458th Air Expeditionary Group

458th Air Expeditionary Group
A C-17A Globemaster III of the 458th Air Expeditionary Group at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base
Active
  • 1943–1945
  • 1992–1995
  • 2004
  • 2006 (twice)
  • 2007 (twice)
  • 2007–2011
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAir Expeditionary
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award

The 458th 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. The most recent known activation of the unit was at Ramstein Air Base, Germany in 2011.

The group was first activated during World War II as the 458th Bombardment Group. After training with Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it began training with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses. It was inactivated in October 1945.

The squadron was activated as the 458th Operations Group in 1992, when the air refueling mission was transferred from Strategic Air Command to Air Mobility Command in 1992. It was inactivated once its assets were reassigned to air mobility units in 1994. In 2001, the group was converted to provisional status.