379th Expeditionary Operations Group

The 379th Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces Central. It is the flying component of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, stationed at Al Udeid AB, Qatar. The Group is the flying component of the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, with more than 90 combat and support attached aircraft, including eight coalition airframes.^{[citation needed]} Aircraft come from every US service, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

379th Expeditionary Operations Group
Emblem of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group
Active	1942–1945; 2003–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force

A B-1B Bomber takes off from the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. B-1s from the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron were once again called on to increase operations in support of ground forces in Afghanistan through precision bombing and shows of force and presence.

A KC-135 Stratotanker operated by the 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron takes off on a flight

The group was first activated in September 1991 as part of the Objective Wing reorganization of the Air Force. It deployed crews and aircraft to support Desert Storm before inactivating in December 1993.

Assigned units

• 7th Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron (E-8)
• 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron (KC-135)
• 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
• 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron
• 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (C-130H/J, C-21)
• 763d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (RC-135)
• 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (C-17)

History

Main article: 379th Air Expeditionary Wing

The group was activated at Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan in September 1991^[1] as the Air Force converted its units to the Objective Wing organization. During Desert Storm it deployed aircrew and aircraft to the Middle East. Wurtsmith closed on 30 June 1993 as a result of the 1991 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, which determined that the development of new weapons and long-range satellite surveillance systems rendered many installations unnecessary. On the morning of 15 December 1992, the last Boeing B-52G Stratofortress, serial 57-6492, the "Old Crow Express," was flown to Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona for storage.^{[citation needed]} The group was inactivated two weeks later.^[1]

The group was reactivated in 2003 as the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group. Engaged in combat operations as part of Global War on Terrorism.

Lineage

• Established as the 379th Operations Group on 29 August 1991

Activated on 1 September 1991

Inactivated on 31 December 1992

• Redesignated 379th Expeditionary Operations Group and converted to provisional status on 4 December 2001^[1]

Activated in 2003

Assignments

• 379th Bombardment Wing, 1 September 1991 – 31 December 1993^[1]
• 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, 2003 – present

Components

• 379th Operations Support Squadron, 1 September 1991 – 31 December 1992
• 524th Bombardment Squadron, 1 September 1991 – 15 December 1992^[1]
• 920th Air Refueling Squadron, 1 September 1991 – 1 June 1992^[1]

Stations

• Wurtsmith Air Force Base, Michigan, 1 September 1991 – 31 December 1993^[1]
• Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, 2003 – present

Aircraft assigned

• Boeing B-52G Stratojet, 1991-1992
• RC-135 Rivet Joint – present
• E-8 JSTARS – present
• KC-135 Stratotanker, 1991-1992, – present
• C-130 Hercules – present
• C-21 – present
• B-1B Lancer – present^[2]
• Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, June 2019 - present^[3]

References

Notes

1. Endicott, Judy G.; Haulman, Daniel L. (7 May 2009). "Factsheet 379 Expeditionary Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
2. "379th Air Expeditionary Wing Fact Sheet". 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
3. "F-22s Deploy to Qatar for the First Time Amid Iran Tensions". Military.com. 28 June 2019.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links

• Bendiner, Elmer. The Fall of the Fortress. A Personal Account of the Most Daring -and Deadly- American Air Battles of World War II. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1980.
• Cassens, Kenneth H. Screwball Express: A Meaningful Tribute to the 8th Air Force, 379th Bomb Group & the Screwball Express. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publications, 1992.
• Robb, Derwyn D. Shades of Kimbolton, a Narrative of the 379th Bombardment Group (H). San Angelo, Texas: Newsfoto Publishing Company, 1946 (2nd edition 1981).
• 379th Bombardment Group Association