447th Air Expeditionary Group

447th Air Expeditionary Group
A KC-135 lands at Incirlik Air Base on 2 July 2016.
Active	1943–1945; 1947–1951; 2003–c. 2011; c. 2015–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Incirlik Air Base, Turkey
Nickname(s)	The Ramblers
Motto(s)	Fiat justitia ruat coelum – Let justice be done though the heavens fall
Engagements	European Theater of World War II Iraq Campaign
Decorations	Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Commanders
Current commander	Col David C. Trucksa
Notable commanders	Hunter Harris, Jr.
Insignia
447th Air Expeditionary Group emblem
447th Air Expeditionary Group heritage emblem based on unofficial World War II emblem
World War II Tail Marking	Square K

The 447th Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command (ACC) and United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE). The unit is currently stationed at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.

The group was first active during World War II as the 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy). It participated in combat in the European Theater of Operations with B-17 Flying Fortress at RAF Rattlesden as part of Eighth Air Force. During Big Week, 20–25 February 1944, the 447th took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry.

2d Lieutenant Robert E. Femoyer, of the 711th Bombardment Squadron, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during a mission over Merseburg, Germany, on 2 November 1944. The group returned to the United States following the war and was inactivated.

The group was activated again in 1947 in the Air Force Reserve. It moved to Castle Air Force Base, California in 1949, where it became a corollary unit of the active duty 93d Bombardment Group. It was called to active service in 1951 and was inactivated shortly thereafter while its members were used as fillers for other units.

In 2003, as the 447th Air Expeditionary Group, the unit was converted to provisional status and assigned to Air Combat Command to activate as needed. From April 2003 to December 2011, the group served at Sather Air Base, Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn.