List of United States Air Force Groups explained

This is a list of Groups in the United States Air Force that do not belong to a host wing.

The last level of independent operation is the group level. When an organization is not part of the primary mission of the base it will be made an independent group. They may report to a wing or they may be completely independent (the 317th Airlift Group at Dyess Air Force Base). They may also be organized as an expeditionary unit, independent but too small to warrant a wing designation. The organization of the independent group is usually similar to the operations group, but with a few squadrons or flight from the support side added to make the organization more self-sufficient, but not large enough to become a wing.

Current Groups

Group Shield Location MAJCOM/DRU Weapons System
1st Weather Group (WXG)
3rd Combat Communications Group (CCG)
Campbell Barracks, Germany
A-10
F-22
Eglin AFB, Florida
Eglin AFB, Florida
Tyndall AFB, Florida QF-4
F-16
EC-130
Los Angeles AFB, California
North Highlands ANGS, California
Inactive
C-130
Inactive
UH-1
T-1A T-6 T-37 T-38
Moody AFB, Georgia HC-130 HH-60
Kadena AB, Japan MC-130 MH-53
Defense Distribution Center Susquehanna
Al Dhafra AB, United Arab Emirates
Vandenberg AFB, California Minuteman III
Ramstein AB, Germany C-130
Inactive
Ramstein AB, Germany C-130
RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England
RAF Croughton, Northamptonshire, England
RAF Alconbury, Cambridgeshire, England
Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan
Baghdad International Airport, Iraq
Camp Lemonier, Djibouti
Inactive
AFCENT
A-10
F-22
F-16 A-10
Bagram AB, Afghanistan
Inactive
E-3
Inactive
HH-60/HC-130
UH-1
Inactive
Travis AFB, California
Inactive
Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii
Hurlburt Field, Florida
Ramstein AB, Germany
Inactive
Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
RAF Mildenhall, UK MC-130 MH-53
Inactive
821st Air Base Group http://www.thule.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4885 Thule AB, Greenland
Shindand AB, Afghanistan
KC-135
HH-60

Inactive Groups

The 1st, 2nd, and 9th Aeromedical Evacuation Groups all previously existed.

The 427th Special Operations Training Squadron (tail code IJ) at England Air Force Base, Louisiana, flew the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly (OA-37B FAC variant) from 1970–1972, assigned to the provisional 4410th Special Operations Training Group, Tactical Air Command.

During and immediately after the Korean War, Tactical Air Command (TAC) trained aircrews for the Douglas B-26 Invader at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The three squadrons of the 4400th Combat Crew Training Group performing this mission were Air National Guard units that had been mobilized for the war. At the start of 1953, these squadrons were returned to state control and the 423d Bombardment Squadron was activated[1] and took over the mission, personnel, and equipment of the 117th Bombardment Squadron, which returned to the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.[2] In January 1954, the group mission shifted to tactical bombardment and it was redesignated the 4400th Bombardment Group. The group expected to transition to Martin B-57 Canberra aircraft. As this was to take place, TAC decided to replace the Table of Distribution 4400th Group and its squadrons with the regular 345th Bombardment Group, which took over their mission in July 1954[3] and the 423d BS was inactivated.[1]

In 1988, Tactical Air Command activated the 4443rd Test and Evaluation Group as an operational test unit at Eglin Air Force Base, an Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) base.

The 4450th Standardization Evaluation Group (SEG) was activated in the early 1960s.http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/441/222.xml

Colonel Abner M. Aust served as Deputy Commander and then Commander of the 6002nd Standardization Evaluation Group at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, from September 1963 to June 1965.[4] The group was inactivated on 20 November 1967.http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/466/057.xml

It appears that the 6903rd, 6912th, 6917th, and 6920th Electronic Security Groups all previously existed. The 6922d Security Group was activated in April 1970 at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.[5] Initially, the group intercepted and listened to foreign electronic communications through subordinate detachments ranging from Thailand through Japan. With the withdrawal of the United States from Vietnam, operations were substantially reduced, and by 1974 were limited to direction finding, and the group was reduced to the 6922d Security Squadron.

After the departure of its last flying squadron, the 25th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing wing continued to wind down operations at Chambley Air Base, France, until 15 October 1966, when it inactivated, although it was no longer operational.[6] Its remaining support personnel were transferred to the 7367th Tactical Group, which managed US Air Force operations at Chambley until they terminated in April 1967.[7]

The 7382nd Guided Missile Group (Tactical) was stationed at Hahn Air Base, West Germany, in the 1960s, before being replaced by the 701st Tactical Missile Wing.

GroupShieldLocationMAJCOM
/ DRU
Years active
311th Air Base GroupBrooks City-BaseAFMC???? – 2011
368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations GroupIraqAFCENTInactivated 18 Dec 2011[8]
370th Air Expeditionary Advisory GroupNew Al Muthana AB, IraqUSAFCENT200? – 2011
467th Air Expeditionary Group[9] IraqUSAFCENTInactivated 18 Dec 2011
586th Air Expeditionary GroupIraqUSAFCENT2005–2010[10]
732nd Air Expeditionary GroupIraqUSAFCENTReplaced by 467 AEG
755th Air Expeditionary Group[11] AfghanistanUSAFCENTReplaced by 466 AEG
800th Air Base GroupWhiteman AFB, MOSACRedesignated 1960 as 800th Combat Support Group
801st Air Base GroupLockbourne AFB, OHSACRedesignated 1960 as 801st Combat Support Group
802nd Air Base GroupSchilling AFB, KSSACRedesignated 1960 as 802nd Combat Support Group
803rd Air Base GroupDavis–Monthan AFB, AZSACRedesignated 1960 as 803rd Combat Support Group
804th Air Base GroupHunter AFB, GASACRedesignated 1960 as 804th Combat Support Group
805th Air Base GroupBarksdale AFB, LASACRedesignated 1960 as 805th Combat Support Group
806th Air Base GroupLake Charles AFB, LASACRedesignated 1960 as 806th Combat Support Group
807th Air Base GroupMarch AFB, CASACRedesignated 1960 as 807th Combat Support Group
808th Air Base GroupMarch AFB, CASACRedesignated 1960 as 808th Combat Support Group
809th Air Base GroupFrancis E. Warren Air Force Base, WYSAC
810th Air Base GroupBiggs AFB, TXSACRedesignated 1960 as 810th Combat Support Group
811th Air Base GroupBergstrom AFB, TXSACRedesignated 1960 as 811th Combat Support Group
812th Air Base GroupWalker AFB, NMSACRedesignated 1960 as 812th Combat Support Group
813th Air Base GroupPinecastle AFB, FLSAC
814th Air Base GroupFairchild AFB, WASACRelocated: 1955
814th Air Base GroupWestover AFB, MASACRedesignated 1960
815th Air Base GroupForbes AFB, KSSACRedesignated 1960 as 815th Combat Support Group
816th Air Base GroupAltus AFB, OKSACRedesignated 1960 as 816th Combat Support Group
817th Air Base GroupPease AFB, NHSACRedesignated 1960 as 817th Combat Support Group
818th Air Base GroupLincoln AFB, NESACRedesignated 1960 as 818th Combat Support Group
819th Air Base GroupDyess AFB, TXSACRedesignated 1960 as 819th Combat Support Group
820th Air Base GroupPlattsburgh AFB, NYSACRedesignated 1960 as 820th Combat Support Group
821st Air Base GroupEllsworth AFB, SDSACRedesignated 1960 as 821st Combat Support Group
822nd Air Base GroupTurner AFB, GASACRedesignated 1960 as 822nd Combat Support Group
823rd Air Base GroupHomestead AFB, FLSACRedesignated 1960 as 823rd Combat Support Group
824th Air Base GroupCarswell AFB, TXSACRedesignated 1960 as 824th Combat Support Group
825th Air Base GroupLittle Rock AFB, ARSACRedesignated 1960 as 825th Combat Support Group
862nd Air Base GroupMinot AFB, NDSACRedesignated 1960 as 862nd Combat Support Group
866th Combat Support GroupMcConnell AFB, KSSAC
1000th Satellite Operations GroupOffutt AFB, NBAir Force Space Command1 May 1983 - 31 July 1992, 1st Space Wing
1503rd Air Transport Group
1600th Air Transport Group
1607th Air Transport Group
1700th Air Transport Group
1701st Air Transport Group
1703rd Air Transport Group
1705th Air Transport Group
1706th Air Transport Group (Aeromedical Evacuation)Discontinued 1956 - see 13th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron
918th Armament Systems GroupEglin AFB, FLAFMC
1001st Air Base GroupAndrews AFBMATSBase operating group for Andrews Air Force Base from 1 July 1968 to 1 July 1969.
1450th Medical Air Evacuation GroupAndrews AFBMATS?4 January 1969 - 6 September 1969.
1931st Communications Group
2049th Communications GroupMcClellan AFB, CAAFCC
2714th Ammunition Supply Group (Depot)Tachikawa Air Base, Japan1 October 1955 - 1 June 1956
3200th Proof Test Group
3205th Drone Group
3700th Technical Training GroupSheppard AFB, TXAir Training CommandFrom 1 February 1992, succeeded 3700th TTW
3906rd Air Base GroupSidi Slimane Air Base, French MoroccoSACRedesignated 1960 as 3906th Combat Support Group
3909rd Air Base GroupRAF Greenham Common, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3909th Combat Support Group
3910th Air Base GroupRAF Lakenheath / RAF Mildenhall, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3910th Combat Support Group
3911th Air Base GroupRAF West Drayton, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3911th Combat Support Group
3914th Air Base GroupRAF Chelveston, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3914th Combat Support Group
3917th Air Base GroupRAF Manston, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3917th Combat Support Group
3918th Air Base GroupRAF Upper Heyford, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3918th Combat Support Group and in 1964 as the 3918th Strategic Wing
3919th Air Base GroupRAF Fairford, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3919th Combat Support Group
3920th Air Base GroupRAF Brize Norton, UKSACRedesignated 1960 as 3920th Combat Support Group and in 1964 as the 3920th Strategic Wing
3922nd Combat Support GroupNouasseur Air Base, French MoroccoSAC
3926th Combat Support GroupBen Guerir Air Base, French MoroccoSAC
3928th Air Base GroupRAF Sturgate, UKSAC1954-57; redesignated 1960 as 3928th Combat Support Group
3936th Combat Support GroupBoulhaut Air Base, French MoroccoSAC
3960th Air Base Group Andersen AFB, GuamSACRedesignated 1960 as 3960th Combat Support Group and in 1964 as the 3960th Strategic Wing
3970th Combat Support GroupTorrejon AB, SpainSACRedesignated in 1964 as the 3970th Strategic Wing
3973rd Air Base GroupMoron AB, SpainSACRedesignated 1960 as 3973rd Combat Support Group and in 1964 as the 3973rd Strategic Wing
3974th Combat Support GroupZaragoza AB, SpainSAC
4000th Support GroupOffutt AFB, NBSAC4000th SG organized on 1 February 1963; redesignated 4000th Aerospace Application Group on 1 January 1973; redesignated 4000th Satellite Operations Group on 3 April 1981
4037th Air Base GroupAltus AFB, OKTACBase operating group for Altus Air Force Base 15 Oct - 18 Nov. 1953.
4082nd Air Base GroupCFB Goose Bay, CanadaSACRedesignated 1960 as 4082nd Combat Support Group and in 1964 as the 4082nd Strategic Wing
4083rd Air Base GroupThule AB, GreenlandSACRedesignated 1960 as 4083rd Air Base Wing and later as the 4083rd Strategic Wing
4084th Air Base GroupSondrestrom Air Base, GreenlandSAC
4157th Combat Support GroupEielson AFB, AKSACRedesignated 1964 as the 4157th Strategic Wing
4158th Air Base GroupElmendorf Field, AKSACRedesignated 1960 as 4158th Combat Support Group and in 1964 as the 4158th Strategic Wing
4402nd Tactical Training GroupShaw AFB, SCTACAircraft
4450th Tactical GroupTonopah Test Range Airport / Nellis AFB, NVTAC
4460th Tactical Control GroupWaco, TXTACDiscontinued (disbanded) 1 March 1966.
6029th Support GroupChitose Air Base, Japan8–31 December 1957
6332nd Air Base GroupKadena Air Base, OkinawaFEAFApril 1949 – January 1950, then redesignated 6332nd Air Base Wing
6400th Air Base GroupTachikawa Air Base, JapanFEAF?1 Feb 1952– ????; redesignation of pre-1 Feb 1952 13th Air Base Group
6400th Maintenance & Supply GroupTachikawa Air Base, JapanFEAF?1 Feb 1952 - unknown
6401st Ammunition Supply Group (Depot)Tachikawa Air Base, JapanFEAF?1 Dec 1954– ????; stationed at FEAMCOM AB, a sub-installation of Tachikawa AB
6481st Medical Air Evacuation GroupTachikawa Air Base, JapanFEAF?18 June 1953– ????; the 6481st MAEG, a Table of Distribution unit, replaced the 801st MAES.[12]
6594th Test GroupHickam AFB, HIAFSC
6900th Communications-Computer Group Lackland AFB, TX Electronic Security Command 1 April 1991, redesignated Air Intelligence Agency Intelligence Systems Group on 1 October 1993.
6937th Communications GroupPeshawar Air Station, PakistanGroup at the base from July 17, 1959[13] until being evacuated on 7 January 1970.[14] [15]
7020th Air Base GroupRamstein AB, GermanyUSAFE
7030th Air Base GroupRamstein AB, GermanyUSAFE
7375th Combat Support GroupRAF Sculthorpe, UK
7382nd Guided Missile GroupHahn Air Base, West GermanyUSAFELater 7382nd Tactical Missile Group; supervised 69th Tactical Missile Squadron, 15 April 1956 – 15 September 1956
7416th Aeromedical Evacuation GroupÉvreux-Fauville Air Base, France[16] USAFE7416 AEG and its assigned units were reorganized on 8 April 1957 as the 2nd AEG, comprised the 1st, 3rd, and 7th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadrons and the 18th Casualty Staging Flight.[17]
7499th Support GroupWiesbaden, GermanyUSAFE
7560th Air Base GroupRAF Alconbury, UKUSAFE
7575th Operations GroupWiesbaden AB / Rhein-Main AB, GermanyUSAFE
GroupShieldLocationMAJCOM
/ DRU
Years active

References

Sources

USAF Historical Research Agency list of current Groups and Wings.

Notes and References

  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 519–520
  2. See Mueller, p. 315
  3. See Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 225–226
  4. Web site: Abner M. Aust . Veteran Tributes . October 2, 2020.
  5. Web site: Factsheet 315 Cyberspace Operations Squadron (AFSPC). Lacomia. John M.. July 15, 2015. Air Force Historical Research Agency. August 6, 2017.
  6. Ravenstein, pp. 46–47
  7. Web site: Abstract, Terminal History of Chambley Air Base and 7367 Tactical Group. Air Force History Index. 28 April 2017.
  8. http://www.sather.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123284221 Air expeditionary units inactivate after last Airmen leave Iraq
  9. Sanjay Allen, 467th AEG provides world-class support to IA, JET Airmen, 22 November 2010, Air Component Coordination Element-Iraq Public Affairs
  10. http://www.afcent.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123209810 Air Force bids farewell to 586th AEG
  11. https://archive.today/20120720144201/http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123205040 755th Air Expeditionary Group members celebrate one year with JET Airmen
  12. https://ww35.usafunithistory.com/PDF/0800/801%20MEDICAL%20AIR%20EVACUATION%20SQ.pdf 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron
  13. Web site: Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–7, Documents on South Asia, 1969–1972 – Office of the Historian. history.state.gov.
  14. Web site: New Page 1. www.6937th.org.
  15. http://6937th.50megs.com/ History of the base during American use
  16. https://books.google.com/books?id=0dPhRUg8teYC&dq=2d+Aeromedical+Evacuation+Squadron&pg=PA291 Annual Report of the USAF Medical Service
  17. https://books.google.com/books?id=rqEZAAAAIAAJ&dq=%222d+aeromedical+evacuation+group%22&pg=PA21 Fifth Report of the USAF Medical Service