33d Operations Group
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33d Operations Group
| 33d Operations Group | |
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| Active | 1940–1965; 1991—present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Part of | 33d Fighter Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Eglin Air Force Base |
| Motto | Fire From the Clouds |
| Engagements |
   
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| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders |
General Elwood R. Quesada General William W. Momyer |
The 33d Operations Group (33 OG) is the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
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Contents
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Overview
From its activation in December 1991, as part of the 33d Fighter Wing, the 33d Operations Group has deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico and participated in operations SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET MACAW; RESTORE HOPE, SUPPORT JUSTICE IV; UPHOLD DEMOCRACY.
These included combat as well as deployments to assist in the US drug war. The 33 OG lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996.
Assigned Units
The 33 OG (Tail Code: EG) commands two flying squadrons and one support squadron
- 58th Fighter Squadron "Gorillas" (Blue tail stripe)
- The 58th Fighter Squadron has a history that dates back to the aerial battles of World War II. Activated as the 58th Pursuit Squadron (part of the 33d Pursuit Group) stationed at Mitchel Field, New York, the squadron was charged with the ongoing mission of aerial defense of the United States. When the United States entered World War II, the 58th took an active role in the war effort by participating in several operations during a three year overseas tour.
- 60th Fighter Squadron "Fighting Crows" (Red tail stripe)
- Activated in 1940 at Mitchell Field, New York as the 60th Pursuit Squadron, the unit was attached to the 33d Pursuit Group on 15 January 1941. Re-designated as the 60th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942, the unit was responsible for the continual mission of air defense of the United States until October 1942.
- 33d Operations Support Squadron
- Responsible for all facets of airfield operations, or ops, air traffic control, weather, aircrew life support and training, intelligence analysis and support, weapons and tactics training, 33 FW battle staff operations, airspace scheduling, range ops and wing flying hour program.
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58 FS
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60 FS
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33 OSS
History
World War II
The 33d Fighter Group trained with P-39s in 1941, but soon changed to P-40s and served as part of the United States defense force for the east coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.[1]
The group moved to North Africa as part of the invasion force on 8 November 1942 and operated with Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater until February 1944, providing close air support for ground forces, and bombing and strafing personnel concentrations, port installations, fuel dumps, bridges, highways, and rail lines.[1] The 33d received a Distinguished Unit Citation for action on 15 January 1943 when German aircraft attempted to knock out the group's base in Tunisia. The group drove off the enemy's escort and destroyed most of its bombers.[1]In May 1943, the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first AAF unit to enter combat with black personnel, was attached to the group.[2] The 99th remained attached to the group for most of the summer and fall of 1943.[2] It took part in the reduction of Pantelleria and flew patrol missions while Allied troops landed after surrender of the enemy's garrison.[1] It also participated in the invasion and conquest of Sicily by supporting landings at Salerno. [1] Supported additional landings in southern Italy, and the beachhead at Anzio.[1]
After moving to India in February 1944, the group trained with P-38s and P-47s. It then moved to China where it continued training and flew patrol and intercept missions.[1] Upon returning to India in September 1944, it flew dive bombing and strafing missions in Burma until the Allied campaigns in that area had been completed.[1]
Cold War
From August 1946, the 33d Fighter Group served as part of the US occupation force in Germany, being assigned to USAFE airfields at Neubiberg and Bad Kissingen, operating P-47 Thunderbolts. The group returned to United States in August 1947, and was reassigned to Strategic Air Command. Stationed administratively at Andrews Field, Maryland, then being organized as an operational unit at Roswell Army Airfield, New Mexico on 16 August 1947 as part of Eighth Air Force.
Consisting of the 58th, 59th, and 60th Fighter Squadrons, the group was initially equipped at Roswell with P-51D Mustangs. In June 1948, it transitioned to the first-generation F-84C Thunderjet, receiving enough to equip the 58th FS[citation needed] before the 33d Fighter Wing was reassigned to the Air Defense Command First Air Force on 1 December 1948. With the new ADC assignment, the wing and group moved to Otis AFB, Massachusetts on 16 November 1948 as part of ADC's 26th Air Division.
There it trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated in exercises and aerial demonstrations. In February 1949, the group transitioned to F-86A Sabres with the F-84s being sent to Republic Aircraft for refurbishment and reassignment to Air National Guard units.[citation needed] By December the group had completed its transition to Sabres and assumed an air defense mission, providing air defense in the northeastern US.[3] Toward the end of 1949, ADC was inactivated and the group and its parent wing became elements of Continental Air Command. In December 1950 ADC was reactivated, and the group, which since spring had been designated as the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Group rejoined the command. Because of ADC's need to expand its coverage, the group dispersed the 60th FIS to Westover AFB in August 1950.[4] It was inactivated in February 1952 along with the 33d Fighter Wing in a major ADC reorganization in which fighter-interceptor groups and wings were replaced by regionally organized air defense wings.
The 564th Air Base Group was activated on 1 February 1952 to replace the support elements of the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing. it was redesignated as the 564th Air Defense Group in 1953, and assumed control of fighter-interceptor squadrons at Otis on that date. The unit was replaced by the 33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) as part of ADC's "Project Arrow", which reactivated fighter units that had achieved distinction in the two world wars.[5]
Reactivated on 18 August 1955 as the 33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) at Otis AFB, it was assigned to ADC's 4707th Air Defense Wing, and in 1956 reunited with the 33d Fighter Wing (Air Defense). Again, it provided air defense in northeastern US flying F-89C Scorpions until being inactivated on 18 August 1957 and being replaced by 4735th Air Defense Group when the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing assumed host responsibilities for Otis from the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing.[6]
Vietnam War
On 8 July 1963 the group was redesignated as the 33d Tactical Group and activated in Viet Nam. Its mission was to maintain and operate base support facilities at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, supporting the 2d Air Division and subordinate units by performing reconnaissance of Vietnam from various detachments flying RB-26 Invaders, RB-57 Canberras, and RF-101 Voodoo aircraft.[3]
The 33d Tactical Group performed administrative and maintenance tasks and set up detachments at smaller, outlying airfields, the 33d assuming responsibility for Can Tho and Nha Trang Air Bases. The group inactivated in July 1965, and its aircraft, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 6250th Combat Support Group.[7]
Modern era
On 1 December 1991, the 33d Operations Group was activated as a result of the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing implementing the USAF objective wing organization. Upon activation, the 33d OG was bestowed the lineage and history of the 33d Fighter Group. The 33d OG was assigned the 58th and 60th Fighter Squadrons upon activation, all equipped with the F-15C/D Eagle.
From 1992–2002 the group deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico and participated in various operations.[3]
The 33 OG lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996.[3]
The group is currently engaged in Air Expeditionary operations in various combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism
Lineage
- Constituted as the 33d Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated 33d Fighter Group on 15 May 1942
- Inactivated on 8 December 1945
- Activated on 20 August 1946
- Redesignated 33d Fighter-Interceptor Group on 20 January 1950
- Inactivated on 6 February 1952
- Redesignated 33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 June 1955
- Activated on 18 August 1955
- Inactivated on 18 August 1957
- Consolidated (31 July 1985) with the 33d Tactical Group, which was constituted and activated on 19 June 1963
- Organized on 8 July 1963
- Discontinued, and inactivated on 8 July 1965
- Redesignated 33d Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive)
- Redesignated 33d Operations Group and activated, on 1 December 1991.
Assignments
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Components
- 58th Pursuit (later, 58th Fighter, 58th Fighter-Interceptor, 58th Fighter) Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 8 December 1945; 20 August 1946-6 February 1952; 18 August 1955 – 18 August 1957; 1 December 1991–present
- 59th Pursuit (later, 59th Fighter, 59th Fighter-Interceptor, 59th Fighter) Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 8 December 1945; 20 August 1946-6 February 1952; 1 December 1991 – 15 April 1999
- 60th Pursuit (later, 60th Fighter, 60th Fighter-Interceptor, 60th Fighter) Squadron: 15 January 1941 – 8 December 1945; 20 August 1946-6 February 1952; 18 August 1955 – 18 August 1957; 1 December 1991–present
- 99th Fighter Squadron (attached), 29 May 1943 - ca. 29 June 1943; 19 July 1943 - 16 October 1943.
Stations
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Awards
- Distinguished Unit Citation
- Central Tunisia, 15 January 1943
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 2 December 1991 - 31 March 1992
- 1 June 1996 - 31 May 1998
- 1 June 1998 - 31 May 1999
Aircraft assigned
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References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, pp.86-87
- ^ a b Factsheet, 99th Flying Training Squadron (accessed 30 Apr 2012)
- ^ a b c d Factsheet, 33d Operations Group (accessed 27 Apr 2012)
- ^ Factsheet, 60th Fighter Squadron (accessed 27 Apr 2012)
- ^ Buss, Sturm, Volan, & McMullen, p6
- ^ Abstract, History of 26th Air Div,Jul-Dec 1957 (accessed 30 Apr 2012)
- ^ Abstract, History of 6250th Cbt Spt Gp, Jul-Dec 1965 (accessed 30 Apr 2012)
- Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, 1956.
- Cornett, Lloyd H; Johnson, Mildred W (1980). A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946 - 1980. Peterson AFB, CO: Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center. http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/af_combat_units_wwii.pdf.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/combat_sq_of_the_af_wwii.pdf.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/combat_wings.pdf.
External links
- Factsheet, 58th Fighter Squadron (accessed 27 Apr 2012)
- Factsheet, 59th Test & Evaluation Squadron (accessed 27 Apr 2012)
- Factsheet, 60th Fighter Squadron (accessed 27 Apr 2012)
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