15th Operations Group
Encyclopedia
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
Thirteenth Air Force
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stationed in the continental United States...
. The group is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
, Hawaii.
The 15 OG is responsible for managing operational matters at Hickam AFB and Bellows AFS, Hawaii; and Wake Island Airfield. Its history goes back to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when the 15th Pursuit Group was largely destroyed during the 7 December 1941 Japanese Pearl Harbor Attack at Hickam Field. It later became a Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
group, providing VLR fighter escorts for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
bombers that attacked the Japanese Home Islands.
Overview
From 1992 to present, the group had one airlift squadron assigned and equipped with C-135 aircraft, which provided transportation for the Commander, US Pacific Command, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and other high ranking civilian, military, and foreign dignitaries.The unit also provides command and control for the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and directed tactical control of Hawaii Air National Guard alert F-15 aircraft. Its 25th Air Support Operations Squadron provided combat ready tactical air control parties (TACPs) ready to advise on the employment of air assets in training and combat and to deploy worldwide with each brigade and battalion of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and other designated ground components.
Components
The 15th Operations Group (Tail Code: HH) consists of the following squadrons:- 15th Operations Support Squadron
- 19th Fighter Squadron19th Fighter SquadronThe 19th Fighter Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.-Mission:The 19th FS operates the F-22 Raptor aircraft conducting strategic attack, interdiction, offensive counterair , suppression of enemy air defenses, as well as offensive and defensive counterair ...
(F-22 RaptorF-22 RaptorThe Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is a single-seat, twin-engine fifth-generation supermaneuverable fighter aircraft that uses stealth technology. It was designed primarily as an air superiority fighter, but has additional capabilities that include ground attack, electronic warfare, and signals...
) - 65th Airlift Squadron65th Airlift SquadronThe 65th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It operates C-37 and C-40 Clipper aircraft providing executive airlfit in the Pacific theater.-History:...
(Gulfstream C-37 and C-40 ClipperC-40 Clipper-See also:-External links:* - retrieved 20 December 2006* - retrieved 20 December 2006* - retrieved 20 December 2006* *...
) "Special Missions Hawaii" - 535th Airlift Squadron535th Airlift SquadronThe 535th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlfit in the Pacific theater.-History:...
(C-17 Globemaster IIIC-17 Globemaster IIIThe Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
)
History
- 45th Pursuit Squadron
- 46th Pursuit Squadron46th Tactical Fighter Squadronthumb|Planes and hangars burning at [[Wheeler Field]] during the Japanese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], 7 December 1941.The 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command 1st Tactical Fighter Wing stationed at MacDill...
- 47th Pursuit Squadron
World War II
A little more than a year later, on 7 December 1941, it engaged in combat action during the Japanese attack on military installations in HawaiiAttack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
.
Bombing and strafing attacks that morning by carrier-based planes of the Japanese strike force destroyed many assigned aircraft and caused heavy casualties; however, 12 of the group's pilots succeeded in launching their Curtiss P-36 Hawk and Curtiss P-40
Curtiss P-40
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American single-engine, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and enabled a rapid entry into production and operational...
aircraft from Wheeler and Haleiwa Fields, flew a total of 16 sorties, and destroyed 10 enemy planes. Second Lieutenants George S. Welch and Kenneth M. Taylor, P-40 pilots assigned to the 47th Pursuit Squadron, shot down four and two, respectively, and were later cited for extraordinary heroism during the attack. Both received the Distinguished Service Cross
Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military decoration that can be awarded to a member of the United States Army, for extreme gallantry and risk of life in actual combat with an armed enemy force. Actions that merit the Distinguished Service Cross must be of such a high degree...
.
With the outbreak of war, the group's primary mission remained the aerial defense of the Hawaiian Islands; but training pilots for combat became its secondary task. Aircraft flown included the Curtiss A-12 Shrike
A-12 Shrike
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1....
, Grumman OA-9 amphibious observation plane, Martin B-12 amphibious bomber
Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934...
, Boeing P-26 Peashooter
P-26 Peashooter
The American Boeing P-26 Peashooter, was the first all-metal production fighter aircraft and the first pursuit monoplane used by the United States Army Air Corps...
, Curtiss P-36 Hawk, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, and the Republic P-47D Thunderbolt.
On 12 February 1942, the unit was redesignated the 15th Pursuit Group (Interceptor). Several months later, the archaic "pursuit group" term was dropped and the unit was redesignated the 15th Fighter Group on 15 May 1942. That summer, the group's mission changed. Although defense of the islands continued to be an important responsibility, providing combat training for pilots became the primary mission for the next two years.
In 1943, three additional squadrons were added to the group, those being:
- 6th Fighter Squadron
- 18th Fighter Squadron
- 78th Fighter Squadron
The group deployed squadrons to the Central and South Pacific for operations against Japanese forces. Then, in April 1944, all elements of the 15th Fighter Group returned to Hawaii and began training for very-long-range (VLR) bomber escort missions, obtaining North American P-51 Mustangs later in the year.
In January 1945, ordered into combat, the group left Hawaii for Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
in the Marianas Islands, remaining there until a landing strip could be secured by the Marines on Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
. The first fighter aircraft to arrive at lwo Jima were P-51s of the 15th's 47th Fighter Squadron the morning of 6 March, with the 45th and 78th Squadrons following the next day. They supported Marine ground units by bombing and strafing cave entrances, trenches, troop concentrations, and storage areas. By the middle of March, the group also began strikes against enemy airfields, shipping, and military installations in the Bonin Islands.
On 7 April 1945, the 15th flew its first VLR mission to Japan, providing fighter escort for the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombers that attacked the Nakajima
Nakajima Aircraft Company
The Nakajima Aircraft Company was a prominent Japanese aircraft manufacturer throughout World War II.-History:...
aircraft plant near Tokyo, and was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. In late April and early May that year, the 15th struck Japanese airfields on Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
to curtail the enemy's suicide attacks against the invasion force on Okinawa and also hit enemy troop trains, small factories, gun positions, and hangars in the Bonins and Japan.
During the summer of 1945, the 15th Fighter Group (along with the 21st
21st Space Wing
The 21st Space Wing is a unit of the Air Force Space Command based at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. The unit is tasked with the operation of early missile warning and space object detection equipment around the world in support of NORAD and USSTRATCOM through a network of command and control...
from the VII Fighter Command) was reassigned to the Twentieth Air Force
Twentieth Air Force
The Twentieth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Global Strike Command . It is headquartered at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming.20 AF's primary mission is Intercontinental Ballistic Missile operations...
301st Fighter Wing
301st Fighter Wing (World War II)
The 301st Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Far East Air Forces, based on Okinawa. It was inactivated on 20 January 1949.-Lineage:...
. The group continued its fighter sweeps against Japanese airfields and other targets, in addition to flying long-range B-29 Superfortress
B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress is a four-engine propeller-driven heavy bomber designed by Boeing that was flown primarily by the United States Air Forces in late-World War II and through the Korean War. The B-29 was one of the largest aircraft to see service during World War II...
escort missions to Japanese cities, until the end of the war. After the war, the group remained on lwo Jima until 25 November 1945, when it transferred (without personnel and equipment) to Bellows Field, Hawaii. There it absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 508th Fighter Group.
On 8 February 1946, the unit moved to Wheeler Field, where it remained until inactivated on 15 October 1946.
Air Defense Command
The 15th was activated on 18 August 1955 as 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, NY, and was equipped with the North American F-86 Sabres and later, Convair F-102 Delta Dagger aircraft as part of the 4707th Air Defense Wing4707th Air Defense Wing
The 4707th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York...
of Air Defense Command. The group performed air defense operations for the Syracuse Air Defense Sector
Syracuse Air Defense Sector
The Syracuse Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station, New York.- History :...
until July 1960, when it was discontinued.
Modern era
On 1 April 1992 the 15th Operations Group was activated as a result of the 15th Air Base Wing implementing the USAF objective wing organization. Upon activation, the 15th OG assumed responsibility from the 15th Air Base Wing for managing operational matters at Hickam AFB and Bellows AFS, Hawaii; and Wake Island Airfield. Also provided command and control for the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and directed tactical control of Hawaii Air National Guard alert F-15 aircraft.Its 25th Air Support Operations Squadron provided combat ready tactical air control parties (TACPs) ready to advise on the employment of air assets in training and combat and to deploy worldwide with each brigade and battalion of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and other designated ground components. Beginning in 1992, the group had one airlift squadron assigned and equipped with specially configured C-135 aircraft, which provided transportation for the Commander, US Pacific Command, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and other high ranking civilian, military, and foreign dignitaries.
Added C-37 aircraft in 2002 and C-40 aircraft in 2003; retired C-135 aircraft in 2003. Assigned second airlift squadron in 2005.
Lineage
- Established as 15th Pursuit Group (Fighter) on 22 November 1940
- Activated on 1 December 1940
- Redesignated: 15th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 12 February 1942
- Redesignated: 15th Fighter Group on 15 May 1942
- Inactivated on 15 October 1946, personnel and equipment redesignated as 81st Fighter Group.
- Established as 518th Air Defense Group on 16 February 1953
- Redesignated 15th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 June 1955
- Activated on 18 August 1955 by redesignation of 518th Air Defense Group518th Air Defense GroupThe 518th Air Defense Group is a disbanded United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 4707th Air Defense Wing, being stationed at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York...
- Discontinued on 1 July 1960.
- Established as 15 Operations Group on 1 April 1992
- Activated on 13 April 1992
Assignments
- 14th Pursuit Wing, 1 December 1940
- 7th Interceptor (later, VII Fighter) Command, 23 January 1942
- United States Strategic Air Forces in the PacificUnited States Strategic Air Forces in the PacificThe United States Strategic Air Forces in the Pacific was a World War II command and control authority of the strategic United States Army Air Forces in the Pacific Theater.-Overview:...
, 16 July 1945 - VII Fighter Command, 5 August 1945
- Pacific Air Command, US Army, 25 November 1945
- Attached to 7th Fighter Wing, 25 November-31 December 1945
- 7th Fighter Wing, 1 January 1946
- Seventh Air ForceSeventh Air ForceThe Seventh Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea....
, 1 March-15 October 1946 - 4707th Air Defense Wing4707th Air Defense WingThe 4707th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 26th Air Division, being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York...
, 18 August 1955 - 4708th Air Defense Wing4708th Air Defense WingThe 4708th Air Defense Wing is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 30th Air Division, being stationed at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan...
, 15 February 1953 - 30th Air Division, 8 July 1956
- Syracuse Air Defense SectorSyracuse Air Defense SectorThe Syracuse Air Defense Sector is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Air Defense Command 26th Air Division, being stationed at Syracuse Air Force Station, New York.- History :...
, 1 September 1958 – 1 July 1960 - 15th Air Base (later, 15th) Wing, 13 April 1992–present
Components
- 6th Night Fighter Squadron6th Night Fighter SquadronThe 6th Night Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Seventh Air Force, being inactivated at Wheeler Field, Hawaii on February 20, 1947....
: attached 6–25 March 1943, assigned 26 March 1943 – 5 June 1944; attached 1–30 September 1944 - 12th Fighter Squadron12th Fighter SquadronThe 12th Fighter Squadron was part of the 3d Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska until its decommission in September 2006. The squadron operated the F-15 Eagle aircraft conducting air superiority missions.-Mission:...
: 23 August-1 December 1942 - 15th Reconnaissance Squadron15th Reconnaissance Squadron15th Reconnaissance Squadron flies MQ-1 Predator UAV's and is currently stationed at Creech Air Force Base in Indian Springs, Nevada. The 15th Reconnaissance Squadron is one of the first armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft squadrons. The squadron provides combatant commanders with persistent ISR,...
: 13 Apr 1992 – 1 Jun 1994 - 19th Fighter Squadron19th Fighter SquadronThe 19th Fighter Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.-Mission:The 19th FS operates the F-22 Raptor aircraft conducting strategic attack, interdiction, offensive counterair , suppression of enemy air defenses, as well as offensive and defensive counterair ...
: 4 October 2010–present - 45th Pursuit (later, 45th Fighter; 45th Tactical Fighter) Squadron: 1 December 1940 – 15 October 1946
- 46th Pursuit (later, 46th Fighter; 46th Tactical Fighter) Squadron46th Tactical Fighter Squadronthumb|Planes and hangars burning at [[Wheeler Field]] during the Japanese attack on [[Pearl Harbor]], 7 December 1941.The 46th Tactical Fighter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the Tactical Air Command 1st Tactical Fighter Wing stationed at MacDill...
: 1 December 1940 – 24 April 1944 - 47 Pursuit (later, 47th Fighter; 47th Fighter-Interceptor; 47th Tactical Fighter)47th Fighter SquadronThe 47th Fighter Squadron is part of the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and falls under the operational control of the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.-World War II:...
: 1 December 1940 – 15 October 1946; 18 August 1955-1 July 1960 - 65th Airlift Squadron65th Airlift SquadronThe 65th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It operates C-37 and C-40 Clipper aircraft providing executive airlfit in the Pacific theater.-History:...
: 13 April 1992–present - 78th Fighter Squadron: attached 6–17 March 1943; assigned 26 March 1943 – 15 October 1946 (detached 26 March-10 April 1943)
- 535th Airlift Squadron535th Airlift SquadronThe 535th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlfit in the Pacific theater.-History:...
: 18 April 2005–present
Stations
- Wheeler Field, Territory of HawaiiTerritory of HawaiiThe Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
, 1 December 1940 - Bellows Field, Territory of HawaiiTerritory of HawaiiThe Territory of Hawaii or Hawaii Territory was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 7, 1898, until August 21, 1959, when its territory, with the exception of Johnston Atoll, was admitted to the Union as the fiftieth U.S. state, the State of Hawaii.The U.S...
, 3 June 1944 – 5 February 1945 - South Field, Iwo JimaIwo JimaIwo Jima, officially , is an island of the Japanese Volcano Islands chain, which lie south of the Ogasawara Islands and together with them form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The island is located south of mainland Tokyo and administered as part of Ogasawara, one of eight villages of Tokyo...
, 6 March 1945 - Bellows Field, Territory of Hawaii, 25 November 1945
- Wheeler Field, Territory of Hawaii, 9 February-15 October 1946
- Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, New York, 16 February 1953 – 1 July 1960
- Hickam AFB, HI, 13 April 1992–present
Aircraft assigned
- C-135, 1992–2003
- C-37, 2002–present
- C-40, 2003–present
- F-22, 2010–present