Air Expeditionary Wings and Groups are a Wing/Group concept used by the United States Air Force. These units are activated under temporary orders by the owning Major Command (MAJCOM) for a specific purpose or mission. Once that mission is completed, these units are inactivated.
Faced with declining budgets in the late 1990s, the U.S. Air Force decided that the Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch (ONW/OSW) patrols over Iraq were "tedious".[1] The patrols placed more strain on units worldwide than during the Cold War. This was because so many fighter, bomber, air refueling, and airlift squadrons had been inactivated after the end of the Cold War. The Air Force "had to change the way it did business".
As the no-fly zone patrols over Iraq began to appear as an ongoing, open-ended commitment, the drain on equipment and manpower forced the Air Force to reconsider how it was going to sustain ONW/OSW patrols, as well as other required deployments worldwide. The answer developed was to end the deployment of entire wings en bloc.
After considerable planning to cover the absence of a replacement for and her air wing for six weeks, "the Chairman of the JCS directed Air Combat Command to deploy an Air Expeditionary Force to Bahrain not later than October 19, 1995, for a period not to exceed 120 days. After some last-minute changes, 18 F–16s deployed to Shaikh Isa Air Base [in Bahrain] on October 28, 1995. Air Expeditionary Force I arrived fully armed and began to fly sorties within 12 hours of its initial landings. It returned to the United States on December 18, 1995. Air Expeditionary Force I deployed 675 people and flew 705 sorties."[2]
It was decided that U.S. Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF) would not consist of permanently assigned units, partially because of the sensitivities of Arab host states to acknowledging that U.S. forces were deployed in their countries. This made establishment of permanent units more difficult, because base access might be changed or denied with shifting, volatile, political currents. For example, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Jordanian government denied U.S. troops were stationed in Jordan. This created a lot of concern with Jordanian military personnel stationed at Shahid Muafaq Al-Salti Air Base during the initial stages. As they were being told on television and radio that there were no U.S. troops on Jordanian soil, USAF C-17 aircraft were arriving on a daily basis with personnel and supplies. The 410th Air Expeditionary Wing was quickly growing in size. Out of confusion, Jordanian Security Forces documented everything leaving the aircraft. U.S. personnel removed labels and explosive decals from the containers, as not to aggravate the situation. American troops initially were not allowed to carry weapons in plain sight. So they carried their Beretta 9mm handguns hidden in their waistbands for protection and hid their M-4 carbines from view in their vehicles.
To minimize the risk of these kind of situations happening, the decision was taken to avoid the creation of permanent units, especially in the Middle East.
Instead, elements from different wings, even from both the active-duty component and the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard, would be melded together for each deployment. This merging of different units from different permanent wings/groups was christened the "Air Expeditionary Force" (AEF) concept. The various units were to be drawn from Air Combat Command or ACC gained components, but also from other major commands such as Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) or United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), as necessary, to meet mission requirements. AEF organizations were to be fundamentally temporary in nature, organized to meet a specific mission or commitment. They thus replaced the "Provisional" deployed units attached to the command during the 1991 (Persian) Gulf War.
| 13th Air Expeditionary Group | Christchurch International Airport | New Zealand | Pacific Air Forces | Unknown | Air component of the Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica (JTF-SFA), operating the C-17A Globemaster III and LC-130 Hercules in support of Operation Deep Freeze. A forward operating location is based at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.[3] | ||
| 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing | Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base | Kuwait | US Air Forces Central | May 2015 | In United States Central Command area of responsibility.[4] | ||
| 378th Air Expeditionary Wing | Prince Sultan Air Base | Saudi Arabia | US Air Forces Central | December 2019 | Supports operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[5] | ||
| 379th Air Expeditionary Wing | Al-Udeid Air Base | Qatar | US Air Forces Central | Unknown | Supports operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[6] | ||
| 380th Air Expeditionary Wing | Al Dhafra Air Base | United Arab Emirates | US Air Forces Central | January 2002 | Provides aerial refueling and reconnaissance aircraft in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[7] | ||
| 385th Air Expeditionary Group | Al-Udeid Air Base | Qatar | Air Mobility Command | May 2018 | Provides airlift and aerial refueling support in the US Central Command area of responsibility. Assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and operates from Al-Udeid AB and Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait.[8] | ||
| 386th Air Expeditionary Wing | Ali Al Salem Air Base | Kuwait | US Air Forces Central | September 2000 | Provides airlift hubs in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[9] | ||
| 387th Air Expeditionary Group | Cargo City | Kuwait | US Air Forces Central | 2003 | Operates the Theater Logistics Gateway at Cargo City and operates at Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait in support of operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility. Assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.[10] | ||
| 401st Air Expeditionary Group | RAF Mildenhall | United Kingdom | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | Unknown | Unknown.[11] | ||
| 404th Air Expeditionary Group | Ramstein Air Base | Germany | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | October 2008 | Provides dedicated intra-theater airlift support for the US Africa Command area of responsibility. Subordinate units forward deploy to locations throughout Africa.[12] | ||
| 406th Air Expeditionary Wing | Ramstein Air Base | Germany | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | 2023 | Supports US Africa Command operations, with subordinate units forward deployed to locations throughout Africa.[13] | ||
| 407th Air Expeditionary Group | Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base | Kuwait | US Air Forces Central | 2016 | Provides airlift operations from Ahmad al-Jaber AB and Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait for the US Central Command area of responsibility. Assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.[14] | ||
| 409th Air Expeditionary Group | Nigerien Air Base 201 | Niger | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | 2011 | Provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to counter extremist activity.[15] Assigned to the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing. | ||
| 432nd Air Expeditionary Wing | Creech Air Force Base | United States | US Air Forces Central | 2002 | Remotely operates the MQ-9B Reaper in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[16] | ||
| 447th Air Expeditionary Group | Incirlik Air Base | Turkey | US Air Forces Central | 2015 | Flies Operation Inherent Resolve A-10C Thunderbolt II combat and KC-135R Stratotanker air refueling missions.[17] | ||
| 449th Air Expeditionary Group | Camp Lemonnier | Djibouti | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | 2008 | Provides combat search and rescue and maintains surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.[18] Assigned to the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing. |
| 16th Air Expeditionary Wing | Aviano Air Base | Italy | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | June 1997 – June 2003 | Supported Operation Allied Force and subsequent operations in the Balkans from Aviano and several forward operating bases throughout the region. Replaced by the 401st Air Expeditionary Wing. | ||
| 40th Air Expeditionary Wing | Diego Garcia Air Base | British Indian Ocean Territory | Pacific Air Forces | October 2001 – August 2006 | Supported strategic bomber operations during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. | ||
| 64th Air Expeditionary Group | Eskan Village Compound | Saudi Arabia | US Air Forces Central | 2005–2014 | Provided security and force support at Eskan Village Compound during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn whilst assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing. | ||
| 313th Air Expeditionary Wing | Morón Air Base | Spain | Air Mobility Command | March – October 2011 | Operated the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn and NATO's Operation Unified Protector in relation to the Libyan Civil War. | ||
| 320th Air Expeditionary Wing | Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, | United States | Air Force District of Washington | Unknown | Supports Joint Task Force National Capital Region operations such as Presidential inaugurations. | ||
| 321st Air Expeditionary Wing | New Al Muthana Air Base | Iraq | US Air Forces Central | August 2002 – December 2011 | Supported the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission (ITAM)-Air Force. | ||
| 322nd Air Expeditionary Group | Souda Bay Air Base | Greece | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | January – May 2012 | Unknown. | ||
| 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing | Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base | Romania | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | March – April 2008 | Activated for the NATO 2008 Bucharest summit. | ||
| 332nd Air Expeditionary Air Group | Unknown | Southwest Asia | US Air Forces Central | Unknown | Operated the MQ-9A Predator and F-15E Eagle in the Central Command area of responsibility, 2017.[19] See 332d Expeditionary Operations Group. | ||
| 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing | Prince Sultan Air Base | Saudi Arabia | December 1998 – August 2003 | Part of Operation Southern Watch which patrolled the Southern No-Fly Zone over Iraq below the 33rd Parallel | |||
| 370th Air Expeditionary Wing | New Al Muthana Air Base | Iraq | US Air Forces Central | February 2010 – 2011 | |||
| 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group | New Al Muthana Air Base | Iraq | US Air Forces Central | March 2007 – November 2008 | Supported the restart of the Iraqi Air Force by training Iraqi personnel. | ||
| 376th Air Expeditionary Wing | Transit Center at Manas | Kyrgyzstan | US Air Forces Central | December 2001 – June 2014 | Operated the Transit Centre at Manas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. | ||
| 384th Air Expeditionary Wing | Isa Air Base | Bahrain | US Air Forces Central | September 2003 – 2004 | Supported operations in the Middle East. | ||
| 398th Air Expeditionary Group | Budapest Ferihengy International Airport | Hungary | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | March – April 2008 | Was assigned to 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing. Activated for the NATO 2008 Bucharest summit. | ||
| 405th Air Expeditionary Wing | Bagram Air Base | Afghanistan | US Air Forces Central | ||||
| 410th Air Expeditionary Wing | Prince Hassan Air Base and Shahid Muafaq Al-Salti Air Base | Jordan | US Central Command Air Forces | 2003–unknown | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 416th Air Expeditionary Wing | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| 435th Air Expeditionary Wing | Ramstein Air Base | Germany | US Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa | 2013–2023 | Supported US Africa Command operations, with subordinate units forward deployed to locations throughout Africa.[20] Mission and components taken over by the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2023.[21] | ||
| 438th Air Expeditionary Wing | Hamid Karzai International Airport | Afghanistan | US Air Forces Central | 2001–2021 | Provided training, advice, and assistance to the Afghan Air Force. Also operated at Kandahar International Airport.[22] | ||
| 444th Air Expeditionary Wing | Unknown | Unknown | US Central Command Air Forces | 2003–unknown | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 451st Air Expeditionary Group | Kandahar Airfield | Afghanistan | US Air Forces Central | 2002–2021 | Operated the A-10C Thunderbolt II, HH-60G Pave Hawk, E-11A BACN and MQ-9A Reaper in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO's Operation Resolute Support.[23] Assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.[24] | ||
| 455th Air Expeditionary Wing | Bagram Air Field | Afghanistan | US Air Forces Central | 2008–2021 | Supported Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO's Operation Resolute Support. | ||
| 457th Air Expeditionary Group | Morón Air Base | Spain | Air Mobility Command | 2011 | Supported Operation Odyssey Dawn and NATO's Operation Unified Protector in relation to the Libyan Civil War.[25] | ||
| 462nd Air Expeditionary Group | Diego Garcia Air Base | British Indian Ocean Territory | Pacific Air Forces | July 2002 – unknown | Operated KC-135R Stratotankers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom whilst assigned to the 40th Air Expeditionary Wing. | ||
| 466th Air Expeditionary Group | Transit Center at Manas | Kyrgyzstan | US Air Forces Central | 2012–2014 | Supported operations at the Transit Centre at Manas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[26] | ||
| 467th Air Expeditionary Group | Camp Victory, Baghdad International Airport | Iraq | US Air Forces Central | 2010–unknown | Supported Operation New Dawn in Iraq.[27] | ||
| 484th Air Expeditionary Wing | Al-Udeid Air Base | Qatar | US Air Forces Central | 2003 | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 485th Air Expeditionary Wing | Tabuk Regional Airport | Saudi Arabia | US Air Forces Central | 2003 | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 486th Air Expeditionary Wing | Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base | Kuwait | US Air Forces Central | 2003 | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 487th Air Expeditionary Wing | Cairo West Airfield | Egypt | US Air Forces Central | 2003 | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 492nd Air Expeditionary Group | Lajes Field | Azores | Air Mobility Command | 2003 | Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. | ||
| 506th Air Expeditionary Group | Kirkuk Air Base | Iraq | US Air Forces Central | Unknown–2010 | |||
| Personnel Recovery Task Force/563rd Air Expeditionary Group[28] | Trapani Air Base | Italy | US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa | June 2013 – January 2014 | Operated the HC-130J Combat King II. Drawn from elements of 563rd Rescue Group. Assigned to the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing. | ||
| 651st Air Expeditionary Group | Camp Bastion | Afghanistan | US Air Forces Central | June 2011 – unknown |