60th Operations Group
The 60th Operations Group (60 OG) is the airlift component of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. Its history stretches back to 1940, when it began as the 60th Transport Group and later became the 60th Troop Carrier Group.
World War II and the Mediterranean theater
- In World War II, the group flew under the Eighth Air Force and then the Twelfth Air Force, delivering troops and supplies, towing gliders, and dropping paratroopers in Sicily, Greece, and the Balkans.
- It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its support of partisans in the Balkans (March–September 1944) despite bad weather and enemy fire.
- The unit flew thousands of missions, delivered more than 7,000 tons of cargo, evacuated wounded personnel, and lost 10 aircraft with 34 members killed or missing.
Berlin Airlift and postwar years
- After the war, the group helped with the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949), operating from Kaufbeuren and Wiesbaden with C-47s and C-54s.
- It later flew C-82, C-119, and C-47 aircraft and served at Rhein-Main and Wiesbaden before being inactivated in 1957.
Later reactivations and modern operations
- It was briefly reactivated as the 60th Military Airlift Group in 1978–1979, providing worldwide airlift and humanitarian missions.
- In 1991, it was activated again as the 60th Operations Group under the Objective Wing concept, becoming the flying element of the 60th Air Mobility Wing.
- Since 1991, the group has supported operations across the globe, including relief in Somalia, Southwest Asia (Southern Watch), and Kosovo (Joint Endeavor/Joint Guard/Joint Forge), and participated in Allied Force in 1999.
- It supported operations in the wake of 9/11, including Enduring Freedom, with airlift and tanker support from its aircraft and deploying elements.
Today and aircraft
- The 60 OG operates C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III, and KC-46A Pegasus aircraft, reflecting its role in global airlift and air refueling.
- It is the largest Operations Group in Air Mobility Command and maintains its mission to move troops, equipment, and supplies around the world.
- The group’s decorations include the Distinguished Unit Citation, Meritorious Unit Award, and eleven Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 19:51 (CET).