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58th Operations Group

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58th Operations Group
Emblem of the 58th Operations Group
Active1941–1945; 1946–1952; 1955–1961; 1991–1994; 1994–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleSpecial Operations
EngagementsWorld War II
Korean War
58 SOW Boeing CV-22B Osprey 04-0026

The 58th Operations Group (58 OG) is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 58th Special Operations Wing. It is stationed at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

During World War II, the units predecessor unit, the 58th Fighter Group operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as part of Fifth Air Force. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation strafing a Japanese naval force off Mindoro in the Philippines on 26 December 1944 to prevent destruction. During the Korean War, the unit bombed and strafed enemy airfields and installations and supported UN ground forces, remaining in South Korea after the 1953 Armistice.[1]

Overview

The 58 OG trains mission-ready special operations, combat search and rescue (CSAR) and airlift aircrews in the UH-1H/N, HH-60G, HC-130N/P, MC-130P, MC-130H, CV-22 and corresponding simulators; provides Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training-Helicopter; conducts special operations and CSAR intelligence training; responds to contingencies and humanitarian missions.

Its component squadrons are:

History

For additional history and lineage, see 58th Special Operations Wing

Established as 58 Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. From beginning of World War II until 1943, served as replacement training unit for fighter pilots. Trained for combat and moved overseas to Southwest Pacific Theater in 1943. Began combat operations in February 1944, providing protection for U.S. bases and escorting transports initially, then escorting bombers over New Guinea and sea convoys to Admiralty Islands. From Noemfoor, bombed and strafed Japanese airfields and installations on Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands.[1]

Moved to the Philippines in Nov, flew fighter sweeps against enemy airfields, supported U.S. ground forces, and protected sea convoys and transport routes. Earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for strafing a Japanese naval force that was attacking a U.S. base on Mindoro on 26 December 1944. Beginning in July 1945, attacked railways, airfields, and enemy installations in Korea and Kyushu, Japan from Okinawa.[1]

After V-J Day, flew reconnaissance missions over Japan. Moved without personnel or equipment to the Philippines in Dec to be inactivated in January 1946.[1]

Korean War

58th Fighter-Bomber Group F-84E South Korea, 1952. Commander's aircraft 51-1535, other three squadrons aircraft shown in different tail markings

Activated in Korea during the Korean War, absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 136th Fighter-Bomber Group, then provided close air support for UN ground forces and attacked enemy airfields and installations. Having entered the war with slow, short-ranged F-84D ThunderJets, the 58 FBG transitioned in late 1952 to the new "G" model, designed with more speed and range. New targets included enemy ports, railroads, and airfields. The group attacked the major supply port of Sinuiju in September, inflicting heavy damage without loss of personnel or aircraft. Combining with other fighter-bomber units, it attacked the Kumgang Political School at Odong-ni in October 1952 and the North Korean tank and infantry school at Kangso in February 1953. In May, the 58th FBG bombed North Korean dams, flooding enemy lines of communication and rice fields. On 27 July 1953, attacked runway at Kanggye and, with the 49 FBG, bombed Sunan Airfield for the final action of fighter-bombers in the Korean War. Earned a second DUC for its actions in the last three months of the war.[1]

After the war, provided air defense for South Korea and deployed tactical components on rotational basis to Taiwan, January 1955 – February 1957. In October 1958, armed with tactical missiles to provide air defense of South Korea until 1962.[1]

From 1991

From October 1991, conducted combat crew training for F-15E aircrews and F-16 pilots; F-16C/D squadrons had a secondary, wartime mission of augmenting national air defenses. Early in 1993, added a mission of training international (Republic of Singapore) pilots in F-16 A/B aircraft, the first one arriving in March 1993. The next month, the group lost its wartime mission.[1]

In April 1994, gave up fighter pilot training function and moved without personnel or equipment from Luke to Kirtland AFB, NM, taking over the resources of the 542d Crew Training Wing, which was being inactivated. The wing trained aircrews in special operations and in search, rescue, and recovery. Additional missions included training pararescue and combat control teams, deploying personnel and equipment to support contingencies, and conducting search and rescue missions at request of local authorities. The 58 OG also accomplished all USAF undergraduate helicopter training via the 23 Flying Training Flight (later, Squadron) at Fort Rucker, AL. On 11 September 2001, after terrorists hijacked four civilian airliners and flew three of them into buildings in New York and Washington, the group airlifted a federal task force to Pennsylvania to investigate the crash site of the fourth airliner. Later the wing deployed personnel to support combat operations in Afghanistan (2001–) and Iraq (2003–).[1]

Lineage

  • Established as 58th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940
Activated on 16 January 1941
Redesignated: 58th Fighter Group on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 58th Fighter Group, Single Engine, on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 27 January 1946
  • Redesignated 58th Fighter-Bomber Group on 25 June 1952
Activated on 10 July 1952
Inactivated on 8 November 1957
  • Redesignated 58th Tactical Missile Group on 17 June 1958
Activated on 15 July 1958
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 March 1962
  • Redesignated 58th Operations Group, and activated, on 1 October 1991.

Assignments

Components

Stations

Aircraft and missiles

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dollman, TSgt David. "58 Operations Group (AETC)". Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  2. ^ Bailey, Carl E. (2 August 2017). "Factsheet 36 Rescue Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  3. ^ Duncan, Argen (11 October 2016). "550th inactivates with legacy of pride". Kirtland Air Force Base. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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