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List of Air Expeditionary units of the United States Air Force

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"Air Expeditionary Wing" redirects here. For the similarly named RAF unit type, see Expeditionary Air Wing.

Air Expeditionary Wings and Groups are a Wing/Group concept used by the United States Air Force. These units are activated under temporary orders by the owning Major Command (MAJCOM) for a specific purpose or mission. Once that mission is completed, these units are inactivated.

Origins

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Faced with declining budgets in the late 1990s, the U.S. Air Force decided that the Operation Northern Watch and Operation Southern Watch (ONW/OSW) patrols over Iraq were "tedious".[1] The patrols placed more strain on units worldwide than during the Cold War. This was because so many fighter, bomber, air refueling, and airlift squadrons had been inactivated after the end of the Cold War. The Air Force "had to change the way it did business".[1]

As the no-fly zone patrols over Iraq began to appear as an ongoing, open-ended commitment, the drain on equipment and manpower forced the Air Force to reconsider how it was going to sustain ONW/OSW patrols, as well as other required deployments worldwide. The answer developed was to end the deployment of entire wings en bloc.

After considerable planning to cover the absence of a replacement for USS Independence (CV-62) and her air wing for six weeks, "the Chairman of the JCS directed Air Combat Command to deploy an Air Expeditionary Force to Bahrain not later than October 19, 1995, for a period not to exceed 120 days. After some last-minute changes, 18 F–16s deployed to Shaikh Isa Air Base [in Bahrain] on October 28, 1995. Air Expeditionary Force I arrived fully armed and began to fly sorties within 12 hours of its initial landings. It returned to the United States on December 18, 1995. Air Expeditionary Force I deployed 675 people and flew 705 sorties."[2]

It was decided that U.S. Central Command Air Forces (CENTAF) would not consist of permanently assigned units,[1] partially because of the sensitivities of Arab host states to acknowledging that U.S. forces were deployed in their countries. This made establishment of permanent units more difficult, because base access might be changed or denied with shifting, volatile, political currents. For example, during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Jordanian government denied U.S. troops were stationed in Jordan. This created a lot of concern with Jordanian military personnel stationed at Shahid Muafaq Al-Salti Air Base during the initial stages. As they were being told on television and radio that there were no U.S. troops on Jordanian soil, USAF C-17 aircraft were arriving on a daily basis with personnel and supplies. The 410th Air Expeditionary Wing was quickly growing in size. Out of confusion, Jordanian Security Forces documented everything leaving the aircraft. U.S. personnel removed labels and explosive decals from the containers, as not to aggravate the situation. American troops initially were not allowed to carry weapons in plain sight. So they carried their Beretta 9mm handguns hidden in their waistbands for protection and hid their M-4 carbines from view in their vehicles.

To minimize the risk of these kind of situations happening, the decision was taken to avoid the creation of permanent units, especially in the Middle East.

Instead, elements from different wings, even from both the active-duty component and the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard, would be melded together for each deployment. This merging of different units from different permanent wings/groups was christened the "Air Expeditionary Force" (AEF) concept. The various units were to be drawn from Air Combat Command or ACC gained components, but also from other major commands such as Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) or United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE), as necessary, to meet mission requirements. AEF organizations were to be fundamentally temporary in nature, organized to meet a specific mission or commitment. They thus replaced the "Provisional" deployed units attached to the command during the 1991 (Persian) Gulf War.

Active Air Expeditionary wings and groups

[edit]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Active United States Air Force Air Expeditionary wings and groups
Unit Emblem Location Country Command Date activated Mission
13th Air Expeditionary Group Christchurch International Airport New Zealand Pacific Air Forces Unknown Air component of the Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica (JTF-SFA), operating the C-17A Globemaster III and LC-130 Hercules in support of Operation Deep Freeze. A forward operating location is based at McMurdo Station in Antarctica.[3]
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base Kuwait US Air Forces Central May 2015 In United States Central Command area of responsibility.[4]
378th Air Expeditionary Wing Prince Sultan Air Base Saudi Arabia US Air Forces Central December 2019 Supports operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[5]
379th Air Expeditionary Wing Al-Udeid Air Base Qatar US Air Forces Central Unknown Supports operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[6]
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Al Dhafra Air Base United Arab Emirates US Air Forces Central January 2002 Provides aerial refueling and reconnaissance aircraft in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[7]
385th Air Expeditionary Group Al-Udeid Air Base Qatar Air Mobility Command May 2018 Provides airlift and aerial refueling support in the US Central Command area of responsibility. Assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing and operates from Al-Udeid AB and Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait.[8]
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Ali Al Salem Air Base Kuwait US Air Forces Central September 2000 Provides airlift hubs in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[9]
387th Air Expeditionary Group Cargo City Kuwait US Air Forces Central 2003 Operates the Theater Logistics Gateway at Cargo City and operates at Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait in support of operations in the US Central Command area of responsibility. Assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.[10]
401st Air Expeditionary Group RAF Mildenhall United Kingdom US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Unknown Unknown.[11]
404th Air Expeditionary Group Ramstein Air Base Germany US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa October 2008 Provides dedicated intra-theater airlift support for the US Africa Command area of responsibility. Subordinate units forward deploy to locations throughout Africa.[12]
406th Air Expeditionary Wing Ramstein Air Base Germany US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa 2023 Supports US Africa Command operations, with subordinate units forward deployed to locations throughout Africa.[13]
407th Air Expeditionary Group Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base Kuwait US Air Forces Central 2016 Provides airlift operations from Ahmad al-Jaber AB and Ali Al Salem AB in Kuwait for the US Central Command area of responsibility. Assigned to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing.[14]
409th Air Expeditionary Group Nigerien Air Base 201 Niger US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa 2011 Provides intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to counter extremist activity.[15] Assigned to the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing.[13]
432nd Air Expeditionary Wing Creech Air Force Base United States US Air Forces Central 2002 Remotely operates the MQ-9B Reaper in the US Central Command area of responsibility.[16]
447th Air Expeditionary Group Incirlik Air Base Turkey US Air Forces Central 2015 Flies Operation Inherent Resolve A-10C Thunderbolt II combat and KC-135R Stratotanker air refueling missions.[17][18]
449th Air Expeditionary Group Camp Lemonnier Djibouti US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa 2008 Provides combat search and rescue and maintains surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.[19] Assigned to the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing.[13]

Inactive Air Expeditionary wings and groups

[edit]
This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.
Unit Emblem Headquarters Location Country Command Dates last active Mission
16th Air Expeditionary Wing Aviano Air Base Italy US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa June 1997 – June 2003 Supported Operation Allied Force and subsequent operations in the Balkans from Aviano and several forward operating bases throughout the region. Replaced by the 401st Air Expeditionary Wing.
40th Air Expeditionary Wing Diego Garcia Air Base British Indian Ocean Territory Pacific Air Forces October 2001 – August 2006 Supported strategic bomber operations during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
64th Air Expeditionary Group Eskan Village Compound Saudi Arabia US Air Forces Central 2005–2014 Provided security and force support at Eskan Village Compound during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn whilst assigned to the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing.
313th Air Expeditionary Wing Morón Air Base Spain Air Mobility Command March – October 2011 Operated the KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn and NATO's Operation Unified Protector in relation to the Libyan Civil War.
320th Air Expeditionary Wing Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, United States Air Force District of Washington Unknown Supports Joint Task Force National Capital Region operations such as Presidential inaugurations.
321st Air Expeditionary Wing New Al Muthana Air Base Iraq US Air Forces Central August 2002 – December 2011 Supported the Iraq Training and Advisory Mission (ITAM)-Air Force.
322nd Air Expeditionary Group Souda Bay Air Base Greece US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa January – May 2012 Unknown.
323rd Air Expeditionary Wing Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base Romania US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa March – April 2008 Activated for the NATO 2008 Bucharest summit.
332nd Air Expeditionary Air Group[citation needed] Unknown Southwest Asia US Air Forces Central Unknown Operated the MQ-9A Predator and F-15E Eagle in the Central Command area of responsibility, 2017.[18] See 332d Expeditionary Operations Group.
363rd Air Expeditionary Wing Prince Sultan Air Base Saudi Arabia US Central Command Air Forces December 1998 – August 2003 Part of Operation Southern Watch which patrolled the Southern No-Fly Zone over Iraq below the 33rd Parallel
370th Air Expeditionary Wing New Al Muthana Air Base Iraq US Air Forces Central February 2010 – 2011
370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group New Al Muthana Air Base Iraq US Air Forces Central March 2007 – November 2008 Supported the restart of the Iraqi Air Force by training Iraqi personnel.
376th Air Expeditionary Wing Transit Center at Manas Kyrgyzstan US Air Forces Central December 2001 – June 2014 Operated the Transit Centre at Manas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
384th Air Expeditionary Wing Isa Air Base Bahrain US Air Forces Central September 2003 – 2004 Supported operations in the Middle East.
398th Air Expeditionary Group Budapest Ferihengy International Airport Hungary US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa March – April 2008 Was assigned to 323rd Air Expeditionary Wing. Activated for the NATO 2008 Bucharest summit.
405th Air Expeditionary Wing Bagram Air Base Afghanistan US Air Forces Central
410th Air Expeditionary Wing Prince Hassan Air Base and Shahid Muafaq Al-Salti Air Base Jordan US Central Command Air Forces 2003–unknown Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
416th Air Expeditionary Wing Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown
435th Air Expeditionary Wing Ramstein Air Base Germany US Air Forces in Europe Air Forces Africa 2013–2023 Supported US Africa Command operations, with subordinate units forward deployed to locations throughout Africa.[12][20] Mission and components taken over by the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing in 2023.[21]
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Hamid Karzai International Airport Afghanistan US Air Forces Central 2001–2021 Provided training, advice, and assistance to the Afghan Air Force. Also operated at Kandahar International Airport.[22]
444th Air Expeditionary Wing Unknown Unknown US Central Command Air Forces 2003–unknown Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
451st Air Expeditionary Group Kandahar Airfield Afghanistan US Air Forces Central 2002–2021 Operated the A-10C Thunderbolt II, HH-60G Pave Hawk, E-11A BACN and MQ-9A Reaper in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO's Operation Resolute Support.[23] Assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing.[24]
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Bagram Air Field Afghanistan US Air Forces Central 2008–2021 Supported Operation Freedom's Sentinel and NATO's Operation Resolute Support.[24]
457th Air Expeditionary Group Morón Air Base Spain Air Mobility Command 2011 Supported Operation Odyssey Dawn and NATO's Operation Unified Protector in relation to the Libyan Civil War.[25]
462nd Air Expeditionary Group Diego Garcia Air Base British Indian Ocean Territory Pacific Air Forces July 2002 – unknown Operated KC-135R Stratotankers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom whilst assigned to the 40th Air Expeditionary Wing.
466th Air Expeditionary Group Transit Center at Manas Kyrgyzstan US Air Forces Central 2012–2014 Supported operations at the Transit Centre at Manas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[26]
467th Air Expeditionary Group Camp Victory, Baghdad International Airport Iraq US Air Forces Central 2010–unknown Supported Operation New Dawn in Iraq.[27]
484th Air Expeditionary Wing Al-Udeid Air Base Qatar US Air Forces Central 2003 Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
485th Air Expeditionary Wing Tabuk Regional Airport Saudi Arabia US Air Forces Central 2003 Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
486th Air Expeditionary Wing Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base Kuwait US Air Forces Central 2003 Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
487th Air Expeditionary Wing Cairo West Airfield Egypt US Air Forces Central 2003 Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
492nd Air Expeditionary Group Lajes Field Azores Air Mobility Command 2003 Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom.
506th Air Expeditionary Group Kirkuk Air Base Iraq US Air Forces Central Unknown–2010
Personnel Recovery Task Force/563rd Air Expeditionary Group[28] Trapani Air Base Italy US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa June 2013 – January 2014 Operated the HC-130J Combat King II. Drawn from elements of 563rd Rescue Group. Assigned to the 435th Air Expeditionary Wing.
651st Air Expeditionary Group Camp Bastion Afghanistan US Air Forces Central June 2011 – unknown

Notes

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wing emblems of the United States Air Force.
  1. ^ a b c Paul Conners, "The AEF Concept has been successful," May 5, 2004
  2. ^ Davis, Richard G. (2003). "Anatomy of a Reform: The Expeditionary Aerospace Force" (PDF). AirForce History and Museums Program. pp. 32–33.
  3. ^ "DoDLive Bloggers Roundtable: Antarctica Research and Exploration". DoD Live. 3 November 2010. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  4. ^ "332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Fact Sheet". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  5. ^ "378th Air Expeditionary Wing Fact Sheet". U.S. Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 20 December 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  6. ^ "379th Air Expeditionary Wing". US Air Forces Central. US Air Force. 25 August 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  7. ^ "380th Air Expeditionary Wing". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 17 May 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  8. ^ Gardner, Staff Sgt. Ashley L. (1 June 2019). "385th AEG celebrates year anniversary". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  9. ^ "386th Air Expeditionary Wing". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  10. ^ Cloys, Tech. Sgt. Robert (24 May 2019). "Cargo City officially opens as new gateway in Kuwait". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  11. ^ "Colonel Robert A. Shelton – Biography". RAF Mildenhall. US Air Force. November 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  12. ^ a b "Off and Running". Air Force Magazine. Air Force Association. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  13. ^ a b c "406th Air Expeditionary Wing". United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  14. ^ "386th Air Expeditionary Wing – Fact Sheet". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 9 September 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  15. ^ Everstine, Brian W. (15 August 2019). "New USAF Base in Niger Begins Limited Operations". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
  16. ^ "Air Force awards first Remote device: Dominant persistent attack aircr". Air Combat Command. US Air Force. 11 July 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  17. ^ Rhynes, Staff Sgt. Trevor (10 January 2018). "A-10s bring thunder, lightning during fight against ISIS". US Air Force. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  18. ^ a b Jennifer, Hlad (21 November 2017). "Punching Above Their Weight". Air Force Magazine. Air Force Association. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  19. ^ Vandiver, John (14 April 2014). "Air Force mission on the rise in Africa amid Afghan drawdown". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  20. ^ "435th Air Expeditionary Wing". www.usafe.af.mil. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  21. ^ Jordan, Miquel (12 June 2023). "4-part ceremony equips 406th AEW to continue 435th AEW legacy". U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  22. ^ "Train, Advice, Assist Command - Air". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  23. ^ "451st Air Expeditionary Group". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 26 July 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  24. ^ a b "455th AEW Fact Sheet". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. 30 November 2017. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  25. ^ "Combat Comm supports 40-year UN resolution". Kaiserslautern American. 2 December 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  26. ^ Benedetti, Staff Sgt. Matt (28 November 2012). "466 AEG activated at TCM". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  27. ^ Allen, Staff Sgt. Sanjay (22 November 2010). "467th AEG provides world-class support to IA, JET Airmen". US Air Forces Central Command. US Air Force. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
  28. ^ "Information for the community outside of LRAFB".

References

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  • Air Force Instruction 38-101, AIR FORCE ORGANIZATION, 4 APRIL 2006 (with Change 2, dated 20 July 2006, and later).
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