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401st Air Expeditionary Group
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon 81-0788 of the 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Active	1943–1945; 1947–1951; 1954–1957; 1957–1994; 2001–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Manage deployed forces
Motto(s)	Latin: Cælum Arena Nostra – The Sky is Our Arena
Engagements	European theater of World War II
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable commanders	Wilbur L. Creech, Kenneth North
Insignia
401st Air Expeditionary Group Emblem (approved 9 September 1958)
ETO Tail Code	Triangle S

The 401st Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to be activated or inactivated at any time as needed. It is stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

The group was first activated as the 401st Bombardment Group during World War II. The 401st entered combat with VIII Bomber Command, flying Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses from RAF Deenethorpe. The group earned two Distinguished Unit Citations for missions over Leipzig on 11 January and 20 February 1944. The 401st Bomb Group had the second best rating in bombing accuracy for Eighth Air Force.

The group was activated briefly as an Air Force Reserve unit in 1947, but apparently was minimally manned. It was called to active duty in 1951 for the Korean War, but its personnel were used as fillers for other units and the group was soon inactivated.

The group was again active in the 1950s as the 401st Fighter-Bomber Group at England AFB, Louisiana. It was inactivated in 1957 when Tactical Air Command (TAC) replaced its groups reporting directly to TAC numbered air forces with like numbered wings and its squadrons were transferred to the 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing.

The 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing flew North American F-100 Super Sabres at England for the next nine years. In 1965 and 1966 most of the operational squadrons of the wing were transferred to Pacific Air Forces and moved to Japan or the Republic of Vietnam. The wing and its remaining squadron transferred to Torrejon Air Base, Spain, replacing a Strategic Air Command wing there. In 1984 the group and wing were consolidated into a single unit.

In 1991, United States units departed Spain, and the 401st moved to Aviano Air Base, Italy, where it replaced the 40th Support Wing, originally managing deployed fighter squadrons, but from 1992 was once again assigned its own tactical units. In 1994, it was replaced in turn by the 31st Fighter Wing. The 401st became a provisional unit in 2001 and is assigned to United States Air Forces Europe to activate or inactivate as needed for contingency operations.

History

World War II

Organization and training for combat

The 401st Bombardment Group was activated March 1943 at Ephrata Army Air Base Washington. Its original squadrons were the 612th, 613th, 614th. and 615th Bombardment Squadrons, The initial cadre for the group was drawn from the 395th Bombardment Group at Ephrata and the 383d Bombardment Group at Rapid City Army Air Field, South Dakota. The cadre soon departed for Orlando Army Air Base, Florida, where they conducted simulated combat missions with the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics out of Brooksville Army Air Field.

The ground echelon moved to Geiger Field, Washington in May 1943 and to Great Falls AAB, Montana in July. At Great Falls the first combat crews were assigned to the group. In the final stage of training the squadrons dispersed with the 612th remaining at Great Falls, while the 613th trained at Cut Bank Army Air Field, the 614th at Glasgow Army Air Field, and the 615th at Lewiston Army Air Field.

After completing training the ground echelon left for overseas on 19 October 1943. After staging at Camp Shanks, New York they embarked on the RMS Queen Mary and sailed on 27 October disembarking at Greenock on the Firth of Clyde on 3 November 1943. The air echelon staged for deployment at Scott Field, Illinois then flew to England under the control of Air Transport Command via Newfoundland, Iceland and Scotland.

Combat in the European Theater

On arrival in England, half of the group's aircrews were immediately reassigned to the 351st Bombardment Group. The rest of the group became part of Eighth Air Force at RAF Deenethorpe. The 401st was assigned to the 92d Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-S.

On 26 November the 401st flew its first combat mission against Bremen, Germany. It did not suffer the combat loss of an airplane until its ninth mission on 30 December. The 401st BG operated chiefly against strategic targets, bombing industries, submarine facilities, shipyards, missile sites, marshalling yards, and airfields. On 11 January 1944 the group led the 1st Bombardment Division in an attack against aircraft manufacturing facilities at Ochsersleben, Germany. Although the bombers were able to attack, poor weather conditions prevented the division from receiving effective fighter cover. For over three hours the bomber formation suffered more than 400 attacks by Luftwaffe fighters, including air-to-air rocket attacks. Despite these attacks, the unit continued on its mission and struck a telling blow against German aircraft production for which the group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).

A little over a month later, on 20 February, the group earned its second DUC for an attack on the Erla Maschinenwerke aircraft manufacturing facilities in Leipzig, Germany. Despite fighter attacks and battle damage to the group's planes, 100% of the group’s bombs fell within 1000 feet of the aiming point. Beginning in October 1944, the unit concentrated its attacks on Axis oil reserves.

In addition to strategic missions, group operations included attacks on transportation, airfields, and fortifications prior to the Normandy invasion. On D-Day the 401st attacked Normandy beachhead areas dropping bombs five minutes before troops landed. The following month it provided close air support for the breakthrough at Saint-Lô, it also supported the siege of Brest in August and Operation Market Garden in September. During the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945, the unit attacked transportation and communications in the battle area. It supported airborne forces involved in Operation Varsity in March 1945.

The group's worst accident occurred in December 1943 when a Fortress which failed to get off the ground careened over farmland and came to rest after crashing into a cottage on the edge of the village of Deenethorpe. The surviving members of the crew just had time to evacuate the wreckage and warn the villagers of the imminent explosion of the bomb load before it detonated damaging many houses in the village. The blast was felt in Kettering nine miles away.

Lt Carl Hoag, a navigator with the group was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for navigating his damaged plane back to UK from a mission to Bohlen. Lt Hoat was blinded in one eye and his vision in other eye impaired by injury. Despite these injuries, he was able to provide the pilot with directions to safely return the plane and crew to Deenthorpe.

The group flew its last combat mission on 20 April 1945 against Brandenberg. The group had flown 254 combat missions from Deenethorpe airfield, 91 aircraft were lost in action with the lowest loss rate of any group in Eighth Air Force. The group's heaviest combat loss had occurred on 28 May 1944 when it lost seven aircraft.

After V-E Day, the group flew missions to Linz, Austria to evacuate British and French prisoners of war. It also flew Trolley sightseeing missions at low level, flying ground support personnel over the Ruhr and Frankfurt am Main to see the damage that had been done as a result of their efforts.

The group was alerted for redeployment to the Pacific Theater and the last plane departed Deenethorpe on 3 June. The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Elizabeth on the fifth. Upon arrival in the US, personnel were granted thirty days leave, reassembling at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, but plans had changed and personnel were either transferred to Boeing B-29 Superfortress units or processed for discharge and the group was inactivated.

Cold War

Air Force Reserve

During the early years of the Cold War the unit was redesignated as the 401st Bombardment Group, Very Heavy and was allotted to the Air Force Reserve. It was activated on 26 June 1947 by Air Defense Command at Brooks Field, Texas, but there is no indication the group was fully manned or equipped. The 401st was redesignated the 401st Bombardment Group, Medium in June 1949 and moved to Biggs AFB, Texas where it became an associate of the active duty 95th Bombardment Group. The 401st was called to active duty on 1 May 1951 during the Korean War. Its personnel were reassigned to other units and it was inactivated on 25 June 1951.

Tactical Air Command

The 401st was redesignated as a Tactical Air Command Fighter-Bomber group in 1953 and activated on 8 February 1954 at Alexandria Air Force Base, Louisiana. The group was equipped initially with F-86F Sabres returned from combat in Korea. The group was assigned three of its old squadrons, the 612th, 613th and 614th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons. The group was attached to the 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing at Alexandria (later England AFB), and its mission was to perform advanced fighter training on high performance jet aircraft.

In 1955, the group converted to Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks, performing its training mission until 25 September 1957 when it was inactivated and its component squadrons were assigned directly to newly activated 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing. At the same time the wing transitioned into the North American F-100 "Super Sabre" aircraft and gained a fourth tactical squadron, the 615th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. Less than a year after activation, the wing and its squadrons dropped the "Fighter-Bomber" designation for "Tactical Fighter". In 1959 the 401st wing became the host organization for England AFB when the 834th Air Division and 366th Tactical Fighter Wing inactivated.

The 401st TFW Participated in numerous firepower demonstrations, tactical exercises and maneuvers in the United States and overseas, and periodically deployed its tactical squadrons to bases in Europe and the Middle East to support NATO. With the exception of its elements deployed overseas, the wing operated from Homestead AFB, Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to December 1962.

From February 1964 to November 1965, wing's squadron deployments shifted to the Far East and Southeast Asia in support of operations in that area. In November, the wing's 612th Tactical Fighter Squadron moved to Misawa Air Base, Japan. The 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron was attached to the wing while it equipped with F-100s before moving to Bien Hoa Air Base, Republic of Viet Nam. The wing then briefly returned to support operations in Europe-Middle East. When the 614th and 615th Tactical Fighter Squadrons moved to Phu Cat Air Base and Phan Rang Air Base in the spring of 1966, the wing was left with a single operational squadron. In 1966 fighter operations at England ceased and were replaced by special operations training. on 27 April the wing and its remaining squadron moved to Europe.

United States Air Forces Europe

Torrejon Air Base

Prior to 1965, Torrejon AB hosted deployed squadrons of Boeing B-47 Stratojet aircraft rotating from CONUS Strategic Air Command (SAC) bases. Although B-47 deployments ceased, Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker deployments to support Operation Chrome Dome continued, but on a reduced basis, and the base was transferred to United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE). With the USAFE takeover of the base, the Air Force transferred the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing from England Air Force Base to USAFE on a permanent basis to Torrejon to perform host functions at the base and to support the rotational fighter deployments to Italy and Turkey for NATO alerts. The 613th moved with the wing, where it was joined by the 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron from Homestead AFB, Florida, and the 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron from Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina. The wing's 401st Combat Support Group took over the support functions, personnel, and equipment of SAC's 3970th Strategic Wing.

In 1970 the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) upgraded to the McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom II. In September 1973, an equipment change to the F-4C model took place, then in 1978 to the F-4D.

As a result of the withdrawal of USAF forces in South Vietnam, in 1972 the 307th and 353d fighter squadrons were returned to their home bases, and the 612th and 614th Tactical Fighter Squadrons (TFS) were assigned to Torrejon. Also in 1972, squadron tail codes were eliminated and "TJ" became the tail code for all 401st TFW aircraft.

In 1983 the 401st upgraded to the Block 15 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon. The F-16s were upgraded to the Block 30 F-16C/D in July 1988.

In January 1988 Spain and the United States announced jointly that agreement had been reached in principle on a new base agreement with an initial term of eight years. The agreement essentially met conditions demanded by Spain that the USAF withdraw from a permanent presence on the base. The F-16 aircraft were to be removed from Torrejon by mid-1991. It was expected that this action would reduce the number of United States personnel in Spain by nearly one-half.

Implementation of this agreement was delayed by the 1990/91 crisis in Southwest Asia, when the 401st TFW was one of the first American fighter wings to respond. The 612th TFS deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey as part of the 7440th Composite Wing(Provisional) and the 614th TFS deployed to Doha, Qatar where it became the core of the Tactical Fight Wing, 401st, Provisional, which was formed from the wing's support elements. However, after the 1991 cease-fire in Iraq, plans proceeded to close Torrejon Air Base.

Aviano Air Base

On 1 October 1991 the wing was redesignated the 401st Fighter Wing. Initially, the USAF decided to return the wing to the US and inactivate it. However, the remaining members of NATO lobbied to keep the 401st in the Southern Region OF NATO and offered to rebase it using NATO funds. In accordance with the 1988 agreement, the USAF portion of the base was returned to the Spanish government on 21 May 1992, and the 401st Fighter Wing transferred on paper to Aviano Air Base Italy without personnel or equipment. At Aviano it assumed the personnel mission and equipment of the 40th Support Wing, which was inactivated.

At Aviano, the 401st had no assigned tactical units, instead it supported rotating squadrons deployed there from other groups. The tenure of the 401st at Aviano AB was brief, as a result of Hurricane Andrew destroying Homestead AFB, Florida in August 1992. The 31st Fighter Wing, formerly at Homestead was transferred to Aviano on 1 April 1994, taking over the assets of the 401st Fighter Wing, which was inactivated.

Expeditionary unit

The 401st Expeditionary Operations Group (401 EOG) was activated in 2001 by USAFE to perform combat support duties as part of the Global War on Terrorism at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus performing KC-135 operations. Detachment 1 was located at Tuzla Air Base, Bosnia and Herzegovina, designated as the 401st Expeditionary Air Base Group.

In June 2003 the group moved to Aviano again, where it became the 401st Air Expeditionary Wing, replacing the 16th AEW, inactivating so as to eliminate an overlap in designation and heraldry with the 16th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida.

USAFE moved the 401st to Ramstein Air Base, Germany in 2008 and it once again became a group. At Ramstein, it has been used as a headquarters for provisional units deployed for humanitarian missions and exercises.

Lineage

401st Fighter-Bomber Group

• Constituted as the 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 March 1943

Activated on 1 April 1943

• Redesignated 401st Bombardment Group, Heavy ca. 1 November 1943

Inactivated on 28 August 1945.

• Redesignated 401st Bombardment Group on 27 May 1947

Activated on 26 June 1947

Redesignated 401st Bombardment Group, Medium 27 June 1949

Inactivated on 25 June 1951.

• Redesignated 401st Fighter-Bomber Group on 24 November 1953

Activated on 8 February 1954

Inactivated on 25 September 1957

• Consolidated on 31 January 1984 with 401st Tactical Fighter Wing as the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing
• Redesignated 401st Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 5 February 2001

401st Air Expeditionary Group

• Constituted as the 401st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 23 March 1953

Activated on 25 September 1957

Redesignated 401st Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958

• Consolidated on 31 January 1984 with 401st Fighter-Bomber Group as the 401st Tactical Fighter Wing

Redesignated 401st Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991

Inactivated on 1 April 1994

• Redesignated 401st Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 5 February 2001

Activated in 2001

• Redesignated 401st Air Expeditionary Wing on 12 June 2003
• Redesignated 401st Air Expeditionary Group on 9 April 2006

Assignments

• II Bomber Command, 1 April 1943 – October 1943
• 92d Combat Bombardment Wing, 1 November 1943
• 94th Combat Bombardment Wing, 8 January 1944 – 20 June 1945
• Army Service Forces (for inactivation), 1 August 1945 – 28 August 1945
• 44th Bombardment Wing (later 44th Air Division), 26 June 1947 – 25 June 1951
• Tenth Air Force, 27 June 1949
• Strategic Air Command, 1 May 1951 – 25 June 1951
• 9th Air Force, 8 February 1954 – 25 September 1957 (attached to 366th Fighter-Bomber Wing).
• 834th Air Division, 25 September 1957
• Twelfth Air Force, 1 April 1959 (attached to Air Division Provisional, 4481st, 1 January-30 June 1964)
• 834th Air Division, 1 July 1964
• Sixteenth Air Force, 27 April 1966 – 1 April 1994
• United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate any time after 5 February 2001

Attached to Sixteenth Air Force, 2001 – 29 November 2006

Attached to Third Air Force, 29 November 2006 – 1 July 2010

Attached to 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, 1 July 2010 – present

Components

Groups

• 100th Expeditionary Operations Group, ca. 2003
• 401st Air Base Group (later 401st Combat Support Group, 401st Support Group, 401st Expeditionary Mission Support Group), 1 April 1959 – 1 July 1966; 27 April 1966 – 1 April 1994; 12 January 2003 – 31 May 2006
• 401st Logistics Group, 4 May 1992 – 1 April 1994
• 401st Expeditionary Operations Group, 12 January 2003 – 31 May 2006
• Operations Group, Provisional, 401st, (attached 26 July 1993 – 1 April 1994)
• 401st Regional Support Group, 4 May 1992 – 1 April 1994

Operational Squadrons

• 90th Tactical Fighter Squadron, (attached c. 5 December 1965 – c. 7 February 1966)
• 307th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 27 April 1966 – 15 July 1971
• 353d Tactical Fighter Squadron, 27 April 1966 – 15 July 1971
• 531st Tactical Fighter Squadron: attached 19 November 1965 – c. 10 December 1965
• 612th Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Tactical Fighter Squadron), 1 April 1943 – 28 August 1945; 26 June 1947 – 25 June 1951; 8 February 1954 – 25 September 1957; 25 September 1957 – 3 November 1965; 15 July 1971 – 1 October 1991
• 613th Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Tactical Fighter Squadron), 1 April 1943 – 28 August 1945; 26 June 1947 – 25 June 1951; 8 February 1954 – 25 September 1957: 25 September 1957 – 28 June 1991
• 614th Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Tactical Fighter Squadron, Fighter Squadron), 1 April 1943 – 28 August 1945; 26 June 1947 – 25 June 1951; 8 February 1954 – 25 September 1957: 25 September 1957 – 27 April 1966; 15 July 1971 – 1 January 1992
• 615th Bombardment Squadron (later Fighter-Bomber Squadron, Tactical Fighter Squadron), 1 April 1943 – 28 August 1945; 26 June 1947 – 25 June 1951; 25 September 1957 – 27 April 1966

Support Units

• 401st Tactical Hospital (also 401st USAF Hospital), 1 April 1959 – 1 July 1964; 27 April 1966 – 21 May 1992
• USAF Hospital, Torrejon (later 401st Tactical Fighter Wing Hospital, 401st Medical Squadron), 27 April 1966 – 1 April 1994
• 401st Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron (later 401st Avionics Maintenance Squadron, 401st Component Repair Squadron), 25 September 1957 – 4 May 1992
• 401st Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (later 401st Field Maintenance Squadron, 401st Equipment Maintenance Squadron, 401st Maintenance Squadron), 25 September 1957 – 1 October 1962; 1 October 1962 – 4 May 1992
• 401st Munitions Maintenance Squadron, 15 May 1963 – 30 June 1979
• 401st Operations Support Squadron, 1 May 1992 – 1 April 1994 (attached to Operations Group, Provisional 401 after 26 July 1993)
• 401st Organizational Maintenance Squadron (later 401st Aircraft Generation Squadron), 1 October 1962 – 1 October 1969; 1 February 1972 – 4 May 1992

Stations

• Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 1 April 1943
• Geiger Field, Washington, June 1943
• Great Falls Army Air Base, Montana, July–October 1943
• RAF Deenethorpe (USAAF Station 128), England, C. 1 November 1943 – May 1945
• Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, c. 1–28 August 1945
• Brooks Field (later Brooks Air Force Base), Texas, 26 June 1947
• Biggs AFB, Texas, 27 June 1949 – 25 June 1951
• Alexandria Air Force Base (later England Air Force Base), Louisiana, 8 February 1954 – 25 September 1957; 25 September 1957 – 22 April 1966
• Torrejon Air Base, Spain, 27 April 1966
• Aviano Air Base, Italy, 21 May 1992 – 1 April 1994
• RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, 2001 – ca June 2004
• Aviano Air Base, Italy, circa June 2004 – 4 September 2008
• Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 4 September 2008 – present

Aircraft

• Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, 1942–1945
• North American F-86 Sabre, 1954–1955
• Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, 1955–1957; 1957
• North American F-100 Super Sabre, 1957–1970
• McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, 1970–1983
• General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1983–1992
• Unknown, 2001–2003

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Distinguished Unit Citation	11 January 1944	Germany 401st Bombardment Group
	Distinguished Unit Citation	20 February 1944	Germany 401st Bombardment Group
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device	28 August 1990 – 21 March 1991	Tactical Fighter Wing, Provisional, 401st
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 January 1963 – 31 December 1963	401st Tactical Fighter Wing
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 July 1983 – 30 June 1985	401st Tactical Fighter Wing
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 April 1989 – 31 March 1991	401st Tactical Fighter Wing
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award	1 April 1992 – 31 March 1994	401st Fighter Wing

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Air Offensive, Europe		401st Bombardment Group
	Normandy		401st Bombardment Group
	Ardennes-Alsace		401st Bombardment Group
	Northern France		401st Bombardment Group
	Rhineland		401st Bombardment Group
	Central Europe		401st Bombardment Group

References

Notes

1. ^ Ravenstein, pp. 214–215
2. Watkins, pp. 86–87
3. ^ Maurer, Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 285–286
4. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 684
5. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 684-685
6. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 685–686
7. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 686
8. Closway, p. 44
9. Closway, pp. 44–45
10. ^ Closway, p. 45
11. Closway, p. 46
12. Closway, p. 47
13. Closway, pp. 40, 47, 62 (reproducing War Department General Order 50, 17 June 1944)
14. Closway, pp. 40, 63 (reproducing War Department General Order 83, 2 October 1945)
15. Closway. p. 43
16. ^ Closway
17. Closway, p. 55
18. Closway, pp. 40, 62
19. Closway, p. 50
20. Closway, pp. 56–57
21. Closway, p. 58
22. Closway, p. 59
23. ^ Mueller, pp. 165–170
24. ^ Fletcher, p. 187
25. "Det. 1, 401st Air Expeditionary Wing". Task Force Eagle. Archived from the original on 14 March 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2016.
26. Aviano AEW gets new designation, new commander
27. ^ Lineage, components, stations and aircraft of the 401st Fighter-Bomber Group in Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 285–286
28. ^ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 539q, 31 January 1984, Subject: Consolidation of Units
29. Station number in Anderson
30. ^ Air Force Recognition Program (search retrieved 12 September 2013)

Explanatory notes

1. Although the 401st Wing was a new organization, it continued, through temporary bestowal, the history, and honors of the 401st Bombardment Group (later 401st Fighter-Bomber Group). This temporary bestowal ended in January 1984, when the wing and group were consolidated into a single unit. See Ravenstein, Combat Wings, Appendix V.
2. Yellow/Black Tails, Tail Code TL
3. Tail Code TJ
4. Tail Code TK
5. The deployed squadron became the Tactical Fighter Squadron, Provisional, 612th
6. The Tactical Fighter Wing, Provisional, 401st was the forward deployed element of the wing during Operation Desert Storm.

Bibliography

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

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
• Closway, Gordon R., ed. (1946). Pictorial Record of the 401st Bomb Group. San Angelo, TX: Newsfoto Publishing Co. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) . Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Fletcher, Harry R (1993). Air Force Bases , Vol. II, Air Bases Outside the United States of America (PDF). Washington, DC: Center for Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) . Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-1987-7.

Further reading

• Freeman, Roger A., Airfields of the Eighth, Then And Now, 1978.
• Maher, William P. Fated to Survive: Memoirs of a B-17 Flying Fortress Pilot/Prisoner of War: 401st Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force. Spartanburg, South Carolina: Honoribus Press, 1992.
• Menzel, George. 401st Bombardment Group (H), Portrait of a Flying Lady. Paducah, Kentucky: Turner Publishing Company, 1994.
• Newcomb, Alan H. Vacation with Pay, being an Account of My Stay at the German Rest Camp for Tired Allied Airmen at Beautiful Barth-on-the-Baltic. Haverhill, Massachusetts: Destiny Publications, 1947.
• Rogers, Brian, United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Midland Publications, 2006. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.

External links

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Air Force
• mighty8thaf.preller.us Deenethorpe 401st Bombardment Group (Heavy)
• The 401st Bomb Group (H) Association (retrieved 24 September 2013)
• GlobalSecurity.org 2003 US Forces Order of Battle

v t e Tactical Air Command (TAC)
Air Forces	First Ninth Twelfth Eighteenth Nineteenth
Air Divisions	20th (ADTAC) 21st (ADTAC) 23d (ADTAC) 24th (ADTAC) 25th (ADTAC) 26th (ADTAC) 28th (ADTAC) 831st 832d 833d 834th 835th 836th 837th 838th 839th 840th
Named units	Air Forces Panama Air Forces Iceland Air Defense, Tactical Air Command
Wings	TFW 1st 4th 12th 15th 20th 23d 27th 32d 33d 37th 50th 56th 312th 323d 347th 354th 355th Other 1st SOW 57th FWW 63d TAW 64th TAW 67th TRW 75th TRW 85th TFTW 317th TAW 363d TRW 405th TFTW 461st TBW 4505th ARW
Former bases	Active (MAJCOM) Altus (AETC) Brooks (AFMC) Cannon (AFSOC) Charleston (AMC) Creech (ACC) Davis–Monthan (ACC) Dover (AMC) Dyess (ACC) Eglin (AFMC) Hill (AMFC) Holloman (ACC) Hurlburt Field (AFSOC) Langley (ACC) Little Rock (AETC) Luke (AETC) MacDill (AMC) McChord (AMC) McConnell (AMC) Moody (ACC) Mountain Home (ACC) Nellis (ACC) Pope (AMC) Seymour Johnson (ACC) Shaw (ACC) Tonopah (ACC) Tyndall (AETC) Whiteman (ACC) Inactive Bergstrom Blythville Donaldson England Forbes George Howard Grenier Myrtle Beach Orlando Sewart Turner Williams Inactive, but with a military presence Bunker Hill Biggs Dow Godman Homestead Lockbourne March Otis
Aircraft	A-1 A-7 A-10 A-37 AC-47 AC-119 AC-130 B-26 B-57 B-66 C-7 C-47 C-82 C-119 C-123 C-130 E-3 E-8 EF-111 EC-135 F-4 F-5 F-15 F-16 F-47 F-51 F-80 F-82 F-84 F-86 F-89 F-100 F-101 F-102 F-104 F-105 F-106 F-111 F-117 H-1 H-5 H-6 H-19 H-43 H-60 H-53 KB-29 KB-50 KC-97 O-1 O-2 OH-23 OV-10 P-40 P-38 R-4 S-62 T-6 T-28 T-29 T-33 T-38

v t e United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA)
Air Forces	Third (Europe)
Bases	Aviano Air Base Incirlik Air Base RAF Lakenheath RAF Mildenhall Ramstein Air Base Spangdahlem Air Base
Support facilities	Ämari Air Base Büchel Air Base Camp Lemonnier Câmpia Turzii Air Base Chabelley Airport Chièvres Air Base Ghedi Air Base Izmir Air Station Kleine Brogel Air Base Lajes Field Łask Air Base Morón Air Base RAF Akrotiri RAF Alconbury RAF Fairford RAF Menwith Hill RAF Molesworth RAF Welford Stuttgart Airport Volkel Air Base
Major units	31st Fighter Wing 39th Air Base Wing 48th Fighter Wing 52nd Fighter Wing 86th Airlift Wing 100th Air Refueling Wing 406th Air Expeditionary Wing 435th Air Ground Operations Wing 501st Combat Support Wing

v t e USAAF Eighth Air Force in World War II
Stations United Kingdom Alconbury Aldermaston Andrews Field Atcham Attlebridge Bassingbourn Bodney Bottisham Bovingdon Boxted Bungay Burtonwood Depot Bury St. Edmunds Bushey Hall Chalgrove Cheddington Chelveston Chipping Ongar Daws Hill Debach Debden Deenethorpe Deopham Green Duxford Earls Colne East Wretham Eye Fersfield Fowlmere Framlingham Glatton Goxhill Grafton Underwood Great Ashfield Great Dunmow Halesworth Hardwick Harrington Hethel Honington Horham Horsham St. Faith Ibsley Keevil Kimbolton Kings Cliffe Kirton In Lindsey Knettishall Lavenham Leiston Little Walden Martlesham Heath Membury Mendlesham Metfield Molesworth Mount Farm North Pickenham Nuthampstead Old Buckenham Podington Polebrook Rackheath Ramsbury Rattlesden Raydon Ridgewell Seething Shipdham Snetterton Heath Steeple Morden Sudbury Thorpe Abbots Thurleigh Tibenham Wattisham Watton Wendling Westhampnett Wormingford Okinawa Bolo Ie Shima Kadena Futenma Yontan
Units Commands VIII Air Support VIII Bomber VIII Air Divisions 1st 2nd 3rdf Wings Bombardment 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 12th 316th Fighter 6th 65th 66th 67th 301st Groups Bombardment 34th 44th 91st 92nd 93rd 94th 95th 96th 97th 100th 301st 303rd 305th 306th 310th 319th 320th 322nd 323rd 333rd 346th 351st 379th 381st 382nd 383rd 384th 385th 386th 387th 388th 389th 390th 392nd 398th 401st 445th 446th 447th 448th 452nd 453rd 457th 458th 466th 467th 482nd 486th 487th 489th 490th 491st 492nd 493rd 801st (Provisional) Fighter 1st 4th 14th 20th 31st 48th 55th 56th 78th 318th 339th 350th 352nd 353rd 354th 355th 356th 357th 358th 361st 362nd 364th 413th 479th 495th 496th 507th Troop Carrier 60th 62nd 315th Reconnaissance 3rd 7th 25th 67th
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

v t e USAAF Second Air Force in World War II
Airfields	Airfields
Units	Commands II Air Support Command II Bomber Command II Fighter Command IV Air Support Command XX Bomber Command XXI Bomber Command XXII Bomber Command Wings 5th Bombardment 15th Bombardment Training 16th Bombardment Operational Training 17th Bombardment Training 18th Replacement 21st Bombardment 46th Bombardment Operational Training 58th Bombardment 73rd Bombardment 315th Bombardment 316th Bombardment Groups Bombardment 2nd Bombardment 6th Bombardment 7th Bombardment 9th Bombardment 12th Bombardment 16th Bombardment 17th Bombardment 19th Bombardment 25th Bombardment 29th Bombardment 34th Bombardment 39th Bombardment 40th Bombardment 42nd Bombardment 46th Bombardment 47th Bombardment 48th Bombardment 85th Bombardment 86th Bombardment 86th Bombardment 88th Bombardment 94th Bombardment 95th Bombardment 96th Bombardment 99th Bombardment 100th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302nd Bombardment 303rd Bombardment 304th Bombardment 305th Bombardment 306th Bombardment 307th Bombardment 308th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 330th Bombardment 331st Bombardment 333rd Bombardment 346th Bombardment 351st Bombardment 376th Bombardment 379th Bombardment 381st Bombardment 382nd Bombardment 383rd Bombardment 384th Bombardment 385th Bombardment 388th Bombardment 390th Bombardment 393rd Bombardment 395th Bombardment 396th Bombardment 398th Bombardment 399th Bombardment 400th Bombardment 401st Bombardment 407th Bombardment 415th Bombardment 418th Bombardment 444th Bombardment 445th Bombardment 446th Bombardment 447th Bombardment 448th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 452nd Bombardment 453rd Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 457th Bombardment 458th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 462nd Bombardment 464th Bombardment 467th Bombardment 468th Bombardment 469th Bombardment 470th Bombardment 471st Bombardment 472nd Bombardment 484th Bombardment 485th Bombardment 486th Bombardment 487th Bombardment 488th Bombardment 489th Bombardment 490th Bombardment 491st Bombardment 493rd Bombardment 494th Bombardment 497th Bombardment 498th Bombardment 499th Bombardment 500th Bombardment 501st Bombardment 502nd Bombardment 504th Bombardment 505th Bombardment 509th Composite Fighter 20th Fighter 54th Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 507th Fighter 508th Fighter Reconnaissance 2nd Reconnaissance 3rd Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance 5th Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 7th Reconnaissance 8th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance 77th Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 443nd Troop Carrier
United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth

• Military units and formations established in 1942
• Military units and formations established in 1957
• Air expeditionary groups of the United States Air Force