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323d Expeditionary Operations Group

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The 323d Expeditionary Operations Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time.

323d Expeditionary Operations Group
Boeing T-43 navigator trainer
Active1942–1993
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleExpeditionary operations
Part ofUnited States Air Forces Europe
Nickname(s)White Tails (World War II)[1]
Motto(s)Vincamus Sine Timoris Latin We Conquer Without Fear
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
323d Air Expeditionary Group emblem (approved 25 September 1973)[2][note 1]
323d Bombardment Group emblem (Approved 16 February 1943)[3]
Tail marking (World War II)[1]Horizontal white band

During World War II, the group's predecessor unit, the 323d Bombardment Group was a Martin B-26 Marauder bombardment group assigned to the Eighth and later Ninth Air Force. The group served in the European Theater of Operations, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions interdicting German reinforcements during the Battle of the Bulge. After VE Day, the group returned to the United States where it was inactivated. From 1947 to 1951 the group was active in the Air Force Reserves. It was called to active duty for the Korean War, but was inactivated after its personnel were used to bring other units up to full strength.

The group was again active during the 1950s as the 323d Fighter-Bomber Group, flying North American F-86 Sabres and North American F-100 Super Sabres at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana. It remained inactive until 1991, when it became the 323d Operations Group at Mather Air Force Base, California, where it trained navigators until it was inactivated in 1993.

History

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World War II

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Martin B-26 Marauders of the 455th Bomb Squadron line up on the perimeter track at RAF Earls Colne, 1944.

Training in the United States

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The unit was first activated in August 1942 at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina as the 323d Bombardment Group with the 453d, 454th, 455th and 456th Bombardment Squadron assigned as its original squadrons.[4][5][6][7][8] It trained under Third Air Force in the southeastern United States with Martin B-26 Marauders. The group moved to England beginning in April 1943. The flight echelons few via the southern ferry route except for that of the 456th Squadron, which flew the northern route. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth.[4][9]

Combat in the European Theater

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The group arrived at RAF Horham in Suffolk on 12 May 1943. The group was assigned to the Eighth Air Force's 3d Bombardment Wing, part of VIII Bomber Command.[9]

In June 1943, the group and all other Eighth Air Force B-26 units became part of VIII Air Support Command and relocated south to bring them closer to the continent of Europe and the area in which it was planned to establish an American tactical Air force.[10] The group moved to RAF Earls Colne, where it replaced the 94th Bombardment Wing.[4] in June 1943 and inaugurated medium-altitude bombing missions on 16 July 1943, the first medium bomber missions flown by Eighth Air Force at medium altitude, in contrast to the low altitude attacks the unit had trained for in the States.[9][10] During the summer of 1943 its principal targets were marshalling yards, airfields, industrial plants, military installations, and other targets in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.[4]

Along with other Marauder units of the 3d Wing, the 323d transferred to Ninth Air Force in October 1943, which moved from Egypt to absorb the resources of VIII Air Support Command. The group flew missions against V-1 flying bomb and V-2 rocket sites along the coast of France and attacked airfields at Leeuwarden and Venlo in conjunction with the Allied campaign against the Luftwaffe and aircraft industry during Big Week, from 20 to 25 February 1944.[4]

The 323d helped to prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, by bombing coastal defenses, marshalling yards, and airfields in France and struck roads and coastal batteries on D-Day, 6 June 1944.[4] On 21 July the group moved south to RAF Beaulieu in Hampshire, a move designed to extend its range over western France. The group participated in the aerial attacks supporting Operation Cobra the breakout at Saint Lo and began flying night missions against fuel and ammunition dumps.[4]

Between 16 and 26 August, the 323d moved to Lessay Airfield in France, the main movement of aircraft taking place on the 26th. The group struck strong points at Brest and supported the advance on the Siegfried Line. During the Battle of the Bulge, the 323d hit transportation targets to prevent enemy reinforcements from reaching the Ardennes, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its efforts.[4]

As Allied forces advanced into Germany, the group struck interdiction targets in the Ruhr. By VE Day, the group was based at AAF Station Gablingen, Germany and participated in the disarmament program. The group returned to the United States in December and was inactivated at the port of embarkation on 12 December 1945.[4]

Air Force Reserve

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A-26 of the Air Force Reserve

The group was activated in September 1947 in the Air Force Reserve at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The group was equipped with the Douglas A-26 Invader light bombardment aircraft and trained under the supervision of the 177th AF Base Unit (later the 2592d Air Force Reserve Training Center).[11] In June 1949, when Continental Air Command implemented the wing base organization, the group was assigned to the 323d Bombardment Wing. The wing was manned at 25% of normal strength but the group was authorized four squadrons rather than the three of active duty units.[12] All reserve combat units were mobilized for the Korean war.[13] The group and was ordered to active duty in the second wave of reserve mobilizations for the Korean War on 10 March 1951. Its personnel were used as fillers for other units, with Strategic Air Command receiving first choice, and the group was inactivated a week later.[14][15]

 
North American F-100A landing with drag chute

Fighter operations

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Main article: 323d Air Expeditionary Wing § 323rd Fighter-Bomber Wing

The group was redesignated the 323d Fighter-Bomber Group and activated at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana in August 1955. It initially trained with North American F-86F Sabres, these were quickly upgraded to the F-86H Sabre and then to the North American F-100 Super Sabre The 323d inactivated on 1 September 1957, when the base was transferred to Strategic Air Command.[14]

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Main article: 323d Air Expeditionary Wing § 323d Flying Training Wing

On 15 December 1991, Air Training Command implemented the Objective Wing concept at Mather Air Force Base and the group was reactivated as the 323d Operations Group of the 323d Flying Training Wing. The Base Realignment and Closure directed that Mather close on 30 September 1993. Group squadrons began to inactivate in early 1992 and the group and its remaining squadrons were inactivated on 31 May 1993,[4] and its mission and most of its Boeing T-43 aircraft were reassigned to the 12th Operations Group at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.[citation needed]

Expeditionary operations

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In March 2003, the group was converted to provisional status and renamed the 323d Expeditionary Operations Group. It was assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate and inactivated as needed for contingency operations, but there have been no reported activations of the unit.[4]

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 323d Bombardment Group (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 4 August 1942
  • Redesignated 323d Bombardment Group, Medium on 5 August 1944
Inactivated on 12 December 1945
  • Redesignated 323d Bombardment Group, Light
Activated in the reserve on 9 September 1947
Ordered to active duty on 10 March 1951
Inactivated on 17 March 1951
  • Redesignated 323d Fighter-Bomber Group on 9 May 1955
Activated on 8 August 1955
Inactivated on 1 September 1957
  • Redesignated 323d Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985 (not active)
  • Redesignated 323d Operations Group
Activated on 1 September 1991
Inactivated on 31 May 1993
  • Redesignated as 323d Expeditionary Operations Group and converted to provisional status on 25 March 2003[4]

Assignments

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Components

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  • 323d Operations Support Squadron: 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993
  • 450th Flying Training Squadron: 15 December 1991 – 10 November 1992
  • 451st Flying Training Squadron: 15 December 1991 – 15 January 1992
  • 452d Flying Training Squadron: 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993
  • 453d Bombardment Squadron (later 453d Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 453d Flying Training Squadron): 4 August 1942 – 12 December 1945; 10 May 1949 – 17 March 1951; 8 August 1955 – 1 September 1957; 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993
  • 454th Bombardment Squadron (later 454th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 454th Flying Training Squadron): 4 August 1942 – 12 December 1945; 10 May 1949 – 17 March 1951; 8 August 1955 – 1 September 1957; 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993
  • 455th Bombardment Squadron(later 455th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 455th Flying Training Squadron): 4 August 1942 – 12 December 1945; 10 May 1949 – 17 March 1951; 8 August 1955 – 1 September 1957; 15 December 1991 – 31 May 1993
  • 456th Bombardment Squadron: 4 August 1942 – 12 December 1945; 26 September 1947 – 17 March 1951[4]

Stations

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Aircraft

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  • Martin B-26 Marauder (1942–1945)
  • Douglas B-26 Invader (1949–1951)
  • North American F-86 Sabre (1955–1957)
  • North American F-100 Super Sabre (1956–1957)
  • Boeing T-43 (1991–1993)
  • Cessna T-37 Tweet (1991–1993)[4]

Awards and campaigns

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Award streamer Award Dates Notes
  Distinguished Unit Citation 24–27 December 1944 323d Bombardment Group[4]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
  Air Offensive, Europe 1 May 1943 – 5 June 1944 323d Bombardment Group[4]
  Normandy 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 323d Bombardment Group[4]
  Northern France 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 323d Bombardment Group[4]
  Rhineland 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 323d Bombardment Group[4]
  Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 323d Bombardment Group[4]
  Central Europe 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 323d Bombardment Group[4]
  Air Combat, EAME Theater 1 May 1943 – 11 May 1945 323d Bombardment Group[4]

See also

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References

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Notes

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  1. ^ The group uses the wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll. Robertson, AFHRA Facsheet

Citations

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  1. ^ a b Watkins, pp. 101–102
  2. ^ Ravenstein, p. 174
  3. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 203–204
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v Robertson, Patsy (28 May 2010). "Factsheet 323d Expeditionary Operations Group (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  5. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 558–559
  6. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 559–560
  7. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 560–561
  8. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 561–562
  9. ^ a b c Freeman, p. 249
  10. ^ a b Freeman, p. 58
  11. ^ See Mueller, p. 549
  12. ^ Cantwell, p. 74
  13. ^ Cantwell, p. 87
  14. ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 174–176
  15. ^ Cantwell, p. 96
  16. ^ Maurer indicates that the group was assigned to the 3d Bombardment Wing during this period. The 98th Wing was an element of these commands during the relevant period. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 413–414. Freeman agrees for the period the group was part of Eighth Air Force. Freeman, p. 249. Rust states that all B-26 groups transferred to Ninth Air Force in October 1943 were assigned to the 3d Bombardment Wing. Rust, p. 47.
  17. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 413–414; Freeman, p. 249; Rust, p. 47.
  18. ^ Robertson indicated the group was assigned directly to the next headqouarters, VIII Bomber Command from, VIII Air Support Command from 15 June 1943 and IX Bomber Command after 18 February 1944
  19. ^ a b Lineage and station information in Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet, except as noted
  20. ^ a b c Station number in Anderson
  21. ^ a b c d Station number in Johnson

Bibliography

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

Volume IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations

Further reading
  • Freeman, Roger A. (1994). UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now. Harlow, England: After the Battle. ISBN 978-0-900913-80-8.
  • Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle ISBN 1-85409-272-3
  • Rogers, Brian. (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, UK: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
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