433rd Operations Group
The 433rd Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force Reserve's 433rd Airlift Wing.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 433rd Operations Group is a United States Air Force Reserve operational unit based at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. It forms the flying and operational core of the 433rd Airlift Wing and conducts strategic airlift, aircrew training, aeromedical evacuation support, and associated operational-control activities. The group currently operates Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft and supports the worldwide movement of personnel, military equipment, supplies, and other cargo. The organization traces its lineage to the 433rd Troop Carrier Group, established in January 1943 and activated in February of that year during the Second World War. It trained for glider towing, troop transport, and the delivery of airborne forces and supplies. Its air echelon moved to the Southwest Pacific through Hawaii, the Fiji Islands, and Australia, while the ground echelon followed by sea. By late 1943 the elements had reunited in New Guinea and began operations with the Fifth Air Force. During the Pacific War, the group transported troops and a broad range of cargo, including fuel, ammunition, medicines, food, communications equipment, and construction materials. It also evacuated wounded personnel. Its operations extended across New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Netherlands East Indies, the Solomon Islands, Biak, and the Philippines. In the Philippines, the group delivered supplies to Filipino guerrilla forces, evacuated former Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees, and moved combat units between Pacific bases. It conducted a combat glider-towing mission to Aparri on Luzon in June 1945, carried troops to Okinawa, and later transported occupation forces to Japan. After inactivation in January 1946, the unit was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in Ohio in July 1947. It was called to active service during the Korean War in October 1950 and moved to North Carolina, where it received Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft. The group transported personnel and supplies, conducted airdrop training and exercises, and later participated in multinational field training in Germany with United States, British, and French forces. It returned to reserve status after the Korean War period and was inactivated in 1959. The lineage remained inactive until the Air Force Reserve adopted the Objective Wing organization. The group was redesignated the 433rd Operations Group and activated on 1 August 1992. Since then, it has supported worldwide airlift missions, including humanitarian operations. Its modern structure includes the 68th Airlift Squadron, 356th Airlift Squadron, 733rd Training Squadron, 433rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 433rd Airlift Control Flight, and 433rd Operations Support Squadron. The unit transitioned from the C-5A Galaxy to the modernized C-5M Super Galaxy. The first of its eight C-5M aircraft arrived in June 2016, and the final C-5A assigned to the unit departed Kelly Field on 28 September 2016. Unlike a commercial consumer brand, the 433rd Operations Group is a military organization whose identity is defined by lineage, operational capability, mission readiness, and service within the Air Force Reserve.
History
The 433rd Operations Group began as the 433rd Troop Carrier Group, established on 22 January 1943 and activated on 9 February 1943. During the Second World War it trained to tow gliders, carry troops, drop supplies and paratroops, and perform general transport duties. Its air echelon flew Douglas C-47 Skytrains to the Southwest Pacific in stages through Hawaii, the Fiji Islands, and Australia. The ground echelon sailed from the United States and reached Australia in October 1943. The two elements reunited at the Nadzab Airfield Complex in New Guinea by early November. From late 1943 through the end of the Pacific campaign, the group performed transport missions for the Fifth Air Force. It moved fuel, ammunition, medicines, rations, communications equipment, construction materials, military units, and other supplies, while also evacuating wounded personnel. The group operated with an unusually large number of troop-carrier squadrons for part of this period. Its detachments and squadrons moved through New Guinea, Biak Island, and the Philippines as Allied forces advanced. In the Philippines, the group supplied Filipino guerrilla forces, evacuated former Allied prisoners of war and civilian internees, and transported combat units from New Guinea, the Netherlands East Indies, and the Solomon Islands. It carried out its only combat glider-tow mission on 23 June 1945 to Aparri on Luzon. Later in 1945 it transported troops to Okinawa and occupation personnel to Japan. For its contribution to the liberation of the Philippines, the group received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. It was inactivated on 15 January 1946. The organization returned as a reserve unit in Ohio on 6 July 1947. It was redesignated the 433rd Troop Carrier Group, Medium, in 1949 and ordered to active service on 15 October 1950 during the Korean War. After moving to North Carolina, it received Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and began tactical training in March 1951. Its missions included transporting personnel and supplies to Army units, airdropping personnel and equipment during exercises, and participating in multinational field training in Germany. It was inactivated on 14 July 1952, reactivated in the reserve in May 1955, and finally inactivated in April 1959. The lineage was redesignated the 433rd Tactical Airlift Group in 1985 while inactive. On 1 August 1992, following the implementation of the Objective Wing structure in the Air Force Reserve, it became the 433rd Operations Group and was reactivated. In its contemporary role, the group conducts global airlift missions and supports humanitarian operations. Its subordinate organizations include airlift, training, aeromedical evacuation, airlift-control, and operations-support units. The group modernized its heavy-airlift fleet during the 2010s. The first of eight Lockheed Martin C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft arrived in June 2016, and the unit's last C-5A Galaxy departed Kelly Field on 28 September of that year. The group remains an operational component of the 433rd Airlift Wing at Lackland Air Force Base.
- 2016
Transition to the C-5M Super Galaxy
[1]The first C-5M aircraft arrived in June, and the final C-5A Galaxy departed Kelly Field on 28 September.
- 1992
Reactivation as an operations group
[1]The unit was redesignated and activated as the 433rd Operations Group on 1 August under the Air Force Reserve's Objective Wing structure.
- 1959
Inactivation after reserve service
[1]Following reserve airlift and tactical-exercise activity, the group was inactivated on 14 April.
- 1950
Korean War active service
[1]The group was ordered to active service in October 1950 and moved to North Carolina for transport and training duties.
- 1947
Return to the Air Force Reserve
[1]The group was reactivated as a reserve organization in Ohio on 6 July.
- 1945
Philippine campaign and Presidential Unit Citation
[1]The group supported operations in the Philippines, including resupply of guerrilla forces, evacuation missions, and movement of combat units. It received the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.
- 1943
433rd Troop Carrier Group established and activated
[1]The lineage was established on 22 January and the group was activated on 9 February for troop-carrier and glider-support duties during World War II.
- 1943
Deployment to the Southwest Pacific
[1]The air and ground echelons moved through the Pacific and reunited in New Guinea, where the group began operational transport missions with the Fifth Air Force.
Products and positioning
A reserve strategic-airlift organization focused on global mobility, heavy cargo transport, operational readiness, training, and humanitarian support.
Strategic airlift aircraft · 2016
Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy
The C-5M Super Galaxy is the group's principal modern airlift platform. The aircraft supports long-range transport of outsized cargo, military vehicles, equipment, supplies, and personnel. The group operates eight C-5M aircraft as part of its global air-mobility mission.
World War II transport aircraft
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
The group used Douglas C-47 Skytrains during its World War II deployment to the Southwest Pacific. The aircraft supported troop transport, cargo delivery, airborne operations, and the movement of supplies across dispersed Pacific bases.
Reserve troop and cargo transport aircraft
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
The group received Fairchild C-119 aircraft after its activation for Korean War-era service. The platform was used for transporting personnel and supplies and for airdrop training and tactical exercises.
Brand decisions
2016
Conversion from C-5A Galaxy to C-5M Super GalaxyGeneration changeBackground
The group modernized its heavy strategic-airlift fleet during the 2010s.
Action taken
The first of eight C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft arrived in June 2016, while the final C-5A assigned to the unit departed Kelly Field on 28 September.
Aftermath
The conversion established the C-5M as the group's principal strategic-airlift aircraft and continued its worldwide mobility role.
1992
Reactivation under the Objective Wing structureStrategyBackground
The Air Force Reserve reorganized its wings using the Objective Wing model, creating a distinct operations group as the flying and operational component of the 433rd Airlift Wing.
Action taken
The inactive 433rd Tactical Airlift Group lineage was redesignated as the 433rd Operations Group and activated on 1 August 1992.
Aftermath
The reactivated group became responsible for worldwide airlift missions and related operational functions within the 433rd Airlift Wing.
Sources1 sources
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