After training in the United States with Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers, the 455th deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany.

The wing's mission was to provide fighter, rescue, transport, and other air force activities as part of U.S. operations during the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021).

The commander was supported by a wing staff and oversaw five Air Force groups located at Bagram and one at Kandahar Airfield.

[20] After completing training at Langley Field, Virginia, the group departed the United States for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in December 1943.

[15] On 2 April 1944, the group attacked a ball-bearing plant at Steyr, Austria for which it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC).

The primary target, the Daimler-Pusch aircraft engine factory was obscured by clouds, so the unit attacked the nearby ball bearing plant although attacks by an estimated 75 twin-engine fighters continued through the bomb run and heavy, accurate flak was encountered.

[15][24] The group provided air support to ground forces in Operation Shingle, the landings at Anzio and the Battle of Monte Cassino in the spring of 1944.

It knocked out coastal defenses to clear the way for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France in September.

As Axis forces were withdrawing from the Balkan peninsula in the fall of 1944, the squadron bombed marshalling yards, troop concentrations and airfields to slow their retreat.

It flew air interdiction missions to support Operation Grapeshot, the Spring 1945 offensive in Northern Italy.

[25] Following the surrender of German forces in Italy, it flew some supply missions and transported personnel to ports and airfields for shipment back to the United States.

The 740th Squadron's ground personnel moved to Bari Airfield in July 1945, where they serviced the aircraft assigned to headquarters, Fifteenth Air Force.

[1] The group was reactivated as a reserve unit under Air Defense Command (ADC) in March 1947 at Hensley Field, Texas, with the 740th Squadron, which was already active,[16] assigned to it.

[28] President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force.

As a result, the group was inactivated and its personnel and equipment at Hensley Field were transferred to elements of the 443d Troop Carrier Wing, which was activated simultaneously.

[citation needed] On 25 June 1968, the 455th was inactivated and transferred its assets to the 91st Strategic Missile Wing, which moved to Minot on paper from Glasgow Air Force Base, Montana.

[2] The 455th was converted to provisional status in December 2001 and redesignated the 455th Air Expeditionary Group after the United States invasion of Afghanistan.

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency