Misplaced Pages

368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group
Active	1970–1974; by 2010–c. 18 November 2011
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Expeditionary
Role	Air Support Operations
Size	Group
Part of	Air Combat Command
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group (approved 29 June 1970)

The 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group is a combat support unit of the United States Air Force. The group provides overall tactical command and control of air power assets to the Joint Forces Air Component Commander and Joint Forces Commander for combat operations.

History

Tactical Air Command

The group was first activated at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina as the 68th Tactical Air Support Group in January 1970, when it assumed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 4467th Tactical Air Support Group, which was simultaneously discontinued. The group trained and equipped tactical air support squadrons and tactical air control parties to control aircraft and communications systems in support of surface forces including tactical air strikes, reconnaissance and airlift. It was inactivated in 1974 and its mission transferred to the 507th Tactical Air Control Wing, which combined tactical control and tactical air support units for Ninth Air Force.

Expeditionary unit

During Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn it was located at an undisclosed location in Iraq (possibly Joint Base Balad). It supported Multi-National Corps - Iraq. As of 26 July 2010, it comprised two subordinate units:

• 22d Expeditionary Weather Squadron
• 82d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron

The group was inactivated on 22 December 2011 following the withdraw of US forces from Iraq and the cessation of Operation New Dawn.

In May 2015 the group was activated in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield. It is currently composed of four subordinate units:

• Detachment 1, Army Weather Support
• Detachment 2, Air Support Operations Center
• 72d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron
• 82d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron

Lineage

• Established as the 68th Tactical Air Support Group on 2 December 1969

Activated on 15 January 1970

Inactivated on 15 June 1974

• Redesignated 368th Tactical Air Support Group on 31 July 1985
• Redesignated 368th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group and converted to provisional status on 12 February 2009.

Activated by 20 July 2010

Inactivated c. 18 December 2011

Activated May 2015

Assignments

• Ninth Air Force, 15 January 1970 – 15 June 1974
• Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time on or after 12 February 2009

Components

• Air Education and Training Command Studies and Analysis Squadron, 31 August 1972 – 1 July 1974
• 22d Expeditionary Weather Squadron, by July 2010 – c. 18 November 2011
• 72d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, May 2015
• 82d Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron, by July 2010 – c. 18 November 2011, May 2015
• 424th Tactical Air Support Training Squadron, 1 January–31 October 1972
• 681st Direct Air Support Center Squadron, 1 December 1971 – 1 July 1974
• 682d Direct Air Support Center Squadron, 1 December 1971 – 1 July 1974
• 703d Special Operations Squadron (later 703d Tactical Air Support Squadron), 15 January 1970 – 15 June 1974
• 704th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 15 January 1970 – 15 June 1974

Aircraft

• Cessna O-2 Skymaster, 1970–1974
• Sikorsky CH-53, 1970–1973
• Sikorsky CH-3, 1970–1974
• Beechcraft QU-22 Pave Eagle, 1972
• North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco, 1974

References

Notes

1. ^ Robertson, Patsy (26 July 2010). "Factsheet 368 Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
2. Smith, Maj Trevor (20 July 2010). "Army air support relies on 368th Airmen" (PDF). Victory Times. Vol. V, no. 20. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
3. Jackson, MSG Kerry (22 December 2011). "Air expeditionary units inactivate after last Airmen leave Iraq". 321st Air Expedtionary Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2017.

Bibliography

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

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category

This United States Air Force article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• Air ground operations units of the United States Air Force
• Groups of the United States Air Force
• United States Air Force stubs