3rd Operations Group
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2012) |
3rd Operations Group | |
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Motto(s) | Non Solum Armis Latin Not by Arms Alone[1] |
Engagements |
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Decorations |
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Insignia | |
3rd Operations Group emblem[2][note 2] | |
3rd Attack Group emblem[note 3] |
The 3rd Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 3rd Wing. It is stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska, and is assigned to Pacific Air Forces' Eleventh Air Force.
The
The group is a direct successor organization of the 3rd Attack Group, one of the 15 original combat air groups formed by the Army before
The World War II 3rd Bombardment Group moved to Australia early in 1942 and served primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as a light bombardment group assigned to
The 3rd again served in combat during the
Notable alumni include
Overview
The 3 OG Mobilizes, deploys, and employs three different squadrons of F-15C/D, F-22, C-17, 2 E-3Bs, and C-12Fs aircraft worldwide to accomplish air superiority, air battle management, air interdiction, counter narcotics, airlift, and air daily air sovereignty missions to achieve dominant maneuver, precision engagement, and information superiority in support of CJCS, PACOM, CENTCOM, SOUTHCOM, and NORAD operations.
Assigned squadrons are:
- 3rd Operations Support Squadron
- 90th Fighter Squadron
- 517th Airlift Squadron
- 525th Fighter Squadron
- 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron
History
- For additional lineage and history, see 3rd Wing
- See United States Army Air Service Mexican Border Patrol
The 3rd Group and its successor units have served the United States on a continuing basis since the group's activation as the Army Surveillance Group on 1 July 1919.
In a functional redesignation of Air Service groups, the unit was redesignated as the 3rd Attack Group in 1921. It participated in maneuvers, tested new equipment, experimented with tactics, flew in aerial reviews, patrolled the
On 1 March 1935, the Army Air Corps formed the first centralized control of its combat striking units within the United States under the General Headquarter Air Force. The 3rd Attack Group moved to
The commander of the 3rd Attack Group,
The A-17s were fairly fast and had a fairly heavy forward-firing armament for its time, and during 1938–39 war games it was deemed to be the most effective ground attack aircraft yet devised. However the career of the A-17 with the Army was quite brief. After only three years of service with the Army, the A-17As were declared surplus. In 1940, the unit was redesignated as the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light), being reequipped with the
World War II
The 3rd Group served in combat in the
On 2 April 1942, Lt. Col. John H. Davies was appointed to command the group, which had been shipped overseas under command of a
While officially designated the 3rd Bombardment Group (Light), the group unofficially styled itself with its historic name, the "3rd Attack Group," after being equipped with low-altitude strafing bombers. Field-modified with .50 caliber machine guns taken from wrecked fighters, these strafing bombers were the brainchild of a former naval aviator serving in the USAAF,
The group had its headquarters in Australia until January 1943, but its squadrons operated from forward locations in New Guinea, bombing and strafing enemy airfields, supply lines, installations, and shipping as the Allies halted the Japanese drive toward Port Moresby and drove the enemy back from Buna to Lae. At the end of that campaign, group headquarters moved to New Guinea.
For the next year and a half the group continued to serve in the
In the fall of 1943 the group struck Japanese naval and air power at Rabaul to support the assaults on Bougainville and New Britain. In an attack on shipping at Simpson Harbor, New Britain, on 2 November 1943, the 3rd Group encountered heavy opposition from enemy fighters and from antiaircraft batteries on the ships. In that attack Major Raymond H. Wilkins, commander of the 8th Squadron, sank two ships before he was shot down as he deliberately drew the fire of a destroyer so that other planes of his squadron could withdraw safely – an action for which Maj Wilkins was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
The group moved to the Philippines late in 1944. Equipped with A-20s, it bombed and strafed airfields; supported ground forces on Mindoro, Luzon, and Mindanao; attacked industries and railways on Formosa; and struck shipping along the China coast.
The group moved to
Korean War
Flying
In recognition of the wing's distinguished service, the 3rd Bombardment Wing's was granted the privilege of conducting the last bombing mission over North Korea minutes before implementation of the ceasefire of 27 July 1953.
Cold War
With the war over in Korea, wing returned to the routine of peacetime duty in the
Post Cold War era
In 1991, activated in Alaska after 34 years on the inactive list, and expanded the air defense mission of the 3rd Wing, to include deep interdiction and air-to-air capabilities with the F-15E aircraft. Added an airlift capability in April 1992, using C-130 and C-12 aircraft, providing worldwide combat airdrop, tactical airland, operational support airlift, airlift for theater deployed forces, and resupply of remote Alaskan long-range radar sites. Again expanded its mission in 1993 when it gained E-3B/J aircraft for long-range airborne surveillance, detection, identification, and command and control.
Since 1993, mobilized, deployed and employed flying squadrons worldwide to accomplish air superiority, air battle management, air interdiction, counter narcotics, airlift and air sovereignty in support of 3 Wing mission.
Lineage
- Organized as the Army Surveillance Group on 1 July 1919[note 5]
- Redesignated 1st Surveillance Group on 15 August 1919
- Redesignated 3rd Group (Attack) on 15 September 1921
- Redesignated 3rd Attack Group on 25 January 1923
- Redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group (Light) on 15 September 1939
- Redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group (Dive) on 28 September 1942
- Redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group (Light) on 25 May 1943
- Redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group, Light on 14 February 1944
- Redesignated 3rd Bombardment Group, Tactical on 1 October 1955
- Inactivated on 25 October 1957
- Redesignated 3rd Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated 3rd Operations Group on 1 December 1991
- Activated on 19 December 1991[2]
Assignments
- Unknown, 1 July 1919 (attached to 1st Wing (Provisional), 1 July 1922 - unknown)[note 6]
- First Army, c. October 1921[5]
- 3rd Attack Wing, c. 8 May 1929 - unknown[note 7]
- 3rd Wing, 1 March 1935
- 17th Bombardment Wing, 16 January 1941
- III Air Support Command, 1 September 1941
- III Bomber Command, 8 December 1941
- III Air Support Command, 2 January 1942
- United States Army Forces in Australia, February 1942
- Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, 18 April 1942
- V Bomber Command, 5 September 1942 (attached to 310th Bombardment Wing, 1 May 1944 – September 1944, after 15 January 1945)
- 314th Composite Wing, 31 May 1946
- 3rd Bombardment Wing, 18 August 1948 – 25 October 1957 (attached to Fifth Air Force, 20 July 1950, 6133rd Bombardment Wing (later 6133 Tactical Support Wing), 25 August-30 November 1950)
- 3rd Wing, 19 December 1991 – present[6]
Operational Components
- Groups
- 71st Reconnaissance Group: attached 31 October 1947 – 18 August 1948[2]
- Aero Squadrons
- 8th Aero Squadron (later 8th Squadron, 8th Attack Squadron, 8th Bombardment Squadron): 1 July 1919 – 25 October 1957 (detached after 13 August 1956)
- 12th Aero Squadron (later 12th Squadron): attached 13 October 1919 – 23 March 1920, assigned 24 March 1920 – 27 June 1921
- 13th Aero Squadron (later 13th Squadron, 13th Attack Squadron, 13th Bombardment Squadron: 1 July 1919 – 27 June 1924; 1 November 1929 - 25 October 1957 (not operational 1 January-27 March 1946, detached after 13 August 1956)
- 26th Aero Squadron(later 26th Attack Squadron): 15 September 1921 – 27 June 1924
- 90th Aero Squadron (later 90th Attack Squadron, 90th Bombardment Squadron, 90th Fighter Squadron): 1 July 1919 – 1 October 1949; 25 June 1951 – 25 October 1957 (not operational 1 February-3 April 1946; detached after 13 August 1956); 19 December 1991 – present
- 96th Aero Squadron: attached 12 November 1919 – 10 January 1921[2]
- Reconnaissance Squadrons
- 9th Reconnaissance Squadron, Very Long Range, Photographic: attached 25 September 1946 – 22 April 1947
- 10th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 89th Bombardment Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 10 April 1946 (not operational after c. 1 January 1946)
- 82nd Reconnaissance Squadron: attached 1 February-c. 31 October 1947[2]
- Squadrons
- 6th Night Fighter Squadron: attached 7 September 1946 – 31 January 1947
- 12th Fighter Squadron: 28 April 2000 – 2007
- 19th Fighter Squadron: 1 January 1994 – 2010
- 43rd Fighter Squadron: 19 December 1991 – 1 January 1994
- 51st Attack Squadron: January 1935-1 September 1936
- 54th Fighter Squadron: 19 December 1991 – 28 April 2000
- 90th Fighter Squadron: 1994–present
- 517th Airlift Squadron: 1 April 1992 – Present
- 525th Fighter Squadron: 30 September 2007–Present
- 537th Airlift Squadron: 29 Apr 2011-11 Sep 2013
- 731st Bombardment Squadron: attached November 1950-25 June 1951
- 962nd Airborne Warning and Control (later, 962nd Airborne Air Control Squadron): 1 May 1993 – present[2]
Stations
- Kelly Field, Texas, 1 July 1919
- Fort Bliss, Texas, 12 November 1919
- Kelly Field, Texas, 2 July 1921
- Fort Crockett, Texas, 1 July 1926
- Barksdale Field, Louisiana, 28 February 1935
- Army Air Base, Savannah (later Hunter Field), Georgia, 6 October 1940 – 19 January 1942
- Archerfield Airport, Queensland, Australia, 25 February 1942
- Charters Towers Airfield, Queensland, Australia, 10 March 1942
- Port Moresby Airfield Complex, Papua New Guinea, 28 January 1943
- Dobodura Airfield Complex, Papua New Guinea, 20 May 1943
- Nadzab Airfield Complex, Papua New Guinea, 3 February 1944
- Hollandia Airfield Complex, Net herlands East Indies, 12 May 1944
- Dulag Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 16 November 1944
- McGuire Field, Mindoro, Philippines, c. 30 December 1944
- Okinawa, 6 August 1945
- Atsugi Airfield, Japan, c. 8 September 1945
- Yokota Airfield, Japan, 1 September 1946
- Johnson Air Base, Japan, c. 15 March 1950
- Iwakuni Air Base, Japan, 1 July 1950
- Kunsan Air Base (K-8), South Korea, 22 August 1951
- Johnson Air Base, Japan, c. 5 October 1954 – 25 October 1957
- Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, 19 December 1991 – present[2]
Aircraft operated
- DH-4, 1919–1926, 1926–1932
- JN-6, 1919–1921
- JNS-1, 1919–1921
- C-1, 1919–1921
- GAX / GA-1, 1921–1923
- XB-1A, 1921–1923
- O-2, 1921–1928
- O-1, 1927
- O-6, 1928-unknown
- A-3, 1928–1934
- A-8, 1932–1936
- O-19, 1932–1936
- A-12, 1933–1936
- A-17, 1936–1940
- In addition, flew XO-6 and Y-8 in the late 1920s, and JN-4, A-9, A-10
- Lockheed Hudson, O-24, AT-8, PT-26, and BT-14 in the period prior to World War II
- A (later, B)-18, 1937–1941
- B-12, 1939–1941
- A-20, 1941–1945
- A-24, 1941, 1942
- B-25, 1942–1944, 1945
- B-24, 1944–1946
- A (later, B)-26, 1945–1956
- F-2, 1946–1947
- P-51/F-6, 1946–1947
- F-7, 1946–1947
- F-9, 1946–1947
- F-13, 1946–1947
- B-17, 1946–1947
- P-61, 1946–1947
- RB-17, 1947–1948
- RB-29, 1947–1948
- RF-51, 1947–1948
- RF-61, 1947–1948
- RF-80, 1947–1948
- F-15 (modified P-61), 1949
- B-57, 1956
- F-4, 1991
- F-15, 1991–2008
- C-130, 1992–2008, 2011-2013
- C-12, 1992–2008
- E-3, 1993–present
- C-17, 2008–present
- F-22A 2008–present
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ Aircraft is Lockheed Martin F-22A Block 30 Raptor, serial 05-4105.
- ^ The group uses the 3rd Wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll.
- coupednear the shoulder paleways (vertical) with hand clenched proper between two wings conjoined in lure argent. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 32
- ^ The 8th Aero Squadron was organized on 21 June 1917; the 13th on 14 June 1917, and the 90th on 20 August 1917 by the Aviation Section, U.S. Signal Corps. These squadrons served in combat during World War I prior to their assignment to the 3rd.
- ^ The four squadrons assigned to the Army Surveillance Group (8th, 12th 13th and 90th) upon the group's activation all predate the formation of the group; having been formed in 1917 as a result of the United States' entry into World War I. All were deployed to France and fought on the Western Front; their combat being reflected in the group's emblem.
- ^ However, both Maurer and Clay in their entries for the 1st Bombardment Wing indicate that the group was a component of the wing from 1919 until 1929. Maurer, Combat Units, p. 373, Clay, p. 1242
- ^ Clay indicates this assignment occurred in 1922. Clay, p. 1297. However, both Clay and Maurer indicate that the 3rd Attack Wing was not activated until 1932. Clay, p. 1242; Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 413-414
- Citations
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 29-32
- ^ a b c d e f g h Robertson, Patsy (6 February 2015). "Factsheet 3 Operations Group (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
- ^ Fogerty, Robert P. (1953). "Biographical Data on Air Force General Officers, 1917-1952, Volume 1 – A thru L" (PDF). Air Force Historical Research Agency. pp. 222–224. USAF historical studies: no. 91. Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 August 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ Martin & Stephenson, p. 155
- ^ Clay, p. 1297
- ^ Assignments in Endicott, except as noted
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Cortesi, Lawrence (1985). Grim Reapers: History of the 3rd Bomb Group, 1918–1965. Temple City, CA: Historical Aviation Album. ISBN 978-0-91185-294-3.
- Martin, Patrick (1994). Tail Code: The Complete History of USAF Tactical Aircraft Tail Code Markings. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Military Aviation History. ISBN 0-88740-513-4.
- Martin, Adrian R.; Stephenson, Larry W. (2008). Operation Plum: The Ill-Fated 27th Bombardment Group and the Fight for the Western Pacific. College Station, TX: Texas A & M University Press. ISBN 978-1-60344-019-6.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- 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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
External links
- Media related to 3d Bombardment Group (United States Army Air Forces) at Wikimedia Commons
- USAAS-USAAC-USAAF-USAF Aircraft Serial Numbers—1908 to present
- ArmyAirForces.com