409th Air Expeditionary Group
The 409th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE), which may activate or inactivate the group as needed at any time.
| 409th Air Expeditionary Group | |
|---|---|
Airmen from the 409th Air Expeditionary Group at Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria load humanitarian cargo onto a C-17 Globemaster III | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 2001-unknown; 2003; 2005; 2007; 2008; 2011-present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Air Expeditionary Operations |
| Part of | United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
|
| Garrison/HQ | Nigerien Air Base 201, Niger |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Daniel Kobs |
| Insignia | |
| 409th Air Expeditionary Group emblem | |
| Group marking during World War II | Yellow band on trailing edge of rudder |
The group was first activated in June 1943 during World War II as the 409th Bombardment Group. After moving to Europe, it served in combat with Ninth Air Force, flying Douglas A-20 Havoc, and later Douglas A-26 Invader light bombers Europe from the spring of 1944 through V-E Day. The group returned to the United States in the summer of 1945 and was inactivated in November 1945.
The 409th was reactivated in 2001 as an air expeditionary unit under USAFE in 2001 at Camp Sarafovo, Bulgaria as a support and air refueling unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom using six McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender aircraft deployed from McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey to help keep coalition aircraft fueled and flying on their air routes through Bulgaria and on to the theater of war. The group has subsequently been activated to support several humanitarian operations.
Air Force (magazine) notes in its 2012/13 annual survey of units that the group operated Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft from unspecified locations in the United States Air Forces Africa area of responsibility.