About this Unit
The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) traces its heritage to the 379th Bombardment Group, which distinguished itself during World War II as part of the Eighth Air Force in Europe, flying B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. Reactivated in various forms throughout the Cold War, the 379th played roles in both Strategic Air Command and later as an expeditionary force. Since the early 2000s, the 379th AEW has been headquartered at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, serving as a major hub for U.S. Air Force operations in the Middle East. The wing supports a wide array of missions, including air refueling, airlift, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and combat operations across U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.
Historical Facts
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Origins in World War II: The 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) traces its lineage back to the 379th Bombardment Group, which flew B-17 Flying Fortresses in the European Theater during World War II. The group became one of the most decorated heavy bomb groups of the war.
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Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom: The modern 379th AEW has been a key player in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom, providing air refueling, airlift, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance from its base at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
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Al Udeid Air Base: The 379th AEW is headquartered at Al Udeid Air Base, which is the largest US military base in the Middle East and a central hub for US Air Force operations in the region.
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Largest Expeditionary Wing: The 379th AEW has consistently been one of the largest and most diverse expeditionary wings in the USAF, supporting up to 10,000 personnel and a wide range of aircraft.
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Wide Variety of Aircraft: The wing operates numerous aircraft types, including the KC-135 Stratotanker, E-8C JSTARS, B-1B Lancer, RC-135 Rivet Joint, and C-17 Globemaster III, making it one of the most diverse wings in terms of aircraft capability.
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Distinguished Flying Cross: Members of the original 379th Bomb Group earned over 18,000 medals, including numerous Distinguished Flying Crosses, for missions flown over Germany and occupied Europe.
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Guinness World Record: The 379th Bombardment Group (ancestor of the 379th AEW) was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for flying the most bombing missions (over 300) of any US Army Air Forces group in WWII.
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Host of the "Grand Slam" Bombs: During WWII, the 379th Bombardment Group was one of the few to drop the 22,000-pound "Grand Slam" bomb, the largest conventional bomb used at the time.
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Key Role in War on Terror: Since 2003, the 379th AEW has supported continuous combat operations, providing critical air support, logistics, and command and control for coalition forces in the Middle East.
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Humanitarian Missions: In addition to combat operations, the 379th AEW has contributed to humanitarian relief efforts, including medical evacuations and disaster relief missions across the region.
