Lineage. Established as 60 Transport Group on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 1 Dec 1940. Redesignated as 60 Troop Carrier Group on 7 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945. Activated on 30 Sep 1946. Redesignated as: 60 Troop Carrier Group, Medium, on 1 Jul 1948; 60 Troop Carrier Group, Heavy, on 5 Nov 1948; 60 Troop Carrier Group, Medium, on 16 Nov 1949. Inactivated on 12 Mar 1957. Redesignated as 60 Military Airlift Group, and activated, on 6 Mar 1978. Inactivated on 15 Feb 1979. Redesignated as 60 Operations Group on 28 Oct 1991. Activated on 1 Nov 1991.
Assignments. III Corps Area, 1 Dec 1940; 50 Transport Wing, 31 Mar 1942; 51 Transport (later, 51 Troop Carrier) Wing, 1 Jun 1942; Eighth Air Force, 19 Jun 1942; Twelfth Air Force, 14 Sep 1942; 51 Troop Carrier Wing, 20 Feb 1944 (attached to 334 Wing, RAF, Balkan Air Force, Mar-Sep 1944); Air Transport Command, 26 May-31 Jul 1945. 51 Troop Carrier Wing, 30 Sep 1946; 60 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium (later, 60 Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy; 60 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium), 1 Jul 1948-12 Mar 1957 (attached to 7320 Air Force Wing, 16 Jan-19 Jan 1949; 1 Air Lift Task Force, 20 Jan-26 Sep 1949). 60 Military Airlift Wing, 6 Mar 1978-15 Feb 1979. 60 Airlift Wing (later, 60 Air Mobility Wing), 1 Nov 1991-.
Components. Squadrons. 6 Air Refueling: 1 Aug 1995-. 7 Military Airlift (later, 7 Airlift): 6 Mar 1978-15 Feb 1979; 1 Nov 1991-1 Oct 1993. 9 Air Refueling: 1 Sep 1994-. 10 Transport (later, 10 Troop Carrier): 1 Dec 1940-31 Jul 1945; 30 Sep 1946-12 Mar 1957. 11 Transport (later, 11 Troop Carrier): 1 Dec 1940-31 Jul 1945; 30 Sep 1946-12 Mar 1957. 12 Transport (later, 12 Troop Carrier): 1 Dec 1940-31 Jul 1945; 30 Sep 1946-12 Mar 1957. 19 Airlift: 1 Oct 1993-30 Sep 1996. 20 Airlift: 1 Oct 1993-31 Dec 1997. 21 Airlift: 1 Oct 1993-. 22 Military Airlift (later, 22 Airlift): 6 Mar 1978-15 Feb 1979; 1 Nov 1991-. 28 Transport (later, 28 Troop Carrier): 20 Apr 1942-31 Jul 1945. 55 Weather Reconnaissance: 1 Feb 1993-1 Oct 1993. 75 Military Airlift (later, 75 Airlift): 6 Mar 1978-15 Feb 1979; 1 Nov 1991-1 Oct 1993. 86 Military Airlift (later, 86 Airlift): 6 Mar 1978-15 Feb 1979; 1 Nov 1991-1 Oct 1993.
Stations. Olmsted Field, PA, 1 Dec 1940; Westover Field, MA, 21 May 1941-20 May 1942; Chelveston, England, 12 Jun 1942; Aldermaston, England, 7 Aug-7 Nov 1942; Relizane, Algeria, 8 Nov 1942; Thiersville, Algeria, 11 May 1943; El Djem, Tunisia, 30 Jun 1943; Gela, Sicily, 31 Aug 1943; Gerbini, Sicily, 29 Oct 1943; Brindisi, Italy, 26 Mar 1944; Naples/Pomigliano Airdrome, Italy, 8 Oct 1944-23 May 1945; Waller Field, Trinidad, 4 Jun-31 Jul 1945. Munich AFB, West Germany, 30 Sep 1946; Kaufbeuren AFB (later, Kaufbeuren AB), West Germany, 14 May 1948; Wiesbaden AB, West Germany, 10 Aug 1948; Kaufbeuren AB, West Germany, 18 Oct 1948; Wiesbaden AB, West Germany, 15 Dec 1948; Rhein-Main AB, West Germany, 26 Sep 1949; Dreux AB, France, 23 Sep 1955-12 Mar 1957. Travis AFB, CA, 6 Mar 1978-15 Feb 1979. Travis AFB, CA, 1 Nov 1991-.
Commanders. Lt Col Samuel C. Eaton Jr., 1 Dec 1940; Capt Arthur L. Logan, 16 May 1941; 1Lt Thomas F. Rafferty, 21 Jul 1941; Lt Col Russell L. Maughan, 28 Jul 1941; Capt Willard B. Atwell Jr., 6 Apr 1942; Lt Col A. J. Kerwin Malone, 15 Apr 1942; Lt Col Thomas J. Schofield, 11 Oct 1942; Lt Col Julius A. Kolb, 2 Dec 1942; Lt Col Frederick H. Sherwood, 29 Mar 1943; Col Clarence J. Galligan, 26 Jul 1943; Lt Col Kenneth W. Holbert, 8 Dec 1944; Lt Col Charles A. Gibson Jr., 11 Jan 1945; Unkn, Apr-Jul 1945. Col Casper P. West, 30 Sep 1946; Col Bertram C. Harrison, Sep 1947; Lt Col Frederick M. O'Neill, Aug 1948; Col Bertram C. Harrison, Sep 1948; Lt Col Frederick M. O'Neill, Nov 1948; Col Theron H. Coulter, Dec 1948; Lt Col Lawrence G. Gilbert, Jan 1949; Col Robert D. Forman, Mar 1949; Lt Col Reesor M. Lawrence, 26 Aug 1950; Col Jay D. Bogue, 5 Dec 1950; Col Donald J. French, 29 Feb 1952; Lt Col John W. Osborn, 14 Jun 1952; Col Lorris W. Moomaw, 25 May 1953; Lt Col Robert L. Olinger, 13 Jun 1954; Col Howard J. Withycombe, 1 Jul 1954; Col Randolph E. Churchill, 5 Jul 1955; Col Charles K. Nelson, 21 May 1956-12 Mar 1957. Col Jack W. Sheppard, 6 Mar 1978; Col Richard J. Trzaskoma, 1 Jun 1978-15 Feb 1979. Col John D. Becker, 1 Nov 1991; Col Craig P. Rasmussen, 19 Jul 1993; Col Bernard H. Fullenkamp, 15 Mar 1995; Col Raymond E. Johns Jr., 24 Jun 1996; Col Paul J. Selva, 11 Aug 1998; Col Janet A. Therianos, 11 Jul 2000; Col Susan Y. Desjardius, 18 Apr 2002; Col Steven F. Miller, 22 Aug 2003; Col William Sick, 30 Jun 2005; Col Michael D. Cassidy, 30 Jun 2005; Col James M. Baron, 15 May 2007; Col Anthony M. Butters, 1 Jul 2009-.
Aircraft. C-52, 1941-1942; C-47, 1942-1945, 1946-1948; C-54, 1948-1949; C-82, 1949-1953; C-119, 1953-1957; C-141, 1978-1979, 1991-1997; C-5, 1978-1979, 1991-; WC-135, 1993; KC-10, 1994-. C-17, 2006-.
Operations. Spearheaded the airborne invasion of North Africa in World War II, flying paratroopers from England to Oran, Algeria, on 7 Nov 1942. Operated from bases in Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy until after V-E Day. Participated in the battle for Tunisia, dropping paratroopers near combat areas. In Jun 1943 took special glider training; then, in Jul, towed gliders to Syracuse and dropped paratroops behind enemy lines at Catania during Allied invasion of Sicily. Flew to northern Italy in Oct 1943, dropping supplies to escapees from enemy POW camps. Dropped paratroops at Megava in the airborne invasion of Greece, Oct 1944. Received a DUC for supporting partisans in the Balkans, Mar-Sep 1944, making unarmed night missions to provisional airfields in Yugoslavia, Albania, and Greece. On return flights evacuated wounded partisans and escaped Allied personnel. Group participated in the Berlin Airlift, Jun 1948 through Sep 1949, flying cargo in all weather conditions to and from Berlin. Later carried out airlift operations in support of regular United States Air Forces in Europe and Allied agencies requirements. Maintained cargo airlift mission while engaging in actual and simulated airborne assault exercises as directed by USAFE until inactivation in 1957.
Between Mar 1978 and Feb 1979, airlifted personnel and cargo worldwide, controlling the 60 MAW's tactical squadrons. Participated in joint exercises and humanitarian airlift missions, including airlift following the Jonestown, Guyana murder-suicides, Nov 1978. In 1991, commenced airlift in support of U.S. relief operations in Somalia during Operations PROVIDE RELIEF and RESTORE HOPE. Supported on-going operations in Southwest Asia during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. Group elements also supported Operation PROVIDE COMFORT that provided relief for Kurdish refugees, assisted in the evacuation of military personnel and their dependents from the Philippines through Operation FIERY VIGIL in 1991, and supplied airlift support to Balkans peacekeeping missions beginning in 1995 with Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR, and continuing under Operations JOINT GUARD and JOINT FORGE. Deployed tanker and support elements to the European theater during Operation ALLIED FORCE from Mar-Jun 1999, as well as providing airlift support to other air expeditionary forces deploying to the operation. Since 11 Sep 2001, participated in Operations NOBLE EAGLE, ENDURING FREEDOM, and IRAQI FREEDOM in the fight against the Global War on Terror. It supported relief efforts after Dec 2004, following the massive tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean coastlines of Indonesia, Thailand, India, and eastern Africa and killed an estimated 140,000 people and left millions homeless; and in the fall of 2005 after hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the US Gulf Coast. On 8 Aug 2006, the 60 OG receive the first of thirteen C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Berlin. Berlin Airlift. Kosovo: Kosovo Air.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Mediterranean Theater of Operations, 28 Mar-15 Sep 1944. Meritorious Unit Award: 1 Jul 2005-30 Jun 2007. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Nov 1991-30 Jun 1992; 1 Nov 1993-31 Jul 1995; 1 Aug 1995-30 Jul 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1999; [3 Apr]-10 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 1999-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2001; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jul 2005; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2009.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 27 Apr 2010.
Aircraft, Commanders, and Operations through 27 Apr 2010.
Emblem. Approved on 23 Jul 2019.
Supersedes statement prepared on 12 Aug 2005.
Prepared by Robert B. Kane.
Review by Carl E. Bailey.