423rd Air Base Group
Airmen with the group's 423rd Security Forces Squadron prepare to clear a building during an exercise at RAF Molesworth in 2020
Active1995–present[1]
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
Garrison/HQRAF Alconbury, United Kingdom[2]
Insignia
423rd Air Base Group emblem

The 423rd Air Base Group (423 ABG) is a United States Air Force unit located at RAF Alconbury near the town of Huntingdon in the United Kingdom. Its mission is to support operations at RAF Alconbury and the nearby base of RAF Molesworth. Its primary customer is the Joint Analysis Center located at RAF Molesworth.

Units

As of July 2022 the 423rd Air Base Group is made up of the following units:[2]

History

World War II

The group was first organized at Duncan Field, Texas in 1942 as the 45th Air Depot Group. After training in the United States, it moved to England, where it supported units of Ninth Air Force. Its main components were a Supply Squadron and a Repair Squadron, although it also included non-Air Corps units from ordnance, quartermaster, and chemical branches.

It moved to the continent of Europe in 1944. There, a number of mobile reclamation squadrons were assigned for brief periods. Following V-E Day, the group remained in Germany as part of the occupation forces until inactivating in 1947.

Depot support in France

The unit, redesignated the 73rd Air Depot Wing was organized at Kelly Field. Once organized, it moved to France to operate the Chateauroux Air Depot. However, it was inactivated in 1953 and replaced by the 7373rd Air Depot Wing, as the Air Force converted many support units to table of distribution units.

Support in England

The 423rd Air Base Group was activated on 12 May 2005, when it replaced the 423rd Air Base Squadron, which had been activated on 12 July 1995 at RAF Molesworth. The 423 ABS replaced the inactivated 710th Air Base Wing, briefly active at Alconbury to replace the 10th Air Base Wing, which had moved to Colorado on 1 November 1994. Exactly 10 years later, the 423rd ABS was replaced by the 423rd Air Base Group. This was part of a larger reorganization of many geographically separated units within the United Kingdom as components of the 501st Combat Support Wing also located at RAF Alconbury. At this time, 423 ABG headquarters officially moved to RAF Alconbury.

In 2012, the group included around 400 personnel, including about 277 active duty military, 140 Department of Defense civilians and 170 Non-Appropriated Fund employees, as well as 255 Ministry of Defence employees.[3]

Organization

The group is organized into a group staff and six squadrons. The squadrons include the 423rd Communications Squadron, 423rd Medical Squadron (initiated 2007),[4] 423rd Security Forces Squadron, 423rd Force Support Squadron, and 423rd Civil Engineer Squadron. The 426th Air Base Squadron is also under the 423rd Air Base Group but is geographically separated and physically located at Stavanger Air Base, Norway.[3]

Lineage

Activated on 13 March 1942
Redesignated 45th Air Depot c. 1 January 1946
Inactivated c. 31 August 1947
Activated on 9 January 1951
Inactivated on 15 November 1953
Activated on 12 May 2005

Assignments

Stations

Components

Groups
Squadrons

References

Notes

  1. ^ "Tri-Base History". 501st Combat Support Wing. 8 February 2008. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Units". www.501csw.usafe.af.mil. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b "423rd Air Base Group". 501st Combat Support Wing. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  4. ^ Kimmons, Sean (17 January 2007). "423rd Air Base Group adds new Squadron". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 29 January 2018.
  5. ^ Mueller, p. 279
  6. ^ Airfield identifier in Anderson, p. 35.
  7. ^ Airfield identifier in Johnson, p. 17.
  8. ^ Airfield identifier in Johnson, p. 22.
  9. ^ Airfield identifier in Johnson, p. 34.
  10. ^ Airfield identifier in Johnson, p. 41.

Bibliography

External links

United States Air Force in the United Kingdom
United States Air Force
Categories