Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.0 inch/77mm
386th AIR EXPEDITIONARY WING
Lineage. Established as 386 Bombardment Group (Medium) on 25 Nov 1942. Activated on 1 Dec 1942. Redesignated as: 386 Bombardment Group, Medium, on 20 Aug 1943; 386 Bombardment Group, Light, on 23 Jun 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated as 386 Fighter‑Bomber Group on 31 Oct 1955. Activated on 8 Apr 1956. Inactivated on 8 Jul 1957. Redesignated as 386 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985. Redesignated as 386 Air Expeditionary Group, and converted to provisional status, on 25 Jul 2000. Activated on 1 Sep 2000. Redesignated as 386 Air Expeditionary Wing on 12 Aug 2002.
Assignments. III Bomber Command, 1 Dec 1942; Eighth Air Force, c. 2 Jun 1943; VIII Bomber Command, 4 Jun 1943; VIII Air Support Command, 15 Jun 1943; IX Bomber Command, 16 Oct 1943; 99 Combat Bombardment (later, 99 Bombardment) Wing, 5 Dec 1943; First Air Force, Aug‑7 Nov 1945. Ninth Air Force, 8 Apr 1956‑8 Jul 1957. Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 25 Jul 2000. 9 Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force‑Southern Watch (later, 9 Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force; 9 Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force), 1 Sep 2000‑.
Operational Components. Groups. 386 Expeditionary Operations: 12 Aug 2002-. 387 Air Expeditionary: 13 Apr 2007-. Squadrons. 552 Bombardment: 1 Dec 1942-7 Nov 1945 and 8 Apr 1956-8 Jul 1957. 553 Bombardment: 1 Dec 1942-7 Nov 1945 and 8 Apr 1956-8 Jul 1957. 554 Bombardment: 1 Dec 1942-7 Nov 1945 and 8 Apr 1956-8 Jul 1957. 555 Bombardment: 1 Dec 1942-7 Nov 1945. 386 Expeditionary Airlift: 1 Sep 2000-10 Apr 2002. 386 Expeditionary Reconnaissance: 1 Sep 2000-12 Aug 2002.
Stations. MacDill Field, FL, 1 Dec 1942; Lake Charles AAB, LA, 9 Feb‑8 May 1943; Snetterton Heath, England, 3 Jun 1943; Boxted, England, 10 Jun 1943; Great Dunmow, England, 24 Sep 1943; Beaumont‑sur‑Oise, France, 2 Oct 1944; St. Trond, Belgium, 9 Apr‑27 Jul 1945; Seymour Johnson Field, NC, 7 Aug 1945; Westover Field, MA, 30 Sep-7 Nov 1945. Bunker Hill AFB, IN, 8 Apr 1956‑8 Jul 1957. Kuwait City, Kuwait, 1 Sep 2000; Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait, 12 Aug 2002‑.
Aircraft and Space Systems. B‑26, 1942‑1945; A‑26, 1944‑1945. F‑86, 1956‑1957; F‑100, 1957. C-130, 2000-; HH-60, 2000-2002; MQ-1,2007-; MQ-9, 2007-; EC-130, 2007-.
Operations. Beginning in Jul 1943, the group bombed airfields, marshalling yards, and gun positions in enemy‑occupied northwestern Europe. It attacked V‑weapon sites along the coast of France during the winter of 1943‑1944. During Big Week, 20‑25 Feb 1944, it bombed enemy airfields in the Netherlands and Belgium. Preceding the invasion of Normandy, the group bombed marshalling yards, gun positions, airfields, and bridges across the Seine River. On D‑Day, 6 Jun 1944, and during the rest of the Normandy campaign, it attacked coastal batteries, bridges, supply and fuel storage sites, gun positions, and troop concentrations. The group earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for operations between 30 Jul 1943 and 30 Jul 1944 because it had the most outstanding record of all B‑26 groups in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) for that time period. It supported Allied forces at Caen and participated in a massive bombardment of enemy positions at St. Lo on 25 Jul 1944 that contributed to an Allied breakthrough. In Aug 1944, the group bombed targets to help clear the Falaise gap, and the next month it attacked strong points in Brest. After moving to the continent in Oct 1944, the group attacked enemy strong points, storage depots, communications, and other targets in France, the Netherlands, and Germany. During the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944‑Jan 1945, it attacked bridges to cut off enemy reinforcements and supplies. The group continued to strike German communications, transportation, and storage facilities until May 1945. Between Apr 1956 and Jul 1957, trained to maintain readiness for fighter-bomber armed strikes wherever needed. Supported contingency operations in Southwest Asia, flying mostly airlift missions, 2000-. Also flew rescue missions, 2000-2002 and electronic and remotely piloted aircraft, 2007-. Provides airlift support for Operation Enduring Freedom and the Horn of Africa. Along with joint, coalition and host nation partners, delivers decisive airpower, theater basing options and theater logistical support in support of USAFCENT priorities.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes‑Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-E.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: ETO, 30 Jul 1943‑30 Jul 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: [1 Sep] 2000-31 May 2001; 1 Jun 2002-31 May 2003; 1 Jun 2003-31 May 2004; 1 Jun 2004-31 May 2005. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 Jun 2005-31 May 2006; 1 Jun 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2009-31 May 2010; 1 Jun 2010-31 May 2011; 1 Jun 2011-31 May 2012; 1 Jun 2014-31 May 2015; 1 Jun 2015-31 May 2016; 15 Jun 2016-14 Jun 2017.
Emblem. Approved on 14 Jun 2007.