| 33d Operations Group | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1941–1945; 1946–1952; 1955–1957; 1991–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter operations and training |
| Part of | 33d Fighter Wing |
| Garrison/HQ | Eglin Air Force Base |
| Nickname | Nomads |
| Motto | Fire From the Clouds |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations China Burma India Theater Vietnam War |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit CitationAir Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Col.Elwood R. Quesada Col.William W. Momyer Col.Willard W. Millikan |
| Insignia | |
| 33d Operations Group emblem(approved 21 February 1942)[1][note 1] |  |
| Patch with 33d Tactical Group emblem |  |
The33d Operations Group is the flying component of the33d Fighter Wing, assigned toAir Education and Training Command of theUnited States Air Force. The group is stationed atEglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The group was first activated in January 1941 as the33d Pursuit Group and began training in fighter operations atMitchel Field, New York. Following theattack on Pearl Harbor the group moved toPhiladelphia, where it assumed anair defense role while training for combat. After being redesignated the33d Fighter Group, it moved to theMediterranean Theater of Operations in November 1942 as part ofOperation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, flying its planes to its first base in Morocco from theaircraft carrierUSSChenango of theUnited States Navy. The group served in North Africa and Italy until February 1944, earning aDistinguished Unit Citation in January 1943 for its defense of its base from attacks by German and Italian aircraft.
In 1944, the group departed Italy for theChina-Burma-India Theater, leaving itsCurtiss P-40 Warhawks behind forLockheed P-38 Lightnings andRepublic P-47 Thunderbolts. It continued combat operations until thesurrender of Japan. In November 1945, it returned to the United States and was inactivated when it arrived at the Army's port of embarkation.[note 2]
The group was activated as part of theOccupation Forces atNeubiberg Air Base, Germany, where it took over the personnel and equipment of the357th Fighter Group, which was inactivated and transferred to theNational Guard. In July 1947, its personnel became thecadre for the86th Composite Group, while the group made two moves without personnel or equipment before arriving atRoswell Army Air Field, where it equipped withNorth American P-51 Mustangs and became part of the fledglingStrategic Air Command. A year later, it received its first jet aircraft, theRepublic F-84 Thunderjet. In 1948. the group moved toOtis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it assumed an air defense role, first underContinental Air Command, then underAir Defense Command (ADC) as the33d Fighter-Interceptor Group. It was inactivated in February 1952 when ADC reorganized its forces on a geographic basis.
ADC activated the group, once more the33d Fighter Group, at Otis in August 1955 as part of Project Arrow, a program to replace ADC's Air Defense Groups with fighter groups with distinguished combat records inWorld War II. As Otis expanded to add theairborne early warning and control mission the following year, the group's support units were transferred to the newly reactivated33d Fighter Wing. In 1957, the group and wing were inactivated and the group's flying squadrons were transferred to theBoston Air Defense Sector
As theUnited States Air Force implemented the Objective wing reorganization in 1991, the 33d, now designated the33d Operations Group, was activated to command the 33d Fighter Wing's operational units. It flew theMcDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle until 2009, when it began the transition to theLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.
From its reactivation in December 1991, as part of the 33d Fighter Wing, the 33d Operations Group has deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, theCaribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, andPuerto Rico and participated inOperation Southern Watch, Operation Coronet Macaw;Operation Restore Hope, Operation Support Justice III and IV, andOperation Uphold Democracy.[2]
These deployments included combat as well as assistance in the United Stateswar on drugs.[3] The 33d lost members of three of its squadrons in theKhobar Towers bombing, Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996.[4]
The mission of the group is to train Air Force and international partner pilots and maintainers of theLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter.[5]
The 33d Group has four squadrons assigned:
The33d Fighter Group was activated early in 1941 as the33d Pursuit Group with the58th,[8]59th,[9] and60th Pursuit Squadrons[10] assigned.[1] It trained withBell P-39 Airacobras in 1941, but soon changed toCurtiss P-40 Warhawks and served as part of the United States defense force for the east coast after the Japanese attack onPearl Harbor.[1] Its 58th and 59th squadrons were based on theWest Coast in May and June 1942 to provide additional air defense there.[8][9]
Thegroup was requested as air support for the Western Task Force ofOperation Torch and assigned on 19 September 1942. Its 77 P-40Es moved fromHampton Roads, Virginia, to North Africa on the deck of theUSS Chenango as part of theinvasion force on 8 November 1942.[1] Pilots had been given brief training at Philadelphia in carrier launches but the Navy had serious misgivings about the aircraft's ability to withstand the strain and the pilot's ability to launch by catapult from the escort carrier.[11] With securing of thePort Lyautey airfield on 10 November the launch fromChenango began and was successful but the airfield's runways were so damaged that the launch was discontinued and not completed until two days later.[11] Two of the 77 aircraft were lost to a crash and vanishing in a fog with 17 damaged in landing with none getting into action.[11] The 35 planes of the group following on D+5 aboard the British carrierHMS Archer also were launched to land at the Port Lyautey airfield and suffered four loses on landing due to pilot inexperience.[11]
Meanwhile, the group's ground echelon sailed for Morocco aboard theUSS Susan B. Anthony (AP-72). Shortly after the squadron's arrival in North Africa, a provisional "J Squadron" was organized, commanded by Lt. Col.Philip Cochran, atRabat. The squadron was organized to provide an advanced replacement center for aircraft and pilots. On 6 December, the 58th squadron moved forward toThelepte Airfield, where it became the first American air unit stationed in Tunisia.[12]
The unit operated withTwelfth Air Force in theMediterraneantheater until February 1944, providingclose air support for ground forces, and bombing andstrafing personnel concentrations, port installations, fuel dumps, bridges, highways, and rail lines.[1] The 33d received aDistinguished Unit Citation for action on 15 January 1943 when nine GermanJunkers Ju 88 bombers escorted by four ItalianMacchi C.202 fighters attempted to knock out the group's base at Thelepte. Group airplanes oncombat air patrol drove off the escorting fighters. Other group planes took off while the field was being bombed. The group destroyed eight of the attackers, and the ninth was shot down byantiaircraft fire.[1][12]
_in_North_Africa_1943.jpg)
In May 1943 the99th Fighter Squadron, the first AAF unit to enter combat with black personnel, was attached to the group, and again from August to October 1943.[13] It took part in the reduction ofPantelleria and flewpatrol missions whileAllied troops landed after surrender of the enemy's garrison.[1] It also participated in the invasion and conquest ofSicily by supporting landings atSalerno.[1] The group supported additional landings in southern Italy, and thebeachhead atAnzio.[1]
After moving to India in February 1944, the group trained withLockheed P-38 Lightnings andRepublic P-47 Thunderbolts. It then moved to China where it continued training and flewpatrol and intercept missions.[1] Upon returning to India in September 1944, it flewdive bombing and strafing missions in Burma until the Alliedcampaigns in that area had been completed.[1]
33d Ftr Gp
| Aerial Victories | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Group Hq | 11 | [14][note 3] |
| 58th Fighter Squadron | 48.5 | [15] |
| 59th Fighter Squadron | 35 | [16] |
| 60th Fighter Squadron | 28 | [16] |
| Group Total | 122.5 | [note 4] |
In August 1946, the33d Fighter Group took over the personnel and equipment of the357th Fighter Group atNeubiberg Air Base and began service as part of the United Statesoccupation force in Germany, initially operatingNorth American P-51 Mustangs.[1][17] The 357th was inactivated and transferred to theNational Guard.[18] In July 1947, the 33d's personnel became thecadre for the86th Composite Group,[19] while the group made two moves without personnel or equipment toBad Kissingen Airfield, Germany andAndrews Field, Maryland.[2][20]
The group was organized as an operational unit atRoswell Army Air Field, New Mexico on 16 August 1947, where it again equipped with Mustangs and became part ofEighth Air Force ofStrategic Air Command.[2] At Roswell, the group participated in the experimentalWing Base organization, which was intended to unify control at air bases under a single wing.[21] As a result, the group was assigned to the33d Fighter Wing.[2] The test proved successful, and the wing-base plan was adopted by the Air Force.[22]
A year later, in June 1948, it received its first jet aircraft, theRepublic F-84 Thunderjet.[1] The group was the second in the Air Force to fly the F-84C model of the Thunderjet.[23] A few months later the group moved toOtis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it assumed an air defense role, first underContinental Air Command, then underAir Defense Command (ADC) as the33d Fighter-Interceptor Group.[1]
There it trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated inexercises and aerial demonstrations. In February 1949, the group transitioned toNorth American F-86A Sabres. By December the group had completed its transition to Sabres and assumed an air defense mission, providing air defense in the northeastern US.[2] Toward the end of 1949, ADC was inactivated and the group and its parent wing became elements ofContinental Air Command. In December 1950 ADC was reactivated, and the group, which since spring had been designated as the33d Fighter-Interceptor Group rejoined the command. Because of ADC's need to expand its coverage, the group dispersed the 60th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron toWestover Air Force Base, Massachusetts in August 1950.[24] The group was inactivated in February 1952 along with the 33d Fighter Wing in a major reorganization of ADC responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage.[25] Fighter-interceptor groups and wings were replaced by regionally organized air defense wings.[26]
The564th Air Base Group was activated on 1 February 1952 to replace the support elements of the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing. The group became the 564th Air Defense Group in February 1953 when it assumed control of fighter-interceptor squadrons at Otis. The unit was replaced by the reactivated33d Fighter Group (Air Defense) as part of ADC's "Project Arrow", which reactivated fighter units that had achieved distinction in the two world wars.[27]
The33d Fighter Group was assigned to ADC's4707th Air Defense Wing, and in 1956 reunited with the33d Fighter Wing (Air Defense). Again, it provided air defense in northeastern US flying theNorthrop F-89 Scorpion. It was also the host organization for USAF units until 1956, and was assigned several support organizations to fulfill this function.[28][29][30][31] when the 33d Fighter Wing was activated and the group was assigned to it once again, along with the support units assigned to the group.[32] The group was inactivated on 18 August 1957 and replaced by4735th Air Defense Group when the551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing assumed host responsibilities for Otis from the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing.[33]
On 8 July 1963 the33d Tactical Group was activated in Viet Nam. It was equipped primarily with cargo aircraft. Its mission was to maintain and operate base support facilities atTan Son Nhut Air Base, supporting the2d Air Division and subordinate units by performing reconnaissance of Vietnam from various detachments flyingDouglas RB-26 Invader,Martin RB-57 Canberra, andMcDonnell RF-101C Voodoo aircraft.[2]
The 33d Tactical Group performed administrative and maintenance tasks and set up detachments at smaller, outlying airfields, the 33d assuming responsibility for Can Tho andNha Trang Air Bases. The group inactivated in July 1965, and its aircraft, personnel and equipment were transferred to the 6250th Combat Support Group.[34] While the33d Tactical Group was inactive, it was consolidated with the33d Fighter Group as the33d Tactical Fighter Group.[2]
As the 33d Fighter Wing reorganized under the Objective Wing system on 1 December 1991, the group was activated as the33d Operations Group and once more assigned its original three squadrons, which were equipped with theMcDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, together with an operations support squadron.[2] In May 1992 the group was enlarged by the assignment of the728th Air Control Squadron atDuke Field when the507th Air Control Wing inactivated.[35]
From 1992 through 2002 the group deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, theCaribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, andPuerto Rico and participated in various operations.[2] The group lost members of its 58th and 60th Fighter Squadron and 33d Operations Support Squadron in theKhobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996 during one of these deployments.[4]
In 1999, as a result of the administration reductions in military spending, the group lost six of its F-15s. The 59th squadron inactivated on 15 April as a result and the remainder of its aircraft were split between the other two squadrons.[35]
The group engaged in air expeditionary operations in various combat areas as part of theglobal war on terrorism.[2]
In May 2008, the 728th Air Control Squadron was reassigned to the552d Air Control Wing.[36] The group continued to shrink when, on 1 October 2008, the 60th Fighter Squadron flew its last sortie with the Eagle and became non-operational.[35] It inactivated on 1 January 2009. In July, the group stopped operating F-15s in anticipation of receiving theLockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter. For more than a year, it would remain without assigned aircraft.[37]
The group mission changed in addition to its change of aircraft, and on 1 October 2009, the group became part ofAir Education and Training Command in preparation for its new role of conducting joint training on the Joint Strike Fighter.[38]
However, the F-35 program was delayed and in January 2011, the group received its first aircraft in 17 months, when fourGeneral Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft borrowed from the56th Fighter Wing atLuke Air Force Base, Arizona arrived to prepare the group's instructor pilots for the Lightning II. The F-16's flying characteristics are similar to those of the F-35, and would prepare group pilots to transition into its new plane on arrival.[37] On 14 July 2011, the group received its first Lightning II for training.[39] Lt Col Christine Mau, the deputy commander of the group, became the first woman to fly the F-35 on 5 May 2015, when she completed her first training flight.[40]
33d Operations Group
33d Tactical Group
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Tactical Squadrons
Support Units
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| Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Distinguished Unit Citation | 15 January 1943 | 33d Fighter Group, Central Tunisia[2] |
 | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 December 1991 – 31 March 1992 | 33d Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1996 – 31 May 1998 | 33d Operations Group[2] |
| Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 June 1998 – 31 May 1999 | 33d Operations Group[2] |
| Campaign/Service Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
.png) | American Theater without inscription | 7 December 1941 – October 1942 | 33d Pursuit Group (later 33d Fighter Group)[49] |
 | Algeria-French Morocco | 10 November 1942 – 11 November 1942 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Tunisia | 12 November 1942 – 13 May 1943 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Sicily | 14 May 1943 – 17 August 1943 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Naples-Foggia | 18 August 1943 – 21 January 1944 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Anzio | 22 January 1944 – February 1944 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Rome-Arno | 22 January 1944 – February 1944 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Air Combat, EAME Theater | 10 November 1942 – February 1944 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
 | India-Burma | 20 February 1944 – 28 January 1945 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| Central Burma | 29 January 1945 – 15 July 1945 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
| China Defensive | 4 July 1942 – 4 May 1945 | 33d Fighter Group[2] |
 | Vietnam Advisory | 8 July 1963 – 1 March 1965 | 33d Tactical Group[2] |
| Vietnam Defensive | 2 March 1965 – 8 July 1965 | 33d Tactical Group[2] |
 | World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) | 20 August 1946 – July 1947 | 33d Fighter Group[49] |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[dead link]
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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