512th Operations Group
Encyclopedia
The 512th Operations Group (512 OG) 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
. After the war, the unit was redesignated as the 512th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) and allotted to the reserve.
, and consists of 2 airlift squadrons and 2 support squadrons. Members of the group work side-by-side their active duty counterparts in the 436th Airlift Wing
. The unit flies the C-5 Galaxy
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 Kweilin 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 Commando
's 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 9/11/2001.
512th Airlift Wing
The 512th Airlift Wing, an associate C-5 Galaxy Air Force Reserve unit is located at Dover AFB, Delaware. The 512 AW helps maintain, repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts...
, assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve. The group is stationed at Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base located two miles southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware.-Units:...
, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
.
During 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...
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
Tenth Air Force
The Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
. After the war, the unit was redesignated as the 512th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) and allotted to the reserve.
Overview
The unit is the operational component of the 512th Airlift Wing512th Airlift Wing
The 512th Airlift Wing, an associate C-5 Galaxy Air Force Reserve unit is located at Dover AFB, Delaware. The 512 AW helps maintain, repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts...
, and consists of 2 airlift squadrons and 2 support squadrons. Members of the group work side-by-side their active duty counterparts in the 436th Airlift Wing
436th Airlift Wing
The 436th Airlift Wing is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, and is based at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware....
. The unit flies the C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The 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...
- 709th Airlift Squadron709th Airlift SquadronThe 709th Airlift Squadron is part of the 512th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.-History:Activated in mid 1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to England in the European Theater of Operations during November 1943, assigned...
- 326th Airlift Squadron326th Airlift SquadronThe 326th Airlift Squadron is part of the 512th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-Mission:...
- 512th Operations Support Flight
- 512th Airlift Control Flight
Lineage
- Established as 1 Combat Cargo Group on 11 April 1944
- Activated on 15 April 1944
- Redesignated 512 Troop Carrier Group on 19 September 1945
- Inactivated on 24 December 1945
- Redesignated 512 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 4 August 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 2 September 1949
- Ordered to Active Service on 15 March 1951
- Inactivated on 1 April 1951
- Activated in the Reserve on 14 June 1952
- Inactivated on 14 April 1959
- Redesignated: 512 Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 512 Operations Group on 1 August 1992
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992.
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...
, 15 April 1944 - Eastern Air Command, 24 August 1944
- Combat Cargo Task Force, 14 September 1944
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 20 December 1944 - Combat Cargo Task Force, 30 January 1945
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 24 August–December 1945 - 512th Troop Carrier Wing, 2 September 1949 – 1 April 1951; 14 June 1952-14 April 1959
- 512th Airlift Wing512th Airlift WingThe 512th Airlift Wing, an associate C-5 Galaxy Air Force Reserve unit is located at Dover AFB, Delaware. The 512 AW helps maintain, repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts...
, 1 August 1992–present
Components
- 1 Combat Cargo (later, 326 Troop Carrier; 326 Airlift) Squadron: 15 April 1944 – 16 June 1945; 2 September 1949-1 April 1951; 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959; 1 August 1992–present
- 2 Combat Cargo (later, 327) Squadron: 15 April 1944 – 10 September 1945 (detached 1 July-10 September 1945); 2 September 1949 – 1 April 1951; 14 June 1952-14 April 1959.
- 3 Combat Cargo (later, 328) Squadron: 15 April 1944 – 20 December 1945 (detached 23 June-20 August 1945 and 25 August-10 November 1945); 2 September 1949 – 1 April 1951; 14 June 1952-16 November 1957; 25 March 1958 – 14 April 1959
- 4 Combat Cargo (later, 329) Squadron: 15 April 1944 – 8 December 1945 (detached 5–24 September 1945); 2 September 1949 – 1 April 1951
- 709 Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992–present
Aircraft
- C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, 1944–1945 - C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1945; 1949–1951; 1952–1957 - 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...
, 1957–1959 - 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...
, 1992–present
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...
, 15 April 1944 - 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...
, 5–13 August 1944 - Sylhet Airfield, India, 29 August 1944
- Tulihal AirfieldImphal Airport-World War II:Imphal Airport was a major Allied supply base. The Allies could fly men, equipment and supplies into the airstrips at Imphal so although cut off by land, the town was not without a lifeline...
, India, 30 November 1944 - Tsuyung AirfieldTsuyung AirfieldTsuyung Airfield is a former World War II United States Army Air Forces airfield in China, located east of Chuxiong City in the People’s Republic of China.-History:...
, China, 20 December 1944 - Dohazari AirfieldShah Amanat International AirportShah Amanat International Airport , named after an Islamic saint, is an international airport serving Bangladesh's south-eastern port city of Chittagong and the Bangladesh Air Force. It is Bangladesh's second largest airport...
, India, 30 January 1945 - Hathazari AirfieldHathazari AirfieldHathazari Airfield is a former wartime United States Army Air Forces airfield in Bangladesh used during the Burma Campaign 1944-1945. It is now abandoned.-History:The airfield was located near the Railhead on the main railroad line to Chittagong...
, India, 15 May 1945 - Myitkyina AirfieldMyitkyina Airport-Airlines and destinations:-History:Built before World War II as Myitkyina Airfield, the airfield was captured by the Imperial Japanese Army on 8 May 1942 during the Japanese conquest of Burma...
, Burma, June 1945
- Liuchow Airfield, China, 30 August 1945
- Kiangwan Airfield, China, 9 October-3 December 1945
- Camp AnzaCamp AnzaCamp Anza was a United States Army installation near Riverside, California during World War II. Construction began on July 3, 1942, and was completed on February 15, 1943....
, California, 23–24 December 1945 - Reading Municipal 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...
, 2 September 1949 - New Castle County AirportNew Castle Air National Guard BaseNew Castle National Guard Base is a United States Air Force base, located at New Castle Airport in New Castle County, Delaware.-Overview:...
, DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, 1 May 1950 – 1 April 1951; 14 June 1952 - Willow Grove Naval Air Station, 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...
, 20 July 1958 – 14 April 1959 - Dover AFB, DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, 1 August 1992–present
Operational history
Trained 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
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, 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 Kweilin 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
The Hump
The Hump was the name given by Allied pilots in the Second World War to the eastern end of the Himalayan Mountains over which they flew military transport aircraft from India to China to resupply the Chinese war effort of Chiang Kai-shek and the units of the United States Army Air Forces based in...
from India.
The group, partially re-equipped with C-46 Commando
C-46 Commando
The Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
's 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
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...
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 9/11/2001.
See also
- Objective, Burma!Objective, Burma!Objective, Burma! is an Oscar-nominated 1945 war film which was loosely based on the six month raid by Merrill's Marauders in the Burma Campaign during the Second World War...