319th Operations Group

The 319th Operations Group is a United States Air Force operational unit assigned to the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. In its current form, the group oversees active-duty operations involving the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk remotely piloted aircraft. Its principal mission is intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, making it a military aviation organization rather than a commercial brand. The unit traces its institutional lineage to the 319th Bombardment Group, established and activated in 1942 during the Second World War. The wartime group trained in the Martin B-26 Marauder and became the first Marauder group to operate in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. It entered combat in late November 1942 against Axis targets in Tunisia and subsequently conducted attacks across North Africa, Sicily, Sardinia, mainland Italy, southern France and northern Italy. Its missions included strikes against airfields, ports, bridges, rail yards, supply routes and shipping. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for operations against rail facilities in Rome and Florence and was awarded the French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its support of Allied ground forces in Italy. In 1945, the wartime formation transitioned from the B-26 to the North American B-25 Mitchell and later returned to the United States for training with the Douglas A-26 Invader. It deployed to Okinawa during the Pacific campaign and flew missions against Japanese targets in Kyushu, the Shanghai area and surrounding waters until the end of hostilities. Deke Slayton, later one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts, served as an A-26 pilot in the group's 438th Bombardment Squadron during this period. After the war, the organization experienced several reserve activations and redesignations. It was reactivated in 1946 but was not consistently fully manned or equipped. Its personnel were mobilized during the Korean War in 1951 and used to reinforce other units, after which the group was inactivated. In 1955 it returned as the 319th Fighter-Bomber Group, operating Republic F-84 Thunderjets and later North American F-86 Sabres. It was inactivated again in 1957 when the Air Force Reserve shifted emphasis from fighter-bomber units toward troop-carrier operations. The group was reactivated at Grand Forks in 1991 as the 319th Operations Group under the Air Force's objective-wing structure. During the 1990s it supported bomber and aerial-refueling operations, first with B-1B Lancer bombers and KC-135 Stratotankers and later primarily with tanker units. Its personnel and aircraft supported or contributed to operations including Provide Comfort, Southern Watch, Vigilant Warrior, Deny Flight, Uphold Democracy, Desert Fox, Allied Force, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and other expeditionary missions. Manned flying operations at Grand Forks ended in 2010 after the group's tanker squadrons were progressively inactivated or reassigned. The group was reactivated in its present reconnaissance role in 2019. It now forms part of the Air Combat Command structure and provides operational management for RQ-4 Global Hawk missions. Because it is a military unit, it has no commercial products, consumer positioning, public stock listing or conventional corporate executive team.

The organization was established as the 319th Bombardment Group on 19 June 1942 and activated on 26 June of that year. It trained in Louisiana with Martin B-26 Marauders before moving through England to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. The group began combat on 28 November 1942 with attacks on Axis warehouses, docks and rail facilities at Sfax, Tunisia. During the North African and Italian campaigns it struck airfields, shipping, bridges, marshalling yards and supply routes in Tunisia, Libya, Sicily, Sardinia, Pantelleria and Italy. The group supported the Allied advance through Italy and took part in operations connected with Anzio and Cassino. In 1944 it began using North American B-25 Mitchell aircraft and continued attacks on transportation infrastructure, including bridges over the Po River and railway routes through the Brenner Pass. Its raids against marshalling yards in Rome and Florence earned two Distinguished Unit Citations. The French government also recognized its contribution to the Allied ground advance with the Croix de Guerre with Palm. In August 1944 it supported the invasion of southern France by attacking coastal defenses, radar sites and bridges. The 319th returned to the United States in January 1945 and trained with Douglas A-26 Invaders for service in the Pacific. After deploying to Okinawa between May and July, it flew its first Pacific combat mission on 16 July 1945. The group attacked airfields, industrial facilities and shipping around Japan, the Ryukyu Islands and the East China Sea, as well as targets in the Shanghai area, until the end of the war. It returned to the United States in late 1945 and was inactivated in December. The group entered the Air Force Reserve in December 1946. It moved through several reserve locations and organizational arrangements, including Mitchel Field, Reading Municipal Airport and Birmingham Municipal Airport. Its readiness and equipment levels varied, and its personnel were mobilized for the Korean War in March 1951 to fill other units. The group was inactivated later that month. It was reactivated in 1955 as a fighter-bomber group connected to the 319th Fighter-Bomber Wing. Operating F-84 Thunderjets and later F-86 Sabres, it initially performed an air-defense role before taking on a tactical-fighter mission. The group and wing were inactivated in November 1957 during a broader reduction and conversion of Air Force Reserve fighter units. The organization returned to active service at Grand Forks Air Force Base on 1 September 1991 as the 319th Operations Group. It initially included the 46th Bomb Squadron, flying B-1B Lancers, the 905th Air Refueling Squadron, flying KC-135 aircraft, and the 319th Operations Support Squadron. Following the end of the Cold War, the group shifted away from nuclear-alert responsibilities toward conventional operations. Changes in the division of bomber and tanker missions among Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command repeatedly altered its assigned squadrons. During the 1990s and 2000s, the group supported a wide range of overseas and homeland missions. These included humanitarian and security operations connected with Iraq, enforcement of no-fly zones, missions in the Balkans, operations in Haiti, counter-drug activity from Panama, and expeditionary support in Southwest Asia after the September 11 attacks. The group's provisional air expeditionary elements also supplied tanker capacity for coalition air operations. Its tanker squadrons were progressively reduced or inactivated, and the group ceased manned flying operations at Grand Forks at the end of 2010. The 319th Operations Group was reactivated at Grand Forks in 2019 in connection with the base's RQ-4 Global Hawk mission. In this configuration it is assigned to the 319th Reconnaissance Wing and Air Combat Command. Its current function is to organize and conduct remotely piloted ISR operations, including the operational employment and support of Global Hawk aircraft.

• 2019

  Reactivation for Global Hawk operations

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated at Grand Forks to manage active-duty RQ-4 Global Hawk ISR operations.

• 2010

  End of manned flying operations at Grand Forks

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group's remaining tanker flying operations ended as its final operational elements were inactivated or transferred.

• 1991

  Reactivation as an operations group

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated at Grand Forks with bomber, tanker and operations-support elements.

• 1955

  Conversion to fighter-bomber operations

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The formation was reactivated as the 319th Fighter-Bomber Group and operated reserve fighter aircraft.

• 1951

  Korean War mobilization

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was ordered to active duty, and its personnel and aircraft were used to reinforce other units.

• 1946

  Reserve reactivation

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group returned to service in the Air Force Reserve in December 1946.

• 1945

  Pacific deployment

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After training with A-26 Invaders, the group deployed to Okinawa and conducted combat missions against Japan and nearby targets.

• 1944

  Distinguished Unit Citations

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations for raids on marshalling yards in Rome and Florence.

• 1942

  Activation as a bombardment group

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 319th Bombardment Group was established in June and activated later that month for World War II service.

• 1942

  First Mediterranean combat mission

  [1]319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group entered combat on 28 November with attacks on Axis facilities at Sfax, Tunisia.

A United States Air Force operational formation specializing in remotely piloted intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, with a lineage extending through World War II bomber, Cold War reserve fighter-bomber, strategic bomber and aerial-refueling missions.

• Remotely piloted aircraft

  RQ-4 Global Hawk

  The RQ-4 Global Hawk is a high-altitude, long-endurance remotely piloted aircraft used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. In its current configuration, the 319th Operations Group is responsible for operational activities associated with Global Hawk missions at Grand Forks Air Force Base.

• Strategic bomber

  B-1B Lancer

  The B-1B Lancer formed part of the group's early-1990s bomber mission after its reactivation as an operations group. The aircraft supported conventional strike training and operations before the group's bomber and tanker responsibilities were reorganized.

• Aerial refueling aircraft

  KC-135 Stratotanker

  KC-135 aircraft were operated by the group's air-refueling squadrons during its 1990s and 2000s period at Grand Forks. Tanker crews and aircraft supported overseas expeditionary operations and coalition air campaigns until manned flying operations ended in 2010.

• Medium bomber

  Martin B-26 Marauder

  The B-26 Marauder was the group's first major combat aircraft. The 319th was the first Marauder group to enter combat in the Mediterranean Theater during World War II.

• Medium bomber

  North American B-25 Mitchell

  The group transitioned to B-25 Mitchell bombers during the Italian campaign in 1944. It used the aircraft for attacks on bridges, railways and other Axis transportation targets.

• Light bomber

  Douglas A-26 Invader

  The A-26 Invader was used for the group's later World War II training and Pacific operations. The group flew the aircraft from Okinawa against targets in Japan, China and surrounding waters.

• 2001Operations Noble Eagle and Enduring Freedom

  United States and Southwest Asia

  After the September 11 attacks, the group supported homeland defense and deployed tanker resources for operations in Afghanistan and other parts of Southwest Asia.

  Outcome. Its expeditionary elements supplied aerial-refueling capacity for coalition air operations.

  Source
• 1990Post-Cold War expeditionary operations

  Middle East · Europe · Haiti and Panama

  The group's bomber and tanker elements supported operations including Provide Comfort, Southern Watch, Vigilant Warrior, Deny Flight, Uphold Democracy, Desert Fox and Allied Force.

  Outcome. The group provided aircraft, crews and expeditionary support across multiple regional missions.

  Source
• 1945Pacific operations

  Okinawa · Japan · China and surrounding waters

  Operating A-26 Invaders from Okinawa, the group attacked airfields, industrial targets and shipping during the final weeks of World War II.

  Outcome. The campaign ended with the cessation of hostilities in August 1945.

  Source
• 1943Italian campaign

  Italy

  The group attacked bridges, marshalling yards, roads and supply routes in support of Allied advances through Italy.

  Outcome. Its operations contributed to the disruption of Axis communications and logistics.

  Source
• 1942Mediterranean Theater of Operations

  North Africa and the Mediterranean

  The wartime group conducted bombing and strafing missions against Axis airfields, shipping, ports, warehouses and rail infrastructure in North Africa and the Mediterranean.

  Outcome. The group supported the Allied campaign in North Africa, Sicily and Italy and earned major unit decorations.

  Source

• 2019

  Reactivation for remotely piloted ISRStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force re-established the group at Grand Forks as the base's mission centered on RQ-4 Global Hawk operations.

  Action taken

  The group was reactivated under the 319th Reconnaissance Wing to manage active-duty Global Hawk intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

  Aftermath

  The 319th Operations Group became part of the Air Combat Command reconnaissance structure.

  Source

• 1991

  Shift from nuclear alert toward conventional bombingStrategy

  Background

  Following the end of the Cold War and a presidential direction in September 1991, the group's B-1B mission was adjusted.

  Action taken

  The group reduced its emphasis on maintaining aircraft for nuclear alert and focused primarily on conventional bombing training and operations.

  Aftermath

  Conventional strike became the group's principal bomber mission in early 1993.

  Source

1. 1319th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org