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World War II
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.
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.
The 33 OG (Tail Code: EG) commands two flying squadrons and one support squadron
58 FS
60 FS
33 OSS
The 33d Fighter Group was activated early in 1941 as the 33d Pursuit Group with the 58th,[1] 59th,[2] and 60th Pursuit Squadrons[3] assigned.[4] It trained with Bell P-39 Airacobras in 1941, but soon changed to Curtiss P-40s and served as part of the United States defense force for the east coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.[4] Its 58th and 59th squadrons were based on the West Coast in May and June 1942 to provide additional air defense there.[1][2]
The group was requested as air support for the Western Task Force of Operation Torch and assigned on 19 September 1942. Its 77 P-40Es moved from Hampton Roads, Virginia, to North Africa on the deck of the USS Chenango as part of the invasion force on 8 November 1942.[4] 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.[5] With securing of the Port Lyautey airfield on 10 November the launch from Chenango began and was successful but the airfield's runways were so damaged that the launch was discontinued and not completed until two days later.[5] 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..[5] The 35 planes of the group following on D+5 aboard the British carier HMS Archer also were launched to land at the Port Lyautey airfield and suffered four loses on landing due to pilot inexperience.[5]
The unit 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.[4] The 33d received a Distinguished Unit Citation for action on 15 January 1943 when nine German Ju 88 bombers escorted by four Italian MC.202 fighters attempted to knock out the group's base at Thelepte, Tunisia. The group drove off the escort and destroyed eight of the attackers.[4] In May 1943 the 99th Fighter Squadron, the first AAF unit to enter combat with black personnel, was attached to the group, and again from August to October 1943.[6] It took part in the reduction of Pantelleria and flew patrol missions while Allied troops landed after surrender of the enemy's garrison.[4] It also participated in the invasion and conquest of Sicily by supporting landings at Salerno.[4] The group supported additional landings in southern Italy, and the beachhead at Anzio.[4]
After moving to India in February 1944, the group trained with Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. It then moved to China where it continued training and flew patrol and intercept missions.[4] 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.[4]
From August 1946, the 33d Fighter Group served as part of the US Roswell Army Airfield, New Mexico on 16 August 1947 as part of Eighth Air Force. At Roswell, the group became part of what was called the Hobson Plan, which was intended to unify control at air bases under a single wing.[11] As A result, the group was assigned to the 33d Fighter Wing. The test proved successful, and the wing-base plan was adopted by the Air Force.[12]
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. before the wing and group moved to Otis AFB, Massachusetts and the 33d Fighter Wing was reassigned to the 26th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) in late 1948.[4]
There it trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated in
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
Tactical Squadrons
33d Tactical Group
33d Operations Group
The group is currently engaged in Air Expeditionary operations in various combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism
On 1 December 1991, the Group was activated as the 33d Operations Group (OG) as a result of the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing implementing the USAF objective wing organization. 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.[13] The 33 OG lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996.[13]
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.[24] While the 33d Tactical Group was inactive, it was consolidated with the 33d Fighter Group as the 33d Tactical Fighter Group.[13]
On 8 July 1963 the 33d Tactical Group and activated in Viet Nam. It was equipped primarily with cargo aircraft. 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.[13]
[23] assumed host responsibilities for Otis from the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Wing.551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing when the 4735th Air Defense Group It was inactivated on 18 August 1957 and replaced by [22][21][20][19][18] was assigned to ADC's 33d Fighter Group The
The 564th 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 1953 when it assumed control of fighter-interceptor squadrons at Otis on that date. The unit was replaced by the reactivated 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.[17]
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