500th Air Expeditionary Group
The 500th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force lineage unit with World War II bomber, Cold War air-refueling, and later Antarctic expeditionary service.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 500th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit whose lineage reaches back to the 500th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress formation created during World War II. The unit was constituted in November 1943 and initially organized at Gowen Field, Idaho, before moving to Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, and then Walker Army Air Field, Kansas. After receiving newly built B-29s, it deployed to Saipan in the Mariana Islands in September 1944 as part of the 73d Bombardment Wing, XXI Bomber Command. From November 1944 through the end of the Pacific war, the group conducted very-heavy bombing missions against Japanese targets. Its operations included the first B-29 attack on Japan from the Marianas, high-altitude daylight attacks against strategic and industrial facilities, support for the Allied campaign around Okinawa, and later low-level nighttime incendiary raids. The group attacked aircraft production, urban-industrial areas, airfields, shipping, and rail infrastructure. It received two Distinguished Unit Citations for its combat performance, including missions against the Mitsubishi aircraft-engine plant at Nagoya and a series of June 1945 incendiary and interdiction operations. After Japan's surrender, the group dropped supplies to Allied prisoners of war, participated in show-of-force flights, and surveyed bomb damage. It returned to the United States in October 1945 and was inactivated at March Field, California, on 17 January 1946. The lineage was revived in the Cold War through the 500th Air Refueling Wing. That wing was established within Strategic Air Command to replace the 4045th Air Refueling Wing at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, on 1 January 1963. It inherited the predecessor's personnel, equipment, and air-refueling mission, supporting Strategic Air Command bombers and Tactical Air Command fighters. Its principal operational units included the 44th and 307th Air Refueling Squadrons, operating Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter aircraft. The wing was discontinued and inactivated on 15 December 1964, and its lineage was later consolidated with that of the World War II bombardment group. In 2002, the consolidated lineage was redesignated as the 500th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status. It was activated repeatedly from 2003 onward for Operation Deep Freeze and related United States support activities in Antarctica. Based at Christchurch, New Zealand, the group coordinated expeditionary airlift involving ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft operated by the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft operated by the 304th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron. Known activations occurred in 2003–2004, 2004–2005, and from July 2005 into the 2005–2006 Antarctic season. The available historical record does not establish a definitive date for the end of the final activation.
History
The 500th lineage began with the constitution of the 500th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, on 19 November 1943 and its activation at Gowen Field, Idaho, on 20 November. The group was designed to operate Boeing B-29 Superfortresses and initially included four bombardment squadrons, maintenance organizations, and a photographic laboratory. Because of aircraft availability and training requirements, it temporarily used B-17 Flying Fortresses before moving to Clovis Army Air Field and later Walker Army Air Field, Kansas, where it received newly manufactured B-29s. In May 1944, the organization was streamlined and personnel from one bombardment squadron and several maintenance squadrons were absorbed into the remaining structure. The group moved to Saipan in September 1944 and joined the 73d Bombardment Wing of XXI Bomber Command. After completing base construction and deployment preparations, it flew its first combat mission on 11 November against a submarine facility in the Truk Islands. On 24 November, it took part in the first B-29 attack on Japan launched from the Marianas. During the following months, it conducted high-altitude daylight attacks against strategic targets, including the Mitsubishi aircraft-engine plant at Nagoya. It also attacked airfields and other installations on Kyushu in support of the Allied assault on Okinawa. Beginning in March 1945, the group increasingly conducted low-level night incendiary attacks against area targets. Its June operations included strikes against Osaka's urban-industrial district, industrial feeder facilities at Hamamatsu, and transportation and shipping targets on Kyushu. These actions earned the group a second Distinguished Unit Citation; its earlier citation recognized the Nagoya mission. In July and August, the group also dispersed propaganda leaflets over the Japanese home islands while continuing bombing operations until Japan capitulated. Following V-J Day, the group performed humanitarian and assessment missions, including supply drops to Allied prisoners, show-of-force flights, and aerial evaluation of bomb damage. It returned to the United States in October 1945 and was assigned to the Fourth Air Force at March Field, California. Demobilization led to its inactivation on 17 January 1946. A separate but later-consolidated manifestation of the lineage appeared during the Cold War. The 500th Air Refueling Wing was established within Strategic Air Command in late 1962 and organized at Selfridge Air Force Base on 1 January 1963. It replaced the 4045th Air Refueling Wing, a Strategic Air Command tanker organization whose personnel and assets were transferred to the new wing. The 44th and 307th Air Refueling Squadrons served as its operational components, and the wing supported Strategic Air Command bomber forces and Tactical Air Command fighters through air refueling and occasional overseas deployments. It operated Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighters. The wing was inactivated on 15 December 1964. The 500th Bombardment Group and 500th Air Refueling Wing were consolidated on 31 January 1984, although the consolidated organization remained inactive. On 12 June 2002, it was redesignated the 500th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status. The group was activated for Antarctic support under Operation Deep Freeze in August 2003, in August 2004, and again in July 2005. From Christchurch, New Zealand, it coordinated expeditionary aviation support involving ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster III transports. The record identifies the last known activation as supporting the 2005–2006 Antarctic season but does not provide a confirmed inactivation date.
- 2005
Final documented Antarctic-season activation
[1]The group was activated again at Christchurch on 19 July 2005 for the 2005–2006 Antarctic season; the ending date is not confirmed in the reference record.
- 2004
Second Antarctic activation
[1]A further Christchurch activation ran from 15 August 2004 through 28 February 2005.
- 2003
First known Antarctic expeditionary activation
[1]The group was activated at Christchurch for Operation Deep Freeze support from 15 August 2003 to 1 March 2004.
- 2002
Converted to provisional expeditionary status
[1]The consolidated organization was redesignated as the 500th Air Expeditionary Group and made available for activation as a provisional unit.
- 1984
Lineages consolidated
[1]The 500th Bombardment Group and 500th Air Refueling Wing were consolidated on 31 January.
- 1964
Air-refueling wing inactivated
[1]The 500th Air Refueling Wing was discontinued and inactivated on 15 December.
- 1963
500th Air Refueling Wing organized
[1]The wing was organized at Selfridge Air Force Base on 1 January, replacing the 4045th Air Refueling Wing.
- 1946
World War II group inactivated
[1]After returning to the United States and serving briefly at March Field, the 500th Bombardment Group was inactivated on 17 January.
- 1945
Distinguished Unit Citation for Nagoya operation
[1]The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission against the Mitsubishi aircraft-engine plant at Nagoya.
- 1945
Second Distinguished Unit Citation
[1]The group was recognized for June incendiary and interdiction operations against Japanese urban-industrial, shipping, and rail targets.
Products and positioning
A lineage-based United States Air Force expeditionary organization combining historic heavy-bomber and air-refueling heritage with provisional logistics and airlift support for Antarctic operations.
Very-heavy bombardment · 1944
Boeing B-29 Superfortress operations
The World War II incarnation operated B-29 Superfortresses from Saipan against Japanese strategic, industrial, transportation, and area targets. Missions included high-altitude daylight bombing, low-level nighttime incendiary attacks, leaflet drops, and postwar prisoner-supply and damage-assessment flights.
Air refueling · 1963
Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter operations
During its 1963–1964 Cold War period, the 500th Air Refueling Wing operated KC-97 Stratofreighters to provide tanker support to Strategic Air Command bomber forces and Tactical Air Command fighter aircraft, including support for selected overseas movements and special operations.
Expeditionary logistics · 2003
Antarctic airlift coordination
The provisional 500th Air Expeditionary Group supported Operation Deep Freeze from Christchurch, coordinating expeditionary aviation involving ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster III transports for Antarctic logistics and support activities.
Marketing campaigns
- 2005Operation Deep Freeze seasonal support
Antarctica · New Zealand
The group was activated at Christchurch in July 2005 for another Antarctic support season involving LC-130 and C-17 airlift resources.
Outcome. The available source identifies the activation but does not confirm its final inactivation date.
- 2004Operation Deep Freeze seasonal support
Antarctica · New Zealand
The group returned to Christchurch for another Antarctic operating season, supporting expeditionary airlift and logistics.
Outcome. The documented activation ran through 28 February 2005.
- 2003Operation Deep Freeze
Antarctica · New Zealand
The provisional group was activated at Christchurch to provide command and coordination for United States Antarctic support aviation.
Outcome. The documented activation ended on 1 March 2004 and was followed by later seasonal activations.
- 1944Pacific Theater strategic bombing
Japan · Pacific Theater
The group deployed to Saipan and conducted B-29 bombing missions against Japanese military and industrial targets, beginning with operations in November 1944.
Outcome. The group continued combat operations until Japan's capitulation in August 1945 and received two Distinguished Unit Citations.
Brand decisions
2002
Convert the consolidated lineage to provisional expeditionary statusStrategyBackground
The inactive consolidated lineage was made available for recurring expeditionary missions requiring a temporary organizational structure.
Action taken
The organization was redesignated as the 500th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status under Air Mobility Command.
Aftermath
It was activated repeatedly for Antarctic support, including Operation Deep Freeze deployments from Christchurch.
1963
Replace the 4045th Air Refueling Wing with the 500thStrategyBackground
Strategic Air Command reorganized certain aircraft wings to preserve the lineage of historically distinguished World War II units.
Action taken
The 500th Air Refueling Wing assumed the predecessor wing's personnel, equipment, and air-refueling responsibilities at Selfridge Air Force Base.
Aftermath
The wing operated until its discontinuation and inactivation in December 1964; the two lineages were later consolidated.
Sources1 sources
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