387th Air Expeditionary Group

The 387th Air Expeditionary Group is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base (Cargo City) in Kuwait. Since 2022, it has been a direct reporting unit to United States Air Forces Central Command. It was previously under the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait. As a provisional unit assigned to Air Combat Command (ACC), it may be activated or inactivated by ACC at any time. In 2016, the group's mission was to provide support for base operations, coordination with host-nation partners, and administration of the joint-expeditionary-tasked individual augmentees in the United States Central Command area of responsibility.387 AEG salutes new leader, Senior Airman Zachary Kee, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, 8 June 2016

During World War II, the group's predecessor unit, the 387th Bombardment Group, was a Martin B-26 Marauder bombardment group assigned to the Eighth and later Ninth Air Force in Western Europe.

Expeditionary operations The unit was activated in 2003 as a Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, and was inactivated after the active conflict ended. It is currently an active tenant organization of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, stationed at both Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait, and Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, under Air Mobility Command.

Units in 2016:

43rd Expeditionary Electronic Combat Squadron (EC-130H) 46th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron (MQ-1, MQ-9) 387th Air Expeditionary Squadron (Joint-Expeditionary-Tasked Individual Augmentee — JET/IA) 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (C-130)

Units in 2022:

387th Air Expeditionary Squadron 82nd Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron 22nd Expeditionary Combat Weather Squadron 443rd Aerospace Expeditionary Squadron

History 387th Bombardment Group

The 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) was constituted on 25 November 1942, and activated on 1 December 1942 at MacDill Field near Tampa, Florida. The group had four operational squadrons, the 556th, 557th, 558th, and 559th Bombardment Squadrons, and was equipped with the Martin B-26B/C Marauder. After training at several stateside airfields, the group was deployed to England in June 1943.

In England, the 387th was assigned to the Eighth Air Force's 3rd Bomb Wing and stationed at RAF Chipping Ongar in Essex. The 387th was the fourth Marauder group to arrive in the UK. The group began combat on 15 August 1943 by joining with three other B-26 groups attacking coastal defenses on the French Coast near Boulogne in conditions of thick fog. While taking off, one of the B-26 Bombers crashed at the end of the main runway, killing all of the crew members except the tail gunner. The group concentrated its attacks on airfields during the first months of operations. In common with other Marauder units of the 3rd Bomb Wing, the 387th was transferred to Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943.

The group made tactical strikes on V-weapon sites in France in the winter of 1943 to 1944. The group hit airfields at Leeuwarden and Venlo during Big Week, 20–25 February 1944, the intensive campaign against the German Air Force and aircraft industry. The group helped to prepare for Operation Overlord, the invasion of Normandy, by attacking coastal batteries and bridges in France during May 1944. The 387th AEG bombed along the invasion coast on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and supported ground forces throughout the month by raiding railroads, bridges, road junctions, defended areas, and fuel dumps.

The 387th Bomb Group moved to RAF Stoney Cross in Hampshire on 18 July 1944 when Ninth Air Force moved the 98th Bomb Wing's four Marauder groups into the New Forest area at the earliest opportunity to place them closer to the French Normandy invasion beaches. On 21 July 1944, the 387th became operational from Stoney Cross, bombing along the invasion coast and supporting ground forces by raiding railways, bridges, road junctions, defended areas, and fuel dumps.

By 1 September 1944, the group was able to move across the English Channel to its Advanced Landing Ground at a former Luftwaffe airfield at Maupertus, France (A-15).

In April 1945 the group ended combat operations, and then on 24 May 1945 was sent to Rosières-en-Santerre Air Base, France, for several months. The 387th Bomb Group returned to the US in November and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, on 17 November 1945.

387th Air Expeditionary Group The 387th Air Expeditionary Group was activated by Air Combat Command as part of the Global War on Terror in 2003. The 387th was a blend of attack and reconnaissance forces, consisting of close to 500 103 FW and 104 FW personnel and totaling approximately 1,300 personnel. A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft were assigned to the 131st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from the 131st Fighter Squadron (104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard), Barnes Municipal Airport (11 aircraft), and the 118th Fighter Squadron (103rd Fighter Wing, Connecticut Air National Guard) from Bradley Air National Guard Base (seven Aircraft).

Together, the deployed A-10 pilots logged 1,119 sorties and 3,821 flying hours (3,100 combat hours during 900 sorties) with no combat losses or battle damage. The missions included 35 combat-search-and-rescue (CSAR) sorties, with the rescue of an aircraft crew and numerous medical evacuations.

In 2021, the 387th AEG assisted in the evacuation of over 124,000 Afghan personnel from Hamid Karzai International Airport in what was the largest humanitarian airlift in history.

In 2024, members of the 387th AEG deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

Lineage Constituted as 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 25 November 1942 Redesignated 387th Bombardment Group, Medium Activated on 1 December 1942 Inactivated on 17 November 1945 Redesignated 387th Bombardment Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive) Redesignated 387th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status 1 January 2003. Activated in mid January 2003 Inactivated on 1 May 2003 Inactivated in 2024 Activated in 2024

Assignments III Bomber Command, 1 December 1942 – 10 June 1943 3d Bombardment Wing, 25 June 1943 IX Bomber Command, 16 October 1943 98th Combat Bombardment Wing (later 98th Bombardment Wing), 5 December 1943 – November 1945 Army Service Forces, Port of Embarkation (for inactivation), 14–17 November 1945 Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate any time after 1 January 2003 Attached to United States Air Forces Central Command, 2003 – unknown 387th Air Expeditionary Wing, unknown – present

Components 556th Bombardment Squadron: 1 December 1942 – 17 November 1945 557th Bombardment Squadron: 1 December 1942 – 17 November 1945 558th Bombardment Squadron: 1 December 1942 – 17 November 1945 559th Bombardment Squadron: 1 December 1942 – 17 November 1945 131st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 2003 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron, 2003 – 6 March 2012Combat truckers roll out for last time, 3 September 2012 387th Expeditionary Support SquadronGroup effort brings new road to 387 AEG, Senior Airman Zachary Kee, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs, 21 September 2016 387th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron

Stations

MacDill Field, Florida, 1 December 1942 Drane Field, Florida, 12 April 1943 Godman Field, Kentucky, c. 11 May – 10 June 1943 RAF Chipping Ongar (AAF-162), England 25 June 1943 RAF Stoney Cross (AAF-452), England 18 July 1944 452 Maupertuis Airfield (A-15), France, 22 August 1944 Chateaudun Airfield (A-39), France, 18 September 1944

Clastres Airfield (A-71), France, 30 October 1944 Maastricht Airfield (Y-44) Netherlands, 29 April 1945 Rosieres-en-Santerre Airfield (B-87), France, 24 May – c. November 1945 Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, 14–17 November 1945 Prince Hassan Air Base (H5), Jordan, Mid January – 1 May 2003 Abdullah Al-Mubarak Air Base, Kuwait, 2003–2024 Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait, 2024–present

387th Air Expeditionary Group

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