907th Airlift Group

907th Airlift Group

C-141 Starlifter as flown by the group
Active 1963-1975; 1981-1994
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Airlift
Part of Air Force Reserve Command
Insignia
907th Airlift Group emblem

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.

History

Need for reserve troop carrier groups

During the first half of 1955, the Air Force began detaching Air Force Reserve squadrons from their parent wing locations to separate sites. The concept offered several advantages. Communities were more likely to accept the smaller squadrons than the large wings and the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning. Continental Air Command (ConAC)'s plan called for placing Air Force Reserve units at fifty-nine installations located throughout the United States. When these relocations were completed in 1959, reserve wing headquarters and wing support elements would typically be on one base, along with one (or in some cases two) of the wing's flying squadrons, while the remaining flying squadrons were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy and civilian airfields under what was called the Detached Squadron Concept.[1]

Although this dispersal was not a problem when the entire wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron and elements to support it proved difficult. This weakness was demonstrated in the partial mobilization of reserve units during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 To resolve this, at the start of 1962, ConAC determined to reorganize its reserve wings by establishing groups with support elements for each of its troop carrier squadrons. This reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed. However, as this plan was entering its implementation phase, another partial mobilization occurred for the Cuban missile crisis, with the units being released on 22 November 1962. The formation of troop carrier groups occurred in January 1963 for units that had not been mobilized, but was delayed until February for those that had been.[2]

Activation of 907th Troop Carrier Group

As a result, the 907th Troop Carrier Group was established at Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio on 11 February 1963, as the headquarters for the 356th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been stationed there since June 1952.[3] Along with group headquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron and a Tactical Infirmary were organized to support the 356th.

The group's mission was 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 Fairchild 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 Fairchild 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.

Aerial Spray

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".

C-130 Hercules

Was re-equipped with early-model Lockheed 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 Air Force Base in 1987.

Heavy airlift

Moved to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in 1993 and upgraded to a Lockheed C-141 Starlifter heavy intercontinental airlift unit, C-130s being transferred to 731st TAS at Peterson Air Force Base. 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

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
Redesignated 907th Airlift Group on 1 February 1992
Inactivated on 1 October 1994

Assignments

Components

Stations

Aircraft

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Cantwell, pp. 156, 169
  2. ↑ Cantwell, pp. 189-191
  3. ↑ Maurer, pp. 442-443

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

External links

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