60th Operations Group
The 60th Operations Group is the flying component of the United States Air Force's 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 60th Operations Group, commonly designated the 60 OG, is a United States Air Force operational unit assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing and based at Travis Air Force Base, California. It provides the wing's principal flying capability for strategic airlift and aerial refueling, supporting the movement of personnel, equipment, humanitarian supplies, and military forces around the world. The group is part of Air Mobility Command and is described in reference material as its largest operations group. The present-day group carries forward the lineage and honors of several earlier formations. It was originally constituted as the 60th Transport Group on 20 November 1940 and activated at Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania, on 1 December of that year. Initially equipped with C-47 aircraft, it moved through a series of American and British bases before deploying to North Africa in 1942. It was redesignated the 60th Troop Carrier Group during the Second World War and supported Allied operations in Tunisia, Sicily, the Balkans, and Greece. Its duties included towing gliders, dropping paratroopers, transporting troops and supplies, evacuating wounded personnel, and delivering material to isolated resistance forces. From March through September 1944, the group conducted difficult night missions to provisional landing fields in Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece. The operations were complicated by poor weather, rough terrain, enemy night fighters, anti-aircraft fire, and hostile ground activity. During this period, it flew nearly 3,000 missions, including about 600 hazardous landings, delivered more than 7,000 tons of supplies and equipment, and evacuated thousands of military and civilian personnel. Ten aircraft were lost and 34 group members were killed or listed as missing. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for this Mediterranean Theater service. After moving to Trinidad in June 1945, the wartime group was inactivated on 31 July 1945. It returned to active service in Germany in September 1946. The group subsequently participated in the Berlin Airlift, operating C-47 and C-54 aircraft from Kaufbeuren and Wiesbaden. Between June 1948 and September 1949, its squadrons contributed to the wider airlift effort that delivered nearly 1.8 million tons of supplies to West Berlin on almost 190,000 flights. During the following decade, the group resumed a broader tactical airlift role in Europe, operating C-82, C-119, and C-47 aircraft and supporting exercises, logistics, and Army air-transportability training. The lineage was revived as the 60th Military Airlift Group in 1978, but that formation was inactivated in 1979. The current 60th Operations Group was activated in 1991 under the Air Force's Objective Wing reorganization, which grouped flying squadrons under an operations group as the distinction between tactical and strategic airlift became less pronounced. Since then, its aircraft and personnel have supported operations and relief efforts in Somalia, Southwest Asia, northern Iraq, the Philippines, the Balkans, and other theaters. During the Global War on Terrorism, group elements operated through the provisional 60th Air Expeditionary Group, providing C-5, C-17, and KC-10 airlift and refueling support for operations in and around Afghanistan. The group's current listed components include the 60th Operations Support Squadron, the 6th and 9th Air Refueling Squadrons, the 21st Airlift Squadron, and the 22d Airlift Squadron. Reference material identifies KC-46A Pegasus tankers, C-17A Globemaster III transports, and C-5M Super Galaxy transports as its principal aircraft. As a military organization rather than a commercial brand, its identity is defined by lineage, operational readiness, aircrew and support functions, and the global mobility missions assigned by the United States Air Force.
History
The unit was constituted as the 60th Transport Group on 20 November 1940 and activated at Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania, on 1 December. It initially flew the C-47 and moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts, before deploying to Britain in 1942. On 7 July 1942 it was redesignated the 60th Troop Carrier Group. After moving to North Africa, it came under Twelfth Air Force and operated from locations in Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy. During the Second World War, the group supported the campaign in Tunisia, towed gliders, dropped paratroopers during the Allied invasion of Sicily, and participated in the airborne phase of the liberation of Greece. It also carried troops and supplies, evacuated wounded personnel, and dropped supplies to escaped prisoners of war. Its most demanding work involved unarmed night flights to provisional airfields in Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece in support of Allied-backed partisan forces. From 28 March through 15 September 1944, it flew almost 3,000 missions, made approximately 600 hazardous landings, delivered over 7,000 tons of supplies and equipment, and evacuated thousands of people. Ten aircraft were lost and 34 members were killed or missing. The group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for these operations. The group moved to Waller Field, Trinidad, in June 1945 and was inactivated there on 31 July. It was reactivated in Germany on 30 September 1946. In 1948, its squadrons helped conduct the Berlin Airlift from Kaufbeuren and Wiesbaden using C-47 and C-54 aircraft. The group later resumed tactical airlift responsibilities in Europe, supporting American and allied forces, exercises, and Army training while operating C-82, C-119, and C-47 aircraft. It was inactivated in 1957 after a reorganization reduced the headquarters structure of its parent formations. The formation was briefly revived as the 60th Military Airlift Group in 1978. It conducted worldwide personnel and cargo airlift, participated in joint exercises, and supported humanitarian missions, including relief airlift following the 1978 Jonestown tragedy in Guyana. It was inactivated in February 1979. The 60th Operations Group was redesignated and activated in 1991. The new group inherited the lineage and honors of the 60th Military Airlift Group and its predecessor organizations. During the 1990s, its elements supported relief and security operations in Somalia, Southwest Asia, northern Iraq, the Philippines, the Balkans, and the Kosovo conflict. In September 2001, deployed elements were designated the provisional 60th Air Expeditionary Group for combat operations. C-5 aircraft moved large quantities of cargo and passengers to forward locations, C-17 aircraft carried troops and equipment into Afghanistan, and KC-10 aircraft provided aerial refueling for combat aircraft. The group remains assigned to the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base.
- 2001
Expeditionary support for the Afghanistan campaign
[1]Provisional expeditionary elements supported Operation Enduring Freedom with strategic airlift, tactical airlift, and aerial refueling.
- 1991
Current operations group activated
[1]The 60th Operations Group was activated on 1 November following the Objective Wing reorganization.
- 1978
Reactivated as the 60th Military Airlift Group
[1]The lineage was temporarily reactivated for worldwide airlift, exercises, and humanitarian support.
- 1948
Berlin Airlift participation
[1]The group and its squadrons supported the Berlin Airlift from German bases using C-47 and C-54 aircraft.
- 1944
Balkan partisan supply operations
[1]The group conducted sustained night resupply and evacuation missions in Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece and received a Distinguished Unit Citation.
- 1942
Redesignated as a troop carrier group
[1]The formation became the 60th Troop Carrier Group and deployed to the European and Mediterranean theaters.
- 1940
60th Transport Group constituted
[1]The unit was constituted on 20 November 1940 and activated on 1 December at Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania.
Products and positioning
A global military air-mobility organization focused on strategic transport, aerial refueling, expeditionary deployment, humanitarian response, and sustained logistics support.
Strategic airlift
C-5M Super Galaxy
The C-5M Super Galaxy provides very-heavy strategic airlift for outsized military equipment, vehicles, supplies, and personnel. The aircraft is associated with the group's long-range global mobility role and supports the rapid movement of forces and materiel to distant theaters.
Strategic and tactical airlift
C-17A Globemaster III
The C-17A combines intercontinental transport with the ability to operate from shorter or less-developed airfields. The group's C-17 capability supports the movement of troops and equipment into forward operating locations and complements the heavier payload role of the C-5 fleet.
Aerial refueling
KC-46A Pegasus
The KC-46A provides aerial refueling and associated transport support. The 6th and 9th Air Refueling Squadrons are identified as operating this aircraft, enabling extended-range missions and sustained air operations.
Marketing campaigns
- 2001Operation Enduring Freedom
Afghanistan · Southwest Asia
C-5, C-17, and KC-10-related expeditionary elements moved personnel and cargo and provided aerial refueling during the opening phase of the Afghanistan campaign.
- 1999Operation Allied Force
Europe
Tanker and support elements deployed to the European theater while airlift units helped move forces supporting the operation.
- 1995Balkan peace-support airlift
Bosnia and Herzegovina · Balkans
The group supported peacekeeping and deployment operations under Operations Joint Endeavor, Joint Guard, and Joint Forge.
- 1991Operations Provide Relief and Restore Hope
Somalia
Group elements provided airlift support for United States relief and intervention operations in Somalia.
- 1991Operation Fiery Vigil
Philippines
The group supported the evacuation of military personnel and dependents from the Philippines.
- 1948Berlin Airlift
West Berlin · Germany
The group supported the sustained air bridge to West Berlin from Kaufbeuren and Wiesbaden using C-47 and C-54 transports.
Outcome. Its contribution formed part of the wider Allied effort that maintained West Berlin until the blockade ended.
- 1944Balkan partisan resupply operations
Yugoslavia · Albania · Greece
The group flew hazardous night missions to isolated provisional fields, delivering supplies to Allied-supported forces and evacuating wounded partisans and escaped Allied personnel.
Outcome. The operations earned the group a Distinguished Unit Citation, although the unit suffered aircraft and personnel losses.
Brand decisions
2001
Use of provisional expeditionary organizationStrategyBackground
Global combat operations required air mobility forces to operate from forward locations and expand rapidly in response to mission demands.
Action taken
Deployed elements of the group were designated the provisional 60th Air Expeditionary Group for combat operations.
Aftermath
The expeditionary structure supported heavy airlift, tactical airlift, and aerial refueling missions during Operation Enduring Freedom.
1991
Creation of the 60th Operations GroupStrategyBackground
The Air Force adopted the Objective Wing structure as the distinction between tactical and strategic air forces became less pronounced.
Action taken
The flying squadrons of the 60th Airlift Wing were placed under a newly activated operations group, which received the lineage and honors of predecessor units.
Aftermath
The group became the principal flying organization of the 60th Air Mobility Wing.
Sources1 sources
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