302d Operations Group
Encyclopedia
302d Airlift Wing
The 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
. It is stationed at Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base
Peterson Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force located at Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States and it provides runways for the adjacent City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport under a shared joint civil-military airport arrangement...
, Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
.
The 302 OG consists of one C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
squadron—the 731st Airlift Squadron
731st Airlift Squadron
The 731st Airlift Squadron is part of the 302d Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft providing global airlift.-History:...
, which has the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System mission. The group's personnel take part in tactical airlift training exercises and contingency and humanitarian airlift operations, both at home and abroad.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the units predecessor unit, the 302d Bombardment Group was a B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
replacement training unit (RTU). Its graduates were then assigned to combat units in overseas theaters worldwide as replacement personnel. Originally a Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
unit, it was reassigned to First Air Force
First Air Force
The First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
when Second AF began B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
training. Inactivated in 1944 when the need for B-24 aircrews was diminished.
Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
, the 302d Troop Carrier Group conducted airlift training with various transport aircraft. Ordered to active service in 1951 during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, its personnel and aircraft were reassigned to combat duty with Far East Air Force units.
Lineage
- Established as 302 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
- Activated on 1 June 1942
- Inactivated on 10 April 1944
- Redesignated 302 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 16 May 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 302 Troop Carrier Group, Heavy on 28 January 1950
- Ordered to active service on 1 June 1951
- Inactivated on 8 June 1951
- Redesignated 302 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 26 May 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 14 June 1952
- Inactivated on 14 April 1959
- Redesignated: 302 Tactical Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 302 Operations Group on 1 August 1992
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992.
Assignments
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 1 June 1942 - 16 Bombardment (later, 16 Bombardment Operational) Training Wing16th Bombardment Wing (World War II)The 16th Bombardment Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Forces, based at Colorado Springs AAF, Colorado. It was inactivated on 8 October 1948.-Lineage:...
, 1 April 1943 - 46 Bombardment Operational Training Wing46th Operations GroupThe 46th Operations Group 46 OG is a component of the United States Air Force 46th Test Wing. It is assigned to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida....
, 1 September 1943 - First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 17 December 1943 – 10 April 1944 - 302d Troop Carrier Wing, 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951; 14 June 1952-14 April 1959
- 302d Airlift Wing302d Airlift WingThe 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
, 1 August 1992–present
Components
- 7 Space Operations Squadron: 1 May 1993 – 1 September 1997
- 355th Bombardment (later Troop Carrier) Squadron355th Troop Carrier SquadronThe 355th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 908th Tactical Airlift Group stationed at Brookley Air Force Base, Alabama...
: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944; 27 June 1949-8 June 1951; 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 - 356th Bombardment (later Troop Carrier) Squadron: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944; 27 June 1949-28 January 1950; 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959
- 357th Bombardment (later Troop Carrier) Squadron: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944; 14 June 1952-16 November 1957
- 420th Bombardment Squadron420th Bombardment SquadronThe 420th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with 382d Bombardment Group stationed at Camp Anza, California. It was inactivated on 4 January 1946.-History:...
: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944 - 731 Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992–present
Stations
- Geiger Field, Washington, 1 June 1942
- Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 1 June 1942 - Wendover Field, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 30 July 1942 - Pueblo Army Air Base, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 30 September 1942 - Davis-Monthan Field, ArizonaArizonaArizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, 1 December 1942 - Clovis Army Airfield, New MexicoNew MexicoNew Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, 29 January 1943
- Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 17 December 1943 - Chatham Army Airfield, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 9 March – 10 April 1944 - McChord AFB, Washington, 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951
- Clinton County AFB, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 - Peterson AFB, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 1 August 1992–present
Aircraft
- B-18, 1942
- C-78, 1942
- B-24, 1942–1943, 1943–1944
- C-82, 1949
- C-54, 1949–1950
- C-46, 1952–1957
- C-119, 1956–1959
- C-130, 1992–present