The Group was originally activated in 1942 as the79th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), becoming the79th Fighter Group (Single Engine) a few months later. Later that year it moved overseas to Egypt, where it was assigned toNinth Air Force and participated in combat in theMediterranean Theater of Operations in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Italy until April 1945. After the end ofWorld War II, it became part of the Army of Occupation until it was inactivated in 1947.
The group was activated again in 1955 as the79th Fighter Group (Air Defense) as part of a program ofAir Defense Command (ADC) to replace its air defense groups with fighter units with distinguished records in World War II. It providedair defense of theGreat Lakes region until it was inactivated in 1960.
In 1988,Tactical Air Command activated the 4443rd Test and Evaluation Group as an operational test unit at Eglin AFB, anAir Force Systems Command (AFSC) base that was home to AFSC'sArmament Center. In December 1991, as the USAF eliminated its Major Command controlled (MAJCON) four-digit units, the 79th was consolidated with the 4443rd, and the combined unit was designated the79th Test and Evaluation Group. In 1998, as a result of USAF policy that subordinate groups carry the same number as their parent wing, the 79th TEG was inactivated and replaced by the newly constituted53rd Test and Evaluation Group. In 1999, the unit moved from Eglin AFB to Nellis AFB, Less than two years later, USAF consolidated the 79th and 53rd TEGs to provide one continuous history to its weapons test and evaluation group.
The group includes three detachments which are not part of the regular squadron structure:
Detachment 1 – Based at Edwards AFB, Detachment 1 performs operational test.[citation needed]
Detachment 2 – Based at Beale AFB, Detachment 2 performs evaluations of theLockheed U-2 andRQ-4 Global Hawk and train personnel in the operation of the equipment.[2]
Combat Search and Rescue Combined Test Force – Based at Nellis AFB, the CSAR Combined Test Force currently operates theHH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and Guardian Angel Weapons System in an attempt to consolidate all combat search and rescue operation efforts.[2]
The group was constituted as79th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 13 January 1942 and activated atDale Mabry Field, Florida on 9 February 1942, drawing its personnel from the56th and81st Fighter Groups.[3] its original squadrons were the85th,[4]86th,[5] and87th Pursuit Squadrons.[6] The group was redesignated the79th Fighter Group (Single Engine) in May 1942. The group trained in the United States, then moved toEgypt by sea via Brazil in October–November 1942,[3] where it became part ofNinth Air Force.[7]
The group trained withP-40 Warhawks's while moving westward in the wake of the British drive across Egypt andLibya toTunisia.[7] Although many of the group's pilots flew combat missions with other organizations, the 79th group itself did not begin combat operations until March 1943.[7] By escorting bombers, attacking enemy shipping, and supporting ground forces, the 79th took part in the Allied operations that defeated Axis forces inNorth Africa, capturedPantelleria, and conqueredSicily.[7] The group was awarded aDistinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for its support of British Eighth Army during that period, March–August 1943.[7]
The group was assigned toTwelfth Air Force in August 1943 and continued to support theBritish Eighth Army by attacking troop concentrations, gun positions, bridges, roads, and rail lines in southernItaly.[7] It operated in the area of theAnzio beachhead, from January to March 1944. The group participated in the drive onRome, from March to June 1944, and converted toP-47 Thunderbolts during that time.[7] It flew escort and strafing missions in southernFrance during August and September 1944, and afterward returned to Italy and engaged in interdictory and close support operations in northern Italy.[7] The group received a second DUC for numerous missions flown at minimum altitude in intense flak to help pierce the enemy line at theSanterno River in Italy in April 1945.[7]
The group remained overseas as part ofUnited States Air Forces in Europe after the war as part of the occupation force.[7] It was transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in June 1947 and inactivated on 15 July 1947.[7]
The group was redesignated the79th Fighter Group (Air Defense), assigned to ADC and activated on 18 August 1955 at Youngstown MAP, Ohio[7] as part of ADC's Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[12] At Youngstown, the group assumed the personnel and equipment of the502nd Air Defense Group, which was simultaneously inactivated.[13] The group provided air defense over eastern Ohio as part of30th Air Division of ADC'sCentral Air Defense Force and acted as the host unit for the Air Force portion of Youngstown MAP. The 79th was assigned several support organizations to fulfill this responsibility.[14][15][16] One of the group's original components, the86th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (FIS), flyingradar equipped androcket armedNorth American F-86D Sabres was already stationed at Youngstown and transferred from the 502nd.[17]
IX Fighter Command, 24 February 1943 (remained attached to No. 7 Wing, SAAF untilca. 2 June 1943, attached to XII Air Support Command to 14 June 1943, No. 7 Wing SAAF)[22]
57th Bombardment Wing, 1 November 1943 – 1 January 1944[23] (remained attached to NWATAF until 17 January 1944, attached to64th Fighter Wing 18 January 1944 – 10 February 1944 and 27 February 1944 – 20 April 1944,87th Fighter Wing 11 June 1944 – 19 September 1944)[22]
XII Fighter Command, 20 September 1944 (attached to 64th Fighter Wing 20 September 1944 – 30 September 1944[22]
85th Pursuit Squadron (later 85th Fighter Squadron, 4485th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron): 9 February 1942 – 15 July 1947, 1 August 1988 – present[25]
86th Pursuit Squadron (later 86th Fighter Squadron, 86th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 9 February 1942 – 15 July 1947; 18 August 1955 – 1 March 1960
87th Pursuit Squadron (later 87th Fighter Squadron): 9 February 1942 – 15 July 1947[26]
^Aircraft is Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, serial 09-5005, taken at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
^The group uses this emblem with the group designation on the scroll when assigned to the 53rd Wing Bailey, Factsheet 53 Test & Evaluation Group.
^Apparently, never officially approved. Maurer,Combat Units, p. 145. The blue stripe at top represent the sky, the hieroglyphic numbers display the group's number and the falcon headed Egyptian god,Horus is the central figure. Lind, Frontispiece.
^This remains the group emblem, but is not used while assigned to the 53rd Wing. Bailey, Factsheet 53 Test & Evaluation Group.
^Newton & Senning gives figure as 25.99 due to one victory shared by three pilots credited as .33 to each.
^Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
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)
Watkins, Robert A. (2009).Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing, Ltd.ISBN978-0-7643-3401-6.
Woerpel, Don.The 79th Fighter Group: Over Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy in World War II. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2007.ISBN0-7643-1322-3.
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