group was disbanded at Galveston Army Air Field on 1 April.
- 1943
407th Bombardment Group constituted and activated
[1]The 407th Bombardment Group (Dive) was constituted on 23 March and activated at Drew Field, Florida, on 28 March.
- 1943
Aleutian combat operations
[1]An air echelon operated from Amchitka in the Aleutian Islands and conducted combat missions against Japan under the Eleventh Air Force.
Products and positioning
A flexible, mission-specific United States Air Force expeditionary organization designed to generate and coordinate air operations, airfield management, force protection, logistics, and coalition support in deployed theaters.
Marketing campaigns
- 2016Military intervention against the Islamic State
Kuwait
The group was reactivated as part of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing and operated from Al Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber air bases in Kuwait in support of coalition operations against the Islamic State.
Outcome. The Kuwait-based activation was later inactivated, with the Air Force documenting the change in 2022.
- 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom
Iraq
The group supported the first Air Force combat operations established in Iraq during the operation, including airfield control, security, air operations, tactical airlift, and coalition support from Ali Base.
Outcome. The group remained associated with Ali Base until the U.S. withdrawal and its inactivation in December 2011.
Brand decisions
2016
Reactivation for Kuwait-based coalition operationsStrategyBackground
The anti-Islamic State intervention created a requirement for a provisional expeditionary organization in Kuwait.
Action taken
The group was activated again under the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing and operated from Al Salem and Ahmad al-Jaber air bases.
Aftermath
The group continued its deployed air-operations and support role before being inactivated in 2022.
2003
Establishment of an expeditionary airfield authority in southern IraqStrategyBackground
The expansion of operations at Ali Base required an organization responsible not only for flying missions but also for controlling and sustaining the deployed airfield.
Action taken
The 407th Air Expeditionary Group assumed senior airfield-authority responsibilities, including defense, operations, maintenance, and control of facilities affecting flight operations.
Aftermath
Ali Base became a major operating location for A-10s, C-130s, Predator aircraft, and coalition support activities.
Sources3 sources
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