405 Air Expeditionary Group (ACC) Lineage. Established as 405 Bombardment Group (Dive) on 4 Feb 1943. Activated on 1 Mar 1943. Redesignated as: 405 Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 Aug 1943; 405 Fighter Group on 30 May 1944. Inactivated on 29 Oct 1945. Redesignated as 405 Fighter-Bomber Group on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Inactivated on 8 Oct 1957. Redesignated as 405 Tactical Training Group on 31 Jul 1985. Redesignated as 405 Expeditionary Operations Group, and converted to provisional status, on 4 Dec 2001. Redesignated as: 405 Air Expeditionary Group on 22 May 2003; 405 Expeditionary Operations Group on 23 Feb 2010; 405 Air Expeditionary Group on 21 Apr 2010. Assignments. III Air Support Command, 1 Mar 1943; III Fighter Command, 15 Aug 1943; IX Fighter Command, 6 Mar 1944; 84 Fighter Wing, Mar 1944; IX Tactical Air Command, Jun 1944; XIX Tactical Air Command, 5 Aug 1944 (attached to IX Tactical Air Command, 5 Aug-c. Sep 1944); IX Fighter Command, 8 Feb 1945 (attached to XXIX Tactical Air Command, c. 9 Feb 1945-unkn); 100 Fighter Wing, Feb 1945; Ninth Air Force, 26 Apr 1945; unkn, 2 Jul-c. 26 Oct 1945; Army Service Forces, Hampton Roads Port of Embarkation, VA, c. 26-29 Oct 1945. 405 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957. Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 4 Dec 2001. Components. Squadrons. 624 (later, 509) Bombardment: 1 Mar 1943-15 Oct 1945; 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957. 625 (later, 510) Bombardment: 1 Mar 1943-27 Oct 1945; 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957. 626 (later, 511) Bombardment: 1 Mar 1943-19 Oct 1945; 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957. 627 Bombardment: 1 Mar-15 Aug 1943. Stations. Drew Field, FL, 1 Mar 1943; Walterboro AAFld, SC, 14 Sep 1943-14 Feb 1944; Christchurch, England, 7 Mar 1944; Picauville, France, 11 Jul 1944; St. Dizier, France, Sep 1944; Ophoven, Belgium, 6 Feb 1945; Kitzingen, Germany, 23 Apr 1945; Straubing, Germany, 8 May 1945; Laon, France, 6 Jul 1945; Crepy-en-Laonnois, France, 14 Jul 1945; Colas, France, 21 Sep-13 Oct 1945; Camp Patrick Henry, VA, 26-29 Oct 1945. Godman AFB, KY, 1 Dec 1952; Langley AFB, VA, 16 Apr 1953-8 Oct 1957. Commanders. Lt Col Marvin S. Zipp, 1 Mar 1943; Lt Col Mark E. Hubbard, 2 Jul 1943; Maj Fred G. Hook Jr., 12 Jul 1943; Col James Ferguson, 5 Nov 1943; Col Robert L. Delashaw, 26 Apr 1944; Lt Col J. Garrett Jackson, 22 Oct 1944; unkn, May-29 Oct 1945. Col George Laven Jr., 1 Dec 1952; Col Donald A. Baccus, 16 Apr 1953; Col William S. Cowart Jr., 6 Jul 1954; Col Robert D. Johnston, by May 1955; Col John G. Napier, 27 Feb 1956; Lt Col Homer K. Hansen, 2 Mar 1957; Col William I. Williams, 21 Sep-8 Oct 1957. Aircraft. A-24, 1943; A-25, 1943; A-35, 1943; P-39, 1943; P-47, 1943-1945. F-47, 1952; F-84, 1953-1956; F-100, 1956-1957. Operations. Trained in the United States for dive-bombing, armed reconnaissance, escort, fighter sweep, and close air support missions until mid-Feb 1944, when the group began its movement to England. From early April to early June, attacked enemy ground targets such as airdromes, marshalling yards, and bridges in occupied France. For the Allied invasion of Normandy, the group flew patrols in the vicinity of Brest and armed reconnaissance missions. Moved to France in early July 1944 and from then until the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, concentrated on close air support missions for advancing Allied ground forces. Bombed enemy vehicles and gun positions at St. Lo in Jul 1944, helping in the breakout from the Normandy beachhead. Attacked barges, troops, roads, and warehouses during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945. Struck airfields and marshalling yards when the Allies crossed the Rhine River in Mar 1945. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a mission in France on 24 Sep 1944: answering a request from Third Army for support during a furious battle near Laneuveville-en-Saulnois, two squadrons, despite rain and dense overcast, bombed and strafed enemy tanks and a convoy of trucks and armored vehicles, while a third squadron hit warehouses and other buildings and silenced ground opposition in the area. The Belgian government cited the group for operations, Jun-Sep 1944, that contributed to the Allied liberation of Belgium. Flew last combat mission on 8 May 1945. Engaged in air disarmament activities in the immediate post-war period, then returned to France before sailing for the United States for inactivation at the end of October. Beginning in Dec 1952, the group resumed training in the United States for fighter missions, shifting from propeller-driven to jet-powered aircraft. Managed the tactical squadrons of the 405 Fighter-Bomber Wing until inactivation in Oct 1957. Service Streamers. World War II American Theater. 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: France, 24 Sep 1944. Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army: 6 Jun-30 Sep 1944. Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 21 Apr 2010. Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 8 Oct 1957. Supersedes statement prepared on 4 Dec 2001. Emblem. Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll. Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman Reviewed by Carl E. Bailey