440th Operations Group
Encyclopedia
The 440th Operations Group is an active United States Air Force Reserve unit. It is the flying component of the Twenty-Second Air Force
440th Airlift Wing
, stationed at Pope Air Force Base
, North Carolina
The unit's World War II
predecessor unit, the 440th Troop Carrier Group was a C-47 Skytrain
transport unit assigned to Ninth Air Force
in Western Europe. The 440th TCG dropped paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division
near Carentan
on the Cotentin Peninsula
of France on 6 June 1944 and by transporting gasoline, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 June, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing these missions during the Invasion of Normandy
.
aircraft:
Trained in the US and moved to England, February–March 1944, for duty with Ninth Air Force
50th Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command
.
Began operations by dropping paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division near Carentan on the Cotentin Peninsula on 6 June 1944 and by transporting gasoline, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 June, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing these missions during the invasion of Normandy.
Began flying supply and evacuation missions between England and France after the invasion of the Continent. In July 1944 most of the group was sent to Italy where it transported supplies to Rome until August 1944. The "detachment" in Italy participated in the invasion of southern France, dropping paratroops of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment near Le Muy on 15 August and towing gliders carrying reinforcements to that area later in the day.
Meanwhile those remaining in England continued to haul cargo, and on 10 August 1944 dropped supplies to an infantry battalion encircled at Mortain in northern France. The detachment returned to England on 25 August 1944. The air echelon moved to France on 11 September 1944, but returned immediately to England to participate in the airborne invasion of Holland. Dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne Division near Groesbeek on 17 September 1944 and released gliders with reinforcements on 18 and 23 September
By the end of Sep, the entire group had completed the move to France. On 26 December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, the group hauled gliders filled with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division encircled at Bastogne. In March 1945 it towed gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division to the battle area near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine. Between 21 April and 14 May 1945, the group's air echelon operated from Conflans, France, to be closer to the front. The group transported food, clothing, medical supplies, gasoline, ammunition, and other cargo to the front lines and evacuated casualties to rear-zone hospitals.
After the war transported liberated prisoners and displaced persons. Inactivated in Europe on 18 October 1945.
.
Activated again in the Reserve as a Fighter-Bomber Group the following year. Transitioned from fighter aircraft to C-119s, beginning in April 1957. In November 1957 the 440th Wing and the 95th Squadron moved on paper to Wisconsin, leaving the 440th Group and the 96th Squadron in Minnesota. The Group inactivated on 14 April 1959 as a result of the Tri-Deputate organization implementation.
Activated on 1 August 1992. Personnel participated in exercises, humanitarian and other airlift missions, worldwide.
Twenty-Second Air Force
Twenty-Second Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of Air Force Reserve Command . It was activated on 1 July 1993 and is headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia....
440th Airlift Wing
440th Airlift Wing
The 440th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to Twenty-Second Air Force. It is stationed at Pope Field, part of Fort Bragg in North Carolina....
, stationed at Pope Air Force Base
Pope Air Force Base
Pope Field is a United States Army facility located 12 miles northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.-Units:...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
The unit's 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...
predecessor unit, the 440th Troop Carrier Group was a C-47 Skytrain
C-47 Skytrain
The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
transport unit assigned to Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
in Western Europe. The 440th TCG dropped paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
near Carentan
Carentan
Carentan is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy in north-western France near the port city of Cherbourg-Octeville. Carentan has a population somewhat over 6,000 and is now administratively organized as a commune in the Manche department...
on the Cotentin Peninsula
Cotentin Peninsula
The Cotentin Peninsula, also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy, forming part of the north-western coast of France. It juts out north-westwards into the English Channel, towards Great Britain...
of France on 6 June 1944 and by transporting gasoline, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 June, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing these missions during the Invasion of Normandy
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
.
Units
The 440th Operations Group (Tail Stripe Bragg-Pope) consists of the following units flying C-130 HerculesC-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...
aircraft:
- 95th Airlift Squadron95th Airlift SquadronThe 95th Airlift Squadron is part of the 440th Airlift Wing at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
- 440th Operations Support Squadron
- 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES)
- 2d Airlift Squadron2d Airlift SquadronThe 2nd Airlift Squadron of the United States Air Force is an airlift squadron operating from Pope Air Force Base, Fayetteville, North Carolina. They operate C-130 Hercules aircraft...
(Active Assoc) - 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (Active Assoc)
Lineage
- Established as 440th Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943
- Activated on 1 July 1943
- Inactivated on 18 October 1945
- Activated in the Reserve on 3 September 1947
- Redesignated 440th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 27 June 1949
- Ordered to Active Duty on 1 May 1951
- Inactivated on 4 May 1951
- Redesignated 440th Fighter-Bomber Group on 26 May 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 15 June 1952
- Redesignated 440th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 8 September 1957
- Inactivated on 14 April 1959
- Redesignated: 440th Tactical Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 440th Operations Group on 1 August 1992
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992.
Assignments
- I Troop Carrier CommandI Troop Carrier CommandThe I Troop Carrier Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Stout Army Air Field, Indiana.Its primary mission was theater troop and logistics transport training...
, 1 July 1943 - 53d Troop Carrier Wing53d Troop Carrier Wing (World War II)The 53d Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the IX Troop Carrier Command, based at Camp Shanks, New York. It was inactivated on 12 August 1945....
, July 1943 - 61st Troop Carrier Wing61st Troop Carrier Wing (World War II)The 61st Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the I Troop Carrier Command, stationed at Sedalia Army Airfield, Missouri It was inactivated on 4 October 1945....
, c. 20 July 1943 - 60th Troop Carrier Wing60th Troop Carrier Wing (World War II)The 60th Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the I Troop Carrier Command, stationed at Pope Field, North Carolina It was inactivated on 8 October 1945....
, c. 31 December 1943 - IX Troop Carrier CommandIX Troop Carrier CommandThe IX Troop Carrier Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 31 March 1946...
, 25 March 1944 - 50th Troop Carrier Wing, March 1944
- United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
, c. 29 September – 18 October 1945 - 322d Troop Carrier Wing (later, 322d Air Division), 3 September 1947
- 440th Troop Carrier Wing, 27 June 1949 – 4 May 1951
- 440th Fighter-Bomber (later, 440th Troop Carrier) Wing440th Airlift WingThe 440th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to Twenty-Second Air Force. It is stationed at Pope Field, part of Fort Bragg in North Carolina....
, 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 - 440th Airlift Wing440th Airlift WingThe 440th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to Twenty-Second Air Force. It is stationed at Pope Field, part of Fort Bragg in North Carolina....
, 1 August 1992–present
Components
- 95th Troop Carrier (later, 95th Fighter-Bomber; 95th Troop Carrier; 95th Airlift)95th Airlift SquadronThe 95th Airlift Squadron is part of the 440th Airlift Wing at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
(9X): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 3 September 1947-4 May 1951; 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 (detached 16 November 1957 – 14 April 1959); 1 August 1992–present - 96th Troop Carrier96th Airlift SquadronThe 96th Airlift Squadron is part of the 934th Airlift Wing at Minneapolis-St Paul Joint Air Reserve Station, Minnesota. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
(6Z): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 3 September 1947-4 May 1951; 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 - 97th Troop Carrier97th Airlift SquadronThe 97th Airlift Squadron is part of the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
(W6): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 15 September 1947-4 May 1951; 15 June 1952 – 1 July 1957; 16 November 1957-25 March 1958 - 98th Troop Carrier (8Y): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 15 September 1947-4 May 1951.
Stations
- Baer Field, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, 1 July 1943 - Sedalia Army Air Field, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, 10 July 1943 - Alliance Army Air Field, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 7 September 1943 - Pope Field, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 4 January 1944 - Baer Field, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, 14–22 February 1944 - RAF BottesfordRAF BottesfordRAF Station Bottesford is a former World War II airfield on the Leicestershire-Lincolnshire county border in England. The airfield is located approximately east-northeast of Radcliffe on Trent; about north-northwest of London...
(AAF-481), England, c. 11 March 1944 (air echelon), 23 March 1944 (ground echelon) - RAF Exeter (AAF-463), England, 26 April 1944
- Reims/Champagne Airfield (A-62), France, 11 September 1944
- Le Mans AirfieldLe Mans AirfieldLe Mans Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield, which is located near the City of Le Mans in the Pays de la Loire region of northern France.-History:...
(A-35), France, 30 September 1944 - Orleans/Bricy Airfield (A-50), France, 2 November 1944 – 18 October 1945
- Wold-Chamberlain Muni (later, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl) AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, 3 September 1947 – 4 May 1951 - Fort SnellingFort Snelling, MinnesotaFort Snelling, originally known as Fort Saint Anthony, was a military fortification located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and Mississippi River in Hennepin County, Minnesota...
, Minnesota, 15 June 1952 - Minneapolis-St Paul Intl AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International AirportMinneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport is the largest and busiest airport in the five-state upper Midwest region of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Wisconsin.-Overview:...
, MinnesotaMinnesotaMinnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
, 8 January 1953 – 14 April 1959 - General Mitchell International AirportGeneral Mitchell International AirportGeneral Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, 1 August 1992 - Pope AFB, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 10 June 2007–present
Aircraft
- C-47, 1943–1945; 1948
- C-53, 1944–1945
- C-109, 1945
- C-46, 1949–1951; 1952–1957
- F-51, 1953–1954
- T-33, 1954–1957
- F-80, 1954–1957
- C-119, 1957-unkn
- C-130, 1992–present
World War II
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
50th Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command
IX Troop Carrier Command
The IX Troop Carrier Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 31 March 1946...
.
Began operations by dropping paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division near Carentan on the Cotentin Peninsula on 6 June 1944 and by transporting gasoline, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 June, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing these missions during the invasion of Normandy.
Began flying supply and evacuation missions between England and France after the invasion of the Continent. In July 1944 most of the group was sent to Italy where it transported supplies to Rome until August 1944. The "detachment" in Italy participated in the invasion of southern France, dropping paratroops of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment near Le Muy on 15 August and towing gliders carrying reinforcements to that area later in the day.
Meanwhile those remaining in England continued to haul cargo, and on 10 August 1944 dropped supplies to an infantry battalion encircled at Mortain in northern France. The detachment returned to England on 25 August 1944. The air echelon moved to France on 11 September 1944, but returned immediately to England to participate in the airborne invasion of Holland. Dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne Division near Groesbeek on 17 September 1944 and released gliders with reinforcements on 18 and 23 September
By the end of Sep, the entire group had completed the move to France. On 26 December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, the group hauled gliders filled with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division encircled at Bastogne. In March 1945 it towed gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division to the battle area near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine. Between 21 April and 14 May 1945, the group's air echelon operated from Conflans, France, to be closer to the front. The group transported food, clothing, medical supplies, gasoline, ammunition, and other cargo to the front lines and evacuated casualties to rear-zone hospitals.
After the war transported liberated prisoners and displaced persons. Inactivated in Europe on 18 October 1945.
Air Force Reserve
Activated in the US on 3 September 1947. Trained for troop carrier operations in the Reserve. Became part of the 440th Troop Carrier Wing when it activated in June 1949. Called to active duty on 1 May 1951 and inactivated four days later with its personnel and equipment being reassigned to other units as a result of the Korean WarKorean 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...
.
Activated again in the Reserve as a Fighter-Bomber Group the following year. Transitioned from fighter aircraft to C-119s, beginning in April 1957. In November 1957 the 440th Wing and the 95th Squadron moved on paper to Wisconsin, leaving the 440th Group and the 96th Squadron in Minnesota. The Group inactivated on 14 April 1959 as a result of the Tri-Deputate organization implementation.
Activated on 1 August 1992. Personnel participated in exercises, humanitarian and other airlift missions, worldwide.