447th Air Expeditionary Group

The 447th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization assigned to Air Combat Command for activation when required. Its lineage began during World War II as the 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy), a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress formation in the Eighth Air Force. The group was activated on 1 May 1943 at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, initially with the 708th, 709th, 710th, and 711th Bombardment Squadrons. Although originally intended to serve as an operational training unit, it was selected for overseas combat and completed advanced tactical preparation before deploying to the European theater. The group operated from RAF Rattlesden in England from late November 1943 through the end of the European war. It flew its first combat mission on 24 December 1943 against a V-1 missile site in northern France. During the following sixteen months, its missions included attacks on German aircraft production, submarine facilities, ports, airfields, rail infrastructure, oil targets, communications centers, and other strategic objectives. It participated in the heavy-bomber offensive known as Big Week in February 1944, supported the Normandy invasion, assisted operations around Saint-Lô and Brest, attacked targets during the Battle of the Bulge, and supported the 1945 airborne crossing of the Rhine. The group flew 258 combat missions and 8,086 sorties, with 6,867 sorties recorded as having attacked their assigned targets. It dropped approximately 112,828 bombs during the war. The group suffered particularly severe losses in April and May 1944, including the loss of seven B-17s during one heavily contested mission. The unit's wartime history also includes the actions of Second Lieutenant Robert E. Femoyer, a navigator in the 711th Bombardment Squadron. During a mission to Merseburg, Germany, on 2 November 1944, Femoyer was mortally wounded when his aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. Despite his injuries, he continued navigating for more than two hours, supported by fellow crew members, until the aircraft reached safety. He died shortly after landing and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Another group aircraft, Milk Wagon, completed 129 missions without turning back, a record associated with its division. After its final combat mission on 21 April 1945, the group returned to the United States and was inactivated on 7 November 1945. It was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1947, first as a very-heavy bombardment group equipped with B-29 Superfortresses and later as a medium bombardment group. After being ordered to active duty during the Korean War in 1951, its personnel and equipment were distributed to other units, and the group was inactivated on 16 June 1951. The organization received its current expeditionary designation in January 2003, when it was converted to provisional status. It was activated at Baghdad International Airport in April 2003 and operated from what became Sather Air Base in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and, later, Operation New Dawn. Its responsibilities included aerial-port activity, military runway control, airfield operations, base support, medical support, and the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies. The Iraq deployment ended in December 2011. The group was activated again at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, in October 2015 in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. Its stated operational complement included A-10C Thunderbolt II attack aircraft and KC-135R Stratotanker aerial-refueling aircraft. The group is not a commercial brand or corporation; its identity is a military organizational designation maintained through lineage, assignments, aircraft, missions, and expeditionary deployments.

The 447th Air Expeditionary Group traces its lineage to the 447th Bombardment Group, constituted as a heavy-bomber group on 6 April 1943 and activated at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, on 1 May of that year. Its four original bombardment squadrons were the 708th, 709th, 710th, and 711th. The organization was initially intended for operational training, but its deployment role changed as the Army Air Forces prepared for the European campaign. Personnel received advanced tactical instruction in Florida and trained with B-17 units in the United States before moving overseas in November 1943. The group was based at RAF Rattlesden, England, from 25 November 1943 to 1 August 1945 as part of the Eighth Air Force. Its operations ranged from attacks on V-1 sites and French ports to strategic missions against German aircraft factories, submarine installations, oil facilities, railway yards, bridges, airfields, and communications centers. It flew during Big Week, supported the Normandy landings, contributed to Operation Cobra and the campaign for Brest, and attacked targets during the Battle of the Bulge. In March 1945 it supported the airborne assault across the Rhine. Its last combat mission was flown against a marshalling yard at Ingolstadt on 21 April 1945. The group recorded 258 missions, 8,086 sorties, and 6,867 sorties that attacked their assigned targets. Its wartime losses were substantial, especially in April 1944 and during later encounters with German fighters and anti-aircraft defenses. The group returned to the United States during the summer of 1945 and was inactivated on 7 November 1945. A reserve incarnation was activated at Bergstrom Field, Texas, on 12 August 1947 with B-29 aircraft. It was redesignated as a medium bombardment group in 1949 and moved to Castle Air Force Base, California, where it served as a corollary unit to the active-duty 93d Bombardment Group. The group was ordered to active duty during the Korean War in May 1951. Its personnel and equipment were reassigned, and the organization was inactivated on 16 June 1951. On 28 January 2003, the group was redesignated the 447th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status. It was activated at Baghdad International Airport in April 2003 following the capture of the airport during the invasion of Iraq. The installation was later named Sather Air Base in memory of Air Force Staff Sergeant Scott D. Sather. The group supported a joint civil-military airfield and performed aerial-port, runway-control, airfield-management, base-support, medical, and transportation functions. It helped move people, supplies, and equipment for United States and coalition forces in the Baghdad area. The Iraq activation ended around December 2011. The group was activated again at Incirlik Air Base in October 2015 after Turkey authorized strike missions from the base. Operating under the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing and associated with Air Combat Command and United States Air Forces Europe, it supported Operation Inherent Resolve with A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft and KC-135R Stratotankers. Because it is a provisional unit, its activation, composition, and location can change according to operational requirements.

• 2015

  Reactivation in Turkey

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated at Incirlik Air Base for Operation Inherent Resolve with A-10C and KC-135R aircraft.

• 2011

  End of Iraq activation

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The expeditionary group was inactivated around December after supporting operations at Sather Air Base.

• 2003

  Conversion to expeditionary status

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was redesignated the 447th Air Expeditionary Group and activated in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

• 1951

  Korean War active-duty call-up

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was ordered to active duty and then inactivated after its personnel and equipment were allocated to other units.

• 1947

  Air Force Reserve reactivation

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization returned as a reserve bombardment group equipped with B-29 Superfortresses.

• 1945

  End of World War II operations

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group completed its final combat mission on 21 April and was inactivated in the United States on 7 November.

• 1943

  Constitution and activation as a heavy-bomber group

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was constituted on 6 April and activated on 1 May at Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington.

• 1943

  Deployment to the European theater

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved its personnel and B-17 aircraft overseas and arrived at RAF Rattlesden in England in November.

• 1943

  First combat mission

  [1]447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group flew its first combat mission on 24 December against a V-1 site near Saint-Omer, France.

A deployable United States Air Force expeditionary group whose identity is based on combat lineage, flexible theater support, airfield operations, strike capability, and the rapid activation of forces for overseas contingency missions.

• Heavy bomber · 1943

  Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

  The B-17G Flying Fortress was the group's principal aircraft during its World War II combat service. From England, the group used the four-engine bomber for long-range daylight attacks against strategic and tactical targets across France, Belgium, and Germany. Missions supported the preparations for the Normandy invasion, the advance through France, and the final campaigns in Germany.

• Medium bomber · 1947

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress

  The B-29 Superfortress equipped the group's Air Force Reserve incarnation after its reactivation in 1947. The aircraft represented the unit's transition from its World War II B-17 lineage into the postwar strategic-bomber structure before the group was redesignated as a medium bombardment organization.

• Attack aircraft · 2015

  Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt II

  A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft formed part of the group's expeditionary complement at Incirlik from 2015. The aircraft provided close-air-support and attack capability for coalition operations associated with Operation Inherent Resolve.

• Aerial refueling aircraft · 2015

  Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker

  KC-135R Stratotankers were associated with the group's 2015 activation in Turkey. Their role was to extend the range and endurance of coalition aircraft through aerial refueling during Operation Inherent Resolve.

• 2015Operation Inherent Resolve

  Turkey · Iraq · Syria

  The group was reactivated at Incirlik Air Base with A-10C attack aircraft and KC-135R refueling aircraft after Turkey authorized strike missions from the base.

  Outcome. The activation provided expeditionary strike and refueling capacity for the coalition campaign against the Islamic State.

  Source
• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn

  Iraq

  The expeditionary group operated from Baghdad International Airport, later Sather Air Base, providing airfield control, aerial-port services, base support, medical support, and the movement of coalition personnel and materiel.

  Outcome. The Iraq activation continued until approximately December 2011.

  Source
• 1944Big Week

  European Theater of Operations

  The 447th participated in the concentrated Eighth Air Force bombing campaign against the German aircraft industry from 20 to 25 February 1944.

  Outcome. The campaign intensified pressure on German aircraft production while exposing participating bomber formations to heavy fighter opposition.

  Source
• 1944Normandy invasion support

  France

  The group attacked airfields and other targets in support of the Allied invasion of Normandy, including bombing in the beachhead area on D-Day.

  Outcome. The missions contributed to the wider Allied air campaign supporting the establishment of the Normandy beachhead.

  Source
• 1944Operation Cobra and the campaign for Brest

  France

  From July through September, the group supported the Allied breakout at Saint-Lô and operations to capture Brest.

  Outcome. The missions supported the advance of Allied ground forces through western France.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge

  Belgium · Germany

  The group attacked rail yards, bridges, and communications centers during the German winter offensive and the Allied response from December 1944 into January 1945.

  Outcome. Its bombing missions supported the disruption of German movement and logistics during the campaign.

  Source

• 2015

  Reactivation at Incirlik Air BaseStrategy

  Background

  Turkey lifted its restriction on United States strike missions launched from Incirlik, enabling expanded coalition aviation activity against the Islamic State.

  Action taken

  The Air Force reactivated the group in October with A-10C Thunderbolt II and KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The group supported Operation Inherent Resolve from Turkey under the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing.

  Source

• 2003

  Conversion to provisional expeditionary statusStrategy

  Background

  The United States Air Force required a deployable organization for contingency operations in the post-invasion Iraq theater.

  Action taken

  The former bombardment group's designation was changed to the 447th Air Expeditionary Group and it was made available for activation by Air Combat Command.

  Aftermath

  The group was activated in Baghdad in April 2003 and assumed a broad range of airfield and base-support functions.

  Source

1. 1447th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org