379th AEW

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.