379th Air Expeditionary Wing

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379th Air Expeditionary Wing

379th Air Expeditionary Wing emblem
Active 2003-Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Air Expeditionary
Role Various
Garrison/HQ Al Udied AB, Qatar
Motto DILIGENTIA ET ACCURATIO - Precision and accuracy
Engagements Operation Desert Storm; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom
Commanders
Current
commander		 Brig Gen Charles W. Lyon
Notable
commanders		 Eugene E. Habiger
Airmen from the honor guard and the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group perform a retreat ceremony
Airmen from the honor guard and the 379th Expeditionary Medical Group perform a retreat ceremony
Boeing B-17G-45-BO Fortress 42-97229 524th BS, "Hi Ho Silver".
Boeing B-17G-45-BO Fortress 42-97229 524th BS, "Hi Ho Silver".
Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-30-DL Fortress 42-38111 525th BS.
Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-30-DL Fortress 42-38111 525th BS.
Douglas-Long Beach B-17F-45-DL Fortress 42-3325 524th BS, "Paddy Gremlin".
Douglas-Long Beach B-17F-45-DL Fortress 42-3325 524th BS, "Paddy Gremlin".
Lockheed/Vega B-17G-15-VE Flying Fortress Serial 42-97462 of the 527th Bomb Squadron after a belly landing. This aircraft was repaired and returned to combat duty.
Lockheed/Vega B-17G-15-VE Flying Fortress Serial 42-97462 of the 527th Bomb Squadron after a belly landing. This aircraft was repaired and returned to combat duty.

The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (379 AEW) is an Air Expeditionary wing of the United States Air Force, located at Al Udeid AB, Qatar.

The Wing is one of the largest, most diverse expeditionary wings in the Air Force, providing combat airpower and support for the Global War on Terrorism in Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and through support of the Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. The wing and its associate units operate more than 100 aircraft, making the base a large hub for humanitarian airlift activity while providing mission-essential combat power, aeromedical evacuation and intelligence support for three theaters of operations.

Contents

[edit] Units

  • 379th Expeditionary Operations Group
    • 340th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron
    • 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron
    • 379th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
    • 379th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
    • 379th Expeditionary Operations Support Squadron
    • 746th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
    • 763rd Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron
  • 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group
  • 379th Expeditionary Mission Support Group
  • 64th Air Expeditionary Group

[edit] Aircraft Assigned

[edit] History

[edit] World War II

The 379th Bombardment Wing got its start in the Army Air Force on November 3, 1942 at Geiger Field, Washington. After training at several stateside bases, the group was reassigned to the Eighth Air Force and moved to England. The air echelon flying B-17 Flying Fortresses via the North Atlantic route in Apr 1943 and the ground echelon crossing by ship in May.

On 21 May 1943 the group arrived at RAF Kimbolton, and was assigned to the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing of the 1st Bombardment Division. Its tail code was Triangle-K. Its operational squadrons and identifying fuselage codes were the 524th (WA); 525th (FR); 526th (LF) and 527th (FO).

The 379th BG operations on 19 May 1943, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations over Europe from May 1943 through July 1944. The group engaged primarily in bombardment of strategic targets such as industries, oil refineries, storage plants, submarine pens, airfields, and communications centres in Germany, France, Holland, Belgium, Norway, and Poland.

Specific targets included a chemical plant in Ludwigshafen, an aircraft assembly plant in Brunswick, ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt and Leipzig, synthetic oil refineries at Merseburg and Gelsenkirchen, marshalling yards at Hamm and Reims, and airfields in Mesnil au Val and Berlin.

The Group received another DUC for flying without fighter protection into central Germany to attack vital aircraft factories on 11 January 1944. On several occasions the Group attacked interdictory targets and operated in support of ground forces. Bombed V-weapon sites, airfields, radar stations, and other installations before the Normandy invasion in June 1944, and bombed defended positions just ahead of the Allied landings on 6 June; and struck airfields, rail choke points, and gun emplacements during the campaign that followed.

During the Battle of France, the Group bombed enemy positions to assist ground troops at St Lo during the breakthrough, 24-25 July 1944, attacked German communications and fortifications during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 - January 1945, and bombed bridges and viaducts in France and Germany to aid the Allied assault across the Rhine, February-March 1945.

The combat record of the 379th was the most successful of all the Eighth Air Force heavy bomber groups. It held records as far as bomb tonnage dropped - 26,459 tons - more than any other unit including those operational before the 379th arrived in the UK. It also exceeded all other UK Bomb Groups in the total number of missions flown. carrying out 330 between May 1943 and May 15, 1945. One B-17G, "Ole Guppy" itself completed 157 missions, probably more than any other Eighth Air Force bomber.

After V-E Day, the 379th Bomb Group was transferred to Casablanca, French Morocco during June 1945. The unit was deactivated in place in Morocco during July.

[edit] Cold War

The wing was reactivated as the 379th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on November 1, 1955 at Homestead Air Force Base in Florida (replacing the 4276th Air Base Squadron). In April 1956, training for air refueling and strategic bombardment operations was performed using the B-47E and KC-97G.

From November 1, 1955 to May 31, 1956 the unit was attached to the 813th Air Division at Pinecastle Air Force Base, Florida.

It was an assigned unit to the 823d Air Division at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, from June 1, 1956 to January 9, 1961. During this time, the wing was attached to Sidi Slimane, 5th Air Division, French Morocco, from March 6 to May 12 of 1957.

In October 1960, the wing had its B-47s transferred out in preparation for receipt of the new B-52H and KC-135 aircraft. When the unit was reassigned to Wurtsmith Air Force Base, 40th Air Division, on January 9, 1961, the unit resumed its air refueling operations in January and strategic bombardment training in May.

The 379th was the first unit to receive the new Boeing B-52H operational bomber in 1961, and along with the KC-135 supported combat operations throughout southeast Asia from 1965-1975.

As the B-52H aircraft, the unit began a gradual transition to the B-52G, culminating in 1980.

40th Air Division Assigned Unit: January 9, 1961 to June 8, 1988

[edit] Post Cold War

Redesignated the 379th Wing in October 1991.

Inactivated on June 30, 1993 with the closure of Wurtsmith Air Force Base.

[edit] Global War on Terror

[edit] Assignments

[edit] Major Command

[edit] Numbered Air Force

[edit] Air Division

[edit] Previous Designations

  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (2003-Present)
  • 379th Bomb Wing (1961-30 Jun 1993)
  • 379th Wing (Oct 1991-1993)
  • 379th Bombardment Wing, Heavy (1942-1945)
  • 379th Bombardment Wing, Medium (1953-1961)

[edit] Bases Stationed

[edit] Aircraft Operated

[edit] Awards

  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (for the period July 1, 1970 to June 30, 1971)
  • Omaha Trophy for the best aircraft or missile organization in the Strategic Air Command
  • Commander in Chief, Strategic Air Command, Flying Wing of the Year Award (1971)
  • SAC Charles D. Trail Materiel Award
  • Second Air Force Sweeney Award
  • Second Air Force Martensen Award
  • Fairchild Trophy for the best strategic bombardment wing in SAC (1987)
  • SAC Proud Shield bombing and navigation competition (1987)
  • Air Force Meritorious Unit Award (for the periods September 1, 2003 to May 31, 2004, and June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2006)

[edit] External links