The 440th Operations Group is an active

United States Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commis ...

unit. It is the flying component of the Twenty-Second Air Force 440th Airlift Wing, stationed at

Pope Air Force Base Pope Field is a U.S. military facility located northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Spring Lake, Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.. Federal Aviation Administration. effective 15 November 2012. Forme ...

North Carolina North Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, South Carolina to the south, Georgia (U.S. stat ...

. The unit's

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

predecessor unit, the 440th Troop Carrier Group was a

C-47 Skytrain The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota ( RAF designation) is a military transport aircraft developed from the civilian Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II. During the war the C-47 was used for troo ...

transport unit assigned to

Ninth Air Force The Ninth Air Force (Air Forces Central) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. It is the Air Force Service Component of United States Central Command (USCENTCOM), a joint D ...

in Western Europe. The 440th TCG dropped paratroops of the

101st Airborne Division The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) ("Screaming Eagles") is a light infantry division (military), division of the United States Army that specializes in air assault military operation, operations. The 101st is designed to plan, coordinat ...

near

Carentan Carentan () is a small rural town near the north-eastern base of the French Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy in north-western France, with a population of about 6,000. It is a former commune in the Manche department. On 1 January 2016, it was m ...

on the

Cotentin Peninsula The Cotentin Peninsula (, ; ), also known as the Cherbourg Peninsula, is a peninsula in Normandy that forms part of the northwest coast of France. It extends north-westward into the English Channel, towards Great Britain. To its west lie the Gu ...

of France on 6 June 1944 and by transporting gasoline, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 June, being awarded a

Distinguished Unit Citation The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed e ...

for completing these missions during the

Invasion of Normandy Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe during World War II. The operation was launched on 6 June 1944 ( D-Day) with the ...

Units

The 440th Operations Group (Tail Stripe Bragg-Pope) consists of the following units flying

C-130 Hercules The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 w ...

aircraft: * 95th Airlift Squadron * 440th Operations Support Squadron * 36th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES) * 2d Airlift Squadron (Active Assoc) * 43d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (Active Assoc)

History

: ''For additional lineage and history, see 440th Airlift Wing''

World War II

Trained in the US and moved to England, February–March 1944, for duty with

50th Troop Carrier Wing,

IX Troop Carrier Command The IX Troop Carrier Command was a United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with the Ninth Air Force, based at Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 31 March 1946 as a component command of the Ninth ...

. Began operations by dropping paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division near Carentan on the Cotentin Peninsula on 6 June 1944 and by transporting gasoline, ammunition, food, and other supplies to the same area on 7 June, being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for completing these missions during the invasion of Normandy. Began flying supply and evacuation missions between England and France after the invasion of the Continent. In July 1944 most of the group was sent to Italy where it transported supplies to Rome until August 1944. The "detachment" in Italy participated in the invasion of southern France, dropping paratroops of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment near Le Muy on 15 August and towing gliders carrying reinforcements to that area later in the day. Meanwhile, those remaining in England continued to haul cargo, and on 10 August 1944 dropped supplies to an infantry battalion encircled at Mortain in northern France. The detachment returned to England on 25 August 1944. The air echelon moved to France on 11 September 1944, but returned immediately to England to participate in the airborne invasion of the Netherlands. Dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne Division near Groesbeek on 17 September 1944 and released gliders with reinforcements on 18 and 23 September By the end of Sep, the entire group had completed the move to France. On 26 December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge, the group hauled gliders filled with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division encircled at Bastogne. In March 1945 it towed gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division to the battle area near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine. Between 21 April and 14 May 1945, the group's air echelon operated from Conflans, France, to be closer to the front. The group transported food, clothing, medical supplies, gasoline, ammunition, and other cargo to the front lines and evacuated casualties to rear-zone hospitals. After the war transported liberated prisoners and displaced persons. Inactivated in Europe on 18 October 1945.

Air Force Reserve

Activated in the US on 3 September 1947. Trained for troop carrier operations in the Reserve. Became part of the 440th Troop Carrier Wing when it activated in June 1949. Called to active duty on 1 May 1951 and inactivated four days later with its personnel and equipment being reassigned to other units as a result of the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. Activated again in the Reserve as a Fighter-Bomber Group the following year. Transitioned from fighter aircraft to C-119s, beginning in April 1957. In November 1957 the 440th Wing and the 95th Squadron moved on paper to Wisconsin, leaving the 440th Group and the 96th Squadron in Minnesota. The Group inactivated on 14 April 1959 as a result of the Tri-Deputate organization implementation. Activated on 1 August 1992. Personnel participated in exercises, humanitarian and other airlift missions, worldwide.

Lineage

* Established as 440th Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943 : Activated on 1 July 1943 : Inactivated on 18 October 1945 * Activated in the Reserve on 3 September 1947 : Redesignated 440th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 27 June 1949 : Ordered to Active Duty on 1 May 1951 : Inactivated on 4 May 1951 * Redesignated 440th Fighter-Bomber Group on 26 May 1952 : Activated in the Reserve on 15 June 1952 : Redesignated 440th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 8 September 1957 : Inactivated on 14 April 1959 : Redesignated: 440th Tactical Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive) * Redesignated: 440th Operations Group on 1 August 1992 : Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992.

Assignments

I Troop Carrier Command The I Troop Carrier Command is a disbanded United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Continental Air Forces, at Stout Field, Indiana, where it was disbanded in November 1945, and its resources transferred to IX Troop Carrier C ...

, 1 July 1943 * 53d Troop Carrier Wing, July 1943 * 61st Troop Carrier Wing, c. 20 July 1943 * 60th Troop Carrier Wing, c. 31 December 1943 *

, 25 March 1944 * 50th Troop Carrier Wing, March 1944 *

United States Air Forces in Europe United may refer to: Places * United, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * United, West Virginia, an unincorporated community Arts and entertainment Films * ''United'' (2003 film), a Norwegian film * ''United'' (2011 film), a BBC Two f ...

, c. 29 September – 18 October 1945 * 322d Troop Carrier Wing (later, 322d Air Division), 3 September 1947 * 440th Troop Carrier Wing, 27 June 1949 – 4 May 1951 * 440th Fighter-Bomber (later, 440th Troop Carrier) Wing, 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 * 440th Airlift Wing, 1 August 1992–present

Components

* 95th Troop Carrier (later, 95th Fighter-Bomber; 95th Troop Carrier; 95th Airlift) Squadron (9X): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 3 September 1947 – 4 May 1951; 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 (detached 16 November 1957 – 14 April 1959); 1 August 1992–present * 96th Troop Carrier Squadron (6Z): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 3 September 1947 – 4 May 1951; 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959 * 97th Troop Carrier Squadron (W6): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 15 September 1947 – 4 May 1951; 15 June 1952 – 1 July 1957; 16 November 1957 – 25 March 1958 * 98th Troop Carrier Squadron (8Y): 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945; 15 September 1947 – 4 May 1951.

Stations

* Baer Field,

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

, 1 July 1943 * Sedalia Army Air Field,

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

, 10 July 1943 * Alliance Army Air Field,

Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...

, 7 September 1943 *

Pope Field Pope Field is a U.S. military facility located northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, North Carolina, Fayetteville, in Spring Lake, North Carolina, Spring Lake, Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.. Federal A ...

, 4 January 1944 * Baer Field,

, 14–22 February 1944 *

RAF Bottesford Royal Air Force Bottesford or more simply RAF Bottesford is a former Royal Air Force station located on the Leicestershire-Lincolnshire county border, north west of Grantham, Lincolnshire and south of Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire. Opened ...

(AAF-481), England, c. 11 March 1944 (air echelon), 23 March 1944 (ground echelon) *

RAF Exeter Exeter ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and the county town of Devon in South West England. It is situated on the River Exe, approximately northeast of Plymouth and southwest of Bristol. In Roman Britain, Exeter w ...

(AAF-463), England, 26 April 1944 * Reims/Champagne Airfield (A-62), France, 11 September 1944 * Le Mans Airfield (A-35), France, 30 September 1944 * Orleans/Bricy Airfield (A-50), France, 2 November 1944 – 18 October 1945 * Wold-Chamberlain Muni (later, Minneapolis-St Paul Intl) Airport,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, 3 September 1947 – 4 May 1951 *

Fort Snelling Fort Snelling is a former military fortification and National Historic Landmark in the U.S. state of Minnesota on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers. The military site was initially named Fort Saint An ...

, Minnesota, 15 June 1952 * Minneapolis-St Paul Intl Airport,

, 8 January 1953 – 14 April 1959 *

General Mitchell International Airport Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport is a civil–military airport south of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States., effective April 17, 2025. It is included in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) National Plan of Integrated ...

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

, 1 August 1992 *

Pope AFB Pope Field is a U.S. military facility located northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Spring Lake, Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.. Federal Aviation Administration. effective 15 November 2012. Forme ...

, 10 June 2007–present

Aircraft

, 1943–1945; 1948 * C-53 Skytrooper, 1944–1945 * C-109 Liberator Express, 1945 *

C-46 Commando The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a low-wing, twin-engine aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurized high-altitude airliner design. Early press reports used the name "Condor III" but the Commando name was in use by early 1942 in company ...

, 1949–1951; 1952–1957 *

F-51 Mustang The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in 1940 by a team headed by James H. Kin ...

, 1953–1954 *

T-33 Shooting Star The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then d ...

, 1954–1957 *

F-80 Shooting Star The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star is the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, two p ...

, 1954–1957 *

C-119 Flying Boxcar The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (Navy and Marine Corps designation R4Q) is an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechani ...

, 1957-Undetermined *

, 1992–present

References

* Freeman, Roger A. (1994) UK Airfields of the Ninth: Then and Now 1994. After the Battle * Freeman, Roger A. (1996) The Ninth Air Force in Colour: UK and the Continent-World War Two. After the Battle * Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. . * 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.

External links

USAFHRA Factsheet, 440th Operations Group

The SNAFU Special – Official website of the C-47A #43-15073, WW 2 95th TCS aircraft recovered and restored
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