407th Air Expeditionary Group
The 407th Air Expeditionary Group (407 AEG) was a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces Central Command, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing. It was stationed at Ali Air Base, Iraq, until the closure of the base on 16 December 2011. It was activated as part of the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing due to Military intervention against ISIL at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, and Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base, Kuwait. In 2023 Jane's Defence Weekly confirmed a June 2022 AFCENT statement that the 407 AEG had been inactivated.
| 407th Air Expeditionary Group | |
|---|---|
407th Air Expeditionary Group emblem | |
| Active | 1943–1944 1953–1957 17 April 2003 – December 2011 2016–June 2022 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Air Expeditionary Group |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Central Command 332d Air Expeditionary Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Ahmad al-Jaber Air Base |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Carroll W. McColpin |
The 407 AEG provided air operations support for coalition air dominance, battlespace control, and security to advance the stabilization of southern Iraq. It provides coalition tactical airlift support with aerial port operations. The 407 AEG was the first Air Force unit to stand up combat operations within Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The group traces its history back to the World War II 407th Bombardment Group (Dive) which was established 23 March 1943, at Drew Field, Florida. The air echelon was attached to Eleventh Air Force in Amchitka, Alaska, from 19 July to 15 August 1943, where it performed combat operations against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands.