907th Airlift Group
| 907th Airlift Group | |
|---|---|
| 250px
907th Airlift Group - Emblem
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| Active | 1962-1994 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force Reserve |
| Role | Airlift |
The 907th Airlift Group is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit. It was last active with the 445th Airlift Wing, based at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. It was inactivated on 1 October 1994.
Contents
History
Following the mobilizations in 1961 and 1962 for the Berlin Crisis and the Cuban Missile Crisis, Continental Air Command (ConAC) realized that it was unwieldy to mobilize an entire wing unless absolutely necessary. Their original Table of Organization for each Wing was a wing headquarters, a troop carrier group, an Air Base Group, a maintenance and supply group, and a medical group. In 1957, the troop carrier group and maintenance and supply groups were inactivated, with their squadrons reassigned directly to the wing headquarters - despite the fact that many wings had squadrons spread out over several bases due to the Detached Squadron Concept dispersing Reserve units over centers of population.
To resolve this, in late 1962 and early 1963, ConAC reorganized the structure of its reserve Troop Carrier Wings by establishing fully deployable Troop Carrier Groups and inserting them into the chain of command between the Wing and its squadrons at every base that held a ConAC troop carrier squadron. At each base, the group was composed of a material squadron, a troop carrier squadron, a tactical hospital or dispensary, and a combat support squadron. Each troop carrier wing consisted of 3 or 4 of these groups. By doing so, ConAC could facilitate the mobilization of either aircraft and aircrews alone, aircraft and minimum support personnel (one troop carrier group), or the entire troop carrier wing. This also gave ConAC the flexibility to expand each Wing by attaching additional squadrons, if necessary from other Reserve wings to the deployable groups for deployments.
As a result, the 907th Troop Carrier Group was established with a mission to organize, recruit and train Air Force Reserve personnel in the tactical airlift of airborne forces, their equipment and supplies and delivery of these forces and materials by airdrop, landing or cargo extraction systems. The group was equipped with C-119 Flying Boxcars for Tactical Air Command airlift operations.
The 907th TCG was one of two C-119 groups assigned to the 302d TCW in 1963, the other being the 906th Troop Carrier Group also at Clinton County AFB. Replaced C-119s with C-123 Provider assault transport in 1967, began training with special operations forces when parent 302d Tactical Airlift Wing was redesignated as a Special Operations Wing in 1970. Inactivated in 1975 as part of post-Vietnam War drawdown.
Reactivated in 1981 as an UC-123K Provider aerial spraying unit, deployed frequently to Panama and Central America. Retired the C-123s in 1982, however retained four aircraft to spay for insects until June 1986. Tail Code was "NT". Was re-equipped with early-model C-130A Hercules transports, flying tactical airlift missions to support Tactical Air Command. Re-equipped with newer C-130E models from 337th TAS at Westover AFB in 1987.
Moved to Wright-Patterson AFB in 1993 and upgraded to a C-141 Starlifter heavy intercontinental airlift unit, C-130s being transferred to 731st TAS at Peterson AFB. Flew intercontinental airlift missions from WPAFB in support of Military Airlift Command.
Personnel and equipment reassigned to 445th AW after inactivation in October 1994.
Lineage
- Established as the 907th Troop Carrier Group, Medium and activated on 15 January 1963 (not organized)
- Organized in the Reserve on 11 February 1963
- Redesignated 907th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967
- Redesignated 907th Special Operations Group on 25 June 1970
- Redesignated 907th Tactical Airlift Group on 26 July 1971
- Inactivated on 1 September 1975
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 April 1981
- Redesignated 907th Airlift Group on 1 February 1992
- Inactivated on 1 October 1994
Assignments
- Continental Air Command, 15 January 1963
- 302d Troop Carrier (later Tactical Airlift; Special Operations; Tactical Airlift) Wing, 11 February 1963-1 Sep 1975
- 94th Tactical Airlift Wing: 1 April 1981 – 1 October 1989
- 459th Military Airlift (later Airlift) Wing, 1 October 1989 – 1 October 1994
Components
- 356th Troop Carrier (later Tactical Airlift; Airlift) Squadron, 11 February 1963-1 Sep 1975; 1 April 1981 – 1 October 1994
Stations
- Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, 11 February 1963
- Lockbourne (later Rickenbacker) Air Force Base, Ohio, 2 August 1971 – 1 September 1975
- Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, 1 April 1981
- Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 1 April 1993 – 1 October 1994
Aircraft
- C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1963-1967
- C-123 Provider, 1967-1975
- UC-123K Provider, 1981-1982
- C-130A Hercules, 1982-1987
- C-130E Hercules, 1987-1993
- C-141B Starlifter, 1993-1994
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Rogers, Brian (2005). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. ISBN 1-85780-197-0.
- Martin, Patrick. Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Schiffer Military Aviation History, 1994. ISBN 0-88740-513-4. Image source listed as United States Air Force
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
- AFHRA Search 907th Airlift Group
