307th Operations Group

307th Operations Group
B-52H of the 307th Operations Group taking off from RAF Fairford
Active	15 April 1942-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Group
Role	Bombardment
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana
Nickname(s)	"The Long Rangers"
Tail Code	"BD"
Insignia
307th Operations Group emblem
Aircraft flown
Bomber	B-52H Stratofortress

The 307th Operations Group (349 OG) is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 307th Bomb Wing, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana.

In the postwar era, the 307th Bombardment Group was one of the USAAF bombardment groups assigned to Strategic Air Command on 4 August 1946, the group being activated as a redesignation of the 498th Bombardment Group due to the Air Force's policy of retaining only low-numbered groups on active duty after the war. The group deployed to Okinawa during the Korean War and was awarded the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation for its air strikes against enemy forces in Korea. It was also awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation and several campaign streamers.

The 307th Operations Group was activated on 8 January 2011. Its mission is strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike.

The Air Force Reserve wing is a B-52 Stratofortress unit whose mission is to train B-52 pilots in initial qualification. The B-52 combat mission is to employ the bomber in support of Air Force worldwide conventional commitments.

Activated on 15 April 1942. Trained and flew patrols off the West Coast, first in B-17 Flying Fortresses and later in B-24 Liberators. Moved to Hawaii, October–November 1942, and assigned to Seventh Air Force. Trained and flew patrol and search missions. Attacked Wake Island, December 1942 – January 1943, by staging through Midway Island.

Moved to Guadalcanal in February 1943 and assigned to Thirteenth Air Force. Served in combat, primarily in the South and Southwest Pacific, until the war ended. Attacked Japanese airfields, installations, and shipping in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Islands. Helped to neutralize enemy bases on Yap and in the Truk and Palau Islands. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation for an unescorted, daylight attack on heavily defended airfields in the Truk Islands on 29 March 1944. Supported operations in the Philippines by striking Japanese shipping in the southern Philippines and by bombing airfields on Leyte, Luzon, Negros, Ceram, and Halmahera. Also took part in Allied air operations against the Netherlands East Indies by hitting airfields, shipping, and installations.