732d Air Expeditionary Group
The 732nd Air Expeditionary Group was a provisional United States Air Force support and combat-support unit that operated across Iraq before being inactivated in 2010.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 732nd Air Expeditionary Group was an inactive provisional unit of the United States Air Force. Its most recent incarnation operated from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and provided personnel, security, engineering, logistics, intelligence, legal, transportation, airfield, explosive-ordnance, and other support to United States, Iraqi, and coalition forces. Rather than functioning as a conventional aircraft-equipped combat group, it served as a theater-wide support formation whose personnel were distributed among multiple bases and forward operating locations. The unit’s lineage began in 1940, when the Army Air Corps constituted the 32nd Air Base Group. Activated at March Field, California, in January 1941, the organization initially included an air base squadron and materiel squadrons. In 1942 it was redesignated the 32nd Service Group and reorganized to support two combat groups. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it supported Ninth Air Force formations through the Allied campaigns in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. Its wartime service included operations from airfields in England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. The World War II organization was disbanded on 11 June 1945 after the Army Air Forces replaced service groups with differently structured air service groups. The lineage was revived in provisional form in the Iraq War. On 14 January 2004, the former lineage was redesignated the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group and made available to Air Combat Command for activation as required. It was activated on 2 March 2004 at Joint Base Balad. During the 2006–2007 surge, the organization’s theater-wide responsibilities led to its redesignation as the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group in December 2006. Approximately 1,800 Air Force personnel served through six squadrons and detachments at dozens of locations, including Baghdad, Balad, Al Asad, Mosul, Tallil, Kirkuk, Taji, Camp Bucca, Camp Habbaniyah, and other bases and operating sites. The group’s personnel supported or operated alongside Army, Marine Corps, Iraqi Army, Iraqi police, and coalition units. Its capabilities included security forces, civil engineering and RED HORSE elements, military working dogs, intelligence, explosive ordnance disposal, logistics, transportation, airfield management, legal services, and interrogation support. Its Iraq-era identity drew on the heritage of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and the Tuskegee Airmen, using the motto “Tuskegee Airmen...The Legend Continues.” A second motto, “Combat Airpower with a Hooah...Right Here, Right Now!”, reflected its close integration with ground forces and expeditionary operations. The group sustained 42 battle casualties between July 2006 and July 2007, including six personnel killed in action. Colonel Lawrence M. Jackson II commanded the organization during this central period, first leading the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group and then becoming the first commander of the redesignated air expeditionary group. The 732nd Air Expeditionary Group was inactivated on 12 November 2010, when the 467th Air Expeditionary Group was activated in its place. It therefore represents a military unit lineage and identity rather than a commercial consumer brand.
History
The organization’s lineage was established during the expansion of the Army Air Corps before the United States entered World War II. Constituted as the 32nd Air Base Group (Reinforced) on 20 November 1940, it was activated at March Field, California, on 15 January 1941. It was redesignated the 32nd Air Base Group in November 1941 and the 32nd Service Group in June 1942. The latter structure was intended to provide operational support to two combat groups. After stateside training and a series of domestic station changes, the group deployed to the European Theater of Operations. It served under organizations including the Eighth Air Force and IX Air Force Service Command and supported Allied tactical air operations from bases in England, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany. Its movements followed the Allied advance after D-Day, with stations including RAF Zeals, RAF Kingsnorth, Brucheville, Le Mans, Athis, Juvincourt, Le Culot, and several continental airfields. Detachments also operated from locations in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. The group received campaign credit for Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe, as well as a Meritorious Unit Citation for service in England, France, and Belgium from 18 January through 30 November 1944. It was disbanded on 11 June 1945 after the Army Air Forces changed the organization of its service-support formations. The lineage returned in the Iraq War as a provisional unit. It was redesignated the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group on 14 January 2004 and assigned to Air Combat Command for activation or inactivation as required. The unit activated on 2 March 2004 and was based at Joint Base Balad, where it operated under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing. In December 2006 it became the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group, a change that reflected the scale and geographic spread of its responsibilities. At its height, the Iraq-based group comprised roughly 1,800 Air Force personnel organized across six squadrons, with detachments supporting units at approximately 44 locations. Its personnel were embedded with or assigned in support of Army, Marine Corps, Iraqi security, and coalition formations. The group supplied functions essential to expeditionary warfare, including base defense, engineering, logistics, transportation, intelligence, airfield operations, explosive ordnance disposal, legal services, military working dogs, and interrogation support. Its operational footprint included major bases and forward locations in and around Baghdad, Balad, Mosul, Al Asad, Kirkuk, Tallil, Taji, Camp Bucca, Camp Habbaniyah, and other sites. The group adopted the heritage and symbolism of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, whose lineage is associated with the Tuskegee Airmen. Its motto, “Tuskegee Airmen...The Legend Continues,” connected the Iraq deployment to that historical tradition, while “Combat Airpower with a Hooah...Right Here, Right Now!” emphasized immediate support to ground operations. Between July 2006 and July 2007, the organization recorded 42 battle casualties, including six deaths in action. Colonel Lawrence M. Jackson II led the group during this period, having first commanded its predecessor organization. The 732nd Air Expeditionary Group remained a provisional organization until its inactivation on 12 November 2010. The 467th Air Expeditionary Group was activated in its place. The unit is consequently best understood as a military formation with a historical lineage, operational identity, insignia, and mottos, rather than as a market-facing brand.
- 2010
Inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated on 12 November, with the 467th Air Expeditionary Group activated in its place.
- 2006
Redesignated 732nd Air Expeditionary Group
[1]The organization received its final designation in December as its responsibilities expanded across Iraq.
- 2004
Iraq-era provisional lineage activated
[1]The lineage was redesignated the 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group and activated at Joint Base Balad on 2 March.
- 1945
World War II organization disbanded
[1]The 32nd Service Group was disbanded on 11 June after the end of the European war.
- 1944
European Theater service
[1]The group supported Allied air operations in England, France, Belgium, and associated continental locations during the Normandy and subsequent campaigns.
- 1942
Redesignated 32nd Service Group
[1]On 13 June, the organization became the 32nd Service Group and took on a combat-group support role.
- 1941
Activation at March Field
[1]The group was activated at March Field, California, on 15 January.
- 1940
32nd Air Base Group constituted
[1]The organization was constituted as the 32nd Air Base Group (Reinforced) on 20 November.
Products and positioning
A provisional, theater-wide United States Air Force support organization positioned to deliver integrated combat and combat-support capabilities wherever deployed forces required them.
Military support capability · 2004
Expeditionary mission support
The group provided distributed support to airmen and attached or supported units throughout Iraq. Its work covered base operations, logistics, transportation, airfield management, legal services, intelligence, and other functions needed to sustain deployed forces.
Military support capability · 2004
Combat and base defense support
Security forces, military working dog teams, explosive ordnance disposal personnel, engineering units, and related specialists supported the protection and operation of bases and forward locations across the Iraqi theater.
Marketing campaigns
- 2006Iraq War surge support
Iraq
During the 2006–2007 U.S. military surge, the group expanded its theater-wide combat and combat-support role across numerous Iraqi bases and forward operating locations.
Outcome. The expanded mission was reflected in the December 2006 redesignation as the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group.
- 1945Central Europe campaign
Germany · Central Europe
The group supported operations during the final Allied advance into Central Europe.
Outcome. The unit remained in theater until its World War II disbandment in June 1945.
- 1944Normandy campaign
European Theater of Operations
The 32nd Service Group received campaign credit for support operations associated with the Allied Normandy campaign.
Outcome. The group continued supporting advancing Allied air forces after the Normandy landings.
- 1944Northern France campaign
France
The group supported the movement and operation of Allied air units during the campaign in Northern France.
Outcome. Its service formed part of the group’s recognized World War II campaign participation.
- 1944Rhineland campaign
France · Belgium · Germany
The organization provided service support as Allied forces advanced through the Rhineland region.
Outcome. The campaign was included among the group’s World War II campaign credits.
Brand decisions
2010
Replacement by the 467th Air Expeditionary GroupStrategyBackground
The Air Force reorganized its provisional expeditionary presence in Iraq.
Action taken
The 732nd Air Expeditionary Group was inactivated and the 467th Air Expeditionary Group was activated in its place on 12 November.
Aftermath
The 732nd ceased to be an active unit while its operational role was assumed by the successor organization.
2006
Redesignation as an air expeditionary groupStrategyBackground
The Iraq-based support formation had acquired broad combat and combat-support responsibilities across the theater.
Action taken
The 732nd Expeditionary Mission Support Group was redesignated the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group in December.
Aftermath
The new designation formalized its larger theater-wide role under the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing.
1942
Conversion to a service-support groupStrategyBackground
The Army Air Forces reorganized air-base support formations to provide more specialized assistance to combat groups.
Action taken
The 32nd Air Base Group was redesignated the 32nd Service Group on 13 June 1942.
Aftermath
The revised organization supported two combat groups during its World War II deployment.
Sources2 sources
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