302nd_Operations_Group Knowpia

302d Operations Group
302d Operations Group
	Lockheed C-130 with Pikes Peak in the background
Active	1942–1944; 1949–1951; 1952–1959; 1992–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable; commanders	Joseph J. Nazzaro
Insignia
302d Operations Group emblem (approved 27 February 1943)

The 302d Operations Group is the operational flying component of the 302d Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force Reserve. It is stationed at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

The group was activated during World War II as the 302d Bombardment Group, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator replacement training unit (RTU). It was originally a Second Air Force unit, it was reassigned to First Air Force in 1943. The group was inactivated in 1944 when the Army Air Forces reorganized its training units to make more efficient use of its manpower.

The group was redesignated the 302d Troop Carrier Group and activated in the Air Force Reserve in 1949. The group was called to active duty in June 1951 and its personnel used as fillers for other units before the 302d was inactivated a week later.

The group was again activated in the reserves in 1952 and trained as an airlift unit until it was inactivated in 1958 when Continental Air Command converted its operational wings to the dual deputy system in which squadrons reported directly to wing headquarters.

The group was activated again when Air Force Reserve Command reorganized under the Combat Wing reorganization.

Mission edit

The 302 OG consists of one C-130 Hercules squadron, the 731st Airlift Squadron, which has the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System mission. The group's personnel take part in tactical airlift training exercises and contingency and humanitarian airlift operations, both at home and abroad.^[2]

History edit

The group was activated during World War II as the 302d Bombardment Group, a Consolidated B-24 Liberator replacement training unit (RTU). It was originally a Second Air Force unit, it was reassigned to First Air Force in 1943. The group was inactivated in 1944 when the Army Air Forces reorganized its training units to make more efficient use of its manpower.

The group was redesignated the 302d Troop Carrier Group and activated in the Air Force Reserve in 1949. The group was called to active duty in June 1951 and its personnel used as fillers for other units before the 302d was inactivated a week later.

The group was again activated in the reserves in 1952 and trained as an airlift unit until it was inactivated in 1958 when Continental Air Command converted its operational wings to the dual deputy system in which squadrons reported directly to wing headquarters.

The group was activated again in 1992 when Air Force Reserve Command reorganized under the Combat Wing reorganization.

Lineage edit

Constituted as the 302d Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 January 1942

Activated on 1 June 1942

Inactivated on 10 April 1944

Redesignated 302d Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 16 May 1949

Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949

Redesignated 302d Troop Carrier Group, Heavy on 28 January 1950

Ordered to active service on 1 June 1951

Inactivated on 8 June 1951

Redesignated 302d Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952

Inactivated on 14 April 1959

Redesignated 302d Tactical Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
Redesignated: 302d Operations Group on 1 August 1992 and activated in the reserve^[2]

Assignments edit

Second Air Force, 1 June 1942
16th Bombardment (later, 16th Bombardment Operational) Training Wing, 1 April 1943
46th Bombardment Operational Training Wing, 1 September 1943
First Air Force, 17 December 1943 – 10 April 1944
302d Troop Carrier Wing, 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951; 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959
302d Airlift Wing, 1 August 1992 – present^[2]

Components edit

7th Space Operations Squadron: 1 May 1993 – 1 September 1997
302d Operations Support Squadron (later 302d Operations Support Flight, 302d Operations Support Squadron): 1 August 1992 – present
302d Airlift Control Flight, 1 August 1992 - c. 1997
355th Bombardment (later Troop Carrier) Squadron: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944; 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951; 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959
356th Bombardment (later Troop Carrier) Squadron: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944; 27 June 1949 – 28 January 1950; 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959
357th Bombardment (later Troop Carrier) Squadron: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944; 14 June 1952 – 16 November 1957
420th Bombardment Squadron: 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944
731st Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – present^[2]

Stations edit

Geiger Field, Washington, 1 June 1942
Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 June 1942
Wendover Field, Utah, 30 July 1942
Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado, 30 September 1942
Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona, 1 December 1942
Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico, 29 January 1943

Langley Field, Virginia, 17 December 1943
Chatham Army Air Field, Georgia, 9 March – 10 April 1944
McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 27 June 1949 – 8 June 1951
Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, 14 June 1952 – 14 April 1959
Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, 1 August 1992–present^[2]

Aircraft edit

B-18, 1942
C-78, 1942
B-24, 1942–1943, 1943–1944
C-82, 1949

C-54, 1949–1950
C-46, 1952–1957
C-119, 1956–1959
C-130, 1992–present^[2]

References edit

Notes edit

^ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 174–175. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Robertson, Patsy (31 August 2010). "Factsheet 302 Operations Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 27 January 2014.

Bibliography edit

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.