457th Air Expeditionary Group

The 457th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe for activation and inactivation as operational requirements dictate. Unlike a commercial brand, it is a military unit whose identity reflects lineage, mission capability, and institutional continuity rather than consumer positioning. Its modern provisional designation descends from the 457th Bombardment Group, a World War II heavy-bomber formation that operated Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses from England as part of the Eighth Air Force strategic bombing campaign. The unit was established as the 457th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in May 1943 and activated on 1 July 1943. After training at Geiger Field, Rapid City Army Air Base, Ephrata Army Air Base, and Wendover Field, it moved to the European Theater and assembled at RAF Glatton in England in January 1944. The group flew its first combat mission during Big Week on 21 February 1944, attacking German aircraft-manufacturing and related industrial targets. Its strategic missions included attacks on ball-bearing plants, oil refineries, aircraft factories, and other infrastructure supporting Germany's war effort. The group also performed tactical and interdiction missions in support of Allied ground operations. It attacked coastal defenses during the Normandy invasion, struck airfields, railways, roads, and supply depots, and supported Operation Cobra, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Varsity. The formation flew its final combat mission on 20 April 1945. During approximately fourteen months of combat it recorded 7,086 sorties, claimed 33 enemy aircraft destroyed, and lost 83 B-17s. After Germany's surrender, it helped move prisoners of war from Austria to France before returning to the United States and inactivating in August 1945. The 457th lineage was revived as the 457th Operations Group on 1 July 1993 to control air-refueling operations at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The group oversaw the 11th and 306th Air Refueling Squadrons and Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers. Its personnel and aircraft supported Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch from Aviano Air Base in Italy and Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. This incarnation ended on 1 October 1994. On 5 February 2001, the organization was redesignated the 457th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status. It was activated at RAF Fairford in 2003 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, including operations by B-52H Stratofortresses deployed from Minot Air Force Base. The aircraft flew bombing and leaflet-dropping missions, and a B-52 crew used the Litening II precision-targeting pod in combat for the first time on 11 April 2003. The group was also activated in Tanzania in 2008 for a three-month joint-operation period involving air-control and air-base elements, and at Naval Station Rota, Spain, in 2011 in support of Operation Odyssey Dawn and the enforcement of a no-fly zone over Libya. Because provisional units are activated for particular missions, the group's current operational status and permanent headquarters are not established in the available reference material.

The 457th's lineage begins with the 457th Bombardment Group (Heavy), established on 19 May 1943 and activated at Geiger Field, Washington, on 1 July of that year. The group initially comprised the 748th, 749th, 750th, and 751st Bombardment Squadrons. It moved to Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, shortly after activation and trained with B-17 Flying Fortresses. Training continued at Ephrata Army Air Base in Washington and at Wendover Field, Utah, where the group prepared for overseas deployment. It departed for the European Theater on New Year's Day 1944. The group assembled at RAF Glatton in England by the end of January 1944. Its first combat mission took place on 21 February during Big Week, the Eighth Air Force campaign against German aircraft production. Through the spring of 1944, the group concentrated on strategic targets such as aircraft plants, ball-bearing facilities, and oil refineries. In June, preparations for the Normandy invasion redirected it toward coastal defenses and transportation and logistical targets. On D-Day it attacked defenses on the Cherbourg Peninsula, then supported the Allied advance by striking airfields, railways, roads, and depots. It later contributed to Operation Cobra, the breakout near Saint-Lô; Operation Market Garden; the Battle of the Bulge; and Operation Varsity, the airborne crossing of the Rhine. Strategic bombing resumed as the principal mission in July 1944 and continued into April 1945. On 2 November 1944, the group and another bomber formation became separated from the main bomber stream and fighter escort, allowing German fighter controllers to direct a concentrated interception. Nine 457th aircraft were lost in that attack. The group flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945, having completed 7,086 sorties and claimed 33 enemy aircraft destroyed while losing 83 Flying Fortresses. After V-E Day it transported prisoners of war from Austria to France. Its air echelon left England in May, and its ground echelon returned aboard the RMS Queen Elizabeth. The group assembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field and inactivated on 28 August 1945. A notable wartime incident occurred on 28 July 1945, when Lieutenant Colonel William F. Smith became disoriented while ferrying a 457th B-25 Mitchell from Bedford Army Air Base toward Sioux Falls via Newark. The aircraft struck the Empire State Building in New York City, killing the pilot, two passengers, and eleven people in the building. This event was an accident involving an aircraft associated with the group, not a combat operation. The lineage returned to active service on 1 July 1993 as the 457th Operations Group at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Air Mobility Command transferred two operational air-refueling squadrons, the 11th and 306th, and their KC-135R aircraft to the reactivated group. Deployments to Aviano and Incirlik supported Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch. The 11th Air Refueling Squadron was inactivated in August 1994, and the group and 306th Air Refueling Squadron ended their active service on 1 October 1994. On 5 February 2001, the group was redesignated the 457th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under United States Air Forces in Europe. Its provisional structure enabled it to be activated for distinct overseas missions. In 2003 it operated from RAF Fairford in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Approximately a dozen B-52s deployed from Minot participated in bombing and leaflet missions, while a B-52 crew from the 917th Wing used the Litening II targeting pod in combat on 11 April. The bombers returned to North Dakota on 24 April, although group elements remained temporarily to secure materiel and unused munitions. The group was activated again at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from January to May 2008 for joint activities involving the Tanzania Air Force Command. Its structure included the 603d Expeditionary Air Control Squadron and an air-base squadron. In 2011, it was briefly activated at Naval Station Rota to support Operation Odyssey Dawn, the multinational enforcement operation over Libya. The available references do not establish a permanent current activation, headquarters, or commander.

• 2003

  Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment

  [1]457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group operated from RAF Fairford in support of B-52 bombing and leaflet missions over Iraq.

• 2001

  Converted to provisional expeditionary status

  [1]457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the 457th Air Expeditionary Group and was assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe for activation as needed.

• 1993

  Reactivated as 457th Operations Group

  [1]457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group resumed service at Altus Air Force Base to control KC-135R air-refueling operations.

• 1945

  World War II combat operations concluded

  [1]457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The final combat mission was flown on 20 April after 7,086 sorties; the group inactivated on 28 August.

• 1944

  First World War II combat mission

  [1]457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group flew its first B-17 mission from RAF Glatton on 21 February during Big Week.

• 1943

  457th Bombardment Group established and activated

  [1]457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 457th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was established on 19 May and activated on 1 July at Geiger Field, Washington.

A flexible, mission-specific United States Air Force expeditionary formation combining historical bomber-group lineage with provisional command, airpower, refueling, air-control, and base-support capabilities.

• Heavy bomber operations · 1943

  Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress operations

  The B-17G Flying Fortress was the group's principal aircraft during World War II. From RAF Glatton, the 457th used the four-engine heavy bomber for strategic attacks against German industrial and military targets and for tactical support of Allied land and airborne operations.

• Air refueling · 1993

  Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker operations

  KC-135R Stratotankers formed the operational basis of the group's 1993–1994 air-refueling role at Altus Air Force Base. The group deployed tanker personnel and aircraft to Aviano and Incirlik in support of no-fly-zone enforcement missions.

• Strategic bomber expeditionary support · 2003

  Boeing B-52H Stratofortress support

  During the 2003 RAF Fairford deployment, the group supported B-52H Stratofortresses from Minot Air Force Base. The aircraft conducted bombing and leaflet missions in Operation Iraqi Freedom, including an early combat use of the Litening II precision-targeting pod on a B-52.

• 2011Operation Odyssey Dawn

  Libya · Spain

  The group was briefly activated at Naval Station Rota to support enforcement of the no-fly zone over Libya.

  Outcome. The activation ended in approximately April 2011.

  Source
• 2008Joint operations with Tanzania Air Force Command

  Tanzania

  The group operated at Dar es Salaam with air-control and air-base components.

  Outcome. The three-month activation ended in May 2008.

  Source
• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq · United Kingdom

  Activated at RAF Fairford, the group supported deployed B-52H aircraft conducting bombing and leaflet missions against targets in Iraq.

  Outcome. The B-52 deployment returned to the United States in April, while support elements remained temporarily to secure materiel.

  Source
• 1945Operation Varsity

  Germany

  The group supported the Allied airborne assault across the Rhine.

  Outcome. It contributed bomber support to the final major Allied offensive operations in northwest Europe.

  Source
• 1944Big Week

  Europe

  The group's first combat mission occurred during the Eighth Air Force offensive against Germany's aircraft industry.

  Outcome. The group entered the strategic bombing campaign and continued combat operations from England.

  Source
• 1944Operation Overlord

  France

  The group attacked coastal defenses and subsequently targeted transport and logistical infrastructure supporting the Normandy campaign.

  Outcome. It provided bombing and interdiction support during the Allied invasion and advance.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden

  Netherlands

  The group supported the British 1st Airborne Division during the attempt to secure bridges and establish positions across the Rhine approaches.

  Outcome. The group performed tactical support missions during the airborne and ground operation.

  Source

• 2003

  Combat introduction of Litening II targeting pod on a B-52Other

  Background

  A B-52 crew supporting the group's Iraq deployment had access to the Litening II precision-targeting system.

  Action taken

  On 11 April 2003, a crew from the 917th Wing used the pod to designate targets during a combat sortie.

  Aftermath

  The mission represented the first combat use of the system by a B-52 platform, according to the cited account.

  Source

• 2001

  Conversion to provisional expeditionary statusStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force required a structure that could be activated for distinct overseas missions without maintaining a continuously active permanent group.

  Action taken

  The 457th Operations Group lineage was redesignated as the 457th Air Expeditionary Group and placed in provisional status under United States Air Forces in Europe.

  Aftermath

  The group subsequently supported operations in Iraq, Tanzania, and Libya through separate temporary activations.

  Source

1. 1457th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org