33d Pursuit Group

33d Operations Group
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sits in a group F-35A Lightning II at Eglin AFB
Active	1941–1945; 1946–1952; 1955–1957; 1991–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter operations and training
Part of	33d Fighter Wing
Garrison/HQ	Eglin Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	Nomads
Motto(s)	Fire From the Clouds
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations China Burma India Theater Vietnam War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Notable commanders	Col. Elwood R. Quesada Col. William W. Momyer
Insignia
33d Operations Group emblem (approved 21 February 1942)
Patch with 33d Tactical Group emblem

The 33d Operations Group is the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing, assigned to Air Education and Training Command of the United States Air Force. The group is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.

The group was first activated in January 1941 as the 33d Pursuit Group and began training in fighter operations at Mitchel Field, New York. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor the group moved to Philadelphia, where it assumed an air defense role while training for combat. After being redesignated the 33d Fighter Group, it moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in November 1942 as part of Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa, flying its planes to its first base in Morocco from the aircraft carrier USS Chenango of the United States Navy. The group served in North Africa and Italy until February 1944, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation in January 1943 for its defense of its base from attacks by German and Italian aircraft.

In 1944, the group departed Italy for the China-Burma-India Theater, leaving its Curtiss P-40 Warhawks behind for Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. It continued combat operations until the surrender of Japan. In November 1945, it returned to the United States and was inactivated when it arrived at the Port of Embarkation.