305th Operations Group

The 305th Operations Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 305th Air Mobility Wing and based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. It operates within Air Mobility Command and supports the United States military’s worldwide airlift and aerial-refueling requirements. Its current mission is to deploy globally from the Air Force’s eastern mobility gateway, providing airlift and tanker support for tactical, strategic, reconnaissance, transport, and bombardment forces, including operations conducted in high-threat and chemical-warfare environments. The group’s contemporary flying force includes C-17 Globemaster III strategic and tactical airlifters, KC-10 Extender aerial-refueling aircraft, and KC-46 Pegasus tankers. Its principal components include the 2d Air Refueling Squadron, 6th Airlift Squadron, 32d Air Refueling Squadron, and 305th Operations Support Squadron. The 6th Airlift Squadron is notable for its long institutional history, tracing its service lineage to 1 October 1933. The operations support squadron provides the information, equipment, and operational assistance required by aircrews conducting global mobility missions. The unit’s historical identity is rooted in the 305th Bombardment Group, a heavy-bomber formation activated in 1942. During World War II, the group became one of the early Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress units assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England. Operating from British bases including RAF Grafton Underwood and RAF Chelveston, it attacked submarine facilities, ports, shipyards, aircraft factories, industrial plants, oil facilities, marshalling yards, and other strategic targets in German-occupied Europe. The group participated in the Eighth Air Force’s first heavy-bomber raid against Germany in January 1943 and later supported the Normandy campaign, the invasion of the Netherlands, and the broader strategic air offensive. Under Colonel Curtis LeMay, the wartime 305th pioneered bomber formations, combat procedures, and daylight-bombing techniques that influenced later Eighth Air Force practice. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for operations conducted under severe enemy resistance. Its most costly wartime mission was the 14 October 1943 raid against Schweinfurt, during which it lost thirteen aircraft, the highest loss suffered by any group participating in that mission. Two pilots from the 364th Bombardment Squadron, First Lieutenants William R. Lawley Jr. and Edward S. Michael, received the Medal of Honor. After the war, the group conducted photo-mapping work in Europe and North Africa under Project Casey Jones before being inactivated in December 1946. It underwent further redesignations and limited periods of activation during the early Cold War, including service as a very-heavy and medium bombardment group. The organization was redesignated the 305th Operations Group in 1991 as the Air Force adopted the objective-wing structure, bringing flying units under an operations group. It was inactivated in 1993 during the realignment of Grissom Air Force Base and reactivated at McGuire Air Force Base on 1 October 1994, replacing the 438th Operations Group. The group continues to function as an operational element of the 305th Air Mobility Wing.

The lineage of the 305th Operations Group begins with the 305th Bombardment Group, established on 28 January 1942 and activated on 1 March of that year at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, Utah. The unit trained at locations in the western United States before its ground echelon moved through Fort Dix, New Jersey, and crossed the Atlantic aboard the Queen Mary in September 1942. Its aircraft assembled separately in the United States and then moved through Newfoundland and Scotland to England. The group formed at RAF Grafton Underwood as part of VIII Bomber Command’s 40th Bombardment Wing and began combat operations in November 1942. The wartime group flew Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress bombers against targets in France, Germany, and the Low Countries. Its missions included attacks on submarine pens, docks, harbors, shipyards, motor works, aircraft plants, oil installations, industrial facilities, and railway yards. In January 1943 it took part in the Eighth Air Force’s first heavy-bomber penetration into Germany, attacking the naval yards at Wilhelmshaven. During the winter of 1942–43, Colonel Curtis LeMay commanded the group, which helped develop and refine formations and procedures later used as standard daylight-bombing practices by the Eighth Air Force. The group’s operations expanded during 1943 and 1944 as American heavy bombers penetrated farther into occupied Europe. Targets included industrial sites in Norway, Berlin-area factories, oil plants near Merseburg, aircraft production facilities, shipping centers, and the ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt. The group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for a precision attack near Paris in April 1943 despite fighter and antiaircraft opposition, and a second citation for its performance during the 11 January 1944 attack on aircraft factories in central Germany. It also participated in the February 1944 Big Week campaign against the German aircraft industry. The 305th performed both strategic and tactical missions. Before D-Day it attacked V-weapon sites, airfields, and repair installations. On 6 June 1944 it bombed positions near the Normandy invasion area, later supporting ground forces around Saint-Lô. In September it attacked antiaircraft defenses associated with the Allied airborne operation in the Netherlands. The group suffered particularly heavy losses during the 14 October 1943 Schweinfurt mission, when thirteen aircraft were lost. The wartime record also included two Medal of Honor recipients from the 364th Bombardment Squadron, William R. Lawley Jr. and Edward S. Michael. After Victory in Europe, the organization moved to Saint-Trond Airfield in Belgium and conducted photographic mapping over Europe and North Africa as part of Project Casey Jones. It later moved to Lechfeld Airfield in Germany and was ultimately inactivated on 25 December 1946. The lineage was revived through several postwar activations and redesignations: as a very-heavy bombardment group in 1947 and as a medium bombardment group in 1951. These Cold War periods were limited, and the group was inactive between October and December 1946, from September 1948 to January 1951, and after June 1952. The organization became the 305th Operations Group on 29 August 1991 and activated on 1 September 1991 under the Air Force objective-wing structure. Its flying components were transferred from the 305th Air Refueling Wing. Base realignment reduced operations at Grissom Air Force Base, Indiana, in 1993; the group was inactivated on 15 October of that year, and associated KC-135 and EC-135 capabilities were reduced or retired during the realignment. On 1 October 1994, the group was reactivated at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, replacing the 438th Operations Group. At McGuire, it assumed responsibility for operational squadrons flying C-17 airlifters and KC-10 tankers. Its current organization adds KC-46 capability through the 2d Air Refueling Squadron and continues to provide global air mobility support as part of the 305th Air Mobility Wing.

• 1994

  Reactivation at McGuire

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated at McGuire Air Force Base on 1 October, replacing the 438th Operations Group and resuming an air-mobility role.

• 1991

  Redesignation as the 305th Operations Group

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated on 29 August and activated on 1 September under the Air Force objective-wing structure.

• 1945

  Project Casey Jones mapping missions

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Following the end of combat in Europe, the group conducted photographic mapping flights over Europe and North Africa.

• 1944

  Big Week operations

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group took part in the 20–25 February heavy-bomber offensive against German aircraft production.

• 1943

  First Eighth Air Force raid on Germany

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group participated in the 27 January attack on the naval yards at Wilhelmshaven, part of the Eighth Air Force’s first heavy-bomber raid into Germany.

• 1943

  Schweinfurt mission losses

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group lost thirteen aircraft during the 14 October raid against Schweinfurt, the heaviest loss suffered by any group on that mission.

• 1942

  Activation as the 305th Bombardment Group

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was established in January and activated on 1 March at Salt Lake City Army Air Base, beginning training for heavy-bomber operations.

• 1942

  Deployment to England

  [1]305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to the European Theater and formed at RAF Grafton Underwood as an early VIII Bomber Command B-17 unit.

A United States Air Force global-mobility organization combining strategic and tactical airlift, aerial refueling, and operational support from the eastern United States.

• Strategic and tactical airlift

  C-17 Globemaster III

  The group’s C-17 capability provides global airlift for personnel, equipment, vehicles, and other cargo. The 6th Airlift Squadron operates this capability in support of tactical and strategic mobility requirements and worldwide deployment taskings.

• Aerial refueling

  KC-46 Pegasus

  The KC-46 capability supports aerial refueling and broader mobility operations. It is associated with the 2d Air Refueling Squadron and extends the range and operational flexibility of U.S. and partner aircraft.

• Aerial refueling and transport

  KC-10 Extender

  The KC-10 Extender has provided long-range aerial refueling and transport support for worldwide mobility missions through the 32d Air Refueling Squadron. The aircraft is part of the group’s documented contemporary mission profile.

1. 1305th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Air Mobility Commandamc.af.mil
3. 3Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurstjbmdl.jb.mil