907th Airlift Group
The 907th Airlift Group was an inactive United States Air Force Reserve airlift unit that operated tactical and strategic transport aircraft from 1963 until its inactivation in 1994.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 907th Airlift Group was a United States Air Force Reserve flying unit whose lineage covered tactical airlift, special operations support, aerial spraying, and heavy intercontinental airlift. It was first organized at Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, in February 1963 as the 907th Troop Carrier Group. The group was created during a wider Air Force Reserve reorganization intended to improve the mobilization of geographically dispersed flying squadrons. Its headquarters supported the 356th Troop Carrier Squadron and associated combat-support, materiel, and medical elements. During its first period of service, the group operated Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and later Fairchild C-123 Providers. Its mission was to train and maintain reserve personnel for the tactical movement of airborne forces, equipment, and supplies, including delivery by airdrop, landing, and cargo extraction. In 1967 it was redesignated the 907th Tactical Airlift Group, and in 1970 it became the 907th Special Operations Group as its parent organization shifted toward special operations. It returned to the tactical-airlift designation in 1971. The group was inactivated in September 1975 during the post-Vietnam War reduction of Air Force forces. The unit was reactivated in April 1981 at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio. Its initial post-reactivation role involved aerial spraying with UC-123K Providers, including deployments connected with Panama and Central America. Although the C-123 aircraft were largely retired in 1982, the group retained several aircraft for insect-control spraying missions until 1986. It subsequently transitioned to Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports, first receiving C-130A aircraft and then newer C-130E models in 1987. These aircraft supported Tactical Air Command airlift requirements. In 1992 the organization received the 907th Airlift Group designation, although the lineage also records a redesignation as the 907th Airlift Wing later that year. In April 1993 it moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and transitioned from C-130 tactical transports to Lockheed C-141B Starlifters. This change shifted its operational emphasis toward strategic and intercontinental airlift in support of Military Airlift Command. The group operated the C-141 for approximately eighteen months before being inactivated on 1 October 1994. Its personnel and equipment were reassigned to the 445th Airlift Wing. The 907th is therefore best understood not as a commercial brand but as a historical Air Force Reserve unit with several successive operational identities.
History
The 907th Airlift Group emerged from an Air Force Reserve reorganization designed to address weaknesses exposed by the dispersed-squadron system. During the 1950s, reserve flying squadrons were increasingly placed at separate installations rather than remaining together with their parent wings. This arrangement supported local recruiting, but it complicated the mobilization of a squadron together with the support personnel and equipment it needed. Following the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, Continental Air Command developed a structure in which groups would provide headquarters and support elements for individual flying squadrons. The 907th Troop Carrier Group was established on 15 January 1963 and organized in the Reserve at Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, on 11 February. It served as the headquarters for the 356th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had operated from the base since 1952. The new group included combat-support, materiel, and medical components. Its mission was to train reserve airmen in the tactical movement of airborne troops, equipment, and supplies, using airdrop, landing, and cargo-extraction techniques. The group initially flew Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars as part of the 302d Troop Carrier Wing. In 1967 the group exchanged the C-119 for the Fairchild C-123 Provider and was redesignated the 907th Tactical Airlift Group. When the parent wing became a special operations organization in 1970, the group was temporarily redesignated the 907th Special Operations Group. It returned to the tactical-airlift designation in 1971, by which time its station had shifted to Lockbourne Air Force Base, later known as Rickenbacker Air Force Base. The group was inactivated on 1 September 1975 during the drawdown that followed the Vietnam War. The organization was reactivated on 1 April 1981 at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base. It initially operated UC-123K Providers for aerial-spraying missions and deployed frequently to Panama and other parts of Central America. The C-123s were retired from normal operations in 1982, but four aircraft remained available for insect-control spraying until June 1986. The group then entered a conventional transport phase, receiving early-model Lockheed C-130A Hercules aircraft in 1982 and replacing them with C-130E models in 1987. These aircraft supported Tactical Air Command missions and restored the unit's central role in tactical airlift. The group's institutional identity changed again in 1992, when it received the 907th Airlift Group designation; the lineage also identifies a redesignation as the 907th Airlift Wing on 1 August of that year. In April 1993 the unit moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Its C-130s were transferred to the 731st Tactical Airlift Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, while the 907th converted to the Lockheed C-141B Starlifter. The C-141 gave the unit a strategic, intercontinental airlift mission under Military Airlift Command. The final phase was brief. On 1 October 1994 the 907th was inactivated, and its personnel and equipment were reassigned to the 445th Airlift Wing. Across its three decades of existence, the unit moved through several Air Force Reserve missions and designations while retaining a consistent connection to military air transport and logistics.
- 1994
Final inactivation
[1]The 907th was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were reassigned to the 445th Airlift Wing.
- 1993
Moved to Wright-Patterson and converted to C-141B
[1]The unit moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and began strategic airlift operations with Lockheed C-141B Starlifters.
- 1992
Adopted the 907th Airlift Group designation
[1]The organization was redesignated as the 907th Airlift Group during a period of changing Air Force Reserve structures.
- 1987
Transition to C-130E Hercules
[1]The group replaced its early C-130A transports with newer C-130E aircraft.
- 1982
Transition to C-130A Hercules
[1]The unit moved from its C-123 aerial-spraying role into tactical transport operations with Lockheed C-130A aircraft.
- 1981
Reactivated as an aerial-spraying unit
[1]The group returned to the Reserve at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base and began operating UC-123K aircraft.
- 1975
First inactivation
[1]The group was inactivated during the post-Vietnam War force reduction.
- 1970
Redesignated 907th Special Operations Group
[1]The group received a special-operations designation as its parent wing's mission changed.
- 1967
Redesignated 907th Tactical Airlift Group
[1]The unit adopted the tactical-airlift designation and replaced its C-119 Flying Boxcars with Fairchild C-123 Providers.
- 1963
Group organized in the Air Force Reserve
[1]The 907th Troop Carrier Group was organized at Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, to support the 356th Troop Carrier Squadron and its tactical-airlift mission.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force Reserve operational unit focused on transport aviation, evolving from medium tactical airlift and special operations support to heavy strategic airlift.
Tactical transport aircraft · 1963
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
The C-119 was the group's initial aircraft after its organization in 1963. The twin-engine transport supported tactical airlift, including the movement and delivery of airborne forces, equipment, and supplies by landing, airdrop, or cargo extraction. The group operated the type until 1967.
Tactical assault transport aircraft · 1967
Fairchild C-123 Provider
The group operated the C-123 Provider from 1967 through its first inactivation in 1975. The aircraft supported tactical airlift and later special-operations-related training and missions under the group's changing designations.
Aerial-spraying aircraft · 1981
Fairchild UC-123K Provider
After its 1981 reactivation, the group used UC-123K aircraft for aerial spraying, with frequent deployments to Panama and Central America. Most of the aircraft were retired in 1982, while four remained available for insect-control spraying until 1986.
Tactical transport aircraft · 1982
Lockheed C-130A Hercules
The C-130A marked the group's return to conventional tactical airlift after its aerial-spraying period. The unit used early-model Hercules transports from 1982 before receiving newer C-130E aircraft.
Tactical transport aircraft · 1987
Lockheed C-130E Hercules
Beginning in 1987, the group operated C-130E aircraft for Tactical Air Command airlift requirements. The Hercules provided a more capable platform for tactical transportation than the group's earlier C-130A models.
Strategic transport aircraft · 1993
Lockheed C-141B Starlifter
The C-141B was the group's final aircraft. Following its 1993 move to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the unit used the Starlifter for heavy intercontinental airlift in support of Military Airlift Command until its inactivation in 1994.
Brand decisions
1994
Inactivation and reassignmentOtherBackground
The Air Force Reserve reorganized its airlift structure during the period when the 907th operated C-141 aircraft.
Action taken
The group was inactivated on 1 October and its personnel and equipment were reassigned to the 445th Airlift Wing.
Aftermath
The 907th ceased to exist as an active Air Force Reserve organization.
1993
Conversion to C-141B strategic airliftGeneration changeBackground
The group was relocated and assigned a heavier intercontinental airlift role.
Action taken
It transferred its C-130s and began operating Lockheed C-141B Starlifters at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.
Aftermath
The group served as a strategic airlift unit for the final period before its 1994 inactivation.
1982
Conversion to C-130 Hercules operationsGeneration changeBackground
After the aerial-spraying phase, the group required a transport aircraft suited to continuing tactical-airlift duties.
Action taken
The unit received Lockheed C-130A Hercules aircraft and subsequently upgraded to C-130E models in 1987.
Aftermath
The conversion restored the group's primary focus on tactical military transport.
1981
Reactivation for aerial-spraying operationsStrategyBackground
The Air Force Reserve brought the group back into service with a specialized environmental and operational-support mission.
Action taken
The group was reactivated at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base with UC-123K aircraft and aerial-spraying responsibilities.
Aftermath
The unit later returned to conventional tactical airlift after the UC-123 aircraft were retired from regular operations.
1963
Creation of a dedicated reserve group headquartersStrategyBackground
Air Force Reserve reorganization sought to make dispersed flying squadrons easier to mobilize by assigning them dedicated headquarters and support elements.
Action taken
The 907th Troop Carrier Group was organized around the 356th Troop Carrier Squadron at Clinton County Air Force Base.
Aftermath
The group provided an administrative and logistical structure for tactical-airlift reserve operations.
Recent events
- 1994
907th Airlift Group inactivated at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base[1]
Other
The unit was inactivated on 1 October 1994 after its transition to C-141B strategic airlift. Its personnel and equipment were reassigned to the 445th Airlift Wing.
- 1993
907th Airlift Group moves to Wright-Patterson and begins C-141 operations[1]
Product generation
The group relocated from Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and converted from C-130 Hercules transports to C-141B Starlifters for intercontinental airlift.
- 1981
907th Airlift Group reactivated in the Air Force Reserve[1]
Other
The group returned to service at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, initially operating UC-123K aircraft in an aerial-spraying role.
Sources2 sources
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