407th Air Expeditionary Group The 407th Air Expeditionary Group ( 407 AEG ) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces Central 321st Air Expeditionary Wing . It is stationed at Ali Air Base , Iraq . The unit was inactivated with the closure of Ali AB on 16 December 2011 . The 407 AEG provides air operations support for coalition air dominance , battlespace control , and security to advance the stabilization of southern Iraq . It provides coalition tactical airlift support with aerial port operations . The 407 AEG was the first Air Force unit to stand up combat operations within Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom . The group traces its history back to the World War II 407th Bombardment Group ( Dive ) which was established 23 March 1943 , at Drew Field , Florida . The air echelon was attached to Eleventh Air Force in Amchitka , Alaska , from 19 July to 15 August 1943 , where it performed combat operations against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands . Overview . Approximately 500 active - duty Air Force , Guard and Reserve members are assigned to the 407 AEG during any given Air and Space Expeditionary Force rotation . It consists of the following squadrons : In addition to its operational commitments , the 407 AEG is the Senior Airfield Authority at Ali Air Base , and is responsible for the defense , control , operations and maintenance of the airfield , land and facilities whose proximity affects airfield operations History . World War II . The 407th AEG traces its history back to the 407th Bombardment Group ( Dive ) which was established 23 March 1943 , at Drew Field , Florida . Its subordinate squadrons at that time included the 632d , 633d , 634th and 635th Bombardment ( Dive ) Squadrons . The air echelon was attached to Eleventh Air Force in Amchitka , Alaska , from 19 July to 15 August 1943 , where it performed combat operations against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands . The 407th was redesignated the 407th Fighter - Bomber Group on 15 August 1943 . At that time , the 632d , 633d and 634th were redesignated the 515th , 516th and 517th Fighter - Bomber Squadrons , respectively , and the 635th was disbanded . In 1943 , the 407th flew the Douglas A - 24 Banshee dive bombers ; North American A - 36 Invader dive bombers , P - 51D Mustang s , and the P - 47 Thunderbolt from 1943 to 1944 as part of the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics . In October 1943 the group moved the Lakeland Army Airfield , Florida , and then to Galveston Army Airfield , Texas in November where it trained for combat , and functioned as a replacement unit until 1 April 1944 , when it was disestablished . Strategic Air Command . The 407th was reactivated as the Strategic Air Command 407th Strategic Fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB , Montana in 1953 . While it was established on 23 March 1953 it was not activated until 18 December 1953 . The wing was assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force and composed of the 407th Air Refueling Squadron with KB - 29 Superfortress tankers and the 515th , 516th and 517th Strategic Fighter Squadrons , equipped with the Republic F - 84G Thunderjet . Also assigned to the wing in " attached " status was the 91st Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron ( 20 December 1954 – 17 July 1955 ) with RF - 84Ks . In 1955 KC - 97 s replaced the KB - 29s . Delays in delivery of the F - 84Gs to the wing led to operational training not commencing until June 1954 . Once operational , from August to November 1954 , the 407th deployed to Misawa Air Base , Japan , where it provided air defense of northern Japan . In doing so , from 8 August to 10 November 1954 it was attached to the 39th Air Division ( Defense ) . Returning to the United States , the wing sent its straight - winged F - 84Gs to AMARC , and was re - equipped with newer and faster swept - wing F - 84F Thunderstreaks . From Great Falls , the 407th provided long - range fighter escort and refueling for B - 36 Peacemaker and B - 50 Superfortress bombers . The wing had a short life , as the strategic fighter doctrine was phased out of use beginning in 1956 . The 407th SFW was inactivated on 1 July 1957 . Modern era . The 407th was redesignated the 407th Air Expeditionary Group and later activated at Tallil Air Base ( now Ali Base ) Iraq on 14 April 2003 as a subordinate to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing , which was stationed at Al Jaber AB , Kuwait . Throughout the summer of 2003 , the mission at Ali Base ( Tallil AB ) expanded . The flightline became home to A - 10s , C - 130s and Predators . The 332nd AEW then transferred from Al Jaber AB , Kuwait , to Ali Base on 5 August 2003 . During that period , the wing ' s A - 10s destroyed more than 1 , 100 targets during major combat operations of Operation Iraqi Freedom . It was also here that U . S . Special Forces staged and planned the rescue of Army Private 1st Class Jessica Lynch , and where the private was flown out of Iraq . Ali Air Base was fully vacated of all US Forces on 16 December 2011 , the 407th AEG was inactivated .