378th Air Expeditionary Wing

Last updated

378th Air Expeditionary Wing
ACC Shield.svg
F-15C of the 44th EFS on the ramp at PSAB, Saudi Arabia. 2 June 2020.jpg
An F-15C of the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 378th AEW, at Prince Sultan Air Base on 2 June 2020.
Active18 October 1942—December 1942
(378 BG)
24 October 2005—14 November 2019
(378 AEG)
14 November 2019—present
(378 AEW) [1]
(4 years, 9 months)
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeAir Expeditionary
RoleVarious
Part of Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia
Website 378th Air Expeditionary Wing
Commanders
Current
commander
Brig Gen Willam D. Betts [2]
Insignia
378th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem 378th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem.png

The 378th Air Expeditionary Wing (378 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Forces Central Command unit assigned to Air Combat Command. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time.

Contents

The 378th Bombardment Group was an inactive United States Army Air Forces unit. Its last assignment was with the Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command at Langley Field, Virginia, where it was stationed from October to December 1942. The group participated in the Antisubmarine Campaign along the Atlantic coast of the United States until it was inactivated, when the Antisubmarine Command assigned all its squadrons directly to the command's two antisubmarine wings.

The current 378th AEW is garrisoned in Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia.[ citation needed ]

Structure

History

Douglas O-46A Douglas O-46A 35-214 (15520710773).jpg
Douglas O-46A
A North American O-47A as flown by the old group O-47A Wisconsin National Guard c1941.jpg
A North American O-47A as flown by the old group
A 494th EFS F-15E Strike Eagle sits on the flight line prior to a sortie at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 8 January 2020 A 494th EFS F-15E Strike Eagle sits on the flight line prior to a sortie at Prince Sultan Air Base.jpg
A 494th EFS F-15E Strike Eagle sits on the flight line prior to a sortie at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 8 January 2020
Two 555th EFS F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi on the flight line at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 26 February 2020 Two 555th EFS F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi on the flight line at Prince Sultan Air Base.jpg
Two 555th EFS F-16 Fighting Falcons taxi on the flight line at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, 26 February 2020
A USAF E-8C JSTARS taxies at Prince Sultan Air Base, 8 March 2020 A USAF E-8C JSTARS taxies at Prince Sultan Air Base.jpg
A USAF E-8C JSTARS taxies at Prince Sultan Air Base, 8 March 2020
Two F-35A's and two F-16C's taxi at Prince Sultan Air Base, 7 February 2020 F-35A's and F-16C's taxi at Prince Sultan Air Base, 7 February 2020.jpg
Two F-35A's and two F-16C's taxi at Prince Sultan Air Base, 7 February 2020
E-3G aircrew disembark their aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base, 1 March 2020 E-3G aircrew disembark their aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base, 1 March 2020.jpg
E-3G aircrew disembark their aircraft at Prince Sultan Air Base, 1 March 2020
USAF F-15C's from the 44th EFS fly in formation with Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA's on 25 June 2020 USAF F-15C's from the 44th EFS fly in formation with RSAF F-15SA's.jpg
USAF F-15C's from the 44th EFS fly in formation with Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA's on 25 June 2020

The group was activated at Langley Field, Virginia on 18 October 1942 with the 520th, [14] 521st, [15] and 523d Bombardment Squadrons assigned. [16] Although designated a medium bombardment unit, it was equipped with Douglas O-46 and North American O-47 single-engine observation aircraft. [17]

The group conducted its operations along the southeastern coast of the United States. Only the 523d Squadron was located with the group's headquarters at Langley. The 520th Squadron operated from Jacksonville Municipal Airport, Florida, while the 521st was stationed at Charleston Army Air Field, South Carolina. [14] [15] [16]

In late November, Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command began a series of organizational actions to more nearly align it with United States Navy headquarters engaged in the antisubmarine campaign. [18] On 20 November, the 522d Bombardment Squadron at Lantana Airport, Florida was assigned to the group, [19] At the same time, the group's 520th Squadron was attached directly to the new 25th Antisubmarine Wing, which had been established to manage Army Air Forces antisubmarine units in the area of the Navy's Eastern Sea Frontier. [18] The group's squadrons were redesignated as antisubmarine squadrons, [14] [15] [16] [19] Finally, in December, after less than two months of operation, the group was inactivated and its component squadrons were reassigned to the 25th Antisubmarine Wing. [17] [20]

Twenty-first century

The unit was reactivated as the 378th Air Expeditionary Group and was converted to provisional status on 24 October 2005. It was then redesignated as the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing on 14 November 2019. [1]

The base was expanded by the 621st Contingency Response Group "Devil Raiders" from 15 June 2019. [21]

On 17 December 2019, in response to increasing tensions with Iran, the unit was formally activated as the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia. [22] The newly reactivated wing received its first combat aircraft shortly thereafter, when McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagles from the 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived in early January 2020. The 494th would be replaced by General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Triple Nickel 555th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in late February 2020. [23] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the originally planned March redeployment to Aviano Air Base was rescheduled to 20 April 2020. [24]

In addition to hosting the 494th EFS and 555th EFS for traditional CENTCOM deployments, the 378th AEW has also conducted "Agile Combat Employment" exercises with Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS and Boeing E-3 Sentry. The intent of these exercises (which are considerably shorter than a normal deployment) was to demonstrate the Wing's ability to rapidy increase its number and variety of combat aircraft in the event tensions in the region were to escalate. [25] [26] [27]

On 16 May 2020, the Department of Defense confirmed that an undisclosed F-15C Eagle squadron, and United States Marine Corps (USMC) McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II from Marine Attack Squadron 214 (VMA-214) had replaced the Triple Nickel. [28] The USAF eventually revealed that the F-15C's belonged to the 44th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron. [29]

Harriers assigned to VMA-214 ended their deployment to Prince Sultan on 21 July 2020, while the F-15C's of the 44th EFS returned to Kadena Air Base by 7 October 2020. [30] [31] F-16C's from the 20th Fighter Wing, 77 EFS arrived on 10 October 2020 to replace the departed AV-8B's and F-15C's. [32]

Lineage

Activated on 18 December 1942
Inactivated on 14 December 1942 [17]

Assignments

Squadrons

U.S. Marines of VMA-214 pre-flight an AV-8B Harrier II at Prince Sultan Air Base on 16 June 2020 U.S. Marines of VMA-214 pre-flight an AV-8B Harrier II at Prince Sultan Air Base.jpg
U.S. Marines of VMA-214 pre-flight an AV-8B Harrier II at Prince Sultan Air Base on 16 June 2020

Stations

Aircraft

Campaign

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
American Campaign Streamer.png Antisubmarine18 October 1942 – 14 December 1942 [17]
Inherent Resolve Campaign streamer.svg Operation Inherent Resolve 17 December 2019 – present [42]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ninth Air Force</span> US Air Force numbered 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 Department of Defense combatant command responsible for U.S. security interests in 27 nations that stretch from the Horn of Africa through the Persian Gulf region, into Central Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Sultan Air Base</span> Military air base located in Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia

Prince Sultan Air Base (PSAB) is a military air base located in the closed-city of Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">379th Air Expeditionary Wing</span> Military unit

The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">485th Air Expeditionary Wing</span> Military unit

The 485th Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Combat Command. As a provisional unit, the 485 AEW may be inactivated or activated at any time by Air Combat Command. The wing was last known to be active during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 at Tabuk Regional Airport, Saudi Arabia, in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">386th Air Expeditionary Wing</span> US Air Force provisional unit

The 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (386 AEW) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces Central. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time. It is currently stationed at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait in Southwest Asia. During World War II, the group's predecessor unit, the 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) was a B-26 Marauder bombardment group assigned to the Eighth and later Ninth Air Force. During the Battle of Normandy, it supported Allied forces at Caen, and participated in the massive blows against the enemy at Saint-Lô on 25 July 1944. The unit knocked out targets to help clear the Falaise pocket of German forces in August 1944 and hit strong points at Brest during September.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">131st Bomb Wing</span> Missouri Air National Guard unit

The 131st Bomb Wing is a unit of the Missouri Air National Guard, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Knob Noster, Missouri. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Global Strike Command. It is an associate unit of the active-duty 509th Bomb Wing, which falls under the Eighth Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">121st Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 121st Fighter Squadron is a unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard 113th Wing located at Joint Base Andrews, Camp Springs, Maryland. The 121st is equipped with the Block 30 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">122nd Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 122d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Louisiana Air National Guard 159th Fighter Wing located at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana. The 122d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">112th Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 112th Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard 180th Fighter Wing located at Toledo Air National Guard Base, Ohio. The 112th is equipped with the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">492nd Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 492d Fighter Squadron, nicknamed "the Madhatters", is part of the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, England, where they operate the McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 128th Airborne Command and Control Squadron is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard 116th Air Control Wing located at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The 128th is equipped with the E-8C Joint STARS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">820th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 820th Bombardment Squadron is a former Army Air Forces unit, inactivated on 4 January 1946. The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 521st Bombardment Squadron. The squadron was soon engaged in the antisubmarine campaign off the Atlantic coast of the United States as the 16th Antisubmarine Squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">867th Attack Squadron</span> Military unit

The 867th Attack Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It was reactivated at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada, on 10 September 2012 as a remotely piloted aircraft squadron.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinidad Wing, Antilles Air Command</span> Military unit

The Trinidad Wing, Antilles Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Antilles Air Command at Waller Field, Trinidad. It was disbanded on 15 March 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2d Antisubmarine Squadron</span> Military unit

The 2d Antisubmarine Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 480th Antisubmarine Group, based at Clovis Army Airfield, New Mexico, and under the command of Col. Jack Roberts. On 13 November 1943, the 2d Antisubmarine Squadron was directed to relinquish their assignment to the U.S. Navy and to return to the United States with all personnel and equipment. For its role in the war, the group, which existed for only one year, was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation, It was inactivated on 29 January 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">855th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 855th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was first activated as the 522d Bombardment Squadron at Lantana Airport, Florida, in October 1942, when it assumed the personnel and equipment of a National Guard unit engaged in antisubmarine warfare over the Atlantic. The squadron continued antisubmarine patrols as the 17th Antisubmarine Squadron until the summer of 1943, when its mission was transferred to the Navy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">48th Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 48th Operations Group is the flying component of the 48th Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa. The group is stationed at RAF Lakenheath, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">380th Expeditionary Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 380th Expeditionary Operations Group) is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. It is a provisional unit stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, and is assigned to the United States Air Forces Central component of Air Combat Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron</span> Military unit

The 908th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force (USAF) unit. It is assigned to the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. It has supported combat operations in the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Iraq, and Syria from its previous location of Al Dhafra Air Base in the United Arab Emirates. The squadron has a varied background, having been formed by a series of consolidations of no fewer than five distinct units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">123d Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 123d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142d Fighter Wing located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle and Boeing F-15EX Eagle II.

References

Citations

  1. 1 2 3 4 "378th Air Expeditionary Wing Fact Sheet". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  2. "WILLIAM D. BETTS". Air Force. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  3. "PSAB Buildup". DVIDS. 22 December 2019.
  4. "The eagles have landed". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  5. "F-16 "Gamblers" double down at PSAB". USAF. 17 October 2020.
  6. 1 2 "430th EECS begins operations with new E-11A BACN". U.S. Air Force. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 "378th Operations, Maintenance Groups integrate". 29 June 2020.
  8. "Munitions Airmen build munitions for follow-on forces". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  9. "378 ECES lays new water lines at Prince Sultan Air Base". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  10. "Fingerprints of influence: 378 ECONS helps build Prince Sultan Air Base". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  11. "378 EFSS opens 'Grab-n-Go' station". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  12. "ATOC Airmen process cargo at Prince Sultan Air Base". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  13. "PSAB MWDs train for real world contingencies". DVIDS. 22 December 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 82
  15. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 768-769
  16. 1 2 3 4 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 10
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Maurer, Combat Units, p. 266
  18. 1 2 Ferguson, p. 41
  19. 1 2 3 Maurer, Combat Squadron, p. 783
  20. Maurer, Combat Units, 388-389
  21. "Devil Raiders strengthen defense forces in Saudi Arabia". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  22. "378th AEW officially activates at PSAB". DVIDS. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  23. 1 2 "Falcons Nest at PSAB". DVIDS. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  24. "Redeployment during COVID-19: The Triple Nickel comes home". DVIDS. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  25. "Projecting Airpower: JSTARS join aircraft utilizing PSAB to modernize employment for future". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  26. "AWACS test rapid deployment capability at PSAB". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  27. "U.S. Air Force F-35A Jets Land at Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia for First Time". DefPost. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  28. 1 2 3 "PSAB continues to provide dynamic mission capability". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  29. 1 2 "F-15C ICTs make comeback [Image 1 of 5]". DVIDS. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  30. 1 2 "VMA-214 "Black Sheep" Return From Deployment". Military Aviation Review. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  31. "Kadena Fighters, Maintainers Return from CENTCOM Deployment". USAF, 18th Wing Public Affairs. 7 October 2020.
  32. 1 2 AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. December 2020. p. 25.
  33. "378th AEW officially activates at PSAB". USAF. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  34. "The Mighty Panthers bid farewell to PSAB". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  35. "Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles arrive at Saudi Arabian base amid Iran tensions". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  36. "Aviano's Triple Nickel First Full Unit to Return from Deployment Amid COVID-19". Air Forces Magazine. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  37. "Kadena Fighters, Maintainers Return from CENTCOM Deployment".
  38. ""Gamblers" project airpower, bolster regional partnerships". USAF. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  39. "New aircraft, Airmen arrive at PSAB". DVIDS. 6 March 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  40. AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. May 2022. p. 17.
  41. AirForces Monthly . Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. January 2023. p. 100.
  42. "Fully Armed Kadena F-15 Eagles Soar Over Saudi Arabia Wearing Some Awesome Nose Art". The Drive. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency