461st Operations Group

Last updated

461st Operations Group
E-8(021220-F-2034C-014).jpg
Wing E-8 JSTARS
Active1943–1945, 1953–1958, 2011–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleAir Control
Part of Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ Robins Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Liberaiders (World War II) [1]
Motto(s)Al Ataque (French for 'On the Attack') [1]
Engagements Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
461st Operations Group emblem [2] [note 1] 461st Air Control Wing.jpg
461st Bombardment Group emblem(World War II) [1] 461 Bombardment Gp emblem.png

The 461st Operations Group is a joint Air Force/Army unit flying the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS aircraft. The group is assigned to the 461st Air Control Wing of Air Combat Command and is stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It was most recently activated on 1 October 2011.

Contents

The group was originally activated in 1943 as the 461st Bombardment Group (Heavy) as a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. The highly decorated unit served primarily in the Mediterranean, African, and The Middle East Theater of World War II.

Later activated as a tactical bomber unit by Tactical Air Command in the 1950s, the group was designated the 461st Bombardment Group, Tactical.

Mission

The 461st Operations Group is the only active duty Air Force unit operating the E-8C Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (Joint STARS), an advanced ground surveillance and battle management system. Joint STARS detects, locates, classifies, tracks and targets ground movements on the battlefield, communicating real-time information through secure data links with U.S. Forces command posts.

History

World War II

461st Bombardment Group B-24 Liberators attacking Muhldorf Marshalling Yard Germany, 11 March 1945 461st Bombardment Group - B-24 Liberator.jpg
461st Bombardment Group B-24 Liberators attacking Muhldorf Marshalling Yard Germany, 11 March 1945

The group was constituted in May 1943 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment group and activated on 1 July at Wendover Field, Utah, with the 764th, 765th, 766th and 767th Bombardment Squadrons assigned. [2] [3] It trained under Second and Fourth Air Forces at several airfields in Utah, Idaho, and California, with group elements undergoing combat simulation training at the Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics in Florida.

The 461st deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in February 1944, the air echelon flying its B-24's via the South Atlantic route, stopping in North Africa before joining the ground echelon in Italy. [3] It was assigned to the 49th Bombardment Wing of Fifteenth Air Force at Torretto Airfield, Italy, in late February. [2]

The group began combat operations in April, engaging in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It engaged chiefly in bombardment of communications, industries, and other strategic objectives in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Austria, Romania, Yugoslavia, and Greece. [3] It supported counter-air operations by bombing enemy airdromes and aircraft centers, receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for a mission on 13 April 1944 when the group battled its way through enemy defenses to attack an aircraft components plant in Budapest. [3] The 461st BG conducted Oil Campaign of World War II operations against Brüx, Czechoslovakia; Blechhammer, Germany; and Moosbierbaum and Vienna in Austria. It received a second DUC for a July 1944 bombing of Ploiești despite flak, clouds, smoke, and fighters. Also operated in support of ground forces and flew some interdictory missions. [3]

It hit artillery positions in support of the Operation Dragoon, the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 and flew supply missions to France in September. The group aided Operation Grapeshot, the spring 1945 Allied offensive in Italy, by attacking gun emplacements and troop concentrations. After V-E Day, the 461st dropped supplies to prisoner-of-war camps in Austria during May 1945. [3] During its operations in the Mediterranean, the group suffered 108 aircraft lost in combat, and was credited with the destruction of 129 enemy aircraft. [4] It dropped over 13,000 tons of bombs in over 46,000 hours of combat flying. [4]

The group began returning to the United States in early July. It reassembled at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota at the end of the month and was inactivated there on 28 August 1945. [3]

Tactical Air Command

461st Bombardment Wing B-57 Canberra 461st Bombardment Wing Martin B-57B-MA 53-3934 1956.jpg
461st Bombardment Wing B-57 Canberra

The unit was reactivated as the 461st Bombardment Group, Light and assigned to the 461st Bombardment Wing. It was initially equipped with World War II era Douglas B-26 Invader light bombers. [3] This aircraft assignment was temporary until the unit received jet-powered Martin Martin B-57 Canberras [5] and moved to a permanent base at Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. [3] After three years of service with the B-57s the group was inactivated at the beginning of 1958 as TAC prepared to transfer Blytheville to Strategic Air Command. [6]

Joint STARS operations

The group was redesignated the 461st Operations Group and activated at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia as the operational element of the 461st Air Control Wing in October 2011. The group operates the Northrop Grumman E-8 Joint STARS along with the associated 116th Operations Group of the Georgia Air National Guard. [2]

Lineage

Activated on 1 July 1943
Redesignated 461st Bombardment Group, Heavy in 1944
Inactivated on 18 August 1945
Activated on 23 December 1953
Redesignated 461st Bombardment Group, Tactical on 1 October 1955
Inactivated on 8 January 1958
Activated on 1 October 2011 [2]

Assignments

Components

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Distinguished Unit Citation 13 April 1944Budapest, Hungary 461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer PUC Army.PNG Distinguished Unit Citation 15 July 1944Ploiești, Romania 461st Bombardment Group [3]
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award 1 October 2011–31 March 2012461st Operations Group [2]
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award1 April 2012–31 May 2013461st Operations Group [2]
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award1 June 2014–31 May 2015461st Operations Group [2]
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award1 June 2015–31 May 2016461st Operations Group [2]
AF MUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Meritorious Unit Award1 June 2016–31 May 2017461st Operations Group [2]
AFOUA Streamer.JPG Air Force Outstanding Unit Award 1 June 2013–31 May 2014461st Operations Group [2]
Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Offensive, Europec. 20 February 1944 – 5 June 1944461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Air Combat, EAME Theaterc. 20 February 1944 – 11 May 1945461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Rome-Arnoc. 20 February–9 September 1944461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Central Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Normandy6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Northern France25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Southern France15 August 1944 – 14 September 1944461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG North Apennines10 September 1944 – 4 April 1945461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Rhineland15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer EAMEC.PNG Po Valley3 April 1945 – 8 May 1945461st Bombardment Group [3]
Streamer gwotS.PNG Global War on Terror Service Medal1 October 2011–461st Operations Group [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">460th Space Wing</span> United States Space Force wing

The 460th Space Wing was the United States Space Force's space-based infrared surveillance, tracking, and missile warning wing. the 460th Space Wing was assigned to Space Operations Command and stationed at Buckley Air Force Base. The 460th Space Wing was activated on 1 October 2001, replacing the 821st Space Group. It was inactivated on 24 July 2020 and replaced by the Buckley Garrison.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">9th Combat Operations Squadron</span> Military unit

The United States Air Force's 9th Combat Operations Squadron is an Air Force Reserve Command space operations unit located at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California. The 9th augments the 614th Air and Space Operations Center in operating the Joint Space Operations Center, performing combat operations, plans, strategy and intelligence assessments that enable the Commander, Joint Functional Component Command for Space to command and control space forces by providing worldwide space effects and theater support to combatant commanders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron</span> Military unit

The 16th Airborne Command and Control Squadron was a United States Air Force squadron assigned to Air Combat Command's 461st Air Control Wing, 461st Operations Group, stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. The squadron previously flew the Northrop Grumman E-8C JSTARS, providing airborne battle management, command and control, surveillance, and target acquisition with the last E-8C flight on September 8, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">55th Fighter Wing</span> Military unit

The 55th Fighter Wing is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was withdrawn from the Ohio Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950 when the Guard adopted the Wing Base organizational model and formed the cadre for the 121st Fighter Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">531st Tactical Fighter Squadron</span> Military unit

The 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last assigned to the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam. The squadron was inactivated on 31 July 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">461st Flight Test Squadron</span> US Air Force squadron, part of Air Force Materiel Command

The 461st Flight Test Squadron is a United States Air Force squadron, assigned to the 412th Operations Group of Air Force Materiel Command, and is stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The Squadron performs flight testing on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">450th Bombardment Group</span> Military unit

The 450th Fighter-Day Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 450th Fighter-Day Wing of Tactical Air Command (TAC) at Foster AFB, Texas. It was inactivated on 11 December 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">330th Combat Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 330th Combat Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 461st Air Control Wing based at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">487th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 487th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 340th Bombardment Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, where it was inactivated on 1 September 1963. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it flew North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers, primarily on air support and air interdiction missions, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in November 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">424th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 424th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 307th Bombardment Wing at Lincoln Air Force Base, Nebraska, where it was inactivated on 1 January 1962.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">454th Flying Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 454th Flying Training Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 323d Flying Training Wing at Mather Air Force Base, California, where it was inactivated on 1 October 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">787th Air Expeditionary Squadron</span> Military unit

The 787th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to United States Air Forces Europe. The squadron has been activated twice for contingency operations in Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">764th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 764th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 461st Bombardment Wing at Amarillo Air Force Base, Texas, where it was inactivated on 28 March 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">765th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 765th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in August 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">766th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 766th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was first activated during World War II. After training in the United States throughout 1943, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in August 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">767th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 767th Bombardment Squadron is a former United States Army Air Forces unit. The squadron was activated on 1 July 1943. After training in the United States, in early 1944 it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, and earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated on 18 August 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">39th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron</span> Military unit

The 39th Electronic Warfare Squadron is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 850th Spectrum Warfare Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">466th Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 466th Air Expeditionary Group of the United States Air Force provides support for airmen at stations across Afghanistan. This includes "joint expeditionary tasking" airmen, airmen whose units are assigned to a headquarters other than the one from United States Air Force during their deployment. It also includes individual augmentees assigned to joint organizations. The 466th has been headquartered at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar since 2014, when it moved from the Transit Center at Manas. The group provides a lifeline, referred to as a "Blue Line' back to the Air Force. Its two squadrons, the 466th and 966th Air Expeditionary Squadrons are still located in Afghanistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">461st Air Control Wing</span> Military unit

The 461st Air Control Wing is a joint Air Force/Army unit flying the E-8 J-STARS aircraft. The wing is assigned to Air Combat Command's Ninth Air Force, and is stationed at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It was activated on 1 October 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">24th Tactical Air Support Squadron</span> Military unit

The 24th Tactical Air Support Squadron was a ground attack squadron of the United States Air Force. It was last active at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, prior to being inactivated during December 2020.

References

Notes
  1. ↑ The group uses the wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll. Air Force Instruction 84-105, Organizational Lineage, Honors and Heraldry, 19 March 2013, para 3.3.3
  2. ↑ Aircraft is Martin B-57B-MA Canberra, serial 53-3934, taken in 1956.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 Watkins, pp. 108–109
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Musser, James M. (12 June 2019). "Factsheet 461 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 18 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 335–337
  4. 1 2 Statistical Summary of Operations 1943–1945 (accessed 20 October 2012)
  5. ↑ Ravenstein, p. 255
  6. ↑ Mueller, p. 37
  7. ↑ Musser, James (7 September 2023). "Factsheet 53 Combat Sirfield Operations Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 30 September 2023.

Bibliography

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

Further reading
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.