439th Operations Group

The 439th Operations Group is an active United States Air Force Reserve unit based at Westover Air Reserve Base in Massachusetts. It forms the operational and flying component of the 439th Airlift Wing, which is assigned to the Twenty-Second Air Force. Unlike a commercial brand, the group is a military organization whose identity is associated with airlift readiness, global mobility, aeromedical evacuation, air terminal support, contingency response, and the stewardship of a long operational lineage. The unit traces its history to the 439th Troop Carrier Group, established and activated in 1943 for service during the Second World War. After training in the United States with C-47 Skytrain transports, the group moved to England in early 1944 and joined the Ninth Air Force. Its first major combat assignment was the airborne assault during Operation Overlord on 6 June 1944. Aircraft from the group dropped paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division behind Utah Beach and returned the next day towing gliders carrying reinforcements. The missions took place in difficult weather and under intense anti-aircraft fire; three aircraft failed to return. The group was subsequently recognized with a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation. During the remainder of the war, the organization performed a broad range of troop carrier and logistics duties. It supported the invasion of southern France, transported cargo to and from Italy, dropped or carried airborne forces during the Allied campaign in the Netherlands, delivered glider-borne supplies during the Battle of the Bulge, and supported the Rhine crossing in March 1945. Its aircraft moved food, clothing, medicine, fuel, ordnance, and other supplies to forward areas while also evacuating wounded personnel. After Victory in Europe, the group converted from C-47s to C-46 aircraft and helped move displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium. It returned to the United States in 1945 and was inactivated in June 1946. The lineage reappeared in the Air Force Reserve in the postwar period. The group trained in troop carrier operations from 1949 until its personnel were absorbed into other Air Force organizations during the Korean War mobilization in 1951. It was reactivated in 1952 as a fighter-bomber group and continued in that role until the late 1950s. In 1966, under the designation 439th Military Airlift Group, it was organized at Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany. There it coordinated airlift units and provided air transport and aeromedical evacuation services within Europe and, when required, beyond the region. Its support during the Middle East crisis of May and June 1967 earned an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The present 439th Operations Group was activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992. Its modern mission centers on worldwide air movement of personnel, equipment, supplies, and medical patients, including airdrop and combat offloading capabilities. The group also performs the peacetime work necessary to sustain mission readiness: recruiting, training, organizing, and supervising personnel. Its principal flying unit is the 337th Airlift Squadron, which operates C-5M Super Galaxy strategic transports. The group also includes the 439th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, the 439th Operations Support Squadron, and the 439th Contingency Response Squadron. The transition to the C-5M fleet marked an important recent modernization phase. The group received its first C-5M Super Galaxy on 2 June 2017, beginning delivery of eight aircraft. In the same year, the final C-5A assigned to Westover departed for retirement at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The group remains an active component of the United States military air mobility system, supporting training, exercises, readiness requirements, and potential worldwide deployments.

The organization's lineage began with the 439th Troop Carrier Group, established on 14 May 1943 and activated on 1 June of that year. Equipped with C-47 Skytrain transports, it trained in the United States before moving to England in February and March 1944 for assignment to the Ninth Air Force. During the Normandy invasion, aircraft from the group carried and dropped paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division during the first hours of D-Day. On 7 June, the group returned with gliders carrying additional personnel and equipment. Weather, navigation challenges, and anti-aircraft fire made the missions hazardous, and three aircraft did not return. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and recognition from France for its performance. After Normandy, the group combined airborne operations with sustained logistical support. Its air echelon moved to Italy in July 1944, where it transported cargo to Rome and evacuated wounded personnel. On 15 August, it supported the invasion of southern France by dropping paratroopers of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment and later towing gliders. The group returned to England in late August and resumed cargo work. After relocating to France in September, it supported the airborne attack in the Netherlands near Nijmegen, including the movement of reinforcements by glider. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by delivering supplies to the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne. During the March 1945 Rhine crossing, its aircraft towed gliders carrying troops of the 17th Airborne Division toward Wesel. The group also provided extensive theater logistics, moving food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to forward areas. It evacuated patients to rear-area hospitals and, after the end of hostilities in Europe, converted to C-46 aircraft. These aircraft were used to transport displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium. The group returned to the United States between July and September 1945 and was inactivated on 10 June 1946. The unit was redesignated the 439th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated in the Reserve on 27 June 1949. It was ordered to active service on 1 April 1951 during the Korean War period and inactivated two days later, with its personnel used as replacements for Air Force organizations around the world. It was reactivated on 15 June 1952 as the 439th Fighter-Bomber Group. The group trained in fighter-bomber operations until it was inactivated in the late 1950s as the parent wing adopted a tri-deputate structure. The lineage was revived as the 439th Military Airlift Group in 1965. The group was organized at Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany, on 8 January 1966, where it controlled assigned and attached Military Airlift Command units. Its responsibilities included air transport and aeromedical evacuation across Europe and occasional missions outside the region. Support provided during the Middle East crisis in May and June 1967 resulted in an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. The military airlift group was inactivated on 24 December 1968. On 1 August 1992, the organization was redesignated and activated as the 439th Operations Group in the Air Force Reserve. Since then, it has trained for and conducted global airlift operations, moving personnel, equipment, supplies, and patients while participating in exercises and readiness activities. The group is stationed at Westover Air Reserve Base as part of the 439th Airlift Wing and Twenty-Second Air Force. Its contemporary structure includes the 337th Airlift Squadron, the 439th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, the 439th Operations Support Squadron, and the 439th Contingency Response Squadron. A major equipment transition occurred in 2017. The group accepted its first C-5M Super Galaxy on 2 June, initiating delivery of eight aircraft. On 7 September of the same year, the final C-5A left Westover for retirement at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The C-5M provides the group with a modern strategic airlift platform for worldwide movement of outsized cargo, personnel, and equipment. The group's continuing mission combines operational flying with the recruiting, training, supervision, and readiness functions required of a United States Air Force Reserve unit.

• 2017

  C-5M modernization begins

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received its first C-5M Super Galaxy on 2 June, beginning delivery of eight aircraft and replacing its older C-5A fleet.

• 1992

  439th Operations Group activated in the Reserve

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The present operations-group designation was activated on 1 August, with a mission focused on global airlift and operational readiness.

• 1966

  Military airlift organization formed at Rhein-Main

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 439th Military Airlift Group was organized at Rhein-Main Air Base to coordinate airlift and aeromedical evacuation operations in Europe.

• 1952

  Reactivated as a fighter-bomber group

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization returned to the Air Force Reserve as the 439th Fighter-Bomber Group and trained in fighter-bomber operations.

• 1945

  Rhine crossing and postwar transport

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit supported the airborne assault across the Rhine and later transported displaced persons after converting from C-47 to C-46 aircraft.

• 1944

  Normandy airborne operations

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group dropped paratroopers during the Normandy invasion on 6 June and flew a glider reinforcement mission the following day.

• 1944

  Southern France and Netherlands operations

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group supported the invasion of southern France in August and the Allied airborne attack in the Netherlands in September.

• 1943

  439th Troop Carrier Group established and activated

  [1]439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 439th Troop Carrier Group was established on 14 May and activated on 1 June with a mission centered on troop transport and airborne operations.

A reserve strategic-airlift organization focused on global mobility, operational readiness, medical evacuation, and contingency support.

• Strategic military airlift aircraft · 2017

  C-5M Super Galaxy

  The C-5M Super Galaxy is the group's principal current airlift platform. Operated by the 337th Airlift Squadron, it supports long-range movement of troops, supplies, equipment, and other military cargo. The group began receiving the type in 2017, with eight aircraft identified for the unit.

• Strategic military airlift aircraft

  C-5A Galaxy

  The C-5A was the earlier-generation strategic airlifter operated by the organization at Westover. The unit's final C-5A departed for Davis-Monthan Air Force Base on 7 September 2017 as the group transitioned to the C-5M Super Galaxy.

• World War II troop carrier

  C-47 Skytrain

  The C-47 Skytrain formed the group's original World War II equipment base. It was used for paratroop drops, glider towing, cargo transport, patient evacuation, and major airborne operations in Normandy, southern France, the Netherlands, and across the Rhine.

• Postwar military transport aircraft

  C-46 Commando

  After Victory in Europe, the group converted to C-46 aircraft and used them to transport displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium before returning to the United States.

• 1945Rhine airborne assault

  Wesel · Germany

  Each aircraft assigned to the group towed two gliders carrying troops of the 17th Airborne Division during the Allied assault across the Rhine.

  Outcome. The operation helped deliver airborne forces into the final campaigns in Germany.

  Source
• 1944Operation Overlord

  Normandy · France

  The group dropped paratroopers of the 101st Airborne Division during the Normandy invasion and returned the following day with gliders carrying reinforcements.

  Outcome. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation for its performance.

  Source
• 1944Operation Dragoon

  Southern France

  The air echelon supported the invasion of southern France on 15 August by dropping paratroopers of the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment and towing reinforcement gliders.

  Outcome. The group's participation earned another citation from the French government.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market Garden

  The Netherlands

  After moving to France, the group dropped paratroopers of the 82nd Airborne Division near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying airborne reinforcements.

  Outcome. The group continued its combination of airborne support and cargo missions during the Allied advance.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge support

  Belgium

  The group released gliders carrying supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne during the December German offensive.

  Outcome. The mission supported the encircled Allied forces with airborne logistics.

  Source

• 2017

  Transition from C-5A to C-5M Super GalaxyGeneration change

  Background

  The group began modernizing its strategic-airlift equipment at Westover Air Reserve Base.

  Action taken

  It received its first C-5M Super Galaxy on 2 June and began accepting eight aircraft planned for the unit; the last C-5A departed on 7 September.

  Aftermath

  The group moved to a newer strategic-airlift fleet while the retired C-5A aircraft were transferred to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

  Source

• 1944

  Conversion from C-47 to C-46 aircraftGeneration change

  Background

  Following the end of combat operations in Europe, the group required a transport platform for postwar movement missions.

  Action taken

  The group converted from C-47 Skytrains to C-46 aircraft and used them to transport displaced persons.

  Aftermath

  The organization continued transport duties until returning to the United States and being inactivated in 1946.

  Source

1. 1439th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org