| Unit Name: | 512th Operations Group |
| Dates: | 1944–1945; 1949–1951; 1952–1959; 1993–present |
| Role: | Airlift |
| Command Structure: | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison: | Dover Air Force Base |
| Battles: | China-Burma-India Theater |
| Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 512th Operations Group emblem (approved 21 December 1993)[1] [2] |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | 512th Troop Carrier Group emblem (Approved 21 January 1958)[3] |
The 512th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the 512th Airlift Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve. The group is stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
During World War II as the 1st Combat Cargo Group, the group fought in the China-Burma-India Theater transporting supplies and reinforcements to and evacuating casualties flying combat operations in Burma and China assigned to the Tenth Air Force. [4] After the war, the unit was redesignated as the 512th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) and allotted to the reserve.
The unit is the operational component of the 512th Airlift Wing, and consists of 2 airlift squadrons and 2 support squadrons. Members of the group work side-by-side with their active duty counterparts in the 436th Airlift Wing. The unit flies the C-5M Super Galaxy and the C-17A Globemaster III
For additional history and lineage, see 512th Airlift WingTrained in the United States for combat cargo operations between Apr and August 1944. Moved to the CBI theater in August 1944. Began operations in September 1944 by transporting supplies and reinforcements to and evacuating casualties from Imphal, Burma.
Continued to support Allied operations in Burma, flying in men and supplies from India, moving equipment required to construct and operate airstrips, dropping dummy cargoes to lead the enemy away from Allied offensives, dropping paratroops for the assault on Rangoon (May 1945), and evacuating prisoners of war who were freed by Allied advances.
Meanwhile, part of the group had been sent to China, and for a short time (December 1944 – January 1945) the group's headquarters was located there. Operations in China included helping to evacuate the air base at Guilin during a Japanese drive in September 1944, moving Chinese troops, and flying many supply missions, some of which involved ferrying gasoline and materiel over The Hump from India.
The group, partially re-equipped with C-46 Commandos in June 1945, engaged primarily in transporting men, food, arms, and ammunition until the end of the war. Redesignated 512th Troop Carrier Group in September 1945. Returned to the US in December 1945. Inactivated on 24 December 1945.
Activated on 2 September 1949. Equipped with C-46's. Between September 1949 and March 1951, and again from June 1952 – April 1959, trained as a Reserve troop carrier group at bases in Pennsylvania and Delaware. Activated as a result of the Korean War in 1951, personnel and equipment reassigned to active duty units in Far East Air Force to support combat operations. Unit inactivated then reconstituted as a reserve unit in 1952. Inactivated in 1959 when parent wing implemented tri-deputate organization and all operational flying squadrons reassigned directly to the wing.
Activated in 1992 when parent wing implemented objective organization. Since reactivation in August 1992 coordinated operations of C-5 squadrons. Personnel and squadrons of the group participated in various contingency and humanitarian airlift operations, some to Asia and Africa and in support of Global War on Terrorism since 11 September 2001.
Activated on 15 April 1944
Redesignated 512th Troop Carrier Group on 19 September 1945
Inactivated on 24 December 1945
Activated in the Reserve on 2 September 1949
Ordered to Active Service on 15 March 1951
Inactivated on 1 April 1951
Inactivated on 14 April 1959
Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992.