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| 437th Operations Group | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 437th Operations Group | |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
The437th Operations Group (437 OG) is an activeUnited States Air Force unit. It is the flying component of theEighteenth Air Force437th Airlift Wing, stationed atCharleston Air Force Base,South Carolina.
The unit'sWorld War II predecessor unit, the437th Troop Carrier Group was aC-47 Skytrain transport unit assigned toNinth Air Force in Western Europe. During theNormandy campaign, the group released gliders over Cherbourg and carried troops, weapons, ammunition, rations, and other supplies for the82nd Airborne Division in Operation NEPTUNE. For these actions, the group received aDistinguished Unit Citation.[1]
The 437 OG is responsible for flying theC-17 Globemaster III jet cargo aircraft, the newest aircraft in the AMC airlift system.
The group consists of the following units:
From May–December 1943, the 437th Troop Carrier Group trained withC-47 Skytrain cargo planes inIndiana,Missouri, andNorth Carolina. In January 1944, the group deployed to England, where it prepared for theinvasion ofNazi-occupied Europe. During theNormandy campaign, the group releasedgliders overCherbourg Naval Base and carried troops,weapons,ammunition, rations, and other supplies for the82nd Airborne Division inOperation Neptune. For these actions, the group received aDistinguished Unit Citation.[1]
The air echelon deployed toItaly in July 1944 and participated in theAlliedinvasion of southern France in August 1944 droppingparatroops of the1st Airborne Task Force. DuringOperation Market Garden in September 1944, the group released gliders carrying troops and equipment for the airborne attack in the occupiedNetherlands. In December 1944, the group re-supplied the101st Airborne Division in theBastogne area ofBelgium during theBattle of the Bulge. After moving to France in February 1945, the unit released gliders in support of an American crossing of theRhine River calledOperation Varsity in March 1945. The 437th continued to supply the offensive forces in April, while also evacuating wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals. AfterV-E Day, the group evacuatedprisoners of war and displaced persons to relocation centers. The group then returned to the United States and was inactivated.[1]
Trained as a reserve unit until August 1950, when it was ordered to active duty because of the outbreak of war in Korea and later moved to Japan in November 1950. Between December 1950 and June 1952, the group airlifted ammunition, rations, aircraft parts, gasoline, and other war supplies from Japan to United Nations bases in Korea, while evacuating wounded troops from Korea to hospitals in Japan. During 1951, the 437th also dropped paratroops and flew re-supply and reinforcement missions in support of the Eighth Army in Korea. Between January–June 1952, the group transported battlefield replacements and evacuated troops on leave. From June 1952 – November 1957, the group again served as Reserve training organization flying C-46s.[1]
Activated as part of Objective Organization adoption by 437 AW in October 1991. Assumed control of operational squadrons. Routinely deployed aircraft and aircrews in support of humanitarian and contingency operations in the Balkans, Southwest Asia, Africa, Russia, and provided disaster relief support, 1992–2001. Supported Global War on Terrorism contingencies from October 2001–.[1]
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This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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