457th Air Expeditionary Group
 | |
|---|---|
 A B-52H Stratofortress takes off from the 457th Group's base in April 2003[note 1] | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1993–1994; 2003 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | expeditionary operations |
| Part of | United States Air Forces Europe |
| Nickname(s) | The Fireball Outfit[1] |
| Motto(s) | Fait Accompli French Mission Accomplished |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations Operation Iraqi Freedom |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award wilth Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Insignia | |
| 457th Air Expeditionary Group emblem |  |
| 457th Bombardment Group emblem[1] |  |
| World War II Tail Code[1] | Triangle with U |
The United States Air Force's 457th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. It has been activated to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, joint operations with the Tanzania Air Force Command and for Operation Odyssey Dawn.
The group was activated during World War II as the 457th Bombardment Group. It flew Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress from England, entering the strategic bombing campaign during Big Week. It flew 7,086 sorties before returning to the United States for inactivation in the summer of 1945. It was again active from 1993 to 1994 as the 457th Operations Group, controlling Air Mobility Command's air refueling operations at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The 457th was converted to provisional status in 2001.
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