1st Operations Group

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 1st Operations Group


caption= 1st Fighter Wing
dates= Founded May 5, 1918-active October 1 1991
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= United States Air Force
type= Fighter Operations Group
role= Air dominance
size= 2 F-22 Raptor squadrons
1 F-15 Eagle squadron
1 operations support squadron
command_structure= 1st Fighter Wing
Ninth Air Force
current_commander=
garrison= Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= "Aut Vincere Aut Mori" - Conquer or Die
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=World War I
World War II

notable_commanders= Carl A. Spaatz
anniversaries=The 1st Operations Group is the oldest major air combat unit in the United States Air Force. As the 1st Pursuit Group it saw combat in World War I, and as the 1st Fighter Group combat in World War II. Pilots of the 1st Group are credited by the USAF with destroying 554.33 aircraft and 50 balloons, and 36 pilots are recognized as being aces.

The pilots of the 1st Group included Captain Eddie Rickenbacker, credited as the top scoring ace in France during World War I. During World War II, the 1st FG was among the first groups deployed overseas in the summer of 1942. The group flew missions in England as part of the Eighth Air Force, then was transferred to North Africa in November 1942. It experienced significant combat as part of the Twelfth Air Force, moved to Italy, and became part of the fighter force of the Fifteenth Air Force. The 1st FG hosted the first operational U.S. jet fighters in 1945.

After 30 years of inactivation between 1961 and 1991, the group was re-activated as the 1st Operations Group, 1st Fighter Wing, equipped with both F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor fighters.

1st Pursuit Group

World War One

On January 16, 1918, Brig. General Benjamin D. Foulois, Chief of Air Service, AEF, assigned Major Bert M. Atkinson to command of the 1st Pursuit Organization Center, a temporary administrative and training organization for arriving U.S. pursuit squadrons. The 94th and 95th Aero Squadrons were the first to be assigned, beginning combat in March. On May 5, 1918, the AEF redesignated the 1st Pursuit Organization Center at Gengault Aerodrome, Toul, France, as the 1st Pursuit Group, the first American group-level fighter establishment (the 1st Corps Observation Group, organized in April 1918, was the first U.S. group). Major Atkinson became the 1st Pursuit Group's first commanding officer, followed by Major Harold E. Hartney on August 21, 1918. The 27th and 147th Aero Squadrons were assigned to the group on June 1, and the 185th Pursuit Squadron, a night fighter unit, in October.

The 1st Pursuit Group was equipped with Nieuport 28s, Spad XIIIs and Sopwith Camels. From May until the November 11 armistice, the Group recorded 1,413 aerial engagements, accumulating 151.83 confirmed kills on enemy aircraft, and 50 confirmed balloon victories. Nineteen of its pilots—five from each squadron except the 27th—were recognized as "aces". For its participation, the 1st received seven campaign streamers. Two of the four pilots earning the Medal of Honor for actions during World War I were members of the 1st Pursuit Group: 2Lt Frank Luke Jr. and 1Lt. Edward V. "Eddie" Rickenbacker.

The 1st Pursuit Group was based at Toul (May 5, 1918), Touquin (June 28, 1918), Saints (July 9, 1918), Rembercourt (September 1, 1918), and Colombey-les-Belles, France (December 9-December 24, 1918).

:::::Aces of the 1st Pursuit Group¹Scored two more victories with another group ²Killed in action

SOURCE: "Air Force Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II." Lt. Shahan's kill is documented in "Air Force Historical Study 105: Air Phase of the North African Invasion, November 1942", p. 34

Bases and casualties

Campaigns and honors

Campaigns

1st Operations Group

"See main article: 1st Fighter Wing"

On 1 October 1991, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated 1st Fighter Wing and the 1st Fighter Group re-activated as the 1st Operations Group to control its F-15 and operations support squadrons at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

On March 15, 1992, the 74th Air Control Squadron was transferred to the 1st Fighter Wing to provided command and control of air operations during deployments. On February 1, 1993, the 41st and 71st Rescue Squadrons, and the 741st Maintenance Squadron were also assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing. Stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida, the units provided search and rescue for NASA's space shuttle missions, and support of combat search and rescue operations in Southwest Asia. Additionally, C-21 operational support aircraft were assigned to the Wing on 1 April 1993 with the establishment of Detachment 1, 1st Operations Group. On 1 May, the detachment inactivated and the 12th Airlift Flight, with the same mission, activated.

On June 14, 1995, the 1st Rescue Group was activated as part of the 1st Fighter Wing and assumed operational control of the Search and Rescue organizations. On April 1, 1997, the 12th Airlift Flight was transferred to Air Mobility Command, leaving the group tasked with only fighter and air control operations.

In 2003 the 27th and 94th FS began transition to the F-22 Raptor, with the 94th FS reaching full operational status on December 16, 2005. Both the 27th FS and the 149th FS of the Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing (integrated with the 1st Fighter Wing in operating and maintaining the 1st FW's forty F-22's) were declared fully operational by Air Combat Command on December 15, 2007.

1st Operations Group commanders

Honors

"Air Force Outstanding Unit Award"
*1 May 1992 to 30 April 1994
*1 June 1995 to 31 May 1997
*1 June 1998 to 31 May 2000
*1 June 2000 to 31 May 2001

1st FG P-38 on exhibit

Beginning in 1977, at least a dozen different groups attempted to locate and recover one of the eight aircraft abandoned on the Greenland ice cap after the forced landing of July 15, 1942. One of the B-17s was located and found to have been crushed by the glacial forces. A P-38 in restoreable condition was then located in 1988 approximately 268 feet below the surface. Efforts to bring it to the surface began in May 1992, culminating in the recovery in October 1992 of P-38F-1-LO 41-7630, last flown by 1st Lt. Harry L. Smith, Jr., 94th Fighter Squadron.

The P-38 was subsequently restored to flying condition over the next ten years, dubbed "Glacier Girl" by its new owner, the Lost Squadron Museum, and flown on October 26, 2002. The P-38 (civil aviation number N17663) is stored at the museum's location in Middlesboro, Kentucky. The Lightning is believed to be the only flyable P-38 in existence. A scale model kit of "Glacier Girl" was released by Academy Plastic Model Co.-Model Rectifier Corporation (Kit No. 12208) in July 2006. ("FineScale Modeler" July 2006, pp.69-70)

ee also

* 5th Air Division

External links

* [http://www.1stfighter.org/photos/photos.html 1st Fighter Group Website]
* [http://www.1stfighter.com/ 1st Fighter Association]
* [http://www.thelostsquadron.com/ Lost Squadron website, detailing recovery and restoration of 1st FG P-38F]
* [http://www.usaww1.com July 14, 2008 - 90th anniversary Commemoration of 1st Pursuit Group in France]

ources

*Shiner, John F., "From Air Service to Air Corps: The Billy Mitchell Era", "Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force" Vol. I (1997) Chapter 3, ISBN 978-0-16-049009-5

*Maurer, Maurer: -"Air Force Combat Units of World War II", Office of Air Force History (1961). ISBN 978-0-405-12194-4
* _______. "Air Force Historical Study 73: A Preliminary List of USAF Aces 1917-1953", Office of Air Force History (1962) pdf file
* _______. "Air Force Historical Study 133: U.S. Air Service Victory Credits, World War I", Office of Air Force History (1969) pdf file

*Ravenstein, Charles A., "Air Force Combat Wings 1947-1977", Office of Air Force History (1984). ISBN 978-0-912799-12-4

*Zeske, Jim, "Workbench Review", "FineScale Modeler" July 2006, Vol.24, No.6, Kalmbach Publishing.

*Freeman, Roger A. "The Mighty Eighth" (1993 edition). ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil Air Force Historical Research Agency]
* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/numbered_studies/1039707.pdf USAF Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II] very large (27.21 MB) pdf file, pp. 540, 567, and 581 for 1st FG totals
* [http://www.langley.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=3710 1st Operations Group Fact Sheet]