43rd Air Mobility Operations Group

The 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group is an active-duty United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Mobility Command through the United States Air Force Expeditionary Center. Based at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, the group supports the rapid movement, reception, coordination, and sustainment of forces connected with Fort Bragg, including the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, and Joint Special Operations Command. Its responsibilities extend beyond aircraft operations to include command and control, air mobility coordination, aerial-port support, aeromedical evacuation, communications, comptroller functions, force support, and combat training. The organization is the latest designation in a lineage that reaches back to the 43rd Bombardment Group, constituted in 1940 and activated in January 1941. During World War II, the group operated heavy bombers in the Southwest Pacific, attacking Japanese shipping, airfields, industrial targets, and other military infrastructure from bases in Australia, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the Netherlands East Indies, and the Philippines. It received Distinguished Unit Citations for operations in New Guinea and for its participation in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. In the final months of the war, its aircraft conducted missions against targets in Japan and the surrounding maritime areas. Reactivated in 1946 as a very-heavy bombardment group, the unit became part of the early postwar Strategic Air Command structure. Its best-known Cold War-era achievement was the first nonstop circumnavigation of the world by an aircraft, completed from 26 February to 2 March 1949 by the Boeing B-50A Superfortress Lucky Lady II. The group became non-operational in 1951 when its flying squadrons were assigned directly to the 43rd Bombardment Wing, and it was inactivated in 1952. The lineage returned to active service in 1992 as the 43rd Operations Group under the Air Force objective-wing organization. After a period of inactivity from 1994 to 1997, it was reactivated with an airlift mission. The group worked closely with Army airborne organizations at nearby Fort Bragg and supported exercises, overseas deployments, contingency operations, and post-September 11 global military operations. It was redesignated the 43rd Airlift Group in 2011 following the inactivation of the 43rd Airlift Wing. In 2016, the inactivation of the Air Force Reserve Command's 440th Airlift Wing and the end of the group's C-130 Hercules airlift role led to another major transformation. On 14 June 2016, the 43rd Airlift Group became the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group, a non-flying organization focused on mobility coordination and enabling functions. The modern group comprises eight squadrons and serves as an operational bridge between air mobility forces, Army airborne formations, special operations organizations, and combatant commanders. It is therefore best understood not as a commercial brand but as a military organizational identity with a long institutional lineage.

The unit's lineage began with the constitution of the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 November 1940 and its activation on 15 January 1941. During the first phase of World War II, it trained for bombardment operations and conducted antisubmarine patrols along the New England coast. In early 1942 it moved to the Southwest Pacific, deploying through Cape Town and operating from bases in Australia, New Guinea, and the Netherlands East Indies. From 1942 through 1944, it attacked Japanese shipping and military installations across New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, the western Pacific, and the southern Philippines. The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations over Papua and New Guinea and another for its role in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. It later struck oil facilities, factories, airfields, railways, and shipping in areas including Borneo, China, Formosa, Luzon, and Japan. The group moved to Ie Shima in July 1945 and was inactivated in April 1946. The organization was reactivated on 1 October 1946 as the 43rd Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, taking over the mission, personnel, and equipment of the inactivated 444th Bombardment Group. It became a Strategic Air Command unit and was later redesignated as a medium bombardment group. The group trained, conducted long-range tests, and deployed to England for training in 1949. Its most notable achievement occurred from 26 February to 2 March 1949, when Captain James G. Gallagher and his crew flew the B-50A Superfortress Lucky Lady II on the first nonstop flight around the world. The group ceased to function as an operational headquarters in February 1951 after its squadrons were attached directly to the 43rd Bombardment Wing, and it was inactivated on 16 June 1952. The lineage was revived on 1 June 1992 when the group was redesignated and activated as the 43rd Operations Group. It conducted air-refueling activity and training during the early 1990s but was inactivated on 1 July 1994 after the parent wing was reduced to group size. It was reactivated on 1 April 1997 with an airlift mission. From its North Carolina base, it cooperated with Army airborne units at Fort Bragg, supported joint training, and deployed aircraft and personnel to Europe and Southwest Asia. These activities included support for no-fly-zone enforcement over Iraq and expeditionary-force rotations. After the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the group contributed personnel and resources to operations associated with the Global War on Terror. On 1 March 2011, the organization became the 43rd Airlift Group after the inactivation of the 43rd Airlift Wing. In 2016, the inactivation of the colocated 440th Airlift Wing and the termination of the associated C-130 Hercules airlift mission changed the group's role. On 14 June 2016, it was redesignated the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group and reorganized as a non-flying unit. Its current mission emphasizes enroute operations and global response support for forces associated with Fort Bragg, including the 82nd Airborne Division, XVIII Airborne Corps, and Joint Special Operations Command. The group provides mobility command and control, deployment support, aeromedical evacuation, aerial-port functions, communications, force support, financial management, and combat training through eight constituent squadrons.

• 2016

  Formation of the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 14 June, the group became a non-flying air mobility operations organization following the end of its C-130 airlift role.

• 2011

  Redesignation as the 43rd Airlift Group

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group adopted the 43rd Airlift Group designation on 1 March after the inactivation of the 43rd Airlift Wing.

• 1997

  Return to active service with an airlift mission

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated on 1 April and resumed an airlift-oriented role supporting Army airborne organizations and overseas operations.

• 1992

  Reactivation as the 43rd Operations Group

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

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

• 1952

  Cold War-era inactivation

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The bombardment group was inactivated on 16 June after its operational squadrons had been assigned directly to the parent wing.

• 1949

  First nonstop circumnavigation

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Lucky Lady II completed the first nonstop flight around the world between 26 February and 2 March.

• 1946

  Postwar Strategic Air Command activation

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was reactivated on 1 October as the 43rd Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, within the early Strategic Air Command structure.

• 1943

  Battle of the Bismarck Sea

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group participated in attacks on Japanese shipping during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea and received a Distinguished Unit Citation.

• 1941

  Initial activation

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 15 January 1941 and began bombardment training before entering wartime operations.

• 1940

  43rd Bombardment Group is constituted

  [1]43rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was established as the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 November 1940.

A specialized United States Air Force mobility-support organization positioned to enable rapid global response, airborne deployment, joint forcible entry, and sustainment of Army and special operations forces.

• Military operational support · 2016

  Air mobility operations support

  The group's primary contemporary capability is the coordination and enablement of air mobility missions. It supports the movement of personnel, equipment, and formations through enroute operations, command and control, deployment planning, and coordination with air and ground organizations. The function is designed to help provide rapid strategic response and joint forcible-entry capability rather than to market or operate a commercial transportation product.

• Military medical operations · 1997

  Aeromedical evacuation support

  The organization includes an aeromedical evacuation capability, one of only a small number of active-duty Air Force aeromedical evacuation squadrons based in the United States. This function supports the movement and care of military patients during operational deployments and wider air mobility missions.

• Historical military aviation · 1941

  World War II heavy-bomber operations

  Under its earlier 43rd Bombardment Group identity, the organization conducted long-range bombing, anti-shipping, close-support, and interdiction missions across the Southwest Pacific and East Asia. Its wartime operations included attacks on ships, refineries, factories, airfields, railways, and other military targets.

• 2016

  Transition from flying airlift to air mobility operationsStrategy

  Background

  The 440th Airlift Wing was inactivated, and the 43rd's C-130 Hercules airlift mission was discontinued.

  Action taken

  On 14 June 2016, the 43rd Airlift Group was reorganized as a non-flying unit and redesignated the 43rd Air Mobility Operations Group.

  Aftermath

  The organization assumed a mobility-enablement mission centered on command and control, enroute operations, aerial-port support, aeromedical evacuation, and other capabilities for rapid global response.

  Source

• 2011

  Adoption of the 43rd Airlift Group designationStrategy

  Background

  The inactivation of the 43rd Airlift Wing required the group's organizational identity and designation to be adjusted.

  Action taken

  The 43rd Operations Group was redesignated the 43rd Airlift Group on 1 March 2011.

  Aftermath

  The unit continued its airlift-related lineage and support relationship with airborne forces at Fort Bragg.

  Source

1. 143rd Air Mobility Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org