Description
Computer made 3.0 inch-77mm
376th EXPEDITIONARY OPERATIONS GROUP
Lineage. Constituted as 376 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Oct 1942. Activated on 31 Oct 1942. Redesignated 376 Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) in May 1945. Inactivated on 10 Nov 1945. Redesignated 376 Reconnaissance Group and activated on 23 May 1947. Inactivated on 20 Sep 1948. Redesignated 376 Bombardment Group and activated on 1 Jun 1951. Inactivated on 16 Jun 1952. Redesignated 376 Expeditionary Operations Group, and converted to provisional status, on 4 Dec 2001-.
Assignments. 19 Bombardment Wing, 31 Oct 1942; IX Bomber Command, Nov 1942; 5 Bombardment Wing, 26 Sep 1943; 47 Bombardment Wing, 17 Nov 1943-19 Apr 1945; Second Air Force, 8 May-10 Nov 1945. Air Weather Service, 23 May 1947-20 Sep 1948. 376 Bombardment Wing, 1 Jun 1951-16 Jun 1952. Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 4 Dec 2001-.
Components. Squadrons. 512 Bombardment (also Reconnaissance), 31 Oct 1942-10 Nov 1945; 23 May 1947-20 Sep 1948; 1 Jun 1951-16 Jun 1952; 513 Bombardment (also Reconnaissance), 31 Oct 1942-10 Nov 1945; 23 May 1947-20 Sep 1948; 1 Jun 1951-16 Jun 1952; 514 Bombardment (also Reconnaissance), 31 Oct 1942-10 Nov 1945; 23 May 1947-20 Sep 1948; 1 Jun 1951-16 Jun 1952; 515 Bombardment, 31 Oct 1942-10 Nov 1945.
Stations. RAF Lydda, British Mandate of Palestine, 31 Oct 1942; RAF Abu Sueir, Egypt, 8 Nov 1942; RAF Gambut (Kambut), Libya, c. Jan 1943; Soluch (Suluq) Airfield, Libya, 22 Feb 1943; Benina Airport, Benghazi, Libya, c. 6 Apr 1943; Enfidaville Airfield, Tunisia, 26 Sep 1943; San Pancrazio Airfield, Italy, c. 17 Nov 1943-19 Apr 1945; Harvard AAF, NE, 8 May 1945; Grand Island AAF, NE, 25 Jun-10 Nov 1945. Gravelly Point, VA, 23 May 1947-20 Sep 1948. Forbes AFB, KS, 1 Jun 1951; Barksdale AFB, LA, 10 Oct 1951-16 Jun 1952. Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyz Republic, 4 Dec 2001-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1942; B-24, 1942-1945. B/WB-29, 1947-1948.
Operations. Flew interdictory raids from airfields in Egypt against shipping and North African ports supporting Axis operations as part of United States Middle East Air Forces. Participated in the famed low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti. Engaged primarily in long-range missions to targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb factories, marshalling yards, oil refineries, oil storage facilities, airdromes, bridges, harbors, and other objectives. Operated as a weather reconnaissance unit. Lead KC-135 aerial refueling unit for Afghanistan operations.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Egypt-Libya; Air Offensive, Europe; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Nov 1942-17 Aug 1943, North Africa and Sicily; 1 Aug 1943, Ploesti, Romania; 16 Jun 1944, Bratislava, Czechoslovakia.
Emblem. Originally approved on 8 Nov 1951; updated on 31 May 2007.