504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group

504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group
Active	1966–1972, 2009–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Forward Air Control and Air Support Operations
Part of	United States Air Forces Central
Garrison/HQ	Kabul International Airport
Decorations	PUC RVGC w/ Palm MUA

The 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first activated in 1966 for service during the Vietnam War, and was reactivated in 2009 for service in Afghanistan. It was inactivated on 12 May 2016.

In Vietnam the group provided combat ready aircraft and crews in support of air and ground operations in Southeast Asia (SEA); conducted visual reconnaissance and convoy escort; trained Air Liaison Officers (ALO) and Forward Air Controllers (FAC), 1966–1972. On reactivation in 2009 it began to provide air support, air liaison, and weather support for ground operations, 30 Mar 2009 until inactivated on 12 May 2016 having been replaced by the 817th EASOS, the only remaining squadron.

From 2009 in Afghanistan the three squadrons of the group performed separate roles:^[1]

• 717th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron – coordinates with NATO's International Security Assistance Force and U.S. Forces-Afghanistan to provide air support throughout the region.^[2]
• 817th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Squadron – primarily embeds tactical air control parties with Army units.
• Inactivated 2014: 19th Expeditionary Weather Squadron – creates weather forecasts for the Army.

History^[3]

Lineage

• Established as 504th Tactical Air Support Group, and activated on 5 Dec 1966.

Organized on 8 Dec 1966.

Inactivated on 15 Mar 1972.

• Redesignated as 504th Expeditionary Air Support Operations Group, and converted to provisional status, on 12 Feb 2009.

Activated 30 Mar 2009.

19 EWXS in Afghanistan in 2011

Assignments

• Pacific Air Forces, 5 Dec 1966
• Seventh Air Force, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972
• Air Combat Command 12 Feb 2009
• Ninth Air Force 30 Mar 2009 – present.

Operational Components in Vietnam

• 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Jan 1972
• 20th Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972
• 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972
• 22d Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 May 1971
• 23d Tactical Air Support Squadron, 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972

Stations

• Bien Hoa AB, Vietnam, 8 Dec 1966
• Cam Ranh Bay AB, Vietnam, 30 Apr 1970
• Phan Rang AB, Vietnam, 1 Oct 1971 – 15 Jan 1972
• Bagram Air Base 30 March 2009 – 30 March 2010.
• Kabul International Airport 1 Apr 2010–present.

Aircraft

• O-1, 1967–1971
• O-2, 1967–1972
• OV-10, 1968–1972.

Campaign Streamers

• Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter/Spring; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII.

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citations: 1 Aug 1968 – 31 Aug 1969; 1 Jan – 31 Dec 1970; 30 Jan – 31 Dec 1971. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm: 8 Dec 1966 – 15 Mar 1972; 8 Feb – 31 Mar 1971; 1 Apr 1971 – 9 Mar 1972.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bagram Air Base.

• Factsheet
• 455 AEW's Bagram Airfield Official Site

United States Air Force
Leadership	Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 4-star generals House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major Commands Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe & Africa Pacific Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth Twenty-Fifth Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Airmen Rank Officers Enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: USAF Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Uniforms
History and traditions	History Army Air Service / Corps / Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band The Airmen of Note Tops In Blue Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Air Force One Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers
Category Portal