316th Operations Group The 316th Operations Group ( 316 OG ) is the flying component of the Air Force District of Washington 316th Wing , stationed at Andrews Air Force Base , Maryland . Its World War II predecessor unit , the 316th Troop Carrier Group was a highly decorated C - 47 Skytrain unit that served with Ninth and Twelfth Air Force in the European and the Mediterranean theater s . As part of Operation Avalanche , the Allied invasion of Italy , the 316th dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943 . Later during Operation Overlord , the Allied invasion of France , the group dropped paratroops near Ste - Mere - Eglise a few hours before the main landings on 6 June 1944 . It also dropped paratroops and released gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne invasion of the Netherlands , Operation Market - Garden in September 1944 . By the end of the war , the 316th Troop Carrier Group was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citation s . Overview . The group is tasked with the operations of the 1st Helicopter Squadron , which supports Washington D . C . capital area airlift for the Executive Branch , high - ranking dignitaries , high - ranking military leaders and other VIPs . It operates Bell UH - 1N Hueys . The 316th Operations Support Squadron provides the necessary support infrastructure for the Group and the 25 other tenant flying units on Andrews AFB . History . World War II . Trained with I Troop Carrier Command with C - 47 and C - 53 aircraft . Moved to the Mediterranean theater , assigned to Ninth Air Force , and began operations in November 1942 . Flew combat missions in North Africa Egypt / Libya campaign . Transported supplies and evacuated casualties in support of the Allied drive across North Africa . In February 1943 the 316th TCG became a part of the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing of the Northwest African Troop Carrier Command in the official Allied air force organization in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations ( MTO ) . In May 1943 , the group began training for the invasion of Sicily where they dropped paratroopers over the assault area on the night of 9 July , and carried reinforcements on 11 July , receiving DUC for carrying out that mission although severely attacked by ground and naval forces . They received another DUC for supporting aerial and ground operations in Egypt , Libya , Tunisia , and Sicily , 25 November 1942 – 25 August 1943 , by transporting reinforcements and supplies . During this period , the group was under the command of Colonel Jerome McCauley . The 316th was assigned to Twelfth AF and moved to Sicily to take part in the invasion of Italy , where it dropped paratroops over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943 . They transported cargo in the theater until February 1944 , then joined Ninth AF in England and prepared for the invasion of France . The unit dropped paratroops near Ste - Mere - Eglise on D — Day 1944 and flew a reinforcement mission on 7 June , receiving a third DUC for these operations . During Operation Market Garden , they dropped paratroops and released gliders carrying reinforcements . Again they dropped paratroops near Wesel on 24 March 1945 when the Allies made the airborne assault across the Rhine . They also provided transport services in Europe while not engaged in airborne operations , hauling supplies such as ammunition , gasoline , water , and rations ; along with evacuating wounded personnel to rear - zone hospitals . Cold War . Returned to the US in May 1945 . Trained with C - 47 C - 82 and later C - 119 aircraft as part of Tactical Air Command . Transferred , without personnel and equipment , to Japan on 15 November 1954 . Assigned to Far East Air Forces , manned , and equipped with C - 119s and performed theater airlift missions primarily to Japan , Okinawa , Philippines and South Korea . Inactivated in 1957 . Modern era . Reactivated in 2006 to be operational flying component of AFDW 316th Wing in Washington D . C . area .