89th Operations Group
The 89th Operations Group is a United States Air Force flying and operational-support organization responsible for special air mission transport and associated aviation support.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 89th Operations Group, commonly abbreviated as 89 OG, is an operational flying and support component of the United States Air Force's 89th Airlift Wing. It is based at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and operates aircraft used for Special Air Mission transport, a category of government aviation supporting senior United States officials, foreign dignitaries, and other authorized passengers. The group is not a commercial brand or logistics company in the ordinary business sense; it is a military organization whose public-facing identity is associated with executive air transport, operational readiness, and mission support. The modern group was activated on 12 July 1991 as part of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews. Its principal flying elements have included the 1st Airlift Squadron and the 99th Airlift Squadron. The 1st Airlift Squadron operates C-32A and C-40B aircraft, while the 99th Airlift Squadron operates C-37A and C-37B aircraft. These platforms support different forms of government air transportation, including domestic and international movement of senior officials and official delegations. The group also includes operational-support functions that coordinate aircrew, mission planning, command-and-control, communications, and other enabling activities. The 89th Operations Group has a longer lineage than its current name suggests. It was first established as the 89th Transport Group in January 1942 and activated during the Second World War. It was redesignated the 89th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942 and served primarily as a First Air Force training organization. Its wartime roles included transition training for pilots and, briefly, replacement training. The group was inactivated in April 1944. It was later reestablished in the Air Force Reserve in 1949, trained for troop-carrier operations, and was called to active service briefly in May 1951 during the Korean War to provide personnel to other units. In 1952 the organization was redesignated the 89th Fighter-Bomber Group and returned to Reserve training, this time for Tactical Air Command fighter-bomber operations. It was inactivated in November 1957 and subsequently redesignated the 89th Tactical Fighter Group while remaining inactive. The designation 89th Operations Group was adopted in 1991 when the organization was reactivated at Andrews. Until 20 February 2001, the group provided Special Air Mission transport for the President of the United States. That presidential airlift responsibility was then transferred to the Presidential Airlift Group, while the 89th Operations Group continued supporting other high-level government and diplomatic missions. Its current identity therefore reflects both its historic transport and training lineage and its contemporary role within the United States government's executive airlift system.
History
The organization that is now known as the 89th Operations Group originated during the expansion of the United States Army Air Forces in the Second World War. It was established as the 89th Transport Group on 19 January 1942 and activated on 1 February at Daniel Field Airport, Georgia. During its early existence it moved through several training stations, including Harding Army Air Field in Louisiana, Camp Williams in Wisconsin, and Sedalia Army Air Field in Missouri. In July 1942 it became the 89th Troop Carrier Group, reflecting the growing importance of air transport for moving personnel and equipment. The wartime group was assigned successively to transport and troop-carrier headquarters and performed training functions rather than operating primarily as a deployed combat formation. It provided transition training for pilots and later briefly served as a replacement training unit. Its final wartime station was Del Valle Field, later known as Bergstrom Field, in Texas. The group was disestablished on 14 April 1944. The lineage was revived after the war. On 10 May 1949 the organization was reestablished and redesignated the 89th Troop Carrier Group, Medium. It was activated in the Air Force Reserve at Laurence G. Hanscom Field in Massachusetts on 27 June 1949. The group was ordered to active service on 1 May 1951 during the Korean War period and was inactivated only days later, on 10 May, with personnel used to support other units. A further change came in 1952, when the organization was redesignated the 89th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated in the Reserve on 14 June at Hanscom Field. In this phase it trained for Tactical Air Command fighter-bomber operations. The group was inactivated on 16 November 1957. It was later redesignated the 89th Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985, although it remained inactive under that designation. The current operational identity dates from the post-Cold War force structure. The unit was redesignated the 89th Operations Group on 1 July 1991 and activated on 12 July 1991 at Andrews Air Force Base, now Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. It was assigned to the 89th Airlift Wing, where it became part of the Air Force organization responsible for specialized executive and government air transportation. In its modern role, the group has used C-37A and C-37B, C-32A, and C-40 aircraft. The 1st Airlift Squadron has been associated with C-32A and C-40B operations, while the 99th Airlift Squadron operates the C-37A and C-37B fleet. The group also maintains operational-support capabilities for mission planning and execution. A 1st Helicopter Squadron component existed from 1991 until 2006, and a 457th Airlift Squadron component was listed from 1993 to 1995. The group formerly provided Special Air Mission transport for the President of the United States. That presidential mission moved to the Presidential Airlift Group on 20 February 2001. The 89th Operations Group continued to support high-ranking United States officials and foreign dignitaries as required. Its later component history includes the 89th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron from 2024 and the 89th Communications Squadron from 2025, according to the cited organizational record.
- 2001
Presidential airlift responsibility transferred
[1]The group's presidential transport mission moved to the Presidential Airlift Group on 20 February.
- 1991
Reactivated as the 89th Operations Group
[1]The group was redesignated on 1 July and activated on 12 July at Andrews Air Force Base as part of the 89th Airlift Wing.
- 1957
Inactivated after Reserve fighter-bomber period
[1]The 89th Fighter-Bomber Group was inactivated on 16 November.
- 1952
Redesignated as the 89th Fighter-Bomber Group
[1]The group returned to Reserve service on 14 June for fighter-bomber training.
- 1951
Briefly ordered to active service
[1]The group was called to active duty on 1 May during the Korean War period and inactivated on 10 May to provide personnel to other units.
- 1949
Reestablished in the Air Force Reserve
[1]The unit was reestablished as the 89th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated in the Reserve on 27 June.
- 1944
Wartime group inactivated
[1]The World War II predecessor was disestablished on 14 April after its training mission ended.
- 1942
Established as the 89th Transport Group
[1]The group was established on 19 January and activated on 1 February at Daniel Field Airport, Georgia.
- 1942
Redesignated as the 89th Troop Carrier Group
[1]The organization adopted the 89th Troop Carrier Group designation on 4 July while conducting wartime training activities.
Products and positioning
A specialized United States Air Force executive-airlift and operational-support organization serving official government and diplomatic transportation requirements.
Government air transport · 1991
Special Air Mission transport
The group's core modern function is the operation and support of Special Air Mission flights. These missions transport senior United States government officials, official delegations, and foreign dignitaries when authorized. The service is conducted as a military operational mission rather than a commercial passenger offering and is organized around security, reliability, diplomatic requirements, and executive travel needs.
Executive airlift
C-32A and C-40B operations
The 1st Airlift Squadron is associated with C-32A and C-40B aircraft. These aircraft support official government transportation and provide the group with medium-sized executive airlift capacity for domestic and international missions.
Executive airlift
C-37A and C-37B operations
The 99th Airlift Squadron operates C-37A and C-37B aircraft as part of the group's specialized government airlift capability. The aircraft are used for official passenger transport and related Special Air Mission requirements.
Brand decisions
2001
Transfer of the presidential airlift missionStrategyBackground
The 89th Operations Group had provided Special Air Mission transport to the President of the United States before February 2001.
Action taken
On 20 February 2001, presidential airlift responsibility was transferred to the Presidential Airlift Group.
Aftermath
The 89th Operations Group retained a broader executive-transport role supporting other senior officials and foreign dignitaries.
Sources1 sources
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