446th Operations Group
The 446th Operations Group is a United States Air Force Reserve airlift unit assigned to the 446th Airlift Wing at McChord Field, Washington.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 446th Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Reserve and the flying component of the 446th Airlift Wing. Based at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis–McChord, Washington, it manages aircrew and flight operations for reserve airlift forces that operate in association with the active-duty 62d Operations Group. The group’s current mission centers on strategic and tactical airlift, aeromedical evacuation, operational support, and the preparation of reserve aircrews for domestic and overseas requirements. The organization traces its lineage to the 446th Bombardment Group, which was constituted in March 1943 and activated at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, on 1 April 1943. During the Second World War it became an Eighth Air Force heavy-bomber formation flying Consolidated B-24 Liberators from RAF Flixton in England. The group conducted strategic bombing missions against German industrial, transportation, port, aircraft, and submarine-related targets. It also supported the Normandy invasion and subsequent Allied campaigns by attacking bridges, airfields, artillery positions, communications routes, and other targets associated with ground operations. On D-Day, the group participated in the first heavy-bomber mission of the day. It later supported operations in the Netherlands, during the Battle of the Bulge, and during the airborne assault across the Rhine. The wartime group completed 273 combat missions and lost 58 aircraft, according to the cited historical account. Its squadrons developed notable operational records: the 706th Bombardment Squadron flew 62 consecutive missions, while the 707th completed 68 missions without a loss. Following Germany’s surrender, the group performed transport and postwar support flights before returning to the United States. It was inactivated at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, on 28 August 1945. The lineage was revived in the Air Force Reserve in 1948 at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, initially as a bombardment group. It trained alongside the active-duty 7th Bombardment Group and became associated with Strategic Air Command. During the Korean War, the group was ordered to active duty on 1 May 1951; its personnel were distributed to other organizations and the group was inactivated on 25 June 1951. In 1955 the organization returned to the Reserve as the 446th Troop Carrier Group at Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. It operated with Curtiss C-46 Commandos and later Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars, while its component squadrons operated from several locations. The group was inactivated in April 1959 when the 446th Troop Carrier Wing adopted the dual-deputy structure, which eliminated operational and maintenance group headquarters and reassigned squadrons directly to the wing. The lineage was redesignated the 446th Military Airlift Group in 1985 but remained inactive under that designation. The present 446th Operations Group was activated on 1 August 1992 as part of the Air Force Reserve’s Objective Wing reorganization. The new group consolidated the operational flying units of the 446th Airlift Wing and added operational-support functions. It initially operated Lockheed C-141 Starlifters, began transitioning to McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster IIIs in 1999, and completed the C-141 phaseout in 2002. Since its reactivation, the group has supported channel airlift, special-assignment airlift, humanitarian missions, joint and multinational exercises, and other worldwide mobility requirements. Its principal components are the 97th, 313th, and 728th Airlift Squadrons, the 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and the 446th Operations Support Squadron.
History
The 446th Operations Group’s lineage begins with the 446th Bombardment Group, established during the buildup of United States Army Air Forces heavy-bomber forces in 1943. Activated at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, on 1 April 1943, the group trained at several American bases before moving to the European theater. Its ground echelon sailed from New York aboard RMS Queen Mary, while its aircraft and crews crossed the Atlantic through the southern ferry route. The group was based at RAF Flixton in Suffolk, England, and became part of Eighth Air Force’s heavy-bomber campaign. The group flew its first combat mission on 16 December 1943 against facilities at Bremen, Germany. During the following months it attacked a wide range of strategic targets, including ball-bearing works, marshalling yards, submarine installations, aircraft plants, ports, and engine factories. Its operations also shifted toward direct support of Allied ground campaigns. In preparation for and during Operation Overlord, the group attacked transportation networks, bridges, airfields, and fortified positions in France. On 6 June 1944, it participated in the first heavy-bomber mission of D-Day. It subsequently supported fighting around Caen and Saint-Lô, dropped supplies during Operation Market Garden, struck communications during the Battle of the Bulge, and delivered supplies during Operation Varsity near Wesel in March 1945. The group’s final combat mission took place on 25 April 1945 against Salzburg, Austria. After Victory in Europe Day, the formation performed transport duties, including flights to France and postwar orientation missions over Germany. It began returning to the United States in June 1945. The air and ground elements reunited at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, where personnel were reassigned or demobilized. The group was inactivated on 28 August 1945. The unit returned to the Reserve in March 1948 at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. It resumed bombardment training, although the historical record indicates that it did not possess a dedicated aircraft inventory during this period. In 1949 it became a corollary unit of the active-duty 7th Bombardment Group after transfer to Strategic Air Command. The Korean War mobilization led to its call to active duty on 1 May 1951. Rather than continuing as a unified combat formation, its personnel were used to reinforce other units, and the group was inactivated on 25 June 1951. Airlift service became the group’s next major role. On 25 May 1955 it was activated at Ellington Air Force Base as the 446th Troop Carrier Group. It initially operated C-46 Commandos and later C-119 Flying Boxcars, with component squadrons located at bases in Texas, South Carolina, Louisiana, and near New Orleans. The group trained for Reserve airlift missions until April 1959, when the 446th Troop Carrier Wing adopted the dual-deputy organizational structure. The change eliminated group headquarters and transferred the squadrons directly to the wing. The lineage remained inactive after a 1985 redesignation as the 446th Military Airlift Group. It was revived on 1 August 1992 as the 446th Operations Group at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. This activation reflected the Air Force Reserve’s Objective Wing reorganization, under which the group became the command element for the wing’s flying units and operational support functions. The organization operated C-141 Starlifters during its early modern period and began transitioning to C-17 Globemaster IIIs in 1999. The C-141 was retired from the group’s operations in 2002. Today the group remains assigned to the 446th Airlift Wing and operates as an associate of the regular 62d Operations Group. Its airlift squadrons fly C-17 aircraft, while the aeromedical evacuation and operations-support units provide specialized capabilities. The group’s responsibilities include routine channel missions, special assignments, humanitarian airlift, contingency response, joint exercises, and combined exercises with international partners.
- 2002
Completion of C-141 phaseout
[1]The C-141 was phased out of the group’s operations, leaving the C-17 as its principal airlift platform.
- 1999
Beginning of C-17 transition
[1]The group began transitioning from the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter to the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III.
- 1992
Activation as the 446th Operations Group
[1]The present organization was activated at McChord Air Force Base on 1 August as the operational headquarters of the 446th Airlift Wing’s flying units.
- 1959
Inactivation under wing reorganization
[1]The group was inactivated when its parent wing adopted the dual-deputy structure and its squadrons were reassigned directly to the wing.
- 1955
Reactivation as a troop-carrier group
[1]The group returned to the Reserve at Ellington Air Force Base as the 446th Troop Carrier Group.
- 1951
Korean War mobilization
[1]The group was called to active duty on 1 May and inactivated on 25 June after its personnel were reassigned to other units.
- 1948
Return to the Air Force Reserve
[1]The organization was reactivated at Carswell Air Force Base, Texas, for Reserve bombardment training.
- 1945
End of World War II operations
[1]The group flew its final combat mission on 25 April, performed postwar transport duties, and was inactivated on 28 August after returning to the United States.
- 1944
Participation in the D-Day heavy-bomber effort
[1]The group took part in the first heavy-bomber mission of D-Day and supported the Normandy campaign through attacks on transportation and defensive targets.
- 1943
Activation as a heavy bombardment group
[1]The 446th Bombardment Group was activated at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona, on 1 April 1943 and began training for B-24 Liberator operations.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force Reserve operational organization providing trained aircrews, airlift capacity, aeromedical evacuation, and operational support as an associate formation with the active-duty 62d Operations Group.
Military airlift capability · 1999
C-17 Globemaster III airlift
The group’s principal modern aviation capability is operation of the C-17 Globemaster III through the 97th, 313th, and 728th Airlift Squadrons. The aircraft supports strategic and tactical movement of personnel, cargo, and equipment, including routine channel missions, special assignments, contingency operations, humanitarian relief, and participation in joint or multinational exercises.
Military medical transport · 1994
Aeromedical evacuation
The 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron provides specialized personnel and operational support for the movement of patients by air. It is part of the group’s broader mobility mission and complements the airlift squadrons during military and humanitarian requirements.
Historical combat capability · 1943
B-24 Liberator bombardment operations
From 1943 through the end of the Second World War, the predecessor 446th Bombardment Group operated B-24 Liberators in Eighth Air Force. It conducted strategic bombing and ground-support missions against industrial, transportation, port, aircraft, and military targets in German-occupied Europe.
Historical airlift capability · 1955
C-46 and C-119 troop-carrier operations
During its 1955–1959 Reserve period as the 446th Troop Carrier Group, the organization operated Curtiss C-46 Commandos and later Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. These aircraft supported the group’s training and reserve troop-carrier mission before the group was eliminated by a wing-level organizational change.
Marketing campaigns
- 1992Worldwide Reserve airlift operations
United States and international theaters
Since its reactivation as an operations group, the organization has conducted channel, special-assignment, humanitarian, joint, and combined airlift missions.
Outcome. These activities form the group’s continuing reserve-associate mobility role.
- 1945Operation Varsity
Wesel · Germany
The group supplied Allied ground and airborne forces during the March 1945 Rhine crossing operation.
Outcome. The group continued operations until its final combat mission on 25 April 1945.
- 1944Operation Overlord
Normandy and occupied France
The 446th Bombardment Group supported the Allied invasion of Normandy by attacking bridges, transportation facilities, airfields, and defensive positions. It participated in the first heavy-bomber mission of D-Day.
Outcome. The group continued supporting Allied ground operations after the landings, including actions around Caen and Saint-Lô.
- 1944Operation Market Garden
The Netherlands
A group squadron delivered supplies to Allied forces near Nijmegen during the attempt to establish a bridgehead across the Rhine.
Outcome. The operation was supported through aerial resupply missions conducted by Allied air units.
- 1944Battle of the Bulge
Belgium · Luxembourg · and eastern France
The group conducted attacks against communications and transportation lines during the German winter offensive.
Outcome. Its missions contributed to the broader Allied interdiction effort during the campaign.
Brand decisions
1999
Transition from C-141 to C-17 operationsGeneration changeBackground
The group’s Lockheed C-141 Starlifter fleet was approaching retirement as the Air Force modernized its strategic airlift capability.
Action taken
The group began transitioning to the McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III.
Aftermath
The C-141 was phased out by 2002 and the C-17 became the group’s principal aircraft.
1992
Reorganization as an operations groupStrategyBackground
The Air Force Reserve reorganized flying wings under the Objective Wing model, creating operational groups to command flying units and associated support functions.
Action taken
The 446th lineage was reactivated at McChord Air Force Base as the 446th Operations Group and the wing’s operational squadrons were assigned to it.
Aftermath
The group became the continuing operational command element for the 446th Airlift Wing and an associate of the regular 62d Operations Group.
Sources1 sources
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