440th Operations Group

The 440th Operations Group is an active United States Air Force Reserve unit headquartered at Pope Army Airfield in North Carolina. It forms the operational flying component of the 440th Airlift Wing, which is assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force. The group operates and supports airlift, aeromedical evacuation, aircrew training, readiness, and associated mobility missions, principally using C-130 Hercules aircraft. The organization traces its lineage to the 440th Troop Carrier Group, established in 1943 for the Second World War. After training in the United States, the group moved to England in early 1944 and joined Ninth Air Force's troop-carrier structure in the European Theater. Its first combat operation occurred on D-Day, 6 June 1944, when its C-47 Skytrains dropped paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division near Carentan on the Cotentin Peninsula. The following day, aircraft carried fuel, ammunition, food, and other supplies into the same operational area. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the performance of these missions during the Normandy invasion. During the remainder of the war, the unit performed a broad range of airborne and logistical tasks. It transported cargo and evacuated casualties between Britain, France, Italy, and forward areas; supported the invasion of southern France by dropping paratroopers and towing reinforcement gliders; delivered supplies to forces isolated at Mortain; and participated in the Allied airborne operation in the Netherlands. During the Battle of the Bulge, the group hauled gliders carrying supplies to the encircled 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. In March 1945, it towed gliders carrying troops of the 17th Airborne Division during the airborne assault across the Rhine. Near the end of the conflict, its aircraft transported food, clothing, medical supplies, fuel, ammunition, and other cargo to front-line formations while evacuating wounded personnel. After Germany's defeat, the group helped move liberated prisoners and displaced persons before being inactivated in Europe in October 1945. The lineage returned to the Air Force Reserve in September 1947. The organization served in troop-carrier roles, became associated with the 440th Troop Carrier Wing in 1949, and was briefly called to active duty during the Korean War in May 1951. It was reactivated in the Reserve the following year as a fighter-bomber group, later transitioning from fighter aircraft to Fairchild C-119 transport aircraft. Organizational changes in the late 1950s separated elements of the 440th Wing and its subordinate units geographically, and the group was inactivated in April 1959 as the Air Force implemented a tri-deputate structure. The group was reactivated on 1 August 1992 under its current designation. Since then, its personnel have supported exercises, humanitarian assistance, contingency response, and worldwide airlift activities. Its present structure includes the 95th Airlift Squadron, the 440th Operations Support Squadron, the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and active-association units including the 2d Airlift Squadron and 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. As a military organization rather than a commercial brand, it has no commercial products, shareholders, or conventional market positioning; its institutional role is to provide trained Reserve aircrews and operational support for tactical airlift and aeromedical missions.

The 440th Operations Group's lineage begins with the 440th Troop Carrier Group, which was established on 25 May 1943 and activated on 1 July of that year. It initially trained in the United States for troop-carrier operations before moving to England in February and March 1944. There it became part of the Ninth Air Force troop-carrier organization supporting Allied operations in Western Europe. The group's combat record began during the Normandy invasion. On 6 June 1944, its C-47 aircraft dropped paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division near Carentan. On the next day, the group transported fuel, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the invasion area. These missions earned the organization a Distinguished Unit Citation. It subsequently flew supply and evacuation missions between England and France. In July, much of the group moved to Italy, where it supported operations around Rome and took part in the invasion of southern France on 15 August by dropping paratroopers of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment near Le Muy and towing gliders containing reinforcements. Elements that remained in England continued to perform cargo missions, including an emergency supply drop to an infantry battalion surrounded near Mortain on 10 August. The group's air echelon returned to England in September 1944 to participate in the airborne assault in the Netherlands. It dropped members of the 82d Airborne Division near Groesbeek on 17 September and released gliders carrying reinforcements on 18 and 23 September. By the end of that month, the group had completed its move to France. It supported the Battle of the Bulge on 26 December by towing gliders loaded with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division at Bastogne. In March 1945, it transported glider-borne troops from the 17th Airborne Division to the Rhine crossing area. From late April through mid-May, an air echelon operated from Conflans, France, to remain closer to the front. Its missions included delivery of food, clothing, medical supplies, gasoline, ammunition, and other cargo, together with casualty evacuation. After the war, it transported liberated prisoners and displaced persons. The wartime organization was inactivated in Europe on 18 October 1945. The unit was activated in the Reserve on 3 September 1947 and trained for troop-carrier duties. It became part of the 440th Troop Carrier Wing in June 1949. The group was ordered to active duty on 1 May 1951 during the Korean War period and was inactivated four days later, with personnel and equipment reassigned. It returned to the Reserve as the 440th Fighter-Bomber Group on 15 June 1952. Beginning in April 1957, it transitioned from fighter aircraft to C-119 transport aircraft. In November 1957, administrative realignments moved the wing and the 95th Squadron to Wisconsin while the group and the 96th Squadron remained in Minnesota. The group was inactivated on 14 April 1959 during implementation of the Air Force's tri-deputate organization. The lineage was retained through a redesignation as the 440th Tactical Airlift Group in 1985, although the organization remained inactive under that title. On 1 August 1992, it was redesignated the 440th Operations Group and activated in the Air Force Reserve as part of the 440th Airlift Wing. In its current form, the group provides the wing's flying and operational structure. It supports C-130 airlift, aeromedical evacuation, exercises, humanitarian activity, and worldwide mobility requirements. Its constituent organizations include the 95th Airlift Squadron, 440th Operations Support Squadron, 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 2d Airlift Squadron in an active-association arrangement, and 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in an active-association arrangement.

• 1992

  Reactivation as the 440th Operations Group

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Redesignated and activated on 1 August, the group became the operational flying component of the 440th Airlift Wing.

• 1959

  Tri-deputate inactivation

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 14 April during implementation of the Air Force tri-deputate structure.

• 1957

  Transition to C-119 operations

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began transitioning from fighter aircraft to C-119 transport aircraft and underwent geographic organizational changes.

• 1952

  Reserve reactivation as fighter-bomber group

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization returned to the Reserve on 15 June under the 440th Fighter-Bomber Group designation.

• 1951

  Korean War-era active duty

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was ordered to active duty on 1 May and inactivated four days later as personnel and equipment were reassigned.

• 1947

  Return to the Air Force Reserve

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated in the Reserve on 3 September and resumed troop-carrier training.

• 1945

  Rhine and final European campaigns

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group supported the airborne assault across the Rhine and continued front-line resupply and casualty evacuation missions until the end of the war.

• 1945

  Postwar inactivation

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After transporting liberated prisoners and displaced persons, the wartime group was inactivated in Europe on 18 October.

• 1944

  Normandy airborne and resupply missions

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group dropped 101st Airborne Division paratroopers near Carentan on D-Day and delivered supplies to the invasion area the following day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1944

  Southern France and Netherlands operations

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Group elements supported the invasion of southern France and the airborne assault in the Netherlands through parachute drops, glider operations, and logistical airlift.

• 1943

  Establishment and activation

  [1]440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 440th Troop Carrier Group was established on 25 May and activated on 1 July to train for troop-carrier operations.

A United States Air Force Reserve operational group focused on reliable tactical airlift, aeromedical evacuation, readiness, and mobility support for domestic and overseas missions.

• Military airlift

  C-130 Hercules tactical airlift

  The group's principal current aviation role is operation and support of C-130 Hercules missions. These aircraft provide tactical transport of personnel, equipment, supplies, and other cargo, continuing the troop-carrier and airlift functions reflected in the group's historical lineage.

• Medical mobility support

  Aeromedical evacuation

  Aeromedical evacuation units associated with the group provide trained personnel and operational support for the movement and care of patients during military mobility missions. The current structure includes the 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and the 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron in an active-association arrangement.

• Military operations support

  Operations support

  The 440th Operations Support Squadron supplies the planning, intelligence, training, administration, and other enabling functions required for aircrew readiness and the execution of airlift and evacuation missions.

• 1945Rhine airborne assault

  Germany

  In March, the group towed gliders carrying troops of the 17th Airborne Division toward the battle area near Wesel during the Allied assault across the Rhine.

  Outcome. The group contributed troop and glider support to the Rhine crossing operation.

  Source
• 1944Normandy invasion

  France · United Kingdom

  The wartime predecessor dropped 101st Airborne Division paratroopers near Carentan on 6 June and delivered essential supplies to the area on 7 June.

  Outcome. The missions were completed during the invasion and contributed to the group's Distinguished Unit Citation.

  Source
• 1944Invasion of southern France

  Italy · Southern France

  A detachment operating from Italy dropped paratroopers of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment near Le Muy and towed gliders carrying reinforcements.

  Outcome. The group supported the airborne phase of the southern France invasion.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden

  Netherlands · United Kingdom

  The group dropped 82d Airborne Division troops near Groesbeek and released gliders carrying reinforcements during the Allied airborne operation in the Netherlands.

  Outcome. The unit performed parachute and glider-support missions on 17, 18, and 23 September.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge support

  Belgium

  On 26 December, the group hauled gliders carrying supplies to the 101st Airborne Division, which was encircled at Bastogne.

  Outcome. The group provided air-delivered logistical support to the besieged force.

  Source

• 1992

  Reactivation as an operations groupStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force reorganized wing structures and restored the group's operational role within the 440th Airlift Wing.

  Action taken

  The organization was redesignated the 440th Operations Group and activated in the Reserve on 1 August.

  Aftermath

  The group resumed support for airlift, exercises, humanitarian missions, and worldwide operations.

  Source

• 1957

  Transition from fighter aircraft to C-119 transportsGeneration change

  Background

  The Reserve group shifted from its fighter-bomber role toward transport operations.

  Action taken

  Beginning in April, the group transitioned to Fairchild C-119 aircraft and was redesignated as a medium troop-carrier group later that year.

  Aftermath

  The group remained in the troop-carrier family until its 1959 inactivation.

  Source

• 1952

  Reactivation in a fighter-bomber roleStrategy

  Background

  Following its brief active-duty period during the Korean War, the Reserve organization was reactivated under a fighter-bomber designation.

  Action taken

  The 440th Troop Carrier Group lineage was redesignated the 440th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated in the Reserve on 15 June.

  Aftermath

  The organization later returned to transport operations and transitioned to C-119 aircraft beginning in 1957.

  Source

1. 1440th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org