307th Operations Group

The 307th Operations Group is an operational unit of the United States Air Force Reserve and a subordinate organization of the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. Although its current identity dates from its activation in January 2011, the group traces its lineage to the 307th Bombardment Group, established during the Second World War. Its history spans heavy-bomber operations in the Pacific, Strategic Air Command service after the war, combat deployment during the Korean War, an air-refueling period in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and its present role supporting the Air Force's B-52 Stratofortress mission. The original 307th Bombardment Group was constituted in January 1942 and activated at the beginning of the United States' wartime expansion. It initially trained with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses and later Consolidated B-24 Liberators, conducted coastal patrols, and moved into the Pacific theater in late 1942. From bases in Hawaii, Midway, and Guadalcanal, its crews attacked Japanese airfields, shipping, ports, installations, and logistical infrastructure across the Solomon Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, Caroline Islands, Philippines, Borneo, the Netherlands East Indies, and other areas. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for demanding daylight missions against heavily defended targets at Truk in March 1944 and the Balikpapan oil refineries in Borneo in October 1944. It continued operations until the end of the war, later flying patrols and transporting liberated prisoners before returning to the United States and being inactivated in January 1946. The organization was reactivated in August 1946 as a very-heavy bombardment group after absorbing the personnel and equipment of the 498th Bombardment Group. Assigned to Strategic Air Command and equipped with B-29 Superfortresses, it conducted strategic training and developed antisubmarine tactics. In 1948 it became a medium bombardment group. During the Korean War, the group deployed from MacDill Air Force Base to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. From August 1950 it carried out strikes against strategic and tactical objectives in North Korea, including communications and supply networks, troop concentrations, gun positions, and other targets supporting United Nations ground forces. The deployment generated more than 5,800 sorties, with 22 aircraft reported lost, and earned the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation as well as additional campaign recognition. The group ceased independent operations in February 1951 after its parent wing adopted a dual-deputy structure and was inactivated in June 1952. Its lineage was revived in 1977 as the 307th Air Refueling Group at Travis Air Force Base, California. Operating in the Strategic Air Command structure, it supported aerial-refueling activities until its inactivation in October 1983. The group was redesignated the 307th Operations Group in December 2010 and activated on 1 January 2011 as part of the 307th Bomb Wing. In its current form, it supports the Reserve B-52 mission, including initial qualification training for B-52 pilots and preparation for worldwide conventional commitments. Its stated operational focus is strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike. Current subordinate elements include the 93d Bomb Squadron, the 343d Bomb Squadron, and the 307th Operations Support Squadron.

The unit's lineage begins with the 307th Bombardment Group, constituted on 28 January 1942 and activated on 15 April 1942. It trained in the United States with B-17 and B-24 bombers, conducted patrols along the West Coast, and moved to the Pacific between October and November 1942. Assigned first to Seventh Air Force and later to Thirteenth Air Force, it staged attacks through Midway and Guadalcanal against Japanese bases, airfields, shipping, and installations. During the Pacific campaign, the group supported operations across the Solomon and Bismarck islands, the Caroline Islands, the Philippines, Borneo, the Netherlands East Indies, and French Indochina. Two of its most significant operations were the unescorted daylight attack on Japanese positions at Truk on 29 March 1944 and the long-range attack on the Balikpapan oil refineries in Borneo on 3 October 1944. Both actions resulted in Distinguished Unit Citations. After Japan's defeat, the group flew patrol missions and transported liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Manila. It returned to the United States and was inactivated on 18 January 1946. On 4 August 1946, the organization was reactivated as the 307th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, using the personnel and equipment of the 498th Bombardment Group. It joined Strategic Air Command at MacDill Air Force Base and operated B-29 Superfortresses. The group trained for strategic missions and developed antisubmarine tactics before being redesignated a medium bombardment group in May 1948. The Korean War brought the group back into combat. It deployed to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa in August 1950 and operated under Far East Air Forces structures. Its missions shifted from attacks on strategic targets to interdiction and close support, including strikes on communications and supply centers, troop concentrations, and gun emplacements. The group flew over 5,800 sorties and lost 22 aircraft according to the unit history. It received the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation and other campaign recognition. After the parent wing adopted a dual-deputy organization, the group became non-operational in February 1951 and was inactivated on 16 June 1952. The lineage returned to active service in 1977 as the 307th Air Refueling Group at Travis Air Force Base. This incarnation operated in the Strategic Air Command environment and included the 916th Air Refueling Squadron and a consolidated aircraft maintenance organization. It was inactivated in October 1983 during an SAC reorganization. The organization was redesignated the 307th Operations Group on 8 December 2010 and activated on 1 January 2011 under the 307th Bomb Wing. Based at Barksdale Air Force Base, it now forms part of the Air Force Reserve's B-52 force. Its mission combines strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike with the training of B-52 aircrews for worldwide conventional commitments. Its principal current components are the 93d Bomb Squadron, 343d Bomb Squadron, and 307th Operations Support Squadron.

• 2011

  Current operations group activated

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 307th Operations Group was activated under the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base to support the Air Force Reserve B-52 mission.

• 1977

  Reactivated as an air-refueling group

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was revived as the 307th Air Refueling Group at Travis Air Force Base.

• 1950

  Korean War combat deployment

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group deployed to Kadena Air Base and conducted more than 5,800 combat sorties during the Korean War.

• 1946

  Reactivated under Strategic Air Command

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was reactivated as a very-heavy bombardment group at MacDill Air Force Base with B-29 aircraft.

• 1944

  Distinguished Unit Citation for Truk operation

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for an unescorted daylight attack on heavily defended Japanese airfields at Truk on 29 March.

• 1944

  Balikpapan refinery strike

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A long-range daylight mission against oil refineries at Balikpapan, Borneo, earned the group a second Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1942

  307th Bombardment Group constituted and activated

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was constituted as the 307th Bombardment Group, Heavy, on 28 January and activated on 15 April for wartime bomber operations.

• 1942

  Moved to the Pacific theater

  [1]307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved to Hawaii and entered the Seventh Air Force structure, conducting patrol and search missions and raids against Japanese positions.

A U.S. Air Force Reserve operational group positioned around long-range bomber readiness, strategic deterrence, global strike capability, and the preservation of a decorated wartime lineage.

• Strategic bomber operations · 2011

  B-52 Stratofortress operations

  The group's current operational identity is centered on the B-52H Stratofortress. It supports bomber readiness, strategic deterrence, global strike planning, and training for missions that may contribute to U.S. worldwide conventional commitments. The group also provides the operational structure through which assigned bomber squadrons and support personnel maintain qualification and deployment readiness.

• Historical strategic bombing · 1946

  B-29 Superfortress operations

  After its 1946 reactivation, the group operated Boeing B-29 Superfortresses within Strategic Air Command. Its activities included strategic-bombing training and the development of antisubmarine tactics before its combat deployment to Okinawa during the Korean War.

• Historical heavy-bomber operations · 1942

  B-24 Liberator operations

  During the Second World War, the group transitioned from B-17 Flying Fortresses to Consolidated B-24 Liberators. These aircraft were used for long-range patrols, attacks on airfields and shipping, and major Pacific theater strikes including the Balikpapan operation.

• 1950Korean War air campaign

  Korean Peninsula

  The group deployed to Okinawa and conducted strategic, interdiction, and battlefield-support bombing missions against North Korean targets.

  Outcome. The deployment produced more than 5,800 sorties, incurred reported aircraft losses, and earned the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.

  Source
• 1944Truk raid

  Caroline Islands

  The group conducted an unescorted daylight attack on heavily defended Japanese airfields at Truk on 29 March.

  Outcome. The action neutralized important enemy airfields and earned a Distinguished Unit Citation.

  Source
• 1944Balikpapan refinery mission

  Borneo · Netherlands East Indies

  The group flew a long-range daylight strike against vital oil-refining facilities at Balikpapan.

  Outcome. The mission received a Distinguished Unit Citation and supported Allied efforts to damage Japanese fuel infrastructure.

  Source
• 1943Southwest Pacific operations

  Solomon Islands · Bismarck Islands · Southwest Pacific

  From Guadalcanal, the group attacked Japanese airfields, installations, shipping, and bases across the South and Southwest Pacific.

  Outcome. The missions helped suppress Japanese bases and disrupt regional logistics.

  Source
• 1942Pacific theater patrol and Wake Island operations

  Pacific theater

  After moving to Hawaii, the group flew patrol and search missions and attacked Wake Island by staging through Midway.

  Outcome. The operations established the group as a long-range bomber force in the Pacific campaign.

  Source

• 2011

  Re-establishment as an operations groupStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force Reserve reorganized the 307th Bomb Wing's operational structure around its B-52 mission.

  Action taken

  The former lineage was redesignated the 307th Operations Group and activated under the 307th Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base.

  Aftermath

  The group resumed an active role in bomber training, strategic deterrence, and global strike readiness.

  Source

• 1946

  Reactivation as a Strategic Air Command bombardment groupStrategy

  Background

  Postwar Air Force policy retained selected low-numbered groups in active service and used the personnel and equipment of the 498th Bombardment Group to restore the 307th lineage.

  Action taken

  The organization was reactivated as the 307th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, and assigned to Strategic Air Command with B-29 aircraft.

  Aftermath

  It became part of the postwar strategic-bomber structure and was later redesignated a medium bombardment group.

  Source

1. 1307th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org