410th Air Expeditionary Operations Group

The 410th Expeditionary Operations Group, commonly abbreviated 410 EOG, is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. It serves as the operational flying component of the 410th Air Expeditionary Wing when activated. Unlike a permanently staffed commercial organization, the group is maintained as an expeditionary military formation that Air Combat Command can activate or inactivate as operational requirements dictate. The unit's lineage began with the 410th Operations Group, which was constituted in August 1991 and activated on 1 September 1991 at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base, Michigan. Its creation followed Strategic Air Command's adoption of the Objective Wing structure, under which operational groups assumed responsibility for the flying squadrons assigned to combat wings. In its initial form, the group operated as the flying component of the 410th Wing, later designated the 410th Bomb Wing. Its aircraft included B-52 Stratofortress bombers and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft; a T-37 Tweet assignment is also recorded during the group's early-1990s period. The original group was inactivated on 30 September 1995 after K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base closed during the first major round of Base Realignment and Closure reductions. In September 2002, the former organization was redesignated as the 410th Expeditionary Operations Group and converted to provisional status. Air Combat Command subsequently activated it for expeditionary operations, including its best-documented deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. During the 2003 Iraq campaign, the group operated from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, a location identified by the United States military as Azraq Air Base. It coordinated and supported a multinational force that included units and aircraft from the active-duty Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Royal Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force. Its principal mission was to support counter-tactical-ballistic-missile operations, including the search for and destruction of Iraqi Scud-related equipment in western Iraq. The group also supported special operations ground forces and provided air cover for operations conducted deep inside enemy territory. The deployed force employed F-16C Fighting Falcons and A-10 attack aircraft, while the broader wing operation included HH-60 rescue helicopters, HC-130 combat search-and-rescue support aircraft, British Harrier and Canberra aircraft, and associated refueling support. In twenty-six days, the wing reportedly flew 9,651 fighter and attack hours, generated 2,547 sorties, and delivered continuous support across time-sensitive targeting, interdiction, offensive counterair, close air support, intelligence and reconnaissance, non-traditional intelligence collection, and combat search and rescue. It operated from austere bases with limited infrastructure and complex logistics. The 2003 deployment is credited with employing more than 600 precision-guided munitions and expending approximately 800,000 pounds of weapons against ballistic-missile support equipment, aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, surface-to-air missile systems, ammunition sites, radars, personnel, and Baath Party headquarters. The operation also included substantial aerial refueling support, with personnel supplying fuel to a multinational aircraft force. The group has additionally been documented as active in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Public sources do not establish a continuously active peacetime organization, current commanders, or a permanent headquarters for the provisional unit.

The 410th Expeditionary Operations Group traces its institutional history to the 410th Operations Group, constituted on 29 August 1991 and activated on 1 September 1991 at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base in Michigan. The activation was part of Strategic Air Command's Objective Wing reorganization, which gave combat wings an operations group responsible for their flying activities. The group initially served under the 410th Wing, later known as the 410th Bomb Wing, and assumed responsibility for aircraft and squadrons including B-52 Stratofortress bombers and KC-135 Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft. A T-37 assignment is also recorded for part of this period. After 1992, aircraft associated with the group carried the K.I. tail code. The original organization was inactivated on 30 September 1995. Its deactivation followed the closure of K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base during the first Base Realignment and Closure process, which reduced the number of operating United States military installations. The historical group therefore existed as a permanent wing organization for approximately four years before the base closure ended that phase of its lineage. In September 2002, the organization was redesignated the 410th Expeditionary Operations Group and converted to provisional status. This structure allowed Air Combat Command to activate the group when required for overseas contingency operations without maintaining it as a continuously active conventional unit. The group was attached to United States Central Command Air Forces during the early months of 2003. Its most extensively documented activation occurred during Operation Iraqi Freedom. The group operated from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, also identified by United States forces as Azraq Air Base, and helped coordinate aircraft and personnel from several United States and allied organizations. Participating elements included Air National Guard fighter units from Alabama, Colorado, and the District of Columbia, an Air Force Reserve fighter squadron from Hill Air Force Base, and aircraft from the Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. The operation focused particularly on countering Iraqi tactical ballistic-missile capabilities and supporting special operations forces in western Iraq. The deployed combat force used F-16C Fighting Falcons and A-10 aircraft and worked alongside rescue, refueling, reconnaissance, and allied strike assets. During the main twenty-six-day period, the associated wing flew thousands of combat hours and sorties from austere locations. Missions included time-sensitive targeting, offensive counterair, interdiction, close air support, intelligence and reconnaissance, non-traditional intelligence collection, and combat search and rescue. The force reportedly delivered more than 600 precision-guided weapons and destroyed or damaged a broad range of military targets, including missile-support equipment, aircraft, armored vehicles, artillery, air-defense systems, ammunition storage sites, radars, and command buildings. The operation involved more than 200 troops-in-contact situations, while the available account reports no fratricide incidents. The group's personnel also supported a substantial aerial-refueling effort for a multinational aircraft force. During the operation, fuel support was provided to F-16s, HH-60 helicopters, HC-130 aircraft, British Harrier aircraft, and British Canberra reconnaissance aircraft. The unit has also been documented as active in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Because it is a provisional organization, publicly available sources do not demonstrate an uninterrupted period of activation, a permanent current station, or a stable roster of commanders.

• 2003

  Operation Iraqi Freedom activation

  [1]410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group operated from Jordan in support of counter-Scud missions, special operations, and multinational combat aviation in Iraq.

• 2002

  Redesignated as a provisional expeditionary group

  [1]410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization received the 410th Expeditionary Operations Group designation and was converted to provisional status under Air Combat Command.

• 1995

  Original group inactivated after base closure

  [1]410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 410th Operations Group was inactivated following the closure of K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base during Base Realignment and Closure reductions.

• 1993

  T-37 assignment recorded

  [1]410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group's documented aircraft lineage included the T-37 Tweet during the early 1990s.

• 1991

  410th Operations Group activated

  [1]410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 410th Operations Group was activated at K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base as the operational component of the 410th Wing under Strategic Air Command's Objective Wing structure.

• Documented support to Operation Enduring Freedom

  [1]410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group has also been reported as active in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; the available reference does not provide a specific activation year.

A flexible expeditionary air-operations command designed to assemble and direct multinational combat aviation and support assets for contingency operations.

• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq · Jordan · Southwest Asia

  The group supported a counter-tactical-ballistic-missile campaign in western Iraq from Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan. It coordinated fighter, attack, rescue, reconnaissance, refueling, and allied aviation assets while supporting special operations forces and conducting targeting, interdiction, close air support, offensive counterair, intelligence, and combat search and rescue missions.

  Outcome. The associated wing flew 2,547 sorties and 9,651 fighter and attack hours during a twenty-six-day period, employed more than 600 precision-guided munitions, and reported destruction of missile-support equipment and other Iraqi military targets. The available account reports more than 200 troops-in-contact situations without fratricide.

  Source
• Operation Enduring Freedom

  Afghanistan

  The 410th Expeditionary Operations Group has also been documented as active in Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Source

1. 1410th Expeditionary Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org