315th Operations Group

315th Operations Group
Emblem of the 315th Operations Group
Active	1942–1945; 1947–1948; 1952–1955; 1962–1966; 1992–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Engagements	World War II

C-17 Globemaster III of the 315th Operations Group

A C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron, Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., flies over downtown Charleston, S.C., during a training mission

The 315th Operations Group (315 OG) is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing. The unit is stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina.

The 315 OG controls all operational C-17 Globemaster III flying squadrons of the 315 AW.

The unit's World War II predecessor unit, the 315th Troop Carrier Group was a C-47 Skytrain transport unit assigned to Ninth Air Force in Western Europe. The 315 TCG was highly decorated for its combat parachute infantry drops during the Invasion of France (Operation Overlord); the airborne invasion of the Netherlands (Operation Market-Garden); and the airborne crossing of the Rhine River, (Operation Varsity).

Units

• 315th Operations Support Squadron
• 300th Airlift Squadron
• 317th Airlift Squadron
• 701st Airlift Squadron
• 315th Airlift Control Flight
• 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

History

For additional lineage and history, see: 315th Airlift Wing

World War II

World War II 315th Troop Carrier Group emblem

After training in the US, moved to England, October–November 1942, for service with Eighth Air Force. Encountering bad weather while flying the North Atlantic route, the air echelon remained for about a month in Greenland, where it searched for missing aircraft and dropped supplies to downed crews.

After the air and ground echelons were united in Dec, the group began ferrying cargo in the British Isles and training with airborne troops and gliders. In May 1943 a "detachment" comprising almost all the group aircraft, aircrews, and most support personnel, deployed to North Africa to support Twelfth Air Force and other Mediterranean Theater of Operations organizations during the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Although the group did not participate in the airborne phase of the invasions, it did support those operations by transporting supplies in the theater.

In March 1944 the detachment returned to England and rejoined the group, which had been reassigned to Ninth Air Force in October 1943. Prepared for the invasion of the Continent, and dropped paratroops near Cherbourg early on 6 June 1944, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for its action in the Normandy invasion.

Dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne Division on 17 September 1944 when the Allies launched the air attack on the Netherlands; flew reinforcement missions on succeeding days, landing at Grave on 26 September to unload paratroops and supplies. Airlifted gasoline and other critical supplies to Antwerp and Liege during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945.

Released British paratroops near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945. Following each airborne operation, the group resumed transport activities, hauling cargo and evacuating wounded personnel. Moved to France in April 1945.

Transported cargo and evacuated allied former prisoners of war until after V-E Day. Moved to Trinidad in May 1945 and transported troops returning to the US. Inactivated on 31 July 1945.

Cold War

Emblem used in Vietnam 1965

Activated in 1947, the group was not manned or equipped, and inactivated again in 1948. Next activated in Japan in 1952, assigned to Far East Forces, for duty during the Korean War. Flew troop and cargo airlift and airdrop, leaflet drops, spray missions, air evacuation, search and rescue, and other aerial missions between Japan and Korea. Remained in the Far East after the war to fly transport missions and paratroop training flights. Flew missions in Japan, Korea, French Indo-China, and other points until December 1954. Inactivated in Japan on 18 January 1955.

Organized in South Vietnam in December 1962, replacing a provisional troop carrier group. Exercised control over USAF airlift resources in Vietnam, using attached squadrons until permanent squadrons were assigned in July 1963. Provided combat evaluation of YC-123 aircraft, February–April 1963. Exercised control of some CV-2 aircraft of US Army, July–December 1963 and of a CV-2 Royal Australian Air Force detachment, 1964–1966. Gained the Ranch Hand defoliation mission in July 1964. Replaced in March 1966 by the 315th Air Commando Wing.

Modern era

Activated at Charleston AFB, SC, in the Reserve in August 1992 to control the airlift operations of the 315th Airlift Wing. Flew contingency operation, humanitarian airlift missions, and exercises worldwide, 1992–. In 1993, the 315th was the first Air Force Reserve group to fly the C-17 Globemaster III. It took part in the first US-Russian joint military exercise in 1994.

Lineage

• Established as 315th Transport Group on 2 February 1942

Activated on 14 February 1942

Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group on 4 July 1942

Inactivated on 31 July 1945

• Activated on 19 May 1947

Inactivated on 10 September 1948

• Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, on 23 May 1952

Activated on 10 June 1952

Inactivated on 18 January 1955

• Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group, Assault, and activated, on 9 November 1962

Organized on 8 December 1962

Redesignated 315th Air Commando Group, Troop Carrier, on 8 March 1965

Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 March 1966

Redesignated: 315th Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)

• Redesignated: 315th Operations Group on 1 August 1992

Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992

Assignments

• Air Service Command, 14 February 1942
• 50th Transport Wing, 31 March 1942
• 52d Troop Carrier Wing, 20 June 1942
• VIII Air Support Command, c. 29 November 1942

Attached to 1 Fighter Division [Provisional], 30 August – 15 October 1943

• 50th Troop Carrier Wing, 16 October 1943
• 52d Troop Carrier Wing, 18 February 1944
• Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command, 15 May – 31 July 1945

• Tactical Air Command, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948
• 315th Troop Carrier Wing, 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
• Pacific Air Forces, 9 November 1962
• 315th Troop Carrier Wing, 8 December 1962 – 8 March 1966

Attached to 2d Air Division entire period

• 315th Troop Carrier Wing, 1 August 1992–present

Components

• 6th Transport Squadron: March–June 1942
• 19th Troop Carrier (later, 19th Air Commando) Squadron: 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955; 8 October 1964 – 8 March 1966
• 32d Transport (later, 32d Troop Carrier) Squadron: 14 February – 11 November 1942 (detached 27 September – 11 November 1942)
• 34th Transport (later, 34th Troop Carrier) Squadron (NM): 14 February 1942 – 31 July 1945; 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948; 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
• 35th Transport Squadron: 14 February – 8 June 1942
• 43d Transport (later, 43d Troop Carrier) Squadron (UA): 15 June 1942 – 31 July 1945; 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948; 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
• 54th Transport (later, 54th Troop Carrier) Squadron: 11 June – 22 October 1942 (detached)
• 61st Troop Carrier Squadron: 26 October 1942 – 14 March 1943 (detached)
• 62d Troop Carrier Squadron: 5 December 1942 – 14 March 1943 (detached)
• 300th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992-Presen
• 309th Troop Carrier (later, 309th Air Commando) Squadron (M6): 26 April 1944 – 31 July 1945; 1 July 1963 – 8 March 1966
• 310th Troop Carrier (later, 310th Air Commando) Squadron (4A): 26 April 1944 – 31 July 1945; 8 July 1963 – 8 March 1966
• 311th Troop Carrier (later, 311th Air Commando) Squadron: 8 July 1963 – 8 March 1966
• 317th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992–present
• 344th Troop Carrier Squadron: 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955 (detached 14 December 1952 – 13 October 1953)
• 701st Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992–present
• 707th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – 1 July 2000
• 776th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1–8 July 1963
• 777th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 17 April – 30 June 1963, assigned 1–8 July 1963
• Tactical Air Force Transport, Provisional, 2: attached 8 December 1962 – 8 July 1963.

Stations

• Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania, 14 February 1942
• Bowman Field, Kentucky, 18 June 1942
• Florence Army Airfield, South Carolina, 4 August–October 1942
• RAF Aldermaston (AAF-467), England, December 1942
• RAF Welford (AAF-474), England, 6 November 1943
• RAF Spanhoe (AAF-493), England, 7 February 1944

• Amiens Airfield (B-48), France, 6 April – 13 May 1945
• Waller Field, Trinidad, c. 24 May – 31 July 1945
• Langley Field (later, AFB), Virginia, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948
• Brady Air Base, Japan, 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
• Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 December 1962 – 8 March 1966
• Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 1 August 1992–present

Aircraft

• Primarily C-47, 1942–1945, but included C-60, 1942; C-53, 1942 and 1944–1945; and C-46, 1945. C-46, 1952–1955.
• Primarily C-123, 1962–1966, but included YC-123, 1963; CV-2, 1963 and 1964–1966; HUC-123, 1964–1965; UC-123, 1965–1966; and C-130, 1965–1966.
• C-141 Starlifter, 1992-c. 2000
• C-17 Globemaster III, 1993–present

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4
• Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.