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316th Operations Group

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316th Operations Group
Group UH-1N Huey flying near the United States Capitol
Active1942–1957; 1978–1989; 1992–1994; 2006–2010; 2020–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSupport for Air Force units in the Capital Area
Part ofAir Force District of Washington
Garrison/HQJoint Base Andrews
Motto(s)Valor Without Arms[1]
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2]
Insignia
316th Operations Group emblem[2][a]
Patch with 316th Troop Carrier Group emblem.[1][b]

The 316th Operations Group is the flying component of the Air Force District of Washington's 316th Wing, stationed at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. It provides rotary-wing contingency response support capability to the United States National Capital Region while also supporting regional and global customers with critical airfield infrastructure and aviation services. The group consists of two squadrons of aircrew and support personnel.

As the 316th Troop Carrier Group, it was a decorated Douglas C-47 Skytrain unit that served with Ninth and Twelfth Air Force in the European and the Mediterranean theaters. As part of Operation Avalanche, the Allied invasion of Italy, the 316th dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943. Later during Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France, the group dropped paratroops near Ste-Mere-Eglise a few hours before the main landings on 6 June 1944. It also dropped paratroops and released gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne invasion of the Netherlands, Operation Market-Garden in September 1944. By the end of the war, the 316th Troop Carrier Group was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations.

Mission

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The group oversees the operations of the 1st Helicopter Squadron and the 316th Operations Support Squadron.

The 1st Helicopter Squadron supports Washington D.C. capital area airlift for the Executive Branch, high-ranking dignitaries, high-ranking military leaders and other VIPs. It operates Bell UH-1N Hueys.

The 316th Operations Support Squadron provides the necessary aviation related support infrastructure and services for the Group and the 25 other tenant flying units on Andrews AFB.

History

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World War II

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Douglas C-47A of the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron before Operation Market[3]
316th Troop Carrier Group C-82 about to airlift paratroops in an exercise. Fairchild C-82A-30-FA Packet serial 44-23049

Trained with I Troop Carrier Command with Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-53 Skytrooper aircraft. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, assigned to Ninth Air Force, and began operations in November 1942. Flew combat missions in North Africa Egypt/Libya campaign. Transported supplies and evacuated casualties in support of the Allied drive across North Africa.

In February 1943 the 316th became a part of the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing of the Northwest African Troop Carrier Command in the Allied air force organization in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO). In May 1943, the group began training for the invasion of Sicily where they dropped paratroopers over the assault area on the night of 9 July, and carried reinforcements on 11 July, receiving DUC for carrying out that mission although severely attacked by ground and naval forces. They received another DUC for supporting aerial and ground operations in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Sicily, 25 November 1942 – 25 August 1943, by transporting reinforcements and supplies. During this period, the group was under the command of Colonel Jerome McCauley.

The 316th was assigned to Twelfth Air Force and moved to Sicily to take part in the invasion of Italy, where it dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943. They transported cargo in the theater until February 1944, then joined Ninth Air Force in England and prepared for the invasion of France.

The unit dropped paratroops near Ste-Mere-Eglise on D—Day 1944 and flew a reinforcement mission on 7 June, receiving a third Distinguished Unit Citation for these operations. During Operation Market Garden, they dropped paratroops and released gliders carrying reinforcements. Again they dropped paratroops near Wesel on 24 March 1945 when the Allies made the airborne assault across the Rhine River. They also provided transport services in Europe while not engaged in airborne operations, hauling supplies such as ammunition, gasoline, water, and rations; along with evacuating wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals.

Cold War

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Main article: 316th Wing

Returned to the US in May 1945. Trained with C-47 Fairchild C-82 Packet and later Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft as part of Tactical Air Command.

Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to Japan on 15 November 1954. Assigned to Far East Air Forces, manned, and equipped with C-119s and performed theater airlift missions primarily to Japan, Okinawa, Philippines and South Korea. Inactivated in 1957.

Twenty-first century

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Main article: 316th Wing

Activated in 2006 to be operational flying component of AFDW 316th Wing in Washington D.C. area., inactivated in 2010, reactivated in 2020.

Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 316th Transport Group on 2 February 1942
Activated on 14 February 1942
Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group on 1 July 1942
Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 23 August 1948
Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group, Heavy on 8 October 1949
Redesignated 316th Troop Carrier Group, on 28 January 1950
Inactivated on 18 June 1957
  • Redesignated 316th Tactical Airlift Group on 23 August 1978
Activated on 1 October 1978
Inactivated on 1 October 1989
  • Redesignated 316th Airlift Support Group and activated on 1 April 1992
Inactivated on 1 July 1994
  • Redesignated 316th Operations Group on 21 June 2006
Activated on 22 June 2006
Inactivated on 1 October 2010
Activated on 25 June 2020[2]

Assignments

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Components

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Stations

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Aircraft

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  • Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1942–1950
  • Dougas C-53 Skytrooper, 1942–1943
  • Fairchild C-82 Packet, 1945–1954
  • Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1949–1954; 1954–1957
  • UH-1N Huey, 2006–2010, 2020–present[citation needed]

References

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Notes

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Explanatory notes
  1. ^ While assigned to the 316th Wing, the group uses the wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll. AF Instruction 84-105, Organizational Lineage, Honors and History, 27 April 2017, paragraph 3.3.3. This rendering was approved on 8 March 2023.
  2. ^ Approved 17 August 1951. Description: Azure, nine parachutes argent, three, two and one, all within a bordure per bend or and gules.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 193-195
  2. ^ a b c d e f Lahue, Melissa (11 July 2022). "Factsheet 316 Operations Group". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
  3. ^ Douglas C-47A-80-DL 43-15292, September 1944, note that the invasion stripes added for the invasion of France have been partially removed. Ford CG-4A-FO 43-40214 Waco Glider in front being moved by ground personnel.
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 178
  5. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 174, 178, 203

Bibliography

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Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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