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| 406th Air Expeditionary Group | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 406th Air Expeditionary Group | |
| Active | 1943–1946; 1952–1956; 2001-TBD |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Air Expeditionary |
| Mottos | Ascende et Defende – "Rise and Defend" |
The406th Air Expeditionary Group (406 AEOG) is the operational flying component of the406th Air Expeditionary Wing. It is a provisional unit assigned to theUnited States Air Forces in Europe.
The current status of this unit is undetermined.
The group'sWorld War II predecessor unit, the406th Fighter Group was assigned toNinth Air Force in Western Europe. It was awarded twoDistinguished Unit Citations for its actions in combat during theBattle of Normandy and theBattle of the Bulge.
Media related to406th Fighter Group (United States Army Air Forces) at Wikimedia Commons
Established as a dive-bomber attack group atKey Field, Mississippi on 1 March 1943, Trained with numerous attack aircraft both at Key Field and atCongree Army Airfield,South Carolina until May 1944. Converted to a Fighter-Bomber group and deployed toEuropean Theater in March 1944. Assigned toNinth Air Force.
Entered combat withP-47 Thunderbolts in May when the Allies were preparing for the invasion of the Continent. Provided area cover during the landings in June, and afterward flew armed-reconnaissance and dive-bombing missions against the enemy, attacking such targets as motor transports, gun emplacements, ammunition dumps, rail lines, marshalling yards, and bridges during the campaign inNormandy. Helped prepare the way for the Allied breakthrough atSt Lo on 25 July
Moved to the Continent early in August 1944 and continued to provide tactical air support for ground forces. Participated in the reduction ofSt Malo andBrest. Aided the Allied drive across France, receiving aDistinguished Unit Citation for operations on 7 September 1944 when the group destroyed a large column of armored vehicles and military transports that were attempting to escape from southeastern France through the Belfort Gap. Operated closely with ground forces and flew interdiction missions during the drive to the Moselle-Saar region.
Shifted operations from the Saar basin to the Ardennes and assisted the beleaguered garrison atBastogne after the Germans had launched the counteroffensive that precipitated theBattle of the Bulge. Operated almost exclusively within a ten-mile radius of Bastogne from 23 to 27 December 1944, a period for which the group received a second DUC for its at¬tacks on tanks, vehicles, defended buildings, and gun positions. Flew escort, interdiction, and close-support missions in the Ruhr Valley early in 1945 and thus assisted Allied ground forces in their drive to and across the Rhine.
Remained in Europe after V-E Day, being assigned toUnited States Air Forces in Europe for duty inBremen, Germany (AAF Station Nordholz) with the army of occupation. Inactivated on 20 August 1946, personnel and equipment being assigned to86th Fighter Group keeping with Air Force policy of having low-numbered units active as much as possible.
The 406th was reactivated in England as the406th Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 July 1952 and assigned to theUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThird Air Force. It replaced the federalized 123d Fighter-Bomber Group which was returned toKentucky Air National Guard control. The group was composed of the 512th, 513th and 514th Fighter Squadrons and equipped withF-84G Thunderjets.
From activation until August 1953, the 406th was tasked with both fighter-bomber and air defense roles in the United Kingdom. In the fall of 1953, the group was re-equipped withF-86F Sabres which were returned from action in Korea. In 1956, the unit was upgraded to theF-86D Sabre interceptor version and the group's mission was changed to assistRAF Fighter Command with air defense of the United Kingdom.
The group was inactivated on 1 May 1956 when 406th FIW converted to Tri-Deputate organization, assigning operational squadrons directly to the wing.
The group was reactivated as an Air Expeditionary unit in 2001. Was active inTurkey before Turkey refused to allow its territory to be used as part of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq.[1] It seems likely the 406 AEG was inactivated shortly afterwards.
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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