375th Operations Group
Encyclopedia
The 375th Operations Group (375 OG) is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force
375th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base
, Illinois
.
The unit's World War II
predecessor unit, the 375th Troop Carrier Group operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater transporting men, supplies and ammunition to forward bases in New Guinea
, New Britain
and in the Solomon
and Admiralty Islands
. In 1943, the unit took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, dropping paratroops to seize enemy bases and cut overland supply lines in New Guinea
. It was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its role in the liberation of the Philippines during 1944–1945. After the war, the unit served in the reserves and was elevated to active service during the Korean War
. It returned to reserve duty until its inactivation in 1957; then again since 1991 after its reactivation.
and Biak
, July 1943 – February 1945, transporting troops, supplies, and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea
, New Britain
, the Solomon Islands
, and the Admiralty Islands
. Flew armed B-17 Flying Fortress's for the more hazardous missions that involved landing on fields that were under enemy attack. Took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, seizing enemy bases and cutting supply lines at Nadzab
, New Guinea
, on 5 September 1943.
Moved to the Philippines
in February 1945, and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands. Transported cargo to forces in the Ryukyus, June–July 1945. After the war, transferred troops from Luzon
to the Ryukyus for staging to Japan. Also ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Luzon
. Moved to Japan in September 1945, flying supply missions and courier flights until inactivated.
Trained in the Reserve from August 1947 until the group was called to active duty in October 1950. After a period of intensive training, the group supplied airlift for troop movements throughout the United States. Reallotted to the Reserve for training from July 1952 – November 1957.
Conducted operational support, aeromedical, and training missions from December 1991.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
375th Air Mobility Wing. It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base
Scott Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force in St. Clair County, Illinois, near Belleville.-Overview:The base is named after Corporal Frank S. Scott, the first enlisted person to be killed in an aviation crash...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
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 375th Troop Carrier Group operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater transporting men, supplies and ammunition to forward bases in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
and in the Solomon
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
and Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
. In 1943, the unit took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, dropping paratroops to seize enemy bases and cut overland supply lines in New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
. It was awarded the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation for its role in the liberation of the Philippines during 1944–1945. After the war, the unit served in the reserves and was elevated to active service during the Korean War
Korean 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...
. It returned to reserve duty until its inactivation in 1957; then again since 1991 after its reactivation.
Overview
The 375 OG comprises four airlift squadrons, an Operations Support Squadron, an Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and an Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight. They provide operational airlift support with 20 C-21A aircraft, DV special airlift missions utilizing three C-40C aircraft, and operate Aeromedical Evacuation systems on seven air mobility platforms for inter/intratheater casualty movement. Responsible for C-21A aircraft maintenance, joint-use airfield services, and operations support for deployment of combat-ready aircrews and aircraft worldwide.- 311th Airlift Squadron311th Airlift SquadronThe 311th Airlift Squadron is part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operates C-21 aircraft providing executive airlfit for Combatant Commanders.-History:...
; 457th Airlift Squadron457th Airlift SquadronThe 457th Airlift Squadron is part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It operates C-21 aircraft providing executive airlift.-History:...
; 458th Airlift Squadron458th Airlift SquadronThe 458th Airlift Squadron is part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It operates C-21 aircraft providing executive airlift and aeromedical evacuation.-History:...
C-21A
- Collectively operate 20 C-21A aircraft out of three geographically separated locations including Scott AFB, Ill, Andrews AFB, MarylandMarylandMaryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, and Peterson AFB, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
. They provide first-class Operational Support Airlift and Aeromedical Evacuation with time, place and/or mission-sensitive requirements both at home and while deployed in steadfast support of our Expeditionary Air Force.
- 54th Airlift Squadron C-40C
- Partners with the 932d Airlift Wing932d Airlift WingThe 932d Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.-Mission:Provide first-class, worldwide, safe, and reliable airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs.-History:...
as one of the first-ever AMC/AFRC active associate squadrons under the Total Force Integration model. The squadron flies three specially configured C-40C aircraft on Special Air MissionSpecial Air MissionThe United States Air Force Special Air Mission is the safe, comfortable, and reliable air transportation for the President, Vice President, Cabinet, members of Congress, and other high-ranking American and foreign dignitaries....
s as directed by HQ USAF to transport members of the Presidential Cabinet and Congress, foreign heads of state, and other dignitaries executing global missions vital to US national security.
- 375th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron C-21A, C-17, C-130, and KC-135
- Provides rapid response aeromedical evacuation capability for any contingency. The unit trains, mobilizes, and deploys nearly 150 members to support a Theater Aeromedical Evacuation System conducting aeromedical evacuation missions aboard C-21A, C-17, C-130, and KC-135 aircraft for normal operations and missions aboard C-5, KC-10, Civil Reserve Air Fleet aircraft in contingent situations. The 375th AES provides command and control over the 775th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Flight executing CONUS patient redistribution of our nation's wounded warriors. The 375th EAEF is composed of a command element located a Scott and strategically positioned detachments at Andrews AFB, Md., and Travis AFB, Calif.
- 375th Operations Support Squadron
- Acta as the wing's executive agent for operations. A Total Force team, they are globally engaged providing world-class intelligence analysis, weather services, air traffic control, and joint-use airfield management, transient aircraft support, survival and aerospace ground equipment maintenance, life support, aircrew and aeromedical aircrew training and scheduling, flight records management, and command staff support to meet national objectives.
Lineage
- Established as 375 Troop Carrier Group on 12 November 1942
- Activated on 18 November 1942
- Inactivated on 25 March 1946
- Assigned and activated in the Reserve on 3 August 1947
- Redesignated: 375 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 10 May 1949
- Ordered to active duty on 15 October 1950
- Inactivated on 14 July 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 14 July 1952
- Inactivated on 16 November 1957
- Redesignated 375 Aeromedical Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated 375 Operations Group, and activated on 1 December 1991.
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...
, 18 November 1942 - 50 Troop Carrier Wing, 1 May 1943
- 54 Troop Carrier Wing54th Tactical Fighter WingThe 54th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Pacific Air Forces Fifth Air Force, being stationed at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea...
, 12 July 1943 – 25 March 1946
- Attached to: 310th Bombardment Wing310th Air DivisionThe 310th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma...
, 24 March – 31 May 1945- Eleventh Air ForceEleventh Air ForceThe Eleventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska....
, 3 August 1947
- Eleventh Air Force
- 69 Troop Carrier Wing, 17 October 1947
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 1 July 1948 - Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
, 1 December 1948 - Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe 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....
, 23 February 1949 - 375 Troop Carrier Wing375th Airlift WingThe 375th Air Mobility Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It is part of Air Mobility Command ....
, 27 June 1949 – 14 July 1952; 14 July 1952-16 November 1957 - 375th Airlift (later Air Mobility) Wing375th Airlift WingThe 375th Air Mobility Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It is part of Air Mobility Command ....
, 1 December 1991–present
Components
- 11 Aeromedical Airlift (later, 11 Airlift): 1 December 1991 – 30 September 2003
- 14 Fighter: 30 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 54 Airlift: 30 September 2004–present
- 55 Troop Carrier: 18 November 1942 – 25 March 1946; 9 August 1947-16 November 1957
- 56 Troop Carrier: 18 November 1942 – 25 March 1946; 3 August 1947-16 November 1957
- 57 Troop Carrier: 18 November 1942 – 25 March 1946; 3 August 1947-1 April 1954
- 58 Troop Carrier: 18 November 1942 – 25 March 1946; 30 September 1947-3 October 1950
- 311 Airlift: 15 June 2005–present
- 375 Flying Training: 1 December 1991 – 1 July 1994
- 457 Airlift: 1 December 1991 – 1 April 1993; 1 April 1997–present
- 458 Airlift: 1 December 1991–present
- 459 Airlift: 1 December 1991 – 1 April 1993.
Stations
- Bowman Field, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, 18 November 1942 - 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...
, 25 January 1943 - Laurinburg-Maxton Army Air BaseLaurinburg-Maxton Army Air BaseLaurinburg-Maxton Army Air Base is an inactive United States Air Force base, approximately 6 miles east-northeast of Laurinburg, North Carolina. It was active during World War II as a I Troop Carrier Command training airfield....
, 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...
, 6 May 1943 - 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...
, 2–17 June 1943 - Archerfield AirportArcherfield AirportArcherfield Airport is a small airport located 7 1/2 miles at Archerfield in the south west of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. For some time it was the primary airport in Brisbane. During World War II it was used as a Royal Australian Air Force station. Airport traffic peaked in the 1980s...
, Brisbane, Australia, 13 July 1943 - Port Moresby Airfield Complex, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 31 July 1943 - Dobodura Airfield Complex, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 19 August 1943 - Port Moresby Airfield Complex, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 19 December 1943 - Nadzab Airfield Complex, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 22 April 1944 - Mokmer Airfield, BiakBiakBiak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical temperatures throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 27 degrees celsius, which is also generally the average temperature of each day in Biak...
, Netherlands East Indies, 27 September 1944
- McGuire FieldMcGuire FieldFor the airport in the United States, see San José International AirportSan Jose Airport , formerly known as McGuire Field, is an airport serving the general area of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro in the Philippines. It is one of three airports in Occidental Mindoro, the others being Mamburao...
, San JoseSan Jose, Occidental MindoroSan Jose is a 1st class municipality in the province of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. According to the 2000 census, it has a population of 111,009 people in 22,464 households. According to the 2007 census, the population increased to 118,807 people....
, MindoroMindoroMindoro is the seventh-largest island in the Philippines. It is located off the coast of Luzon, and northeast of Palawan. The southern coast of Mindoro forms the northeastern extremum of the Sulu Sea.-History:...
, Philippines, 18 February 1945 - Porac AirfieldPorac AirfieldPorac Airfield is a World War II airfield located at Porac to the east of the Porac River in the province of Pampanga on the island of Luzon in the Philippines. It was closed after the war.-History:...
, LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines, 20 May 1945 - Motobu AirfieldMotobu AirfieldMotobu Airfield is a World War II airfield on the Motobu Peninsula of Okinawa, near the East China Sea coast. The airfield was deactivated after 1945.-History:...
, Okinawa, 31 July 1945 - Tachikawa AB, Japan, September 1945-25 March 1946
- Pittsburgh Airport, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 3 August 1947 - Greenville AFB (later, Donaldson AFB), South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 16 October 1950 – 14 July 1952 - Pittsburgh Airport, PennsylvaniaPennsylvaniaThe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, 14 July 1952 – 16 November 1957 - Scott AFB, IllinoisIllinoisIllinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, 1 December 1991–present
Aircraft
- C-47, 1942–1946
- B-17, 1944
- C-46, 1944–1946; 1948–1950; 1952–1955
- C-82, 1950–1952
- C-45, 1951
- C-119, 1954–1957
- C-9,1991–2003
- C-12, 1991–1994
- C-21, 1991
Operations
Initially trained for overseas duty and moved to the Pacific theater, June–July 1943. Operated from New GuineaNew Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
and Biak
Biak
Biak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical temperatures throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 27 degrees celsius, which is also generally the average temperature of each day in Biak...
, July 1943 – February 1945, transporting troops, supplies, and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, New Britain
New Britain
New Britain, or Niu Briten, is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from the island of New Guinea by the Dampier and Vitiaz Straits and from New Ireland by St. George's Channel...
, the Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands is a sovereign state in Oceania, east of Papua New Guinea, consisting of nearly one thousand islands. It covers a land mass of . The capital, Honiara, is located on the island of Guadalcanal...
, and the Admiralty Islands
Admiralty Islands
The Admiralty Islands are a group of eighteen islands in the Bismarck Archipelago, to the north of New Guinea in the south Pacific Ocean. These are also sometimes called the Manus Islands, after the largest island. These rainforest-covered islands form part of Manus Province, the smallest and...
. Flew armed B-17 Flying Fortress's for the more hazardous missions that involved landing on fields that were under enemy attack. Took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific, seizing enemy bases and cutting supply lines at Nadzab
Nadzab
-History:A Lutheran mission station was established at Nadzab around 1910. Nadzab was the site of the only Allied paratrooper assault in New Guinea on 5 September 1943.The Lae Nadzab Airport is a regional airport served by regional aircraft with domestic flights....
, New Guinea
New Guinea
New Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, on 5 September 1943.
Moved to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in February 1945, and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands. Transported cargo to forces in the Ryukyus, June–July 1945. After the war, transferred troops from Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
to the Ryukyus for staging to Japan. Also ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Luzon
Luzon
Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
. Moved to Japan in September 1945, flying supply missions and courier flights until inactivated.
Trained in the Reserve from August 1947 until the group was called to active duty in October 1950. After a period of intensive training, the group supplied airlift for troop movements throughout the United States. Reallotted to the Reserve for training from July 1952 – November 1957.
Conducted operational support, aeromedical, and training missions from December 1991.