458th Air Expeditionary Group

The 458th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe for activation when operational circumstances require it. Unlike a conventional commercial brand, it is an institutional identity used to organize and command deployed air-force personnel, aircraft, and support functions. Its current standing is not continuously active; the unit may be activated or inactivated as directed, and its most recently documented activation continued until July 2011 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The group's lineage reaches back to the Second World War, when it was constituted as the 458th Bombardment Group and activated at Wendover Field, Utah, on 1 July 1943. It trained with Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers before moving to the European Theater of Operations. Based at RAF Horsham St. Faith near Norwich, England, it entered combat in February 1944 as part of the Eighth Air Force's strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Its missions attacked aircraft factories, fuel and oil facilities, rail yards, canals, airfields, and other military-industrial targets. It also supported the invasion of Normandy and later Allied operations by striking coastal defenses, rocket-launch sites, communications networks, troop concentrations, and battlefield positions. The wartime group flew 240 combat missions and lost 47 Liberators, while claiming the destruction of 28 enemy aircraft. It also participated in Operation Truckin', transporting aviation gasoline to forward airfields in France after the rapid Allied advance created supply difficulties. In addition, the group served as a test organization for the Army Air Forces' early Azon guided-bomb program, using modified B-24s in an attack against bridges in Normandy. After Germany's surrender, it returned to the United States, transitioned to training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, and was inactivated at March Field, California, on 17 October 1945. The lineage was revived in the post-Cold War reorganization of the Air Force. On 1 June 1992, the organization was activated as the 458th Operations Group under the 22d Air Refueling Wing. It controlled KC-10 Extender tanker squadrons and, for a short period, the 71st Air Refueling Squadron operating KC-135 Stratotankers. The group supported worldwide deployments before being inactivated in 1995, after its tanker assets were reassigned within Air Mobility Command. The organization was converted to provisional status on 5 February 2001 and assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe. Its expeditionary role included multinational training, air mobility support, medical and operational support, and the establishment of air bridges for military operations. In 2002 it participated in a United States–South Africa bilateral exercise at Waterkloof Air Force Base. In 2003 it operated at Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in Romania, supporting the movement of personnel and supplies toward the United States Central Command area of responsibility during the opening period of Operation Iraqi Freedom and continuing operations connected with Operation Enduring Freedom. The group was activated repeatedly between 2004 and 2007 for short deployments involving expeditionary airlift, fighter, mobility, medical, and support squadrons. Its last documented activation began in November 2007 and ended on 25 July 2011.

The unit's lineage began with the constitution of the 458th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943 and its activation at Wendover Field, Utah, on 1 July of that year. The group included the 752d, 753d, 754th, and 755th Bombardment Squadrons. Its personnel trained at several United States bases, including Gowen Field, Orlando Army Air Base, Kearns Army Air Base, Wendover, and Tonopah Army Air Field. The group received Consolidated B-24 Liberators and completed its initial preparation for overseas combat by the end of 1943. The ground echelon sailed from New York aboard USS Florence Nightingale in January 1944, while the air echelon ferried its aircraft to England by way of the southern Atlantic route. The group assembled at RAF Horsham St. Faith near Norwich and flew its first missions in late February. Beginning in March, it conducted strategic bombing against German aircraft production, fuel infrastructure, transportation facilities, airfields, and industrial targets. Its role broadened during the preparation for and conduct of the Normandy invasion. It attacked coastal defenses, V-1 and V-2 launch sites, airfields, roads, rail facilities, and troop positions, and later supported Operation Cobra, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Varsity. The group also performed an unusual logistical mission known as Operation Truckin'. From September 1944 it transported gasoline from England to advanced landing grounds in France, helping sustain the Third Army after its advance exceeded established supply arrangements. It flew more than 450 sorties in this role and lost two aircraft, although the missions were not classified as combat sorties. The unit's last combat mission took place on 24 April 1945. During May it conducted Trolley missions, carrying ground personnel over the continent so they could observe the effects of the group's work. It returned to the United States in June and July 1945, reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, and then moved to Walker Army Air Field and March Field for B-29 training. It never reached full manning and was inactivated on 17 October 1945. The lineage reappeared on 1 June 1992 as the 458th Operations Group. The reactivation followed the restructuring of United States strategic forces and the transfer of air-refueling responsibilities to Air Mobility Command. Assigned to the 22d Air Refueling Wing, the group controlled KC-10 tanker squadrons and briefly the 71st Air Refueling Squadron with KC-135 aircraft. It was inactivated in 1995 after its personnel and aircraft were moved into other Air Mobility Command organizations. On 5 February 2001, the organization was redesignated the 458th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under United States Air Forces in Europe. It was designed to be activated for specific expeditionary requirements rather than maintained continuously. Its documented deployments included a 2002 bilateral exercise in South Africa and a 2003 operation in Romania supporting an air bridge for personnel and supplies associated with United States operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group was subsequently activated for short periods in 2004, 2006, and 2007. Its later components included expeditionary airlift, fighter, medical, mobility, and support squadrons operating from locations such as Istres Air Base in France and Zaragoza Air Base in Spain. The final listed activation began on 26 November 2007 and ended on 25 July 2011 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

• 2011

  Most recent documented activation ends

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The final activation listed in the reference material ended on 25 July 2011.

• 2001

  Converted to provisional expeditionary status

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit received its current designation and was assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe for episodic activation.

• 1992

  Operations Group reactivated

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization returned as the 458th Operations Group to manage air-refueling units under Air Mobility Command.

• 1945

  World War II lineage suspended

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After returning to the United States and beginning B-29 training, the group was inactivated at March Field on 17 October.

• 1944

  European combat begins

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group arrived in England and entered the Eighth Air Force bombing campaign against Germany.

• 1944

  Azon guided-bomb testing

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Modified B-24 aircraft were used in an early Army Air Forces guided-bomb project, including a Normandy bridge attack.

• 1943

  Wartime group activated

  [1]458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 458th Bombardment Group was activated at Wendover Field, Utah, on 1 July.

A flexible expeditionary command identity for organizing United States Air Force operations, air mobility, combat support, and multinational deployments.

• Heavy bomber operations · 1943

  Consolidated B-24 Liberator operations

  The group's principal wartime equipment was the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. From England, its crews conducted long-range strategic bombing, interdiction, close support, and attacks supporting the Normandy invasion. The group also employed modified Liberators in an early guided-bomb testing program and used aircraft for fuel transport during Operation Truckin'.

• Very-heavy bomber training · 1945

  Boeing B-29 Superfortress training

  After returning from Europe in 1945, the group was redesignated for very-heavy bomber duties and began training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. The organization did not achieve the manning level required for operational employment before it was inactivated.

• Air mobility · 1992

  Air-refueling command

  During its 1992–1995 incarnation as the 458th Operations Group, the organization managed KC-10 Extender tanker squadrons and temporarily included a KC-135 Stratotanker squadron. These forces supported worldwide deployments and air-mobility requirements.

• Expeditionary operations · 2001

  Expeditionary air mobility and support

  The provisional group has organized deployed airlift, fighter, medical, mobility, and support elements. Aircraft associated with its expeditionary operations included the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Lockheed C-130 Hercules, depending on the mission and activation.

• 2003Romanian air-bridge operation

  Romania · Iraq · Afghanistan

  The group operated from Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport in Romania to support the movement of people and supplies toward the United States Central Command area of responsibility during the opening period of Operation Iraqi Freedom and operations related to Afghanistan.

  Outcome. The deployment maintained a logistics link between Europe and forward operational areas.

  Source
• 2002United States–South Africa bilateral exercise

  South Africa · United States

  The group participated in the first bilateral exercise between the South African and United States air forces at Waterkloof Air Force Base, with personnel drawn from several United States Air Force and Air National Guard locations.

  Outcome. The exercise provided a framework for operational cooperation and military-to-military engagement.

  Source

• 2001

  Adoption of provisional expeditionary statusStrategy

  Background

  United States Air Forces in Europe required a unit structure that could be activated for changing expeditionary missions without maintaining the group as a permanently active organization.

  Action taken

  The 458th Operations Group lineage was redesignated as the 458th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status.

  Aftermath

  The group was subsequently activated for exercises, air mobility, medical support, and other deployed missions in Europe and nearby theaters.

  Source

1. 1458th Air Expeditionary Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Force participates in South Africa exerciseeucom.mil