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Wikipedia / 316th Operations Group

The 316th Operations Group is the flying component of the Air Force District of Washington's 316th Wing, stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. It provides rotary-wing contingency response support capability to the United States National Capital Region while also supporting regional and global customers with critical airfield infrastructure and aviation services. The group consists of two squadrons of aircrew and support personnel.

As the 316th Troop Carrier Group, it was a decorated Douglas C-47 Skytrain unit that served with Ninth and Twelfth Air Force in the European and the Mediterranean theaterss. As part of Operation Avalanche, the Allied invasion of Italy, the 316th dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943. Later during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France, the group dropped paratroops near Ste-Mere-Eglise a few hours before the main landings on 6 June 1944. It also dropped paratroops and released gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne invasion of the Netherlands, Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. By the end of the war, the 316th Troop Carrier Group was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations.

Mission

The group oversees the operations of the 1st Helicopter Squadron and the 316th Operations Support Squadron.

The 1st Helicopter Squadron supports Washington D.C. capital area airlift for the Executive Branch, high-ranking dignitaries, high-ranking military leaders and other VIPs. It operates Bell UH-1N Hueys.

The 316th Operations Support Squadron provides the necessary aviation related support infrastructure and services for the Group and the 25 other tenant flying units on Andrews AFB.

History

World War II

Trained with I Troop Carrier Command with Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-53 Skytrooper aircraft. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, assigned to Ninth Air Force, and began operations in November 1942. Flew combat missions in North Africa Egypt/Libya campaign. Transported supplies and evacuated casualties in support of the Allied drive across North Africa.

In February 1943 the 316th became a part of the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing of the Northwest African Troop Carrier Command in the Allied air force organization in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). In May 1943, the group began training for the invasion of Sicily where they dropped paratroopers over the assault area on the night of 9 July, and carried reinforcements on 11 July, receiving DUC for carrying out that mission although severely attacked by ground and naval forces. They received another DUC for supporting aerial and ground operations in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Sicily, 25 November 1942 – 25 August 1943, by transporting reinforcements and supplies. During this period, the group was under the command of Colonel Jerome McCauley.

The 316th was assigned to Twelfth Air Force and moved to Sicily to take part in the invasion of Italy, where it dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943. They transported cargo in the theater until February 1944, then joined Ninth Air Force in England and prepared for the invasion of France.

The unit dropped paratroops near Ste-Mere-Eglise on D—Day 1944 and flew a reinforcement mission on 7 June, receiving a third Distinguished Unit Citation for these operations. During Operation Market Garden, they dropped paratroops and released gliders carrying reinforcements. Again they dropped paratroops near Wesel on 24 March 1945 when the Allies made the airborne assault across the Rhine River. They also provided transport services in Europe while not engaged in airborne operations, hauling supplies such as ammunition, gasoline, water, and rations; along with evacuating wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals.

Cold War

Returned to the US in May 1945. Trained with C-47 Fairchild C-82 Packet and later Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft as part of Tactical Air Command.

Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to Japan on 15 November 1954. Assigned to Far East Air Forces, manned, and equipped with C-119s and performed theater airlift missions primarily to Japan, Okinawa, Philippines and South Korea. Inactivated in 1957.

Twenty-first century

Activated in 2006 to be operational flying component of AFDW 316th Wing in Washington D.C. area., inactivated in 2010, reactivated in 2020.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 316th Transport Group on 2 February 1942

  • Activated on 14 February 1942

  • Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group on 1 July 1942

  • Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 23 August 1948

  • Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group, Heavy on 8 October 1949

  • Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group, on 28 January 1950

  • Inactivated on 18 June 1957

  • Redesignated 316th Tactical Airlift Group on 23 August 1978

  • Activated on 1 October 1978

  • Inactivated on 1 October 1989

  • Redesignated 316th Airlift Support Group and activated on 1 April 1992

  • Inactivated on 1 July 1994

  • Redesignated 316th Operations Group on 21 June 2006

  • Activated on 22 June 2006

  • Inactivated on 1 October 2010

  • Activated on 25 June 2020

Assignments

Components

Stations

Aircraft

  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1942–1950

  • Dougas C-53 Skytrooper, 1942–1943

  • Fairchild C-82 Packet, 1945–1954

  • Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1949–1954; 1954–1957

  • UH-1N Huey, 2006–2010, 2020–present

  • HH-60W Jolly Green II, 2026-present

References

Notes

  1. Explanatory notes

    Citations

Bibliography