55th Operations Group
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (November 2012) |
55th Operations Group | |
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Active | 1940–1946; 1947–1949; 1950–1952; 1991–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Reconnaissance |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Offutt Air Force Base |
Motto(s) | Pursuit to Defend (WW II) |
The 55th Operations Group (55 OG) is a component of the
During World War II the group was an Eighth Air Force fighter unit stationed in England. It claimed 316.5 air and 216.5 ground aircraft destroyed. It flew its last mission on 21 April 1945.
Overview
The 55th Operations Group, the U.S. Air Force's largest operations group, located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, has operational control over 12 squadrons and two detachments worldwide. The group consists of approximately 3,200 personnel.
The group's mission is to provide worldwide reconnaissance, real-time intelligence, command and control, information warfare and combat support to U.S. leaders and commanders.
It employs 46 aircraft, including 13 models of seven different types. Mission responsibility includes the Air Force's most diverse flying operations supporting worldwide reconnaissance, command and control, Presidential support, and nuclear treaty verification.
Assigned Units
The 55th Operations Group uses the tail code OF for its aircraft
- 38th Reconnaissance Squadron (RC-135, TC-135)
- 45th Reconnaissance Squadron (OC-135, RC-135, TC-135, WC-135)
- 55th Intelligence Support Squadron
- 55th Operations Support Squadron
- 82d Reconnaissance Squadron(RC-135)
- Operates from Kadena AB, Japan
- Operates from
- 95th Reconnaissance Squadron (RC-135)
- Operates from: RAF Mildenhall, England
- Operates from: Souda Bay, Crete
- 97th Intelligence Squadron
- 338th Combat Training Squadron
- 343d Reconnaissance Squadron(RC-135, TC-135)
- 390th Intelligence Squadron
- 488th Intelligence Squadron
History
- For additional history and lineage, see 55th Wing
The 55th Operations Group traces its lineage to the 55th Pursuit (Interceptor) Group during World War II. During the war, the 55th Pursuit Group garnered two
After the war,
Activated after the end of the Cold War, the 55th Operations Group has maintained an unmatched operational tempo, supporting every US contingency worldwide.
World War II
The history of the Fightin' Fifty-Fifth began in January 1941, when the 55th Pursuit Group was activated at
The 55th FG began operations with
The Lightnings' engines were troubled by the addition of alcohol used as an anti-knock compound in their fuel supply; a British war economy solution which caused problems with water condensation on the ground and fuel line icing at altitude. Another British attempt to correct fuel composition caused lead metal deposits to coat cylinders and foul plugs throughout the squadron. The -H series Lightnings did not have adequate cooling for extended high-power usage, as their engine development had outstripped the cooling capacity of the integral intercooler which ran through the wing's leading edge. Pilots were instructed to restrict their periods of highest engine power to defined time limits, but many did not. As a result of these various influences, the Group's Lightnings suffered a high rate of attrition. Nevertheless, 55FG P-38H pilots provided cover for missions against aircraft plants during Big Week in February 1944. Lt. Col. Jack Jenkins led the group on 3 March 1944, when they became the first Allied fighters to reach Berlin on an escort mission.[1]
On 16 April 1944 the group moved to
The unit received a
The 55th Fighter Group moved to AAF Station Kaufbeuren Germany on 22 July 1945 as part of the occupation forces. It was assigned to
With more than 600 combat missions, the group destroyed over 400 enemy aircraft while damaging more than 100. The 55th, inactivated in August 1946, had 16 aces credited with 90 victories.
Postwar era
On 24 February 1947, Strategic Air Command activated and redesignated the 55th Fighter Group as the 55th Reconnaissance group at MacDill Field, Florida, operating the RB-17. The newly activated group's mission consisted of aerial photography, mapping, charting, and photo reconnaissance missions, some of which flew around the globe. RB-17s were specifically used by the 55th RG to probe the borders of the Soviet Union, who had by then begun to emerge as a potential threat to the Western Powers. Little was known about the air defence capability of the Soviet Union at this time and the most effective way of determining their capability was to probe the borders and see whether they would respond. Gradually the RB-17s and other aircraft mapped the perimeter of the Soviet Air Defences from the Baltic to the Sea of Okhotsk, north of Japan.
The group then converted to RB-29s and transferred to Topeka (later Forbes) AFB, Kansas, in 1948, but was again inactivated in October 1949. On 1 November 1950, the 55th Strategic reconnaissance group was activated as a "paper organization" with the tactical squadrons attached directly to the 55th Strategic Reconnaissance wing. The wing was bestowed with the awards and honors of the 55th Reconnaissance Group and moved to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. In 1952 the group was again inactivated on 16 June 1952 as the Air Force reorganized its wings into the tri-deputate system.
Modern era
The group was reactivated in on 29 August 1991 as the 55th Operations Group and assigned to the 55th Wing. It was activated on 1 September 1991. The 55th OG was the operational component of the wing under the new "Objective Wing" concept adapted by the Air Force, and was bestowed the history and honors of the 55th 55 Strategic Reconnaissance Group. The 55th Operations Group activated with one of the largest and most diverse missions in the USAF.
The
On 1 April 1993, the 55th OG Wing took operational control of the 11th Airlift Flight. The 11 ALF flew operational airlift missions in support of the commander of the United States Strategic Command and transported high-ranking military, Department of Defense officials, and members of Congress. This unit has since inactivated and the mission has reverted to Air Mobility Command.
The 2 ACCS also inactivated in 1994 with its mission transferring to the
In October 1998, the 55th OG transferred control of the
Additionally, in March 2000, the group received its 16 RIVET JOINT aircraft. The group conducts operations from
Since the end of the Cold War, the 55th Operations Group has maintained an unmatched operational tempo, supporting every US contingency worldwide. These missions have included but were not limited to reconnaissance, command and control, and airlift missions supporting Operations SOUTHERN WATCH, PROVIDE COMFORT, VIGILANT WARRIOR (Southwest Asia), PROVIDE PROMISE, DENY FLIGHT (Bosnia-Herzegovina), SUPPORT DEMOCRACY, UPHOLD DEMOCRACY (Haiti), and TIGER RESCUE (Yemen). Additionally, its squadrons have been called upon to support Distinguished Visitor airlift for the National Command Authorities, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and numerous exercises.
Beginning in January 2011, the unit has hosted training for flight and maintenance crews from No. 51 Squadron RAF in preparation for the delivery of the squadron's RC-135W Airseeker fleet.[2]
On 7 October 2016, the E-4Bs under the 55th Wing moved to the USAF 8th Air Force.[3]
Lineage
- Established as 55th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940
- Activated on 15 January 1941
- Redesignated: 55th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) (Twin Engine) on 31 January 1942
- Redesignated: 55th Fighter Group (Twin Engine) on 15 May 1942
- Redesignated: 55th Fighter Group, Twin Engine, on 1 March 1944
- Redesignated: 55th Fighter Group, c. 19 July 1944
- Inactivated on 20 August 1946, aircraft, personnel and equipment being redesignated as 31st Fighter Group.
- Redesignated 55th Reconnaissance Group (Very Long Range) (Mapping) on 5 February 1947
- Activated on 24 February 1947
- Redesignated 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group on 29 June 1948
- Inactivated on 14 October 1949
- Redesignated 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Group, Medium, on 27 October 1950
- Activated on 1 November 1950
- Inactivated on 16 June 1952
- Redesignated 55th Operations Group on 29 August 1991
- Activated on 1 September 1991.
Assignments
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Components
- 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 September 1991 – 1 October 2016
- 2d Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 1 September 1991 – 19 July 1994
- 7th Airborne Command and Control Squadron: 19 July 1994 – 28 October 1998
- 24th Reconnaissance Squadron: 7 July 1992 – 30 June 1994
- 37th Pursuit (later, 37th Fighter): 15 January 1941 – 1 March 1943
- 38th Pursuit (later, 38th Fighter; 38th Reconnaissance; 38 Strategic Reconnaissance; 38 Reconnaissance): 15 January 1941 – 20 August 1946; 1 June – 14 October 1949; 1 November 1950 – 16 June 1952 (detached 1 November 1950 – 6 January 1951); 1 September 1991 – present
- 41st Electronic Combat Squadron: 1 October 2002 – 3 February 2003
- 43d Electronic Combat Squadron: 1 October 2002 – 3 February 2003
- 45th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 July 1994 – present
- 54th Pursuit (later, 54th Fighter): 15 January 1941 – 11 September 1942 (Detached 31 May – 11 September 1941)
- 55th Intelligence Support Squadron: 22 July 2010 – present
- 82d Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 July 1992 – present
- 95th Reconnaissance Squadron: 1 July 1994 – present
- 338th Fighter (later, 338th Reconnaissance; 338th Strategic Reconnaissance; 338th Combat Training): 12 September 1942 – 20 August 1946; 1 June – 14 October 1949; 1 November 1950 – 16 June 1952 (detached 1 November – 1 December 1950); 20 September 1999 – present
- 343d Fighter (later, 343d Reconnaissance; 343d Strategic Reconnaissance; 343d Reconnaissance): 1 February 1943 – 20 August 1946; 24 February 1947 – 14 October 1949; 1 November 1950 – 16 June 1952 (detached 1 November 1950 – 3 January 1951); 1 September 1991 – present
- 922d Reconnaissance Squadron: 31 March – 1 June 1992; 1 July 1992 – 30 June 1994.
Stations
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Aircraft
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Notes
- ^ Bodie, Warren M. The Lockheed P-38 Lightning: The Definitive Story of Lockheed's P-38 Fighter.
- ^ "RAF Begin Training With US on Intelligence Aircraft". www.asdnews.com. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019.
- ^ Oakes, Justin (7 October 2016). "E-4Bs realign under 8th Air Force, 595th CACG stands up". Retrieved 4 November 2016.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Maurer, Maurer, Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Office of Air Force history (1961). ISBN 0-405-12194-6
- Maurer, Maurer, Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Office of Air Force history (1982). ISBN 0-8317-1501-4
- usaaf.com 55th Fighter Group
- littlefriends.co.uk 55th Fighter Group
- USAF Aircraft Serial Number Search