370th Air Expeditionary Wing: Difference between revisions

370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group
370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group emblem
Active	1943-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Air Expeditionary
Garrison/HQ	Southwest Asia
Commanders
Colonel of the Regiment	Colonel Mark Schmitz

The United States Air Force's 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group (370 AEAG) is an Air Expeditionary unit located in Southwest Asia. The unit activation and assumption of command took place at New Al Muthana Air Base, Iraq, on 22 April 2007.

The 370th AEAG is made up of Airmen from a variety of career fields

The task of developing a comprehensive listing of Air Expeditionary units present in Southwest Asia and other combat areas is particularly difficult as the events of 11 September 2001 and the Global War on Terrorism has made such an effort significantly difficult. The USAF seeks to improve operational security (OPSEC) and to deceive potential enemies as to the extent of American operations, therefore a listing of which units deploying where and when is unavailable

Constituted as 370th Fighter Group on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 Jul 1943. Trained with P-47's. Moved to RAF Aldermaston England, Jan-Feb 1944. Assigned to Ninth Air Force. Operational squadrons of the group were:

• 401st Fighter Squadron
• 402d Fighter Squadron
• 485th Fighter Squadron

When the group arrived, the expected to receive Republic P-47 Thunderbolts on which they had trained. However, much to the amazement of the CO, Colonel Howard Nichols, he was informed by IX Fighter Command that the group was to fly Lockheed P-38 Lightnings, a few of which arrived for training during the 18 days the group was in residence. However, this was only a temporary stationing and the 370th moved to RAF Andover as Aldermaston airfield was required for troop carrier operations.

From Englad, the group dive-bombed radar installations and flak towers, and escorted bombers that attacked bridges and marshalling yards in France as the Allies prepared for the invasion of the Continent. Provided cover for Allied forces that crossed the Channel on 6 Jun 1944, and flew armed reconnaissance missions over the Cotentin Peninsula until the end of the month.

Moved to the Continent in Jul 1944 to support the drive of ground forces across France and into Germany. Hit gun emplacements, troops, supply dumps, and tanks near St Lo in Jul and in the Falaise-Argentan area in Aug 1944. Sent planes and pilots to England to provide cover for the airborne assault on Holland in Sep 1944. Struck pillboxes and troops early in Oct to aid First Army's capture of Aachen, and afterward struck railroads, bridges, viaducts, and tunnels in that area.

Received a DUC for a mission in support of ground forces in the Hurtgen Forest area on 2 Dec 1944 when, despite bad weather and barrages of antiaircraft and small-arms fire, the group dropped napalm bombs on a heavily defended position in Bergstein, setting fire to the village and inflicting heavy casualties on enemy troops defending the area.

Flew armed reconnaissance during the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, attacking warehouses, highways, railroads, motor transports, and other targets. Converted to P-51's, Feb-Mar 1945. Bombed bridges and docks in the vicinity of Wesel to prepare for the crossing of the Rhine, and patrolled the area as paratroops were dropped on the east bank on 24 Mar. Supported operations Of 2d Armored Division in the Ruhr Valley in Apr. Flew last mission, a sweep over Dessau and Wittenberg, on 4 May 1945.

Returned to the US, Sep-Nov 1945. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945.

The 370th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group was activated as part of the Global War On Terror on 27 April 2007.