449th Air Expeditionary Group

Emblem of the 449th Bombardment Group

717th Bomb Squadron B-24J 42-51327 at Bruning AAF just after delivery from Douglas-Tulsa where it was manufactured.

The group was constituted as 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 April 1943 and activated on 1 May at Davis–Monthan Field, Arizona.[3] its original components were the 716th,[4] 717th,[5] 718th,[6] and 719th Bombardment Squadrons.[7]

It was assigned to II Bomber Command for combat training with B-24 Liberators. The first morning report was issued on 27 May 1943and listed as 52 officers and 33 enlisted men available for duty. Over the next seven months the Group steadily increased to full strength as the training program progressed. In July 1943 the group moved to Alamogordo Army Airfield, New Mexico[3] where second phase training was performed. In September the group again relocated, this time to Bruning Army Air Field, Nebraska.[3] The move to Bruning was completed on 18 September 1943. At that time the 449th consisted of a total complement of 184 officers and 1,203 enlisted men. At Bruning the group received its new operational Consolidated B-24 Liberators.

By December 1943, training was complete and the 449th was ordered overseas to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). Each crew flew its aircraft overseas by the South Atlantic Transport Route which took them to Morrison Field, Florida, then to Puerto Rico and Brazil. The Atlantic crossing was made from Brazil to Dakar, French West Africa. From Dakar the planes flew north to Tunis by way of Marrakech. From Tunis they flew to their forward operating base at Grottaglie Airfield near Taranto, Italy. The 449th was assigned to the 47th Bombardment Wing of the Fifteenth Air Force.[8]

718th Bomb Squadron B-24J 42-64362 in flight over Europe, 1944

The group was a strategic bombardment organization, and bombed oil refineries, communications centers, aircraft factories, and industrial areas in Italy, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Rumania, Bulgaria, Albania, and Greece.[3]

The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for a mission on 4 April 1944 when the group, flying without escort, raided marshalling yards in Bucharest. Although heavily outnumbered by German fighters, the group succeeded not only in bombing the target but also in destroying many of the enemy interceptors. Received another DUC for action on 9 July 1944 when the group flew through heavy smoke and intense enemy fire to attack an oil refinery at Ploiești. Other operations of the group included bombing gun emplacements in southern France in preparation for the invasion in August 1944, and attacking troop concentrations, bridges, and viaducts in April 1945 to assist Allied forces in northern Italy.[3]

The group was ordered back to the United States during May after the German capitulation. The 449th was redesignated a Very Heavy bombardment group and was programmed for very long range strategic bombardment operations against the Japanese Home Islands using Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. Many personnel were demobilized upon arrival at the port of embarkation; a small cadre of key personnel was formed and the group was then established at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota in late May where the group was reformed with new personnel.

After a period of organization, the group moved to Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas, where initial training was conducted with former II Bomber Command B-17 Flying Fortress; B-25 Mitchells and some B-29s.[3] As the group was so far along in training, it moved to Grand Island Army Air Field, Nebraska in September where it became a regular unit of Continental Air Forces, receiving some of the last new B-29 aircraft manufactured by Boeing. In November, its 719th squadron was converted to a reconnaissance unit and redesignated the 46th Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range (Photographic-Weather).[7]

On 21 March 1946, the 449th Bombardment Group became one of the initial ten B-29 groups assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC). The group was inactivated on 4 August 1946[3] and its personnel, mission, and equipment were reassigned to the 28th Bombardment Group.[9]

The origins of the 449th Bombardment Wing began on 1 July 1959 when SAC established the 4239th Strategic Wing (SW) at Kincheloe AFB, Michigan, an Air Defense Command (ADC) base, whose host was the 507th Fighter Group (Air Defense ) and assigned it to the 40th Air Division[10] as part of SAC's plan to disperse its Boeing B-52 Stratofortress heavy bombers over a larger number of bases, thus making it more difficult for the Soviet Union to knock out the entire fleet with a surprise first strike.[11] The wing remained a headquarters only until 1 June 1961 when the 70th Munitions Maintenance Squadron was activated to oversee the wing's special weapons.

The 93d Bombardment Squadron (BS), consisting of 15 Boeing B-52 Stratofortresses, moved to Kincheloe from Homestead AFB, Florida where it had been one of the three squadrons of the 19th Bombardment Wing in August 1961.[12] At the same time three maintenance squadrons and a squadron to provide security for special weapons were activated and assigned to the wing. Starting in 1960, one third of the squadron's aircraft were maintained on fifteen-minute alert, fully fueled and ready for combat to reduce vulnerability to a Soviet missile strike. This was increased to half the squadron's aircraft in 1962.[13] The 4239th (and later the 449th) continued to maintain an alert commitment until the 449th was inactivated in 1977. In 1962, the wing's bombers began to be equipped with the GAM-77 Hound Dog and the GAM-72 Quail air-launched cruise missiles, The 4239th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron was activated in November to maintain these missiles.

However, SAC Strategic Wings could not carry a permanent history or lineage[14] and SAC looked for a way to make its Strategic Wings permanent.

449th Bombardment Wing Emblem

In 1962, in order to perpetuate the lineage of many currently inactive bombardment units with illustrious World War II records, Headquarters SAC received authority from Headquarters USAF to discontinue its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) strategic wings that were equipped with combat aircraft and to activate Air Force controlled (AFCON) units, most of which were inactive at the time which could carry a lineage and history. As a result, the 4239th SW was replaced by the 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy[15] which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment on 1 February 1963.[16]

In the same way the 716th Bombardment Squadron, one of the unit's World War II historical bomb squadrons, replaced the 93d BS. The 70th Munitions Maintenance Squadron was reassigned to the 449th. Under the Dual Deputate organization,[17] all flying and maintenance squadrons were directly assigned to the wing, so no operational group was activated. The 4239th's maintenance and security squadrons were replaced by ones with the 449th numerical designation of the new wing. Each of the new units assumed the personnel, equipment, and mission of its predecessor. In July 1963, the wing added an air refueling capability when the 908th Air Refueling Squadron, equipped with Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, was organized and assigned to the wing.[15]

The 449th continued the mission of strategic bombardment training and contributing to SAC's worldwide refueling capability. It supported SAC combat operations in Southeast Asia by furnishing KC-135 aircraft and crews from November 1965 through December 1975 and B-52 crews between May 1968 and June 1975.[15]

Although the number of ADC interceptor squadrons remained almost constant in the early 1960s, attrition (and the fact that production lines closed in 1961) caused a gradual drop in the number of planes assigned to fighter interceptor squadrons, from 24 to typically 18 by 1964 and to 12 by 1967.[18] Because of this reduction, in December 1965, the Department of Defense announced it would close Kincheloe by October 1971. ADC terminated its interceptor mission at Kincheloe and inactivated its 507th Fighter Wing in 1968.[19] It then organized the 4609th Air Base Group as a temporary host organization for the base. However, in May 1971, the decision to close the base was reversed and it was instead transferred to SAC, which activated the 449th Combat Support Group as the new host organization and assigned it to the wing. This was only a six-year reprieve, as the base was closed on 30 September 1977 as part of an ongoing reduction in force in the USAF following the end of the Vietnam War. The B-52s and KC-135s of the 449th were reassigned to other SAC units, and the wing was inactivated[15] concurrent with the closure of the base.

From 2008, the 449th Air Expeditionary Group has been assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed for operations. The group is currently based at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. The 449th provides combat search and rescue for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa. The group has been assigned various expeditionary rescue squadrons while located in Djibouti. It is composed of HC-130P Hercules aircraft assigned to the 81st Expeditionary Rescue Squadron and pararescuemen from the 82nd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron.[20] While deployed the group performed both combat and civil search and rescue missions.[21] Since the above referenced fact sheet was issued the group has been joined by the 75th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron.

In November 2006, while conducting an air-land mission, Staff Sergeant Joshua C. Sevilla, assigned to the group's 79th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron and his crew were forcibly detained by at El Fasher Airport, Sudan by members of the Sudanese military who accused them of espionage and demanded the surrender of all crew members and the aircraft. SSG Sevilla denied a force of more than 150 Sudanese soldiers the ability to control the aircraft, enabling all 17 American detainees to return.[22]

The 303rd Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, now a provisional Expeditionary Rescue Squadron assigned to USAFE since July 2011,[23] has conducted deployments as part of the 449th AEG as the 303rd ERQS, at least during December 2013.[24]

From November 2016 a detachment of General Dynamics F-16CM Fighting Falcons were deployed here from the 510th Fighter Squadron at Aviano Air Base, Italy with support from the 100th Air Refueling Wing, from RAF Mildenhall, UK using Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers.[25]

It is likely that the 60th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron at Camp Lemonnier was associated with the group in some way until it was inactivated in 2015. The 12th Expeditionary Special Operations Squadron now conducts UAV takeoffs and landings from Chabelley Airport in Djibouti.

• Constituted as 449th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 6 April 1943

Activated on 1 May 1943.

Redesignated 449th Bombardment Group, Heavy ca. August 1943

Redesignated 449th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 29 May 1945

Inactivated on 4 August 1946

• Consolidated with 449th Bombardment Wing as 449th Bombardment Wing on 31 January 1984[26] (remained inactive)

• Constituted as 449th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 23 March 1953

Redesignated 449th Bombardment Wing, Heavy on 15 November 1962 and activated (not organized)

Organized on 1 February 1963

Inactivated on 30 September 1977.

• Consolidated with 449th Bombardment Group on 31 January 1984[26] (remained inactive)
• Redesignated 449th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status in 2003.

Activated and inactivated on undetermined dates.

• Fourth Air Force, 1 May 1943
• Second Air Force, 12 September 1943
• 47th Bombardment Wing: 11 December 1943 – 15 May 1945
• 20th Bombardment Wing, 29 May 1945
• Strategic Air Command: 21 March 1946 – 4 August 1946
• Strategic Air Command: 15 November 1962 (not organized)
• 40th Air Division, 1 February 1963 – 30 September 1977
• Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate any time in 2003 (attached to United States Air Forces Central, 2003)
• United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate any time after 1 October 2008
• Seventeenth Air Force, 1 October 2008 - 20 April 2012
• Third Air Force, 20 April 2012 – present

• 449th Combat Support Group, 30 June 1971 – 30 September 1977

• 70th Munitions Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1972
• 449th Airborne Missile Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1975
• 449th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1977
• 449th Combat Defense Squadron (later 449th Security Police Squadron): 1 July 1963 – 30 June 1971
• 449th Field Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1977
• 449th Munitions Maintenance Squadron: 1 October 1972 – 30 September 1977
• 449th Organizational Maintenance Squadron: 1 July 1963 – 30 September 1977

• USAF Hospital, Kincheloe: 30 June 1971 – 30 September 1977

• Consolidated B-24 Liberator (1943–1945)
• Boeing B-29 Superfortress (1945–1946)
• Boeing B-52 Stratofortress (1963–1977)
• ADM-20 Quail (1963–unknown)
• AGM-28 Hound Dog (1963–1975)
• AGM-69 SRAM (1973–1977)
• Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker (1963–1977)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (present)

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• McMullen, Richard F. (1964). The Fighter Interceptor Force 1962–1964. ADC Historical Study No. 27. Ent Air Force Base, Colorado: Air Defense Command(Confidential, declassified 22 March 2000){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: postscript (link)
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). A Guide to Air Force Lineage and Honors (2nd, Revised ed.). Maxwell AFB, Alabama: USAF Historical Research Center. LCCN 22226556.
• Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-3401-6. OCLC 791362037.

Further reading

• Caplan, Laura (2004). Domain of Heroes: The Medical Journal, Writings, and Story of Dr. Leslie Caplan. Edina, Minnesota: self-published. OCLC 755921442.
• Currier, Donald R. (Lt Col USAF, ret.) (1992). 50 Mission Crush. Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Burd Street Press. ISBN 978-0-942597-43-1. LCCN 92008964. OCLC 231434413.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
• Gann, Harvey E. (1995). Escape I Must, World War II Prisoner of War in Germany. Austin, Texas: Woodburner Press. ISBN 978-0-964312-61-6. LCCN 95060566. OCLC 33630053.
• Gansz, David M. (2022). Fifteenth Air Force War Diary, Bombing by the Numbers. First Mountain Belgians Publishing. ISBN 978-1-7343806-1-3.
• O'Neil, Myles (1993). Ploesti raiders : B-24 bomber crew member, 719th Bomb Sqd., 449th Bomb Group, 47th Wing, 15th Air Force, Italy, WW II. Chicago, Illinois: Adams Press. LCCN 93071771. OCLC 47054576.
• Rust, Kenn C. (1976). Fifteenth Air Force Story. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album. ISBN 978-0-911852-79-0. LCCN 76017673. OCLC 2644131.
• Shepard, D. William (1976). Of Men and Wings: The First 100 Missions of the 449th Bomb, January to July 1944. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album. ISBN 978-0-911852-79-0. LCCN 76017673. OCLC 2644131.
• Turner, Damon, ed. (1985). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. I Tucson to Grottaglie. Collegiate Press.
• Turner, Damon, ed. (1985). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. II From Grottaglie. Collegiate Press.
• 449th Bomb Group Association, ed. (1989). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. III Grottaglie and Home. Collegiate Press.
• 449th Bomb Group Association, ed. (2000). A History of the 449th Bomb Group, Forty-seventh Wing, Fifteenth Air Force: A Group History. Vol. IV Maximum Effort. Panama City, FL: Norfield Publishing.
• 449th Bomb Group Association, ed. (2001). The Planes of the 449th Bomb Group in World War II. Panama City, Florida: Norfield Publishing.
• Yedlin, Benedict; Jeffers, Alexander (2002). Brother Men Who Fly: A World War II Gunner's Personal Quest. Princeton, New Jersey: Liberator Crew Productions. ISBN 978-0-967533-31-5. LCCN 2004555330. OCLC 52232362.

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