301st Operations Group | |
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457th Fighter Squadron F-16s taking off from Carswell Field
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Active | 3 February 1942-Present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Group |
Role | Fighter |
Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
Garrison/HQ | Carswell Field, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas |
Tail Code | Texas flag tail stripe "TX" "Texas Longhorns" |
Engagements | |
Decorations | |
Insignia | |
301st Operations Group emblem | |
Aircraft flown | |
Fighter | F-16C/D Fighting Falcon |
The 301st Operations Group (301 OG) is a flying component of the 301st Fighter Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve Tenth Air Force. The group is stationed at Carswell Field, Texas.
During World War II, the groups predecessor unit, the 301st Bombardment Group was a highly decorated group flying B-17 Flying Fortresses that served primarily in North Africa and Italy. It operated as part of Eighth, Twelfth and Fifteenth Air Forces.
In the postwar era, the 301st Bombardment Group was one of the first USAAF units assigned to the Strategic Air Command on 4 August 1946, prior to the establishment of the United States Air Force. The group was activated as a redesignation of the 467th Bombardment Group due to the Air Force's policy of retaining only low-numbered groups on active duty after the war.
The group was inactivated in 1952 when the parent wing adopted the Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all of the groups squadrons directly to the wing.
Reactivated as the 301st Operations Group in 1991 when the 301st Air Refueling Wing adopted the USAF Objective organization plan.
The 301st Operations Group (Tail Code: TX) is equipped with the F-16C+ Fighting Falcon. It commands the operational fighter squadrons of the 301st Fighter Wing.
The group has a rich tradition of leadership in the reserve component of the Air Force dating back to mid-1940s and continues to make history.
The group consists of the following squadrons:
After activation in February 1942, trained with B-17s. Air echelon operated 5–15 June 1942 from Muroc Dry Lake, CA, and performed anti-submarine patrols off the California coast. Reunited with ground echelon after arrival in England in August 1942.
Entered combat with Eighth Air Force in September 1942. Began combat in September 1942, attacking submarine pens, airfields, railroads, bridges, and other targets on the Continent, primarily in France.