50th Operations Group
50th Operations Group | |
---|---|
Active | December 1991–24 July 2020 Belgian Army |
Commanders | |
Notable commanders | John E. Shaw |
Insignia | |
50th Operations Group emblem (Originally approved for the group 9 January 1942)[2][note 1] | |
Original form of the Group emblem[2] | |
Group emblem from 23 August 1956 to 8 December 1957[3][note 2] |
The 50th Operations Group was a subordinate unit of the
The group was activated in January 1941 as the 50th Pursuit Group and began training under
In June 1949 the group was activated as a reserve unit at
The group, now designated the 50th Fighter-Bomber Group, was activated in January 1953, when it took over the mission, personnel and equipment of the
Although the group was renamed the 50th Tactical Fighter Group in 1985, it remained inactive until December 1991, when, as the 50th Operations Group, it took over the personnel of the 1002d Operations Group, which was simultaneously inactivated. Since then, the group has managed a variety of surveillance and communications satellites for the
Overview
The 50th Operations Group stood up at
The group commands, controls and executes launch and early orbit operations, and provides operational support for over 65 satellites which support the
The group's space operations centers track, monitor telemetry and command satellites during launch, early-orbit and on-orbit operations. They resolve anomalies with satellites when they occur and dispose of the satellites when missions are terminated.[4]
Assigned units
The 50th Operations Group consists of the following squadrons, plus a detachment located at Suitland, Maryland, which provides command and control of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program:[5]
- The squadron operates the Space Based Space Surveillance, Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program, and Advanced Technology Risk Reduction satellites to identify and track satellites in orbit around the Earth.
- 2d Space Operations Squadron
- The squadron performs the command and control mission for the Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS is the military's largest and the world's most widely used satellite constellation. It operates the spacecraft constellation through a Master Control Station, located on Schreiver Air Force Base and a worldwide network of monitor stations and dedicated ground antennas. The continuous availability of GPS, its unprecedented accuracy, and its capability to simultaneously support a virtually unlimited number of users with three-dimensional position, velocity and timing information have attracted numerous military and civilian users for GPS.[6]
- 3d Space Operations Squadron
- The squadron mission is to provide reliable space-borne communications for the National Command Authority, United States military and Allied forces. To fulfill its mission, it conducts day-to-day command and control for the Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) and the Wideband Global SATCOM. The Wideband Global SATCOM system initially operates with a combination of DSCS and Global Broadcast Service satellites. These systems provide secure high-rate data communications links to the President of the United States, United States Secretary of Defense, theater commanders and worldwide strategic and tactical forces.[7]
- The squadron is responsible for command and control of the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The squadron also operated three geographically distributed Advanced Ground Mobile vehicles. At higher readiness levels and during exercises, squadron personnel deploy with United States Northern Command and United States Strategic Command to provide survivable, secure communications and command and control. Milstar has about 1500 terminals. As the Advanced Extremely High Frequency network becomes fully operational it will add 5000 additional terminals and serve forces from Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.[8]
- 50th Operations Support Squadron
- The squadron mission is to manage and conduct training programs ensuring mission qualification and combat readiness of group personnel and personnel assigned to affiliated Air Force Reserve units. It implements the wing Weapons and Tactics program, while overseeing space modernization and upgrades. It is also responsible for processing the daily Space Duty Order and maintaining crew force management records.[9]
History
World War II
Initial training and reinforcement of combat theaters
The
Shortly after the
No sooner had the 11th been replaced by the newly activated
Training and operational testing
While at Key Field, the unit was reassigned to the
Night fighter combat over the skies of England made the
By the end of September, the Army Air Forces School of Applied Tactics Night Fighter Department was activated and the 81st Fighter Squadron was detached from the 50th Group and placed under the Department for training and operations.[20] In October 1942, the personnel and equipment of the 81st squadron provided the manpower and equipment for the newly formed 348th and 349th Night Fighter Squadrons, and the squadron was remanned.[14]
In late March 1943, the group moved to
In January 1944, the group's squadrons returned to Orlando as the group began to prepare for its own deployment overseas. The group assumed the look of a typical three squadron fighter group in February when the 445th Squadron moved to
European Theater of Operations
The group departed for the European theater in the middle of March 1944, leaving its Mustangs behind and arriving at its first overseas station,
The group began operations by making a fighter sweep over France on 1 May. It engaged primarily in escort and
Once established on the continent, the 50th attacked bridges, roads, vehicles, railways, trains, gun emplacements, and
In early 1945, the group participated in
50th Fighter Group
Aerial Victories | Number | Note |
---|---|---|
Group Hq | 0 | |
10th Fighter Squadron | 11 | [30] |
81st Fighter Squadron | 26 | [31] |
313th Fighter Squadron | 14 | [32] |
Group Total | 51 |
The group ended operations at
Air Force Reserve
The May 1949
In January 1950, the group was redesignated 50th Fighter-Interceptor Group. Training activity included participating in portions of the 33rd Group's
Reactivation in the Regular Air Force
On 1 January 1953, the group became the 50th Fighter-Bomber Group and was reactivated as part of
The 140th had been training with Mustangs at Clovis for little over a year, but before long, the group replaced its Mustangs with jet-powered F-86F Sabres. The conversion to the Sabre continued through the spring and early summer of 1953, as crews and maintenance personnel became familiar the Sabre. Once training levels for pilots and ground crews had reached operational levels, the 50th began preparations for its move to Europe.[37]
The 50th deployed to Hahn on 10 August 1953, in a movement titled Operation Fox Able 20. The ground echelon of the wing sailed from Galveston, Texas, to Bremerhaven, West Germany aboard the USS General M. B. Stewart (AP-140). It traveled by rail to its new home at Hahn, arriving in August 1953.[37]
United States Air Forces in Europe
The original construction of
On Arriving at Hahn, the group participated in Exercise Monte Carlo, a staged combat employment drill to illustrate the capability of
By 1955, USAFE began an annual, command-wide aerial gunnery competition at the Wheelus ranges. During the first such event, held 30 July 1955, the pilots of 50th Group took top honors in the command. Three months later the group began modernizing its Sabre fleet. The first F-86H Sabre arrived at Hahn on 21 October 1955. Conversion continued throughout the winter of 1955 and spring of 1956, ending in May.[39]
New aircraft would not be the only change for the personnel of the 50th, however. With the conversion to the newer F-86H nearly complete, the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing began a move to Toul-Rosières Air Base, France. The 50th Group's 417th Fighter-Bomber Squadron was the first squadron to relocate, moving to France on 15 April 1956.. The group and the 10th and 81st Squadrons joined the 417th in mid-July. The group was mission-ready at Toul by 1 August. Almost immediately, USAFE chose the 50th to represent the command at the Air Force Fighter Weapons Meet at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The group's team was led by the commander of the 417th, Lt. Col. Chuck Yeager.[40]
The group continued training and participating in various air defense exercises until 8 December 1957, when the group's squadrons, were reassigned directly to the 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing, which converted to the dual deputy organization model, with a deputy wing commander for operations and staff replacing the group headquarters.[41]
Satellite operations
The group activated at
The group continued to add squadrons as it accepted responsibility for more satellite systems.
On 30 September 1998 the group's 6th Space Operations Squadron was inactivated at Offutt as the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) was transferred to the
In June 1999, the
During the
Lineage
- Constituted as the 50th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated: 50th Fighter Group on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated: 50th Fighter Group (Special) on 28 May 1942
- Redesignated: 50th Fighter Group (Single Engine) on 21 January 1944
- Inactivated on 7 November 1945
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 June 1949
- Redesignated 50th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 May 1950
- Ordered to active service on 1 June 1951
- Inactivated on 2 June 1951
- Redesignated 50th Fighter-Bomber Group on 15 November 1952
- Activated on 1 January 1953
- Inactivated on 8 December 1957
- Redesignated: 50th Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 50th Operations Group on 1 January 1992
- Activated on 30 January 1992[55]
Assignments
|
|
Components
- Space Operations Squadrons
- 1st Space Operations Squadron: 30 January 1992 – present
- 2d Space Operations Squadron: 30 January 1992 – present
- 3d Space Operations Squadron: 30 January 1992 – present
- 4th Space Operations Squadron: 30 April 1992 – present
- 5th Space Operations Squadron: 22 November 1993 – 13 June 2000
- Onizuka Air Force Base, California[50]
- 6th Space Operations Squadron: 31 July 1992 – 30 September 1998
- Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska[47]
- 21st Space Operations Squadron: 7 June 1999 – 10 March 2004
- Onizuka Air Force Base (later Onizuka Air Station), California[56]
- 22d Space Operations Squadron: 2 June 1999 – 10 March 2004
- 23d Space Operations Squadron: 3 June 1999 – 10 March 2004[55]
- New Boston Air Force Station, New Hampshire[57]
- Fighter Squadrons
- 10th Pursuit Squadron(later 10th Fighter, Squadron, 10th Fighter-Bomber Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 7 November 1945; 1 January 1953 – 3 December 1957
- 11th Pursuit Squadron: 15 January – 30 December 1941
- 12th Pursuit Squadron(later 12th Fighter Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 18 August 1942
- 81st Pursuit Squadron(later 81st Fighter Squadron, 81st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 81st Fighter-Bomber Squadron): 15 January 1941 – 7 November 1945; 20 June 1949 – 2 June 1951; 1 January 1953 – 8 December 1957
- 313th Pursuit Squadron(later 313th Fighter Squadron): 9 February 1942 – 7 November 1945
- 417th Fighter-Bomber Squadron: 1 January 1953 – 8 December 1957
- 445th Fighter Squadron: 24 February 1943 – 10 February 1944[55]
- Support Squadrons
- 50th Interceptor Control Squadron (later 50th Fighter Control Squadron), c. January 1942 – 10 February 1944[14]
- 50th Operations Support Squadron, 30 January 1992 – present[9]
Stations
|
|
Awards and campaigns
Award streamer | Award | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Distinguished Unit Citation |
13 March 1945 – 20 March 1945 | 50th Fighter Group, European Theater[10] | |
Distinguished Unit Citation |
25 April 1945 | 50th Fighter Group, Germany[10] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
1 October 1998 – 30 September 2000 | 50th Operations Group[10] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 2000 – 1 October 2001 | 50th Operations Group[10] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 2001 – 1 October 2002 | 50th Operations Group[10] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 2 October 2002 – 2 October 2003 | 50th Operations Group[10] | |
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award | 1 October 2007 – 30 September 2009 | 50th Operations Group[10] | |
Cited in the Order of the Day, Belgian Army | 6 June 1944 – 30 September 1944 | 50th Fighter Group[10] |
Campaign/Service Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
American Theater without inscription | 7 December 1941 – 13 March 1944 | 50th Fighter Group[10] | |
Air Offensive, Europe | 5 April 1944 – 5 June 1944 | 50th Fighter Group[10] | |
Normandy | 6 June 1944 – 24 July 1944 | 50th Fighter Group[10] | |
Northern France | 25 July 1944 – 14 September 1944 | 50th Fighter Group[10] | |
Rhineland | 15 September 1944 – 21 March 1945 | 50th Fighter Group[10] | |
Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944 – 25 January 1945 | 50th Fighter Group[10] | |
Central Europe | 22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945 | 50th Fighter Group[10] |
Aircraft
- Vultee BT-13 Valiant, 1941–1942
- Seversky P-35 Guardsman, 1941–1942
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk, 1941[12]
- Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1941[19]
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1943
- Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1945
- North American P-51 Mustang, 1943–1944, 1951
- Douglas P-70 Havoc, 1942–1943[19]
- North American F-86 Sabre, 1953–1957[55][note 10]
List of commanders
- Col Marvin G. Matthews, 30 January 1992 – 22 February 1993;[61]
- Col Gregory L. Gilles, 22 February 1993 – 16 June 1993
- Col William L. Shelton, 16 June 1993 – 14 July 1994
- Col Rodney P. Liesveld, 14 July 1994 – 17 May 1996
- Col Joseph Wysocki, 17 May 1996 – 3 June 1998
- Col Robert M. Worley II, 3 June 1998 – 16 June 2000
- Col Diann Latham, 16 June 2000 – 1 July 2002
- Col David W. Ziegler, 1 July 2002 – 21 June 2004
- Col J. Kevin McLaughlin, 21 June 2004 – 9 June 2006
- Col Clinton E. Crosier, 9 June 2006 – 15 July 2008
- Col Stanford K. Kekauoha, 15 July 2008 – 1 July 2010
- Col John E. Shaw, 1 July 2010 – 1 July 2010
- Col Tommy A. Roberts, 10 July 2012 – July 2014
- Col Dennis Bythewood, July 2014 – 27 June 2016
- Col Toby Doran, 27 June 2016 – 15 June 2018
- Col Laurel Walsh, 15 June 2018 – 16 June 2020
- Col Matthew E. Holston, 16 June 2020 – 24 July 2020
See also
References
- Notes
- ^ The group uses the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll. Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet, 50 Operations Group.
- ^ Emblem approved for the wing. Robertson, AFHRA Factsheet, 50 Space Wing.
- Cross City Army Air Field, the 313th at Keystone Army Air Fieldand the 445th at Orlando, all in Florida. Saunders, p. 2.
- ^ Aircraft is P-47D Thunderbolt 42-25904
- ^ December 1944. The red nose was the Mediterranean Theater of Operations recognition marking for aircraft of the 1st Tactical Air Force, to which the 50th was assigned during the last seven months of the European Campaign.
- ^ Although the 417th was not one of the 50th's original units, the squadron had been stationed with the group at AAF Giebelstadt, Germany, during the final days of World War II.
- ^ The 50th's squadrons similarly replaced squadrons of the Colorado, Utah and Wyoming Air National Guard.
- ^ Aircraft are F-86F-30-NA Sabres. Serial 52-4656 leading.
- ^ Aircraft is North American F-86H-10-NH Sabre Serial 53-1418
- ^ In addition to the listed aircraft, the group's 445th Squadron operated at least 16 different types of planes in 1943 and 1944 in performing its operational test mission. Maurer, Combat Squadrons., p. 551; Saunders, p. 2.
- Citations
- ^ "Space Force begins transition into field organizational structure".
- ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 110–111
- ^ a b Ravenstein, pp. 81–82
- ^ a b c d "Factsheet: 50th Operations Group". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 17 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Factsheets:Detachment 1, 50th Operations Group". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 25 November 2013. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Factsheets:2nd Space Operations Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 15 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 June 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ "Factsheets:3rd Space Operations Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Factsheets:4th Space Operations Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 21 August 2015. Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ a b "Factsheets:50th Operations Support Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Robertson, Patsy (20 November 2008). "Factsheet 50 Operations Group (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 56–57
- ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 61–62
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 65–66
- ^ a b c d e f "Abstract, History 50 Fighter Group 15 Jan 1941-8 Mar 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- ^ Goss, p. 303
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 283–285
- ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 380–381
- ^ Goss, p. 275
- ^ a b c Saunders, p. 1
- ^ a b MacFarland, p. 17
- ^ MacFarland, p. 18
- ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 551
- ^ a b c Saunders, p. 2
- ^ MacFarland, p. 20
- ^ Watkins, pp. 22–23
- ^ Freeman[page needed]
- ^ Saunders, p. 3
- ^ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 430
- ^ "Abstract, History 50 Fighter Group Feb 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ Newton & Senning, p. 533
- ^ Newton & Senning, pp. 574–575
- ^ Newton & Senning, p. 594
- ^ Cantwell, p. 73
- ^ a b c Saunders, pp. 4–5
- ^ Saunders, p. 6
- ^ Mueller, p. 61
- ^ a b Saunders, pp. 6–7
- ^ Saunders, pp. 5–6
- ^ a b Saunders, p. 8
- ^ Saunders, p. 9
- ^ Saunders, p. 10
- ^ Saunders, p. 29
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (6 September 2012). "Factsheet 1 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (29 January 2015). "Factsheet 2 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (6 September 2012). "Factsheet 3 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (1 December 2008). "Factsheet 4 Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ a b c Kane, Robert B. (27 December 2010). "Factsheet 6 Space Operations Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Saunders, p. 31
- ^ a b Saunders, p. 32
- ^ a b c Robertson, Patsy (26 February 2008). "Factsheet 5 Expeditionary Space Operations Squadron (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "5th Space Operations Squadron (5 SOPS)". GlobalSecurity.com. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ "The Outer Space Connection: Space Command". Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ a b c Saunders, p. 33
- ^ Saunders, p. 35
- ^ a b c d e f Lineage, including assignments, components, stations and aircraft in Robertson, AFHRA 50th Operations Group Factsheet, except as noted. Stations are given for units not stationed with group headquarters.
- ^ "Factsheet 21 Space Operations Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ "Factsheet 23rd Space Operations Squadron". 50th Space Wing Public Affairs. 16 April 2015. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- ^ Station number in Anderson
- ^ a b c d e f g Station numbers in Johnson
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (20 November 2008). "Factsheet 50 Space Wing (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 5 April 2014.
- ^ "50 Network Operations Group (AFSPC)".
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
- Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
- ISBN 978-0-900913-80-8.
- Goss, William A. (1948). "Tactical Demands, Chapter 8 Air Defense of the Western Hemisphere". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. I, Plans and Early Operations. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. OCLC 704158.
- Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - MacFarland, Stephen L. (1997). Conquering the Night: Army Air Forces Night Fighters at War (PDF). Air Force History and Museums Program. Washington DC: Air Force Office of History. ISBN 978-0160496-72-1. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
- 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.
- 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.
- Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
- Newton, Wesley P., Jr. and Senning, Calvin F., (1963) USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II, USAF Historical Study No. 85
- 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.
- Saunders, Randolph J. (2013). Master of the Sky to Master of Space: A Brief History of the 50th Space Wing (PDF). Schreiver AFB. CO: 50th Space Wing History Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
- Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.
External links
- Tilton, Dave. "Those were the days! The 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing". F-86 Sabre Pilots Association.