Group was assigned to Kirkuk Regional Air Base on 23 April 2003, nearly one month after Operation Iraqi Freedom started. At that time, the group flew A-10 Thunderbolts, which flew close air support and focused intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The last A-10 departed the base in the Spring of 2004. By May 2006, the unit was attempting to discuss turnover of base fence guard and other associated duties to the New Iraqi Army, Iraqi National Police, and an Iraqi strategic/security infrastructure unit that was in the area. However, the U.S. Air Force still retained forces to guard the base. Only in late May 2010 were guard duties transferred to the 1st Special Troops Battalion, Ready First Combat Team of the United States Army. On 28 May 2010 the 506th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron was inactivated. Lineage Constituted as 506th Fighter Group on 5 October 1944 Activated on 21 October 1944 Inactivated on 16 December 1945 Established as 506th Strategic Fighter Wing on 20 November 1952 Activated on 20 January 1953 by redesignation of 4004th Air Base Squadron Redesignated: 506th Fighter-Day Wing on 1 July 1957 Redesignated: 506th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 1 January 1958 Redesignated: 506th Tactical Fighter Wing on 1 July 1958 Inactivated on 1 April 1959 Redesignated as 506th Tactical Fighter Group on 4 May 1972 Activated in the reserve on 8 July 1972 Inactivated on 25 March 1973 Redesignated 506th Air Expeditionary Group and converted to provisional status on 22 April 2003 Assignments III Fighter Command, 21 October 1944 – 16 February 1945 301st Fighter Wing, 24 April – 3 December 1945 Army Service Forces, 15–16 December 1945 Eighth Air Force, 20 January 1953 Attached to 39th Air Division [Defense], 13 August – 7 November 1953 Second Air Force, 1 April 1955 Ninth Air Force, 1 July 1957 Eighteenth Air Force, 1 October 1957 Twelfth Air Force, 1 January 1958 – 1 April 1959 301st Tactical Fighter Wing, 8 July 1972 – 25 March 1973 Allocated to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate any time after 22 April 2003 Attached to: 332d Air Expeditionary Wing, 22 April 2003 Components 457th Fighter (later Strategic Fighter; Fighter-Day; Fighter-Bomber) Squadron, 21 October 1944 – 16 December 1945; 20 January 1953 – 1 April 1959 (detached 20 March–c. 19 August 1958) 458th Fighter (later Strategic Fighter; Fighter-Day; Fighter-Bomber) Squadron, 21 October 1944 – 16 December 1945; 20 January 1953 –