930th Operations Group

The 930th Operations Group was a United States Air Force Reserve unit whose lineage extended through several different missions and designations before its inactivation in 1994. It was ultimately based at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana, and was most recently assigned to the 434th Wing. Although the group no longer exists as an active organization, its history reflects several major phases in the development of the Air Force Reserve during the Cold War and the post-Cold War drawdown. The group was organized on 11 February 1963 at Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana, in response to weaknesses revealed by the Reserve's detached-squadron system. Under that arrangement, flying squadrons were distributed across numerous bases while their support organizations remained concentrated at wing headquarters. This made it difficult to mobilize individual squadrons efficiently. The 930th was created as a headquarters and support structure for the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron, providing combat support, materiel, and medical functions. Its initial mission was to train reservists in tactical airlift using Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft, including the movement and airdrop of airborne forces, equipment, and supplies. The unit's role changed substantially during the Vietnam War. In May 1968, the group was ordered to active duty, and the 71st Squadron's C-119s were converted into AC-119G Shadow gunships. The squadron moved to Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, for special-operations training and later deployed to Nha Trang Air Base in South Vietnam. During this period the group carried a succession of airlift and special-operations designations. After the squadron returned in 1969, the group operated AC-119G aircraft and trained aircrew and maintenance personnel, including personnel from active-duty Air Force organizations and several foreign air forces. The Shadow gunship mission ended when the aircraft were retired from Air Force service at the end of 1970. In 1971, the group received Cessna A-37B Dragonfly counter-insurgency aircraft returned from Southeast Asia. It trained Air Force Reserve personnel and airmen from Latin American air forces in the operation of the aircraft. A reorganization in 1973 left the group without an operational flying squadron, and it was inactivated in 1975. The organization returned to the Reserve in 1987 as the 930th Tactical Fighter Group, equipped with Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. In this phase it trained reservists for close air support, anti-armor, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue missions. The group was redesignated the 930th Fighter Group in February 1992 and the 930th Operations Group in August of that year. It became the fighter component of the 434th Wing during the wing's transition to an objective organization structure. The post-Cold War force reductions and the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure process led to the conversion of Grissom to an Air Force Reserve air-refueling base. The 930th's A-10 aircraft were reassigned, its 45th Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1994, and the group itself was inactivated on 1 October 1994.

The 930th Operations Group originated in the Air Force Reserve reorganization that followed the Berlin Crisis of 1961. At that time, reserve troop-carrier squadrons were distributed among many installations under the Detached Squadron Concept, while support functions remained at wing headquarters. Continental Air Command concluded that creating groups around individual flying squadrons would improve mobilization. The 930th Troop Carrier Group was therefore activated at Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana, on 11 February 1963, supporting the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron and its C-119 Flying Boxcars. Its support structure included a combat support squadron, materiel squadron, and tactical infirmary. The group was associated with Tactical Air Command for training and would have been gained by that command if mobilized. The organization was redesignated the 930th Tactical Airlift Group in 1967. In May 1968 it was ordered to active service for the Vietnam War. The 71st Squadron's C-119 aircraft were modified into AC-119G Shadow gunships, equipped with searchlights and rapid-fire guns. The squadron transferred to the 1st Special Operations Wing, trained at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, and deployed to Nha Trang Air Base. During the deployment and its aftermath, the group passed through the designations 930th Air Commando Group and 930th Special Operations Group. When the 71st returned in 1969, the group resumed operations with AC-119Gs and provided training for pilots, navigators, flight engineers, mechanics, and personnel from the United States and partner air forces, including Jordan, Morocco, Ethiopia, and South Vietnam. The Shadow aircraft were retired from Air Force service at the end of 1970. The group then entered a counter-insurgency training phase. In 1971 it received Cessna A-37B Dragonflies returned from Southeast Asia and trained Reserve personnel and Latin American air forces in their employment. The 71st Squadron was inactivated in October 1973 and replaced in the broader wing structure by the 45th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The group became non-operational and was inactivated on 1 July 1975. On 1 July 1987 the organization was reactivated as the 930th Tactical Fighter Group at Grissom Air Force Base. Its new principal aircraft was the A-10 Thunderbolt II, and its training responsibilities included close air support, anti-armor operations, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue. In 1992 the group returned to the 434th Wing, was redesignated the 930th Fighter Group, and then became the 930th Operations Group. This arrangement made it the fighter component of a composite wing operating under the Air Force's objective-organization model. The group's final years were shaped by post-Cold War restructuring. The 1993 Base Realignment and Closure process directed Grissom's conversion to an Air Force Reserve air-refueling installation. The A-10s were distributed to other units, the 45th Fighter Squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1994, and the 930th Operations Group was inactivated the following day. Its history is consequently one of repeated adaptation to changing mobilization models, aircraft fleets, overseas conflicts, and Air Force Reserve force structures.

• 1994

  Final inactivation

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 1 October after Grissom's realignment as an air-refueling base and the reassignment of its A-10 aircraft.

• 1992

  Became the 930th Operations Group

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was redesignated first as the 930th Fighter Group and then as the 930th Operations Group under the 434th Wing.

• 1987

  Reactivated as a tactical fighter group

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization returned to the Reserve with A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and a tactical fighter training mission.

• 1975

  First inactivation

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated after becoming non-operational during a wing reorganization.

• 1971

  Began A-37B Dragonfly training mission

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received Cessna A-37B aircraft and trained Reserve and Latin American air-force personnel in counter-insurgency operations.

• 1969

  Returned to Reserve special-operations duties

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After the 71st Squadron returned from Vietnam, the group operated AC-119G aircraft and trained American and foreign personnel.

• 1968

  Activated for Vietnam War service

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group entered active service, while its 71st Squadron converted C-119 aircraft into AC-119G Shadow gunships and deployed to South Vietnam.

• 1967

  Redesignated as a tactical airlift group

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit became the 930th Tactical Airlift Group as its reserve mission continued with C-119 aircraft.

• 1963

  Group organized in the Air Force Reserve

  [1]930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 930th Troop Carrier Group was organized at Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana, to provide headquarters and support functions for the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron.

A United States Air Force Reserve operational group that evolved from tactical airlift support into special operations, counter-insurgency, and A-10 tactical fighter training.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 1963

  Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

  The C-119 was the group's original aircraft. The 930th used the type to train Air Force Reserve personnel in tactical airlift, including the movement and delivery of airborne forces, equipment, and supplies by airdrop, landing, and cargo-extraction methods.

• Special operations gunship · 1968

  Fairchild AC-119G Shadow

  During and after the Vietnam War, the group's associated 71st Squadron operated AC-119G Shadow gunships converted from C-119 transports. The aircraft used searchlights and rapid-fire guns, and the group later trained aircrew and maintenance personnel in their operation.

• Counter-insurgency aircraft · 1971

  Cessna A-37B Dragonfly

  Beginning in 1971, the group operated A-37B aircraft returned from Southeast Asia. Its mission centered on training Reserve personnel and Latin American air forces in the aircraft's counter-insurgency role.

• Tactical fighter and close-support aircraft · 1987

  Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II

  After its 1987 reactivation, the group operated A-10s and trained reservists for close air support, anti-armor missions, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue support. The aircraft were reassigned before the group's 1994 inactivation.

• Air Force Reserve operations group · 1992

  930th Operations Group

  The organization's final designation, used from 1 August 1992 until its inactivation on 1 October 1994, identified the operational fighter element of the 434th Wing.

• 1968Vietnam War air operations

  South Vietnam

  The group was ordered to active duty and supported the deployment of the 71st Squadron, whose C-119 aircraft had been converted into AC-119G Shadow gunships. The squadron trained at Lockbourne and later operated from Nha Trang Air Base.

  Outcome. The squadron returned from South Vietnam in 1969; the group subsequently continued AC-119G training and operations in the United States.

  Source

• 1993

  Realignment following Base Realignment and Closure decisionsStrategy

  Background

  The post-Cold War force reductions and the 1993 Base Realignment and Closure process directed Grissom's conversion to an Air Force Reserve air-refueling base.

  Action taken

  The group's A-10 aircraft were reassigned, followed by the inactivation of the 45th Fighter Squadron and the group itself.

  Aftermath

  The 930th Operations Group ceased to exist on 1 October 1994.

  Source

• 1987

  Reactivation as an A-10 tactical fighter groupStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force Reserve reactivated the organization amid continued requirements for trained tactical fighter forces.

  Action taken

  The group returned with A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft and missions covering close air support, anti-armor operations, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue.

  Aftermath

  It became the 930th Operations Group in 1992 before being inactivated during post-Cold War base realignment.

  Source

• 1971

  Adoption of a counter-insurgency training missionStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of the AC-119G phase, the Air Force had A-37B aircraft returning from Southeast Asia and continuing demand for counter-insurgency training.

  Action taken

  The group received A-37B Dragonflies and trained Air Force Reserve and Latin American air-force personnel.

  Aftermath

  The mission continued until the group's operational structure was dissolved in the 1973–1975 reorganization.

  Source

• 1968

  Conversion from tactical airlift to gunship operationsStrategy

  Background

  The Vietnam War created a requirement for additional armed aerial platforms and special-operations capability.

  Action taken

  The 71st Squadron's C-119 aircraft were selected for conversion to AC-119G Shadow gunships, and the group entered active service.

  Aftermath

  The unit developed an extended special-operations training role after the squadron returned from Vietnam.

  Source

• 1963

  Creation of a support group under the detached-squadron reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force Reserve found that dispersed flying squadrons were difficult to mobilize when support organizations remained at wing headquarters.

  Action taken

  The 930th Troop Carrier Group was organized to provide dedicated headquarters and support elements for the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement improved the ability to mobilize reserve flying units and provided the foundation for the group's later mission changes.

  Source

1. 1930th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org