405th Air Expeditionary Wing

405th Air Expeditionary Wing
File:405th Air Expeditionary Wing.png 405th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem
Active	19xx-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Aerial Refueling
Role	Combat Support
Garrison/HQ	Thumrait AB, Oman
Mascot(s)	NOVERE ET AGGREDI - "Deploy and Attack"

The United States Air Force's 405th Air Expeditionary Wing is an aerial refueling Air Expeditionary unit located at Thumrait AB, Oman.

History

Lineage

The 405th Air Expeditionary Operations Group is the the successor to the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 405th Bombardment Group (Dive), activated on 1 Mar 1943 at Drew Army Airfield, Florida.

The United States Air Force 405th Fighter-Bomber Wing was established and activated at Godman AFB, Kentucky on 1 December 1952. In 1952, the wing was bestowed the World War II honors and history of the USAAF 405th Bombardment (Later Fighter) Group. Inactivated: 1 July 1958. Redesignated: 405th Fighter Wing, Activated on 9 April 1959. Inactivated on 16 September 1974. Redesignated: 405th Tactical Training Wing, Activated 29 August 1979. Inactivated 1 October 1991. Reactivated as: 405th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2001.

Major Commands

• United States Army Air Forces
  • Third Air Force (1943-44)
  • Ninth Air Force (1944-45)

• United States Air Force
  • Tactical Air Command (1952-58, 1979-91)
  • Pacific Air Forces (1959-74)
  • Air Combat Command, United States Central Command Air Forces (2001-?)

Stations

• United States Army Air Forces
  • Drew Army Airfield, Florida (1943)
  • Walterboro Army Airfield, South Carolina (1943-44)
  • RAF Christchurch, England (1944)
  • Various Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) locations in Europe (1944-45)
  • Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia (1945)

• United States Air Force
  • Godman AFB, Kentucky (1952-53)
  • Langley AFB, Virginia (1953-58)
  • Clark Air Base, Phillipines (1959-74)
  • Luke Air Force Base, Arizona (1979-91)
  • Thumrait AB, Oman (2001-Present)

Squadrons assigned

World War II:

• 624th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) (1943)
  Redesignated: 509th Fighter Squadron (1943-46)
• 625th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) (1943)
  Redesignated: 510th Fighter Squadron (1943-46)
• 626th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) (1943)
  Redesignated: 511th Fighter Squadron (1943-46)
• 627th Bombardment Squadron (Dive) (1943)

Cold War:

• 1st Test: 30 Apr 1970-16 Sep 1974
• 8th Bombardment (later, 8th Special Operations; 8th Fighter): 18 Nov 1964-15 Jan 1968
• 13th Bombardment (later, 13th Fighter): 18 Nov 1964-15 Jan 1968
• 20th Operations: 31 Dec 1971-16 Sep 1974
• 64th Tactical Fighter: 10 Jun 1966-15 Dec 1969
• 90th Tactical Fighter: 15 Dec 1972-16 Sep 1974
• 425th Tactical Fighter Training: 29 Aug 1979-30 Sep 1991
• 426th Tactical Fighter Training: 1 Jan 1981-29 Nov 1990
• 461st Tactical Fighter Training: 29 Aug 1979-30 Sep 1991
• 508th: 8 Oct 1957-1 Apr 1958
• 509th: 8 Oct 1957-1 Jul 1958, 9 Apr 1959-24 Jul 1970
• 510th: 8 Oct 1957-1 Jul 1958, 9 Apr 1959-16 Mar 1964
• 511th: 8 Oct 1957-1 Jul 1958
• 523d Tactical Fighter: 8 Oct 1957-1 Jul 1958, 20 Nov 1965-31 Aug 1973
• 550th Tactical Fighter Training: 29 Aug 1979-30 Sep 1991
• 555th Tactical Fighter Training: 29 Aug 1979-30 Sep 1991
• 774th Tactical Airlift: 31 Dec 1971-15 Sep 1972
• Note: Numerous Temporary Duty (TDY) Squadrons Attached During Vietnam War.

Global War On Terrorism:

• 405th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (???-Present)

Aircraft Operated

• B-1B (2001-Present)
• KC-135R (2001-Present)
• F-15E (1979-1991)
• C-9A (1972-1974)
• C-118 (1972)
• C-130 (1972)
• B-57 (1964-1968)
• F-4 (1965;1967-1974)
• F-102 (1960-1970)
• F-86 (1959-1960)
• F-100 (1956-1958; 1959-1967)
• KB-50 (1956-1958)
• VC-131 (1955)
• VC-54 (1955)

• C-119 (1954-1956)
• VC-47 (1954-1956)
• C-47 (1954-1956)
• C-45 (1954-1956)
• KB-29 (1954-1956)
• RB-29 (1954)
• B-57 (1954-1957)
• RB-57 (1954-1957)
• L-20 (1953-1956)
• H-19 (1953-1956)
• B-26 (1953-1956)
• B-45 (1953)
• F-84 (1953-1956)
• F-47 (1952)

Operations

• 405th Fighter Group (1943-45)

Trained with A-24, A-25, P-39, and finally P-47 aircraft, the latter being used in combat.

Moved to England, Feb-Mar 1944. Entered combat with Ninth AF in Apr 1944. Until D-Day, engaged chiefly in bombing airdromes, marshalling yards, and bridges in France in preparation for the invasion of France. Flew patrols in the vicinity of Brest during the invasion and then flew armed reconnaissance missions to support operations in Normandy.

Engaged primarily in providing support for ground forces until May 1945.

Flew last mission on 8 May 1945. Returned to the US, Jul-Oct 1945. Inactivated on 29 Oct 1945.

• 405th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1952-58)

Operated Godman AFB, Ky, Dec 1952-Apr 1953, and Langley AFB, Va, May 1953-Oct 1957. At the latter base, replaced 4430th Air Base Wing and operationally controlled numerous tactical and support components until Oct 1957.

Operations included gunnery and bombardment training, firepower demonstrations, weapons delivery training, and numerous tactical exercises, 1952-1958, plus air refueling, 1954-1958.

• 405th Fighter Wing (1959-74)

Replaced 6200th Air Base Wing at Clark AB, Philippines, in Apr 1959. Provided air defense and offensive fighter operations in the Philip-pines, Taiwan, and other Far Eastern points, Apr 1959-Jun 1962.

Operated Clark AB and its satellite facilities, Apr 1959-Mar 1965 and Dec 1971-Sep 1974.

Provided air defense training for Royal Thai Air Force personnel, from a base in Thailand, Nov 1961-Feb 1966.

From mid-1962 until the end of the conflict in Southeast Asia, frequently deployed assigned and attached components to bases in Southeast Asia for air defense and combat operations under operational control of other organizations.

• 405th Tactical Training Wing (1979-91)

Formed with the F-15A/C and F-5E squadrons of the 58th Tactical Training Wing and conducted Replacement Training Unit (RTU) operations. Later added the F-15E RTU mission and closed the F-5 school. Absorbed into the 58th TTW in 1991.

• 405th Air Expeditionary Wing (2001-?)