497th Air Expeditionary Group
The 497th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force organization that preserves the lineage of a World War II B-29 bomber group and a Cold War air-refueling wing.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 497th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Pacific Air Forces for activation when required. Although the current designation refers to an expeditionary group rather than a commercial brand, the organization carries a long and complex institutional lineage. Its history began with the establishment of the 497th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, in November 1943 during the buildup of the United States Army Air Forces' B-29 Superfortress force for the Pacific war. The World War II group was initially formed in Texas and New Mexico and trained in Kansas. Its operational squadrons were the 869th, 870th, 871st, and, for a shorter period, the 872d Bombardment Squadrons. The group transitioned to the Boeing B-29, although training and equipment problems meant that B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators also appeared in its preparatory activities. After deploying to Saipan in the Mariana Islands in 1944, it became part of XXI Bomber Command and conducted very-heavy bombardment operations against Japanese targets. Its missions included attacks on industrial and military objectives, weather and radar-information sorties, incendiary raids, attacks supporting the Okinawa campaign, and the dropping of propaganda leaflets. The group participated in the first major United States Army Air Forces raid on Japan launched from the Marianas and received two Distinguished Unit Citations for combat operations. Following Japan's surrender, the group performed supply-dropping missions for Allied prisoners of war and returned to the United States. It was inactivated in March 1946 amid postwar demobilization. Its lineage was later connected to the Cold War air-refueling force through the 497th Air Refueling Wing. That wing was organized at Plattsburgh Air Force Base, New York, on 1 January 1963, replacing the Strategic Air Command's 4108th Air Refueling Wing. Equipped initially with Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters, it supported Strategic Air Command air-refueling requirements and other United States Air Force missions. The wing was inactivated in September 1964 as the force moved toward newer KC-135 aircraft and reorganized its supporting structure. In 1984, the 497th Bombardment Group and 497th Air Refueling Wing were consolidated into one lineage. In 2002, the consolidated unit was redesignated the 497th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under Pacific Air Forces. Between 2000 and 2006, it was activated periodically to provide command and control for Commando Sling exercises at Paya Lebar Airfield, Singapore, using a cadre from the 497th Combat Training Squadron supplemented by deployed personnel and equipment. Because provisional expeditionary units are activated and inactivated according to operational requirements, the group's current activation status and permanent headquarters are not established in the cited reference material.
History
The 497th lineage began on 19 November 1943, when the United States Army Air Forces constituted the 497th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy. It was activated the following day at El Paso Army Air Base, Texas, and was assigned to the 73d Bombardment Wing. The group moved administratively to Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, in December, while much of its ground personnel trained at Pratt Army Air Field, Kansas, alongside the 40th Bombardment Group. Aircrew personnel were drawn in part from returning members of the 480th Antisubmarine Group and trained with a mixture of B-17 and B-24 aircraft before receiving B-29 Superfortresses. The group assembled at Pratt in April 1944 and received newly manufactured B-29s beginning in May. During the Army Air Forces' reorganization of very-heavy bombardment units, the 872d Bombardment Squadron and the group's bombardment maintenance squadrons were disbanded, with their personnel absorbed into the remaining operational structure. The group deployed to the Pacific in the summer and autumn of 1944. Its ground echelon sailed aboard SS Fairisle on 30 July, traveled through Honolulu and Eniwetok, and reached Saipan on 20 September. Aircrews ferried the aircraft across the Pacific, with the last group B-29 arriving by 30 October. The organization operated from Isely Field as part of XXI Bomber Command. Combat operations began on 28 October 1944 with a night mission against submarine facilities at Truk and subsequent operations against Iwo Jima. A 497th aircraft conducted an early electronic and radar-information mission to Japan on 10 November. On 24 November, Major Robert Morgan led the first XXI Bomber Command mission to bomb Japan from the Marianas, with Brigadier General Emmett O'Donnell Jr. serving as co-pilot. The group continued attacks on strategic targets, including industrial areas, and flew single-aircraft weather missions that also incorporated incendiary attacks. Japanese attacks on Isely Field destroyed four group aircraft in December 1944. The group received its first Distinguished Unit Citation for its 27 January 1945 mission. When weather prevented an attack on the primary objective, the unescorted B-29 force struck an alternate industrial target at Hamamatsu despite intense enemy opposition. A second Distinguished Unit Citation recognized operations against Japanese strategic centers during July and August 1945. The group also attacked Japanese airfields in support of the Okinawa invasion, conducted low-level nighttime incendiary raids from March 1945 through the end of the war, and distributed propaganda leaflets. After V-J Day it dropped supplies to Allied prisoners of war. The group returned to the United States in November 1945 and served successively under Continental Air Forces organizations at March Field, California, and MacDill Field, Florida. The 513th Bombardment Squadron joined it in November 1945 for B-29 conversion training. The group was inactivated on 31 March 1946 as demobilization reduced the wartime bomber force. A separate phase of the lineage began with the 4108th Air Refueling Wing, a Strategic Air Command major-command-controlled wing created at Plattsburgh Air Force Base in January 1961. In the effort to preserve the lineage of historically significant combat units, the 4108th was replaced by the newly constituted 497th Air Refueling Wing. The wing was activated as an organized unit on 1 January 1963, inheriting the personnel, equipment, and mission of the 4108th. Its 26th and 380th Air Refueling Squadrons operated Boeing KC-97 Stratofortresses, while three maintenance squadrons supported the wing. The wing conducted global air-refueling missions for Strategic Air Command and other Air Force requirements and received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. It was discontinued and inactivated on 15 September 1964; the 380th Air Refueling Squadron was reassigned to the 380th Bombardment Wing. On 31 January 1984, the 497th Bombardment Group and 497th Air Refueling Wing were consolidated into a single unit, retaining the 497th Air Refueling Wing designation while remaining inactive. The consolidated organization was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 497th Air Expeditionary Group on 12 June 2002. It was assigned first for activation by Air Mobility Command and later by Pacific Air Forces. From 2000 through 2006, the group was periodically activated for Commando Sling exercises at Paya Lebar Airfield, Singapore. These activations used the 497th Combat Training Squadron as a core cadre, augmented by personnel and equipment deployed from Pacific Air Forces fighter units. The available reference describes the group as an on-call provisional organization rather than a continuously active permanent unit.
- 2002
Conversion to a provisional expeditionary group
[1]The consolidated unit was redesignated the 497th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 12 June.
- 1984
Lineage consolidation
[1]The 497th Bombardment Group and 497th Air Refueling Wing were consolidated into one unit on 31 January.
- 1964
Air-refueling wing inactivated
[1]The 497th Air Refueling Wing was discontinued and inactivated on 15 September during a period of Strategic Air Command reorganization and aircraft modernization.
- 1963
Organization of the 497th Air Refueling Wing
[1]The 497th Air Refueling Wing assumed the mission, personnel, and equipment of the 4108th Air Refueling Wing at Plattsburgh Air Force Base on 1 January.
- 1946
Postwar inactivation
[1]After returning to the United States and serving in the postwar bomber structure, the 497th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 31 March.
- 1945
Distinguished Unit Citation operations
[1]The group earned one Distinguished Unit Citation for its 27 January mission against Hamamatsu and a second for operations against Japanese strategic centers in July and August.
- 1944
Deployment to Saipan
[1]The group moved to Saipan in the Mariana Islands and joined XXI Bomber Command at Isely Field for B-29 operations against Japan.
- 1943
Constitution and activation as a B-29 bombardment group
[1]The 497th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, was constituted on 19 November and activated on 20 November at El Paso Army Air Base, Texas.
Products and positioning
A lineage-bearing United States Air Force expeditionary organization used for episodic operational control, training, and exercise missions in the Pacific and Indo-Pacific region.
Very-heavy bombardment · 1944
Boeing B-29 Superfortress operations
The group's principal World War II capability was the B-29 Superfortress. From Saipan, its crews conducted strategic, industrial, airfield, incendiary, weather, and leaflet-dropping missions against Japan and nearby Japanese-held targets. The aircraft were identified by an A and a square on the tail.
Air refueling · 1963
Boeing KC-97 Stratofortress operations
During its 1963–1964 existence as an air-refueling wing, the organization operated Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters through the 26th and 380th Air Refueling Squadrons. The wing supported worldwide Strategic Air Command refueling requirements and other Air Force missions.
Expeditionary training and command · 2000
Commando Sling exercise control
In provisional form, the group provided an organizational framework for periodic Commando Sling exercises at Paya Lebar Airfield, Singapore. Activations used a standing cadre augmented by deployed Pacific Air Forces personnel and equipment.
Marketing campaigns
- 2000Commando Sling
Singapore · Pacific region
The provisional group was periodically activated between 2000 and 2006 to control Commando Sling exercises at Paya Lebar Airfield, using a cadre from the 497th Combat Training Squadron and personnel and equipment from Pacific Air Forces fighter units.
Outcome. The activations provided an expeditionary command structure for recurring multinational air-training activity.
- 1945Okinawa support operations
Okinawa · Pacific Theater
The group attacked Japanese airfields in April 1945 to reduce air attacks against Allied forces during the assault on Okinawa.
Outcome. The operations supported the Allied invasion effort while the group continued its broader strategic bombing mission.
- 1944Marianas-based strategic bombing campaign
Pacific Theater · Japan
After arriving on Saipan, the group conducted B-29 attacks against Japanese strategic and military targets, beginning with operations against Truk and Iwo Jima and expanding to the Japanese home islands.
Outcome. The group maintained combat operations through the Japanese surrender and received recognition for distinguished combat performance.
Brand decisions
2002
Conversion to provisional expeditionary statusStrategyBackground
The Air Force required a flexible organization that could be activated for Pacific exercises and other missions without maintaining a continuously active permanent unit.
Action taken
The consolidated lineage was redesignated as the 497th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under Pacific Air Forces.
Aftermath
The group was periodically used for Commando Sling exercises in Singapore between 2000 and 2006 and remained available for activation as needed.
1963
Replacement of the 4108th Air Refueling WingStrategyBackground
Strategic Air Command sought permanent Air Force-controlled units that could preserve the lineage and history of historically distinguished inactive combat organizations.
Action taken
The 497th Air Refueling Wing was organized at Plattsburgh Air Force Base and assumed the personnel, equipment, and mission of the 4108th Air Refueling Wing.
Aftermath
The wing conducted KC-97 air-refueling operations until its discontinuation and inactivation in September 1964.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/497th-air-refueling-wing · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled