Lineage. Established as 445 Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 20 Mar 1943. Activated on 1 Apr 1943. Redesignated as 445 Bombardment Group, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 12 Sep 1945. Redesignated as 445 Bombardment Group, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated as 445 Fighter-Bomber Group on 24 Jun 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 8 Jul 1952. Redesignated as 445 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 6 Sep 1957. Inactivated on 25 Sep 1958. Redesignated as: 445 Military Airlift Group on 31 Jul 1985; 445 Operations Group on 1 Aug 1992. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1992. Inactivated on 1 May 1994. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1994.
Assignments. II Bomber Command, 1 Apr 1943; Second Air Force, 6 Oct 1943; Eighth Air Force, c. 2 Nov 1943; VIII Bomber Command, 5 Nov 1943; 2 Bombardment Division, 9 Nov 1943; 2 Combat Bombardment Wing, Nov 1943; Air Transport Command, 9 Jun-12 Sep 1945. 305 Bombardment Wing (later, 305 Air Division), 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. 445 Fighter-Bomber (later, 445 Troop Carrier) Wing, 8 Jul 1952-25 Sep 1958. 445 Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994. 445 Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1994-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 15 Bombardment: 1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949. 89 Airlift: 1 Oct 1994-. 356 Airlift: 1 Oct 1994-30 Jun 2006. 357 Troop Carrier: 16 Nov 1957-25 Mar 1958. 700 Bombardment (later, 700 Fighter-Bomber; 700 Troop Carrier): 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949; 8 Jul 1952-25 Sep 1958 (detached 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958). 701 Bombardment (later, 701 Fighter-Bomber; 701 Troop Carrier): 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949; 8 Jul 1952-1 Jul 1957; 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. 702 Bombardment (later, 702 Fighter-Bomber; 702 Troop Carrier): 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 1 Aug 1947-27 Jun 1949; 8 Jul 1952-1 Jul 1957; 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. 703 Bombardment: 1 Apr 1943-12 Sep 1945; 1 Jan-28 May 1948. 729 Airlift: 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994. 730 Airlift: 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994.
Stations. Gowen Field, ID, 1 Apr 1943; Wendover Field, UT, 8 Jun 1943; Sioux City AAB, IA, 8 Jul-20 Oct 1943; Tibenham, England, 4 Nov 1943-28 May 1945; Ft Dix, NJ, 9 Jun-12 Sep 1945. McChord Field (later, McChord AFB), WA, 12 Jul 1947-27 Jun 1949. Buffalo, NY, 8 Jul 1952; Niagara Falls Muni Aprt, NY, 15 Jun 1955; Memphis Muni Aprt, TN, 16 Nov 1957-25 Sep 1958. Norton AFB, CA, 1 Aug 1992; March AFB, CA, 1 Jul 1993-1 May 1994. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Oct 1994-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1999-30 Sep 2001; 1 Jan 2007-31 Dec 2008; 1 Jan 2008-31 Dec 2009. French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 5 Jun 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 30 Oct 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 22 Dec 2022.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.