active from about March to June 2003, charged with maintaining an airbridge at the base to transport supplies and people to the United States Central Command area of responsibility at the beginning of the U.S. Iraq War - Operation Iraqi Freedom. Lineage Constituted as the 458th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 May 1943 Activated on 1 July 1943 Redesignated 458th Bombardment Group, Heavy on 16 August 1944 Redesignated 458th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy 5 August 1945 Inactivated on 17 October 1945 Redesignated 458th Operations Group on 1 July 1992 and activated Inactivated on 1 July 1995 Redesignated as 458th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 5 February 2001 Activated on 27 May 2004 Inactivated on 11 June 2004 Activated on 5 May 2006 Inactivated on 6 June 2006 Activated on 3 September 2006 Inactivated on 20 September 2006 Activated on 26 July 2007 Inactivated on 20 September 2007 Activated on 11 October 2007 Inactivated on 13 November 2007 Activated on 26 November 2007 Inactivated on 25 July 2011 Assignments Second Air Force, 1 July 1943 Eighth Air Force, 28 January 1944 2d Bombardment Division, 8 February 1944 Second Air Force, 12 July 1944 – 17 October 1945 22d Air Refueling Wing, 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1995 United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate at any time after 5 February 2001 3d Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, 27 May 2004 – 11 June 2004 Attached to Air Command, Europe, 5 May 2006 – 6 June 2006 Attached to Air Command, Europe, 3 September 2006 – 20 September 2006 Attached to Third Air Force, 26 July 2007 – 20 September 2007 Attached to Third Air Force, 11 October 2007 – 13 November 2007 Attached to Third Air Force, 26 November 2007 - 25 July 2011 Components 2d Air Refueling Squadron, 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1995 32d Air Refueling Squadron, 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1995 37th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, 27 May 2004 – 11 June 2004 71st Air Refueling Squadron, 1 October 1993 – 1 April 1994 81st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 27 May 2004 – 11 June 2004 86th Expeditionary Air Mobility Squadron, 27 May 2004 – 11 June 2004 435th Expeditionary Medical Operations Squadron, 3 September 2006 – 20 September 2006 458th Operations Support Squadron, 1 June 1992 – 1 July 1995 492d Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, 27 May 2004