| Unit Name: | 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group |
| Dates: | 1970–1974; by 2010–c. 18 November 2011 |
| Type: | Expeditionary |
| Role: | Air Support Operations |
| Size: | Group |
| Command Structure: | Air Combat Command |
| Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group (approved 29 June 1970) |
The 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group is a combat support unit of the United States Air Force. The group provides overall tactical command and control of air power assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Commander for combat operations.
The group was first activated at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina as the 68th Tactical Air Support Group in January 1970, when it assumed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 4467th Tactical Air Support Group, which was simultaneously discontinued. The group trained and equipped tactical air support squadrons and tactical air control parties to control aircraft and communications systems in support of surface forces including tactical air strikes, reconnaissance and airlift.[1] It was inactivated in 1974 and its mission transferred to the 507th Tactical Air Control Wing, which combined tactical control and tactical air support units for Ninth Air Force.
During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn it was located at an undisclosed location in Iraq (possibly Joint Base Balad). It supported Multi-National Corps - Iraq. As of 26 July 2010, it comprised two subordinate units:[2]
The group was inactivated on 22 December 2011 following the withdraw of US forces from Iraq and the cessation of Operation New Dawn.[3]
In May 2015 the group was activated in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield. It is currently composed of four subordinate units:
Activated on 15 January 1970
Inactivated on 15 June 1974
Activated by 20 July 2010
Inactivated c. 18 December 2011
Activated May 2015