406th Air Expeditionary Group

406th Air Expeditionary Operations Group
Emblem of the 406th Air Expeditionary Operations Group
Active	1943-1946; 1952-1956; 2001-TBD
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Provisional Air Expeditionary

The 406th Air Expeditionary Operations Group (406 AEOG) is the operational flying component of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing. It is a provisional unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.

The current status of this unit is undetermined.

The group's World War II predecessor unit, the 406th Fighter Group was assigned to Ninth Air Force in Western Europe. It was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions in combat during the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.

History

For additional history and lineage, see 406th Air Expeditionary Wing

Lineage

• Constituted as 406th Bombardment Group (Dive) on 4 Feb 1943

Activated on 1 Mar 1943

Redesignated 406th Fighter-Bomber Group in Aug 1943

Redesignated 406th Fighter Group in May 1944

Inactivated on 20 Aug 1946

• Redesignated 406th Fighter-Bomber Group and activated on 10 Jul 1952

Redesignated 406th Fighter-Interceptor Group in Apr 1954

Inactivated on 1 May 1956

Redesignated 406th Tactical Fighter Training Group on 31 Jul 1985 (Remained inactive)

• Redesignated 406th Air Expeditionary Operations Group, and converted to provisional status, on 5 Feb 2001.

Assignments

• III Fighter Command, 1 Mar 1943
• IX Fighter Command, 4 Apr 1944
• 303d Fighter Wing

Attached to XIX Tactical Air Command, 1 Aug 1944

• 100th Fighter Wing

Attached to XIX Tactical Air Command, 1 Oct 1944

• XXIX Tactical Air Command, 8 Feb 1945
• United States Air Forces in Europe

Attached to XII Tactical Air Command, 25 Oct 1945-20 Aug 1946

• 406th Fighter-Bomber (later Fighter-Interceptor) Wing, 10 Jul 1952-1 May 1956
• United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate at anytime after 5 Feb 2001.

Components

• 512th (formerly 628th Bombardment) Fighter Squadron: 1 Mar 1943-20 Aug 1946; 10 Jul 1952-1 May 1956
• 513th (formerly 629th Bombardment) Fighter Squadron: 1 Mar 1943-20 Aug 1946; 10 Jul 1952-1 May 1956
• 514th (formerly 630th Bombardment) Fighter Squadron: 1 Mar 1943-20 Aug 1946; 10 Jul 1952-1 May 1956
• 631st Bombardment Squadron: 1 Mar-15 Aug 1943

Stations

• Key Field, Mississippi, 1 Mar 1943
• Congree Army Airfield, South Carolina, c. 18 Sep 1943-13 Mar 1944
• RAF Ashford (AAF-417), England, 4 Apr 1944
• Tour-en-Bessin Airfield (A-13), France, 5 Aug 1944
• Cretteville Airfield (A-14), France, 17 Aug 1944
• Saint-Léonard Airfield (A-36), France, 4 Sep 1944
• Mourmelon-le-Grand Airfield (A-80), France, 22 Sep 1944

• Metz Airfield (Y-34), France, 2 Feb 1945
• Asch Airfield (Y-29), Belgium, 8 Feb 1945
• Münster-Handorf Airfield (Y-94), Germany, 15 Apr 1945
• AAF Station Nordholz, Germany, 5 Jun 1945-20 Aug 1946
• RAF Manston, England, to Jul 1952-1 May 1956
• Undisclosed Location(s), 5 Feb 2001-Present

Aircraft

• Included A-20, A-24, A-25, A-26, A-35, A-36, UC_78, BC-1, P-39 and P-40, 1943
• P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943-1946
• F-84 Thunderjet, 1952-1953
• F-86D Sabre, 1953-1956

Operations

World War II

Emblem of the World War II 406th Fighter Group

Republic P-47D-27-RE Thunderbolt Serial 42-6887 of the 512th Fighter Squadron

Established as a dive-bomber attack group at Key Field, Mississippi on 1 March 1943, Trained with numerous attack aircraft both at Key Field and at Congreee Army Airfield, South Carolina until May 1944.

at Key Field, Mississippi in 1943. Converted to Fighter-Bomber and trained with P-39s and P-40s in South Carolina. Converted to a Fighter-Bomber group and deployed to European Theater in March 1944. Assigned to Ninth Air Force.

Entered combat with P-47 Thunderbolts in May when the Allies were preparing for the invasion of the Continent. Provided area cover during the landings in Jun, and afterward flew armed-reconnaissance and dive-bombing missions against the enemy, attacking such targets as motor transports, gun emplacements, ammunition dumps, rail lines, marshalling yards, and bridges during the campaign in Normandy. Helped prepare the way for the Allied breakthrough at [[St Lo] on 25 Jul.

Moved to the Continent early in August 1944 and continued to provide tactical air support for ground forces. Participated in the reduction of St Malo and Brest. Aided the Allied drive across France, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations on 7 September 1944 when the group destroyed a large column of armored vehicles and military transports that were attempting to escape from southeastern France through the Belfort Gap. Operated closely with ground forces and flew interdiction missions during the drive to the Moselle-Saar region.

Shifted operations from the Saar basin to the Ardennes and assisted the beleaguered garrison at Bastogne after the Germans had launched the counteroffensive that precipitated the Battle of the Bulge. Operated almost exclusively within a ten-mile radius of Bastogne from 23-27 Dec 1944, a period for which the group received a second DUC for its at¬tacks on tanks, vehicles, defended buildings, and gun positions. Flew escort, interdiction, and close-support missions in the Ruhr Valley early in 1945 and thus assisted Allied ground forces in their drive to and across the Rhine.

Remained in Europe after V-E Day, being assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe for duty in Bremen, Germany (AAF Station Nordholz) with the army of occupation. Inactivated on 20 Aug 1946, personnel and equipment being assigned to 86th Fighter Group keeping with Air Force policy of having low-numbered units active as much as possible.

Cold War

North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre Serial 52-4063 of the 513th Fighter Interceptor Squadron

During the early years of the Cold War the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group was activated in place at RAF Manston, England to assist RAF Fighter Command with air defense of the United Kingdom. Inactivated on 1 May 1956 when 406th FIW converted to Tri-Deputate organization, assigning operational squadrons directly to the wing.

Modern era

Reactivated as an Air Expeditionary provisional unit in 2001. Was active in Turkey before Turkey refused to allow its territory to be used as part of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. It seems likely the 406 AEG was deactivated shortly afterwards.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.
• Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.
• FOI Release USAFHRA, 406th Air Expeditionary Wing