445th Operations Group
Encyclopedia
445th Airlift Wing
The 445th Airlift Wing is an operational wing of the United States Air Force Reserve. It is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio...
, assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve Fourth Air Force
Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
. The group is stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
During World War II, its predecessor unit, the 445th Bombardment Group was a VIII Bomber Command
VIII Bomber Command
The VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
unit stationed in England. Assigned to RAF Tibenham
RAF Tibenham
RAF Tibenham is a former World War II Royal Air Force Station and airfield in England. It is located about south-southwest of Norwich, N of Diss in Norfolk...
in late 1943, the group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation on 24 February 1944 for attacking an aircraft assembly plant at Gotha
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
, in Central Germany, losing thirteen aircraft. The 445th was Jimmy Stewart
James Stewart
James Stewart was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart may also refer to:-Noblemen:*James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland*James Stewart, the Black Knight of Lorn James Stewart (1908–1997) was a Hollywood movie actor and USAF brigadier general.James Stewart...
's original bomb group.
Overview
The 445 OG's mission is to attain and maintain operational readiness; provide strategic transport of personnel and equipment; provide aeromedical evacuation; and recruit and train toward these goals.Assigned Units
- 89th Airlift Squadron89th Airlift SquadronThe 89th Airlift Squadron is part of the 445th Airlift Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft providing strategic, global airlift.-History:...
(C-5A/B) - 445th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
- 445th Operations Support Squadron
- 445th Airlift Control Flight
World War II
Activated 1 April 1943 at Gowen Field in Idaho, where initial training undertaken. Established at Wendover AAB, Utah, from 8 June 1943. Moved to Sioux City AB, Iowa on 5–7 July 1943 to complete training. On 20 October 1943 the ground echelon moved to Camp Shanks, New York and embarked on the Queen Mary on 26 October 1943, sailing next day. The unit arrived in Clyde on 2 November 1943. The Aircraft departed Sioux City late in October 1943 and flew to the United Kingdom via the southern route, Florida, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and West Africa. Upon arrival, stationed at RAF Timbenham, and was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing. The group was given a tail code of "Circle-F".The 445th BF entered combat on 13 December 1943 by attacking U-boat
U-boat
U-boat is the anglicized version of the German word U-Boot , itself an abbreviation of Unterseeboot , and refers to military submarines operated by Germany, particularly in World War I and World War II...
installations at Kiel
Kiel
Kiel is the capital and most populous city in the northern German state of Schleswig-Holstein, with a population of 238,049 .Kiel is approximately north of Hamburg. Due to its geographic location in the north of Germany, the southeast of the Jutland peninsula, and the southwestern shore of the...
; only fifteen crews were considered fit for this mission which was heavily defended area. The unit operated primarily as a strategic bombardment organization until the war ended, striking such targets as industries in Osnabrück
Osnabrück
Osnabrück is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany, some 80 km NNE of Dortmund, 45 km NE of Münster, and some 100 km due west of Hanover. It lies in a valley penned between the Wiehen Hills and the northern tip of the Teutoburg Forest...
, synthetic oil plants in Lutzendorf, chemical works in Ludwigshafen, marshalling yards at Hamm, an airfield at Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, an ammunition plant at Duneberg, underground oil storage facilities at Ehmen, and factories at Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
.
The group participated in the Allied campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week
Big Week
Between February 20–25, 1944, as part of the European strategic bombing campaign, the United States Strategic Air Forces launched Operation Argument, a series of missions against the Third Reich that became known as Big Week. The planners intended to lure the Luftwaffe into a decisive battle by...
, 20–25 February 1944, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking an aircraft assembly plant at Gotha
Gotha (town)
Gotha is a town in Thuringia, within the central core of Germany. It is the capital of the district of Gotha.- History :The town has existed at least since the 8th century, when it was mentioned in a document signed by Charlemagne as Villa Gotaha . Its importance derives from having been chosen in...
on 24 February. The 389th Group was part of the Gotha mission but after their Lead bombardier collapsed dropped their bombs before the target and the 445th attacked alone. Thirteen aircraft were lost. This was the longest running, continuous air battle of World War II - some two and a half hours of fighter attacks and flak enroute and leaving the target area.
It occasionally flew interdictory
Interdiction
Interdiction is a military term that refers to the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction...
and support missions. It helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields, V-weapon sites, and other targets. The unit attacked shore installations on D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, 6 June 1944 and supported ground forces at Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô
Saint-Lô is a commune in north-western France, the capital of the Manche department in Normandy.-History:Originally called Briovère , the town is built on and around ramparts. Originally it was a Gaul fortified settlement...
by striking enemy defenses in July 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was a major German offensive , launched toward the end of World War II through the densely forested Ardennes mountain region of Wallonia in Belgium, hence its French name , and France and...
, December 1944 – January 1945 it bombed German communications. Early on 24 March 1945 dropped food, medical supplies, and ammunition to troops that landed near Wesel
Wesel
Wesel is a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is the capital of the Wesel district.-Division of the town:Suburbs of Wesel include Lackhausen, Obrighoven, Ginderich, Feldmark,Fusternberg, Büderich, Flüren and Blumenkamp.-History:...
during the airborne assault across the Rhine
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
and that afternoon flew a bombing mission to the same area, hitting a landing ground at Stormede.
On occasion the unit dropped propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
leaflets and hauled fuel to France. Awarded the Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with Palm by the French government for operations in the theater from December 1943 to February 1945 supplying the resistance.
By far, the 445th's most notorious mission is the Kassel Mission of 27 September 1944. In cloud, the navigator of the lead bomber miscalculated and the 35 planes diverted from the rest of the 2nd Air Division and proceeded to Göttingen
Göttingen
Göttingen is a university town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is the capital of the district of Göttingen. The Leine river runs through the town. In 2006 the population was 129,686.-General information:...
some 35 miles (56.3 km) from the primary. After the bomb run, the group was attacked from the rear by an estimated 150 Luftwaffe planes, resulting in the most concentrated air battle in history. The Luftwaffe unit was a Stormgruppen a special unit intended to attack bombers by flying in tight formations; up to ten fighters in line abreast. This was intended to break the bomber formation at a single pass. The 361st Fighter Group intervened preventing completed destruction of the Group. Twenty-nine German and 25 American planes went down in a 15 miles (24.1 km) radius. Only four 445th planes made it back to the base – two crashing in France,one in Belgium, another at RAF Old Buckenham
RAF Old Buckenham
RAF Old Buckenham is a former World War II airfield in England. The field is located SE of Attleborough in Norfolk, and is currently in civilian use as Old Buckenham Airport.-USAAF use:...
, two landed at Manston – a 75% casualty rate. Only one of the 35 was fit to fly next day but 445th sent 10 planes to the same target, Kassel.
Redeployed to the US May/June 1945. The air echelon departed the Tibenham on 17 May 1945, and departed the United Kingdom on 20 May 1945. 703rd BS Ground echelon sailed on USAT Argentine from Southhampton and the other squadrons on the USAT Cristol at Bristol. Both ships arrived New York on 8 June 1945. Personnel had 30 days R&R. Group established Fort Dix, New Jersey and inactivated on 12 September 1945.
Cold War
Trained in the Reserve as a very heavy Bombardment Group, 1947–1949 and as a Fighter-Bomber Group, 1952–1957. Redesignated as a Troop Carrier Group in September 1957 and began training in C-119 aircraft. In mid-November 1957 the Group was separated from the parent wing, which moved to Georgia while the group and two squadrons moved to Tennessee. Inactivated on 25 September 1958. Not reactivated as the parent wing converted to the Air Force tri-deputate organization.Modern era
On 1 October 1994, the 445th Operations Group activated under the "Objective Wing" concept adapted by the Air Force as the lines between tactical and strategic forces blurred. The flying components of the 445th Airlift Wing were reassigned to the newly established group. The group trained for and flew strategic airlift missions worldwide, performing channel flights and special assignment airlift missions. Participated in various contingency and humanitarian operations and training exercises. Also tested the laser detection and ranging (LADAR) system.Lineage
- Established as 445 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 March 1943
- Activated on 1 April 1943
- Redesignated 445 Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 12 September 1945
- Redesignated 445 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the Reserve on 12 July 1947
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 445 Fighter-Bomber Group on 24 June 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 8 July 1952
- Redesignated 445 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 6 September 1957
- Inactivated on 25 September 1958
- Redesignated: 445 Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 445 Operations Group on 1 August 1992
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992
- Inactivated on 1 May 1994
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 October 1994.
Assignments
- II Bomber CommandII Bomber CommandThe II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
, 1 April 1943 - Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
, 6 October 1943 - Eighth Air ForceEighth Air ForceThe Eighth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana....
, c. 2 November 1943 - VIII Bomber CommandVIII Bomber CommandThe VIII Bomber Command is an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit that is better known as the later appellation Eighth Air Force, as was popularized in post-World War II filmsand is frequently called the First Eighth Air Force by its veterans and successors in the services.The command was...
, 5 November 1943 - 2d Bombardment Division, 9 November 1943
- 2d Combat Bombardment Wing, November 1943
- Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
, 9 June – 12 September 1945 - 305th Bombardment Wing (later, 305 Air Division)305th Air DivisionThe 305th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Command, assigned to Fourth Air Force, being stationed at McChord Air Force Base, California...
, 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949 - 445th Fighter-Bomber (later, 445 Troop Carrier) Wing, 8 July 1952 – 25 September 1958
- 445th Airlift Wing445th Airlift WingThe 445th Airlift Wing is an operational wing of the United States Air Force Reserve. It is headquartered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, near Dayton, Ohio...
, 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994; 1 October 1994–present.
Components
- 15th Squadron: 1 August 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 89 Airlift: 1 October 1994–present
- 356th Airlift Squadron356th Airlift SquadronThe 356th Airlift Squadron is part of the 433d Airlift Wing at Kelly Field Annex, Texas. It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft providing global airlfit.-Mission:...
: 1 October 1994–2006 - 357th Squadron: 16 November 1957 – 25 March 1958
- 700th (Bombardment; Fighter-Bomber; Troop Carrier; Airlift) Squadron (IS)700th Airlift SquadronThe 700th Airlift Squadron is part of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft providing global airlfit.-Mission:...
: 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 12 July 1947-27 June 1949; 8 July 1952 – 25 September 1958 (detached 16 November 1957 – 25 September 1958) - 701st (Bombardment; Fighter-Bomber; Troop Carrier; Airlift) Squadron (MK)701st Airlift SquadronThe 701st Airlift Squadron is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlfit.-Mission:...
: 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 12 July 1947-27 June 1949; 8 July 1952 – 1 July 1957; 16 November 1957-25 September 1958 - 702d Bombardment Squadron702d Airlift SquadronThe 702d Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 305th Operations Group, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 1 March 2000.-History:...
(WV): 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 1 August 1947-27 June 1949; 8 July 1952 – 1 July 1957; 16 November 1957-25 September 1958 - 703d Bombardment Squadron703d Bombardment SquadronThe 703d Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 452d Bombardment Group, stationed at Fresno Air Base, California. It was inactivated on 27 June 1949.-History:...
(RN): 1 April 1943 – 12 September 1945; 1 January – 28 May 1948 - 729th Airlift Squadron729th Airlift SquadronThe 729th Airlift Squadron is part of the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.-Mission:...
: 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994 - 730th Airlift Squadron730th Airlift SquadronThe 730th Airlift Squadron is part of the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.-Mission:...
: 1 August 1992 – 1 May 1994.
Stations
- Gowen Field, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 1 April 1943 - Wendover Field, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 8 June 1943 - Sioux City Army Air Base, IowaIowaIowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, 8 July – 20 October 1943 - RAF TibenhamRAF TibenhamRAF Tibenham is a former World War II Royal Air Force Station and airfield in England. It is located about south-southwest of Norwich, N of Diss in Norfolk...
(USAAF Station 124), England, 4 November 1943 – 28 May 1945 - Fort Dix Army Air Base, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 9 June – 12 September 1945 - McChord Field (later, AFB), Washington, 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949
- Buffalo Niagara International AirportBuffalo Niagara International AirportBuffalo Niagara International Airport is an airport located in Cheektowaga CDP, Town of Cheektowaga, in Erie County, New York, USA. It is named after the Buffalo – Niagara Falls metropolitan area. The airport serves Buffalo, New York as well as Southern Ontario, Canada...
, New York, 8 July 1952 - Niagara Falls International AirportNiagara Falls International Airport-Traffic figures:Niagara Falls International received 56,943 passengers in 2008. As per Federal Aviation Administration records, the airport had 660 passenger boardings in calendar year 2005 and 1,409 unscheduled enplanements in 2006....
, New York, 15 June 1955 - Memphis Municipal AirportMemphis Municipal AirportMemphis Municipal Airport is a city-owned public use airport located one nautical mile northeast of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Hall County, Texas, United States.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, 16 November 1957 – 25 September 1958 - Norton AFB, California, 1 August 1992
- March AFB, California, 1 July 1993 – 1 May 1994
- Wright-Patterson AFB, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, 1 October 1994–present
Aircraft assigned
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1943–1945 - B-29 SuperfortressB-29 SuperfortressThe B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
, 1947–1949 - F-51 Mustang, 1953–1954
- F-80 Shooting Star, 1953–1956
- F-84 ThunderjetF-84 ThunderjetThe Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
, 1955–1957 - C-119 Flying BoxcarC-119 Flying BoxcarThe Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, 1957–1958 - C-141 StarlifterC-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, 1992–1994; 1994–2006 - C-5 GalaxyC-5 GalaxyThe Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
, 2006–present