33d Operations Group The 33d Operations Group ( 33 OG ) is the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing , assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . The group is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base , Florida . Overview . From its activation in December 1991 , as part of the 33d Fighter Wing , the 33d Operations Group has 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 . The 33 OG lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers , Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996 . Assigned Units . The 33 OG ( Tail Code : EG ) commands two flying squadrons and one support squadron History . World War II . The 33d Fighter Group was activated early in 1941 as the 33d Pursuit Group with the 58th , 59th , and 60th Pursuit Squadrons assigned . It trained with Bell P - 39 Airacobra s in 1941 , but soon changed to Curtiss P - 40 s and served as part of the United States 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 November 1942 and operated with Twelfth Air Force in the Mediterranean theater until February 1944 , providing close air support for ground forces , and bombing and strafing personnel concentrations , port installations , fuel dumps , bridges , highways , and rail lines . The 33d received a Distinguished Unit Citation for action on 15 January 1943 when German aircraft attempted to knock out the group ' s base in Tunisia . The group drove off the enemy ' s escort and destroyed most of its bomber s . In May 1943 , the 99th Fighter Squadron , the first AAF unit to enter combat with black personnel , was attached to the group . The 99th remained attached to the group for most of the summer and fall of 1943 . 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 . The group supported additional landings in southern Italy , and the beachhead at Anzio . After moving to India in February 1944 , the group trained with Lockheed P - 38 Lightning s and Republic P - 47 Thunderbolt s . It then moved to China where it continued training and flew patrol and intercept missions . Upon returning to India in September 1944 , it flew dive bombing and strafing missions in Burma until the Allied campaigns in that area had been completed . 33d Ftr Gp Cold War . From August 1946 , the 33d Fighter Group served as part of the US occupation force in Germany , being assigned to United States Air Forces Europe airfields at Neubiberg and Bad Kissingen , initially operating P - 51 Mustang s . The group returned as a paper unit to United States in August 1947 , and was reassigned to Strategic Air Command . Stationed nominally at Andrews Field , Maryland , it then was organized as an operational unit at Roswell Army Airfield , New Mexico on 16 August 1947 as part of Eighth Air Force . At Roswell , the group became part of what was called the Hobson Plan , which was intended to unify control at air bases under a single wing . As A result , the group was assigned to the 33d Fighter Wing . The test proved successful , and the wing - base plan was adopted by the Air Force . Consisting of the 58th , 59th , and 60th Fighter Squadrons , the group was initially equipped at Roswell with P - 51D Mustangs . In June 1948 , it transitioned to the first - generation F - 84C Thunderjet , receiving enough to equip the 58th FS . before the wing and group moved to Otis AFB , Massachusetts and the 33d Fighter Wing was reassigned to the 26th Air Division of Air Defense Command ( ADC ) in late 1948 . There it trained to maintain tactical proficiency and participated in exercises and aerial demonstrations . In February 1949 , the group transitioned to F - 86A Sabre s with the F - 84s being sent to Republic Aircraft for refurbishment and reassignment to Air National Guard units . By December the group had completed its transition to Sabres and assumed an air defense mission , providing air defense in the northeastern US . Toward the end of 1949 , ADC was inactivated and the group and its parent wing became elements of Continental Air Command . In December 1950 ADC was reactivated , and the group , which since spring had been designated as the 33d Fighter - Interceptor Group rejoined the command . Because of ADC ' s need to expand its coverage , the group dispersed the 60th FIS to Westover AFB in August 1950 . It was inactivated in February 1952 along with the 33d Fighter Wing in a major reorganization of ADC responding to ADC ' s difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage . Fighter - interceptor groups and wings were replaced by regionally organized air defense wings . The 564th Air Base Group was activated on 1 February 1952 to replace the support elements of the 33d Fighter - Interceptor Wing . The group became the 564th Air Defense Group in 1953 when it assumed control of fighter - interceptor squadrons at Otis on that date . The unit was replaced by the reactivated 33d Fighter Group ( Air Defense ) as part of ADC ' s " Project Arrow " , which reactivated fighter units that had achieved distinction in the two world wars . The 33d Fighter Group was assigned to ADC ' s 4707th Air Defense Wing , and in 1956 reunited with the 33d Fighter Wing ( Air Defense ) . Again , it provided air defense in northeastern US flying F - 89C Scorpion s . It was also the host organization for USAF units until 1956 , when the 33d Fighter Wing was activated and the group assigned to it once again , and was assigned several support organizations to fulfil this function . It was inactivated on 18 August 1957 and replaced by 4735th Air Defense Group when the 551st Airborne Early Warning and Control Wing assumed host responsibilities for Otis from the 33d Fighter - Interceptor Wing . Vietnam War . On 8 July 1963 the 33d Tactical Group and activated in Viet Nam . It was equipped primarily with cargo aircraft . Its mission was to maintain and operate base support facilities at Tan Son Nhut Air Base , supporting the 2d Air Division and subordinate units by performing reconnaissance of Vietnam from various detachments flying RB - 26 Invaders , RB - 57 Canberras , and RF - 101 Voodoo aircraft . The 33d Tactical Group performed administrative and maintenance tasks and set up detachments at smaller , outlying airfields , the 33d assuming responsibility for Can Tho and Nha Trang Air Base s . The group inactivated in July 1965 , and its aircraft , personnel and equipment were transferred to the 6250th Combat Support Group . While the 33d Tactical Group was inactive , it was consolidated with the 33d Fighter Group as the 33d Tactical Fighter Group . Modern era . On 1 December 1991 , the Group was activated as the 33d Operations Group ( OG ) as a result of the 33d Tactical Fighter Wing implementing the USAF objective wing organization . The 33d OG was assigned the 58th and 60th Fighter Squadrons upon activation , all equipped with the F - 15C / D Eagle . From 1992 – 2002 the group deployed aircraft and personnel to Saudi Arabia , Canada , the Caribbean , South America , Jamaica , Iceland , Italy , and Puerto Rico and participated in various operations . The 33 OG lost 13 members in the bombing of Khobar Towers , Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996 . The group is currently engaged in Air Expeditionary operations in various combat areas as part of the Global War on Terrorism Lineage . 33d Operations Group 33d Tactical Group Components . Tactical Squadrons Support Units