page_title: 406th Air Expeditionary Group
section_title: From the 1950s
hierarchical_section_title: 406th Air Expeditionary Group / History / From the 1950s
caption_attribution_description: F-86D Serial 52-4063 of the 513th Fighter Interceptor Squadron - Phalsbourg-Bourscheid Air Base France - 1958 Source: United States Air Force Historical Research Agency - Maxwell AFB, Alabama
context_page_description: The 406th Air Expeditionary Group is the operational flying component of the 406th Air Expeditionary Wing. It is a provisional unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe.
  The current status of this unit is undetermined.
  The group's World War II predecessor unit, the 406th Fighter Group was assigned to Ninth Air Force in Western Europe. It was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations for its actions in combat during the Battle of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.
context_section_description: The 406th was reactivated in England as the 406th Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 July 1952 and assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe Third Air Force. It replaced the federalized 123d Fighter-Bomber Group which was returned to Kentucky Air National Guard control. The group was composed of the 512th, 513th and 514th Fighter Squadrons and equipped with F-84G Thunderjets.
  From activation until August 1953, the 406th was tasked with both fighter-bomber and air defense roles in the United Kingdom. In the fall of 1953, the group was re-equipped with F-86F Sabres which were returned from action in Korea. In 1956, the unit was upgraded to the F-86D Sabre interceptor version and the group's mission was changed to assist RAF Fighter Command with air defense of the United Kingdom.
  The group was inactivated on 1 May 1956 when 406th FIW converted to Tri-Deputate organization, assigning operational squadrons directly to the wing.
  The group was reactivated as an Air Expeditionary unit in 2001. Was active in Turkey before Turkey refused to allow its territory to be used as part of the March 2003 invasion of Iraq. It seems likely the 406 AEG was inactivated shortly afterwards.
caption: North American F-86D-45-NA Sabre Serial 52-4063 of the 513th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
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