33rd Operations Group

Lineage

Established as 33rd Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940.
Activated on 15 Jan 1941.
Redesignated 33rd Fighter Group on 15 May 1942.
Inactivated on 8 Dec 1945.
Activated on 20 Aug 1946.
Redesignated 33rd Fighter-Interceptor Group on 20 Jan 1950.
Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952.
Redesignated 33rd Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 Jun 1955.
Activated on 18 Aug 1955.
Inactivated on 18 Aug 1957.
Consolidated (31 Jul 1985) with the 33rd Tactical Group, which was established, and activated on 19 Jun 1963.
Organized on 8 Jul 1963.
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 8 Jul 1965.
Redesignated 33rd Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985.
Redesignated 33 Operations Group, and activated, on 1 Dec 1991.

Assignments

7th Pursuit Wing, 15 Jan 1941
1st Interceptor (later, I Interceptor, I Fighter) Command, 2 Oct 1941
Philadelphia Air Defense Wing, 11 Aug 1942
12th Air Support Command, Nov 1942
12th Fighter Command, 6 Dec 1942
12th Air Support Command, 13 Jan 1943
12th Air Force Service Command, 18 Feb 1943
12th Bomber Command, 1 Mar 1943
47th Bombardment Wing, 3 Mar 1943
12th Air Support Command, 14 Mar 1943
3rd Air Defense (later, 64 Fighter) Wing, 24 Jul 1943
12th Air Support Command, 21 Dec 1943 (under operational control of 64 Fighter Wing, 21 Dec 1943-Feb 1944)
AAF India-Burma Sector, c. 20 Feb 1944 (attached to CBI Air Forces Training Command, 5 Mar-14 Apr 1944)
14th Air Force, 15 Apr 1944
312th Fighter Wing, 11 May 1944
10th Air Force, 24 Aug 1944-Nov 1945
70th Fighter Wing, 20 Aug 1946
Strategic Air Command, 25 Aug 1947
8th Air Force, 16 Sep 1947
33rd Fighter (later, 33 Fighter-Interceptor) Wing, 5 Nov 1947-6 Feb 1952 (attached to 509 Bombardment Wing, 17 Nov 1947-15 Nov 1948)
4707th Air Defense Wing, 18 Aug 1955
33rd Fighter Wing, 18 Oct 1956-18 Aug 1957
Pacific Air Forces, 19 Jun 1963
2nd Air Division, 8 Jul 1963-8 Jul 1965
33rd Fighter Wing, 1 Dec 1991-.

Components

Squadron

58th Pursuit (later, 58 Fighter): 15 Jan 1941-8 Dec 1945, 20 Aug 1946-6 Feb 1952; 18 Aug 1955-18 Aug 1957; 1 Dec 1991-
59th Pursuit (later, 59 Fighter): 15 Jan 1941-8 Dec 1945; 20 Aug 1946-6 Feb 1952; 1 Dec 1991-15 Apr 1999
60th Pursuit (later, 60 Fighter): 15 Jan 1941-8 Dec 1945; 20 Aug 1946-6 Feb 1952; 18 Aug 1955-18 Aug 1957; 1 Dec 1991-

Stations

Mitchel Field, NY, 15 Jan 1941
Philadelphia, PA, 13 Dec 1941-Oct 1942
Port Lyautey, French Morocco, 10 Nov 1942
Casablanca, French Morocco, c. 13 Nov 1942
Telergma, Algeria, 24 Dec 1942
Thelepte, Tunisia, 7 Jan 1943
Youks-les-Bains, Algeria, 8 Feb 1943
Telergma, Algeria, c. 20 Feb 1943
Berteaux, Algeria, c. 2 Mar 1943
Ebba Ksour, Tunisia, c. 12 Apr 1943
Menzel Temime, Tunisia, 20 May 1943
Sousse, Tunisia, 9 Jun 1943
Pantelleria, 19 Jun 1943
Licata, Sicily, c. 18 Jul 1943
Paestum, Italy, 13 Sep 1943
Santa Maria, Italy, 18 Nov 1943
Cercola, Italy, c. 1 Jan-Feb 1944
Karachi, India, c. 20 Feb 1944
Shwangliu, China, c. 18 Apr 1944
Punchacheng, China, 9 May 1944
Nagaghuli, India, 3 Sep 1944
Sahmaw, Burma, 26 Dec 1944
Piardoba, India, 4 May-c. 15 Nov 1945
Camp Shanks, NY, 7-8 Dec 1945
Neubiberg, Germany, 20 Aug 1946
Bad Kissengen, Germany, Jul-25 Aug 1947
Andrews Field, MD, 25 Aug 1947
Roswell AAFld (later, Walker AFB), NM, 16 Sep 1947
Otis AFB, MA, 16 Nov 1948-6 Feb 1952
Otis AFB, MA, 18 Aug 1955-18 Aug 1957
Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 Jul 1963-8 Jul 1965
Eglin AFB, FL, 1 Dec 1991-.

Commanders

Maj Minthorne W. Reed, c. Jan 1941
Col Elwood R. Quesada, 7 Oct 1941
Col William W. Momyer, 29 Jun 1942
Col Loring F. Stetson Jr., 17 Oct 1943
Lt Col Oliver G. Cellini, 7 Jun 1944
Col David D. Terry Jr., 9 Sep 1944
Col Frank L. Dunn, 2 Mar 1945-unkn
Col Barton M. Russell, 20 Aug 1946
Lt Col Albert A. Cory, c. 1946
Col William H. Blanchard, 1947
Col Gwen G. Atkinson, Jan 1948
Lt Col Woodrow W. Korges, 4 Mar 1949
Col Charles H. MacDonald, 29 Jul 1949
Col Harrison R. Thyng, 15 Jun 1950
Lt Col Willard W. Millikan, c. Aug 1951-6 Feb 1952
Col Fred G. Hook Jr., 1955
Col David B. Tudor, c. early 1957-unkn
Col Richard C. Bender, 8 Jul 1963
Col Frank H. Wilcox Jr., 22 Feb 1964
Col George Budway, 16 May-8 Jul 1965
Col Thomas W. Dobson Jr., 2 Dec 1991
Col T. Michael Mosely, 23 Oct 1992
Col John D.W. Corley, 19 Jan 1994
Col James G. Boehm, 7 Aug 1995
Col David A. Deptula, 3 Oct 1995
Col Dennis G. Krembel, Feb 1997
Col Mark W. Debolt, 5 Mar 1999
C Col Thomas A. McCarthy, 9 Feb 2001
Col Jay T. Denney, 13 Dec 2002-.

Aircraft P-39, 1941; P-40, 1941-1944; P-38, 1944-1945; P-47, 1944-1945. P-47, 1947-1948; F-84, 1948; F-86, 1949-1952. C-54, 1963-1965; RB-26, 1963-1964; RB-57, 1963-1965; RF-101, 1963-1965; U-3B, 1963-1965; VC-47, 1964-1965; VC-123, 1963-1965. F-15, 1991-.

Operations

Trained with P-39s in 1941, but soon changed to P-40s and served as part of the defense force for the east coast after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

The group moved to North Africa as part of the invasion force on 8 Nov 1942 and operated with Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater until Feb 1944, providing close support for ground forces, and bombing and strafing personnel concentrations, port installations, fuel dumps, bridges, highways, and rail lines.

The 33nd received a DUC for action on 15 Jan 1943 when enemy aircraft attempted to knock out the group's base in Tunisia. The group drove off the enemy's escort and destroyed most of its bombers.

It took part in the reduction of Pantelleria and flew patrol missions while Allied troops landed after surrender of the enemy's garrison.

It also participated in the invasion and conquest of Sicily by supporting landings at Salerno, southern Italy, and the beachhead at Anzio.


Moving to India in Feb 1944, the group trained with P-38s and P-47s.

It then moved to China where it continued training and flew patrol and intercept missions.

Returning to India in Sep 1944, it flew dive-bombing and strafing missions in Burma until the Allied campaigns in that area had been completed.

From Aug 1946, the 33d served as part of the US occupation force in Germany until transferred back to the US, less personnel and equipment in Aug 1947.

Moving to New Mexico, it was remanned and equipped with P-51s in Sep 1947, transitioned to F-84s in Jun 1948, and by mid-Nov, moved to the east coast.

There it trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated in exercises and aerial demonstrations.

In Feb 1949, transitioned to F-86s and in Dec assumed an air defense mission, providing air defense in the northeastern US until inactivation in Feb 1952.

Again, it provided air defense in northeastern US, Aug 1955-Aug 1957.

In South Vietnam, the group was equipped primarily with cargo aircraft, C-54, U-3B, VC-47, and VC-123.

Its mission was to maintain and operate base support facilities at Tan Son Nhut AB, supporting the 2d Air Division and subordinate units by performing reconnaissance of Vietnam from various detachments flying RB-26, RB-57, and RF-101 aircraft, Jul 1963-Jul 1965.

From its activation in Dec 1991, as part of the 33d Fighter Wing, it deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico and participated in operations SOUTHERN WATCH, CORONET MACAW; RESTORE HOPE, SUPPORT JUSTICE IV; UPHOLD DEMOCRACY.

These included combat as well as deployments to assist in the US drug war. It lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers, Saudi Arabia on 25 Jun 1996.

Service Streamers  --  None.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Air Combat, EAME; India-Burma; Central Burma; China Defensive. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Central Tunisia, 15 Jan 1943. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 2 Dec 1991-31 Mar 1992; 1 Jun 1996-31 May 1998; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 1999.

Emblem

Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.