462d Air Expeditionary Group

The 462d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Mobility Command. Unlike a conventional permanent military organization, a provisional air expeditionary group can be activated, organized, and inactivated as operational requirements dictate. Its most recently documented activation was at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia in the British Indian Ocean Territory, where it controlled KC-135R Stratotanker aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. Its final inactivation date is not established in the available historical record. The unit's lineage began during World War II. The 462d Bombardment Group was constituted in May 1943 and activated on 1 July 1943 at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas. It became one of the early Boeing B-29 Superfortress units and was initially organized around the 768th, 769th, 770th, and 771st Bombardment Squadrons. After training at Walker Army Air Field, the group deployed to India in 1944 as part of the 58th Bombardment Wing and Twentieth Air Force's XX Bomber Command. From bases in India and China, the group conducted long-range bombing and logistical missions across the China-Burma-India and Pacific theaters. Its first combat mission, on 5 June 1944, targeted railway facilities at Bangkok, Thailand. On 15 June it participated in the first United States Army Air Forces attack on the Japanese home islands since the Doolittle Raid. The group later attacked transportation centers, industrial facilities, aircraft plants, naval installations, and other targets in Japan, Thailand, Burma, China, Formosa, and Indonesia. It also conducted aerial mining operations, including the mining of the Musi River in Sumatra. The 462d moved to Tinian in the Mariana Islands during 1945 and continued operations against Japan under XXI Bomber Command. It participated in strategic and incendiary raids, including attacks on industrial districts in Tokyo and Yokohama. The group received three Distinguished Unit Citations for major combat actions in 1944 and 1945. It returned to the United States in November 1945, surrendered its aircraft during demobilization, and was inactivated on 31 March 1946. The lineage was revived during the Strategic Air Command era. A predecessor organization, the 4170th Strategic Wing, had been established at Larson Air Force Base, Washington, in 1958 to disperse B-52 bombers and reduce the vulnerability of the strategic bomber force. In 1962, SAC replaced that organization with the 462d Strategic Aerospace Wing in order to perpetuate the lineage of distinguished inactive World War II bombardment units. The wing operated B-52D Stratofortresses, KC-135 tankers, and LGM-25 Titan I intercontinental ballistic missiles. Its mission included strategic bombardment and air-refueling training, missile readiness, and maintaining aircraft on alert as part of the United States nuclear deterrent. The wing supported the heightened Strategic Air Command posture during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Its missile unit inactivated in 1965, and the wing became non-operational in April 1966. It was inactivated on 25 June 1966 following the closure of Larson Air Force Base. In 1984, the World War II bombardment group and the strategic wing were consolidated. In June 2002, the consolidated organization was converted to provisional status and redesignated the 462d Air Expeditionary Group. It was activated at Diego Garcia soon afterward to support tanker operations associated with Operation Enduring Freedom. A new approach radar system entered service with the group in August 2002.

The 462d's history spans three major organizational forms: the World War II 462d Bombardment Group, the Cold War 462d Strategic Aerospace Wing, and the provisional 462d Air Expeditionary Group. The bombardment group was constituted in 1943, activated in Kansas, and trained as a B-29 Superfortress formation under the 58th Bombardment Wing. It deployed to India in 1944 and operated through the China-Burma-India and Pacific theaters. Because forward bases in China depended on supplies flown over the Himalayas, B-29 aircraft were sometimes stripped of combat equipment and used as tankers. The group nevertheless conducted exceptionally long-range combat missions, beginning with the Bangkok raid in June 1944 and continuing with attacks on Japanese and regional targets. The group moved to Tinian in 1945 and carried out further strategic and incendiary attacks against Japan. It received three Distinguished Unit Citations for actions at Yawata, in the Tokyo-Yokohama campaign, and at Takarazuka. After Japan's surrender, it returned to the United States and was inactivated in March 1946. The Cold War organization emerged from the 4170th Strategic Wing, created at Larson Air Force Base in 1958 as part of SAC's plan to disperse B-52 bombers. The 4170th gradually acquired bomber, tanker, support, maintenance, medical, and missile elements. In 1962, SAC replaced it with the 462d Strategic Aerospace Wing, transferring personnel, equipment, and missions into historically numbered units. The wing operated B-52D bombers, KC-135 tankers, and Titan I missiles. It maintained aircraft alert commitments and missile readiness, including heightened activity during the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Titan unit was inactivated in 1965, while the wing ceased operational activity in 1966 and was inactivated after Larson closed. In 1984, the strategic wing and the World War II bombardment group were consolidated. The consolidated lineage was converted to provisional status in 2002 and redesignated the 462d Air Expeditionary Group under Air Mobility Command. Activated at Diego Garcia, the group controlled KC-135R aircraft supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. The historical record does not establish a final inactivation date.

1. 2002Converted to provisional expeditionary status

   The consolidated unit became the 462d Air Expeditionary Group and was activated at Diego Garcia under Air Mobility Command.

   Source
2. 1984Lineages consolidated

   The World War II bombardment group and strategic wing were consolidated into one organization.

   Source
3. 1966Wing inactivated

   The wing became non-operational in April and was inactivated on 25 June after the closure of Larson Air Force Base.

   Source
4. 1962462d Strategic Aerospace Wing organized

   The 462d replaced the 4170th and inherited its strategic bomber, tanker, missile, and support missions.

   Source
5. 19584170th Strategic Wing established

   SAC established the 4170th Strategic Wing at Larson Air Force Base as part of its B-52 dispersal program.

   Source
6. 1946World War II group inactivated

   After returning to the United States and surrendering its aircraft, the group was inactivated on 31 March.

   Source
7. 1945Move to Tinian

   The group moved to the Marianas and continued strategic bombing operations against Japan.

   Source
8. 1944Deployment to India and first combat operations

   The group arrived in India in April and began combat operations in June, including attacks on Bangkok and Japan.

   Source
9. 1943462d Bombardment Group activated

   The B-29-equipped 462d Bombardment Group was activated on 1 July at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas.

   Source

A lineage-based United States Air Force unit combining historic strategic-bomber heritage with flexible provisional expeditionary operations.

• Boeing B-29 SuperfortressStrategic bomber1943

  The group's principal World War II aircraft. B-29s carried out long-range bombing, incendiary raids, aerial mining, and logistics missions from India, China, and the Mariana Islands against targets throughout Asia and Japan.

• Boeing B-52D StratofortressStrategic bomber1960

  The wing's primary Cold War bomber. B-52Ds supported strategic bombardment training and maintained aircraft alert commitments as part of Strategic Air Command's nuclear deterrence posture.

• Boeing KC-135 StratotankerAir-refueling tanker1960

  KC-135 aircraft provided aerial refueling for the strategic wing and, in KC-135R form, supported expeditionary operations from Diego Garcia during the group's 2002 activation.

• LGM-25 Titan IIntercontinental ballistic missile1961

  The 568th Strategic Missile Squadron operated Titan I missiles under the wing's strategic deterrence mission until the squadron was inactivated in March 1965.

• 2002Operation Enduring Freedom tanker support

  British Indian Ocean Territory · Afghanistan theater

  The provisional group controlled deployed KC-135R tankers at Diego Garcia in support of air operations associated with Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Outcome. The group continued as an on-demand provisional organization; its final inactivation date is not recorded.

  Source
• 1962Cuban Missile Crisis readiness operations

  United States · Europe · Alaska · Northeastern United States

  The strategic wing increased bomber and tanker readiness as SAC responded to the discovery of Soviet missiles in Cuba and raised its alert status.

  Outcome. The wing returned to its normal alert posture after the crisis and subsequent reduction in SAC readiness.

  Source
• 1945Mariana Islands strategic bombing operations

  Japan · Mariana Islands

  After moving to Tinian, the group conducted strategic and incendiary attacks against Japanese industrial, aircraft, and urban targets.

  Outcome. The group received two additional Distinguished Unit Citations for combat actions in the final year of the war.

  Source
• 1944China-Burma-India Theater strategic bombing campaign

  India · China · Thailand · Japan · Burma

  The group operated from India and forward bases in China, combining long-range bombing with the movement of fuel and supplies across the Himalayan Hump.

  Outcome. The group helped extend American heavy-bomber operations against Japanese positions and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its 20 August attack on the Yawata iron and steel works.

  Source

• 2002Convert the consolidated lineage to provisional statusStrategy

  The Air Force required a flexible organization that could be activated or inactivated to meet expeditionary operational needs.

  What changed. The consolidated organization was converted to provisional status, redesignated the 462d Air Expeditionary Group, assigned to Air Mobility Command, and activated at Diego Garcia.

  Aftermath. The group controlled KC-135R tanker operations supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and received a new approach radar system in August 2002.

  Source
• 1962Replace the 4170th Strategic Wing with the 462d Strategic Aerospace WingStrategy

  Strategic Air Command sought to preserve the lineage of distinguished inactive World War II bombardment units while maintaining the predecessor wing's operational capabilities.

  What changed. SAC activated the 462d Strategic Aerospace Wing and transferred the predecessor's personnel, equipment, and missions into historically numbered component units.

  Aftermath. The wing continued B-52, KC-135, and Titan I readiness duties at Larson until it was inactivated in 1966.

  Source

• 2002462d Air Expeditionary Group activated at Diego Garcia

  The consolidated lineage organization was converted to provisional status and activated at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia to control KC-135R tankers supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

  Product launchOther
  Source
• 1962462d Strategic Aerospace Wing supports Cuban Missile Crisis readiness

  During the Cuban Missile Crisis, the wing placed additional bombers and tankers on alert as Strategic Air Command raised its readiness posture.

  Other
  Source
• 1944462d Bombardment Group conducts first combat mission from India

  The group flew its first combat mission on 5 June 1944, attacking railway yards at Bangkok, Thailand, in a long-range B-29 operation.

  Other
  Source
• 1944462d participates in early B-29 attacks on Japan

  On 15 June 1944, the group joined the first United States Army Air Forces attack on the Japanese home islands since the 1942 Doolittle Raid.

  Other
  Source

1. 462d Air Expeditionary Group