In a historic moment that included the recognition of the Tuskegee Airmen, the United States Air Force recently held a ceremony to mark the reactivation of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group (AEG). The group is a direct descendent of the 332nd Fighter Group of WWII, known as the legendary Red Tails.
The 332nd has been activated and deactivated in accordance with the current needs of the USAF. Col. Jason Hanonver, commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, provided his remarks at the ceremony. “We celebrate the return of one of the most historic aerial fighting forces the world has ever seen as we stand up the 332nd Air Expeditionary Group,” he said. “Today, we once again call on the Red Tails to stand… as our nation’s sword and shield to join a powerful coalition to fight a (new) global evil.”
The group’s new commander is Col. Michael Stohler. He notes, “As Airmen of the 332nd, through our hard work and dedication, we will carry forward the honor (the Red Tails) deserve by remembering their sacrifices and success.”
The unit will work with coalition forces to support Operation INHERENT RESOLVE and other regional operations.
The CAF Red Tail Squadron is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to educating audiences across the country about the history and legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, America’s first black military pilots and their support personnel. Learn more at www.redtail.org.
