Photo By Senior Airman Saisha Cornett | U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing encase the 19th Operations...... read more read more
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LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. -- The 19th Airlift Wing inactivated its 19th Operations Group and 19th Maintenance Group during a ceremony at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas, Sept. 18, 2025.
Col. Bret Echard, 19th Airlift Wing and installation commander, presided over the ceremony, which included the traditional casing of the groups’ guidons, a symbolic farewell to the units’ lineage and heritage. Airmen, families and community members gathered to honor the legacies of the two groups, which span more than 80 years.
“These groups have been the cornerstone of our success,” Echard said. “When we reflect on both these groups; the missions they’ve accomplished and the challenges they’ve overcome, it’s the Airmen in these groups that made the mission happen without hesitation.”
The inactivation supports the Air Force’s transition to an A-Staff structure at the wing echelon. The new structure centralizes planning and coordination while allowing tactical units to focus entirely on mission execution.
The 19th OG was first activated June 24, 1932, as the 19th Bombardment Group. It initially served as a stateside training unit before becoming one of the first groups to fly the B-17 Flying Fortress. At the start of World War II, the group was located at Clark Field in the Philippines, where it continued flying reconnaissance and bombardment missions.
After returning to the U.S. in 1943, the unit transitioned to the B-29 Superfortress and redeployed to the Pacific in 1945. It remained active after the war, flying combat missions throughout the Korean War before inactivating in 1953. The group activated during the Cold War as the 19th Refueling Group, Heavy in 1985 and later as the 19th OG in 1991, providing aerial refueling worldwide and supporting operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. On Oct. 1, 2008, the group was again redesignated the 19th OG.
“The 19th Operations Group never flew alone, we always flew as part of a wing, part of a team,” said Col. Christopher Welch, 19th OG commander. “We often hear the cliché that ops is at the tip of the spear, but the whole Air Force, this whole team, is the weapon.”
The 19th MXG traces its origins to Feb. 1, 1940, when it was activated as Base Headquarters and the 19th Air Base Squadron. It was redesignated the 19th Air Base Group later that year, the 19th Service Group in 1942, and finally the 19th Air Service Group in 1945. During World War II, the unit served at bases in the U.S., United Kingdom, North Africa, Italy and France, primarily under Twelfth Air Force. Its Airmen kept tactical aircraft flying in the Mediterranean and European theaters, ensuring combat units remained mission ready until the group was disbanded in May 1945.
After more than 60 years, the group was activated Oct. 1, 2008, at Little Rock AFB as the 19th MXG. Since then, its maintainers have sustained the C-130 Hercules fleet, providing critical support for global tactical airlift missions.
“The constant that didn’t change is the maintenance culture and mindset,” said Col. Amanda Sheets, 19th MXG commander. “Today we are inactivating the maintenance group, but the maintenance culture still lives. Maintenance gets it done.”
Looking to the future, this transition aligns with Department of the Air Force priorities, improves staff integration, enhances readiness and ensures the wing can generate combat power in complex operational environments.
“Today, we celebrate how we got here, what we’ve accomplished and what’s ahead. Ready to remain out front,” Echard said.
| Date Taken: | 09.18.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2025 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 548726 |
| Location: | LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, ARKANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 30 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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