15th Operations Group

The 15th Operations Group, commonly abbreviated 15 OG, is a United States Air Force operational organization rather than a commercial consumer brand. It is the flying component of the 15th Wing and is assigned to the Thirteenth Air Force. The group is headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, and has responsibility for operational matters at Hickam, Bellows Air Force Station, and Wake Island Airfield. The group was activated in 1992 as part of the Air Force's transition to the objective-wing organizational structure. At activation, it assumed operational-management and flying responsibilities that had previously been held by the 15th Air Base Wing. Its responsibilities included command and control associated with the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and tactical control of Hawaii Air National Guard fighter aircraft placed on alert. The group also inherited several flying and support units associated with the wing. Over time, the 15th Operations Group developed a mixed mission portfolio. Its airlift elements provide strategic and operational transportation, including support for senior military commanders, government officials, and other authorized passengers. Its fighter component operates the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor for air-superiority and related missions. Its support organization provides command, planning, intelligence, operations, and other functions needed to generate and control air operations. Earlier in its history, a tactical air-support unit within the group prepared air liaison personnel to advise Army formations on the employment of air power and to deploy with designated ground units. The group's aircraft inventory has changed as its mission evolved. Boeing C-135 aircraft were used for command-support transportation from 1992 until their retirement from the group in 2003. Gulfstream C-37 aircraft entered service in 2002, Boeing C-40 aircraft followed in 2003, and the 535th Airlift Squadron added C-17 Globemaster III operations after joining the group in 2005. The 19th Fighter Squadron became part of the group in 2010 with the F-22. A KC-135-equipped air-refueling element operated from 2010 to 2015, but was subsequently inactivated. The 15th Operations Group also operates within the Air Force's total-force model. Several of its active-duty squadrons have been associated with Hawaii Air National Guard units, allowing regular and reserve-component personnel to operate together. In the configuration described by Air Force reference material, the group includes the 15th Operations Support Squadron, the 19th Fighter Squadron, the 65th Airlift Squadron, and the 535th Airlift Squadron. Its role is principally operational and military: it supports regional air defense, command mobility, airlift, and the broader United States Indo-Pacific command structure rather than selling products or services in a commercial market.

The 15th Operations Group was constituted on 1 April 1992 and activated on 13 April 1992 when the United States Air Force implemented the objective-wing structure for the 15th Air Base Wing. It was assigned to the 15th Air Base Wing, later redesignated the 15th Wing, and has remained under that assignment. The group was established to consolidate flying and operational functions that had previously been managed at wing level. At activation, the group assumed responsibility for operational matters at Hickam Air Force Base and Bellows Air Force Station in Hawaii, as well as Wake Island Airfield. It also provided command and control connected with the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and directed the tactical control of Hawaii Air National Guard F-15 aircraft assigned to alert duties. Its initial components included flying squadrons and operational-support elements, along with the 15th Air Intelligence Squadron and the 25th Air Liaison Squadron. The group's early airlift mission included specially configured Boeing C-135 aircraft used to transport the Commander of United States Pacific Command, the Commander of Pacific Air Forces, senior civilian and military officials, and foreign dignitaries. The 25th Air Liaison Squadron, later redesignated the 25th Air Support Operations Squadron, provided tactical air-control parties capable of advising ground commanders on the use of air assets during training and combat. These teams were designed to deploy with brigades, battalions, and other designated elements of the 25th Infantry Division and associated ground forces. The air-support squadron left the group in 2008, while the intelligence squadron had departed in 1994. The airlift fleet changed during the 2000s. Gulfstream C-37 aircraft were added in 2002, Boeing C-40 aircraft in 2003, and the older C-135 aircraft were retired from the group's inventory in 2003. The 535th Airlift Squadron joined in 2005, bringing C-17 Globemaster III operations into the group's structure. This expanded the organization's role beyond executive and command-support transportation to include larger-scale air mobility. In 2010, the 19th Fighter Squadron was activated within the group with the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor. The 96th Air Refueling Squadron was also activated in 2010 and operated KC-135 Stratotankers, but it was inactivated on 3 September 2015. The group therefore retained fighter, airlift, and support functions while losing its dedicated air-refueling component. The 15th Operations Group has also been associated with the total-force concept through integration with the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Operations Group. Active-duty and Guard squadrons have operated in associate relationships, including the 19th and 199th Fighter Squadrons, the 535th and 204th Airlift Squadrons, and the 96th and 203d Air Refueling Squadrons during the period when the refueling mission was active. The group's documented 2018 structure consisted of the 15th Operations Support Squadron, the 19th Fighter Squadron, the 65th Airlift Squadron, and the 535th Airlift Squadron. It remains stationed at Hickam Air Force Base and continues to support United States Air Force operations in Hawaii and the wider Pacific through air defense, air mobility, special-mission transportation, and operational support.

• 2015

  Air-refueling squadron inactivated

  [1]15th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 96th Air Refueling Squadron was inactivated on 3 September, ending the group's documented dedicated KC-135 air-refueling assignment.

• 2010

  F-22 and air-refueling missions added

  [1]15th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 19th Fighter Squadron and 96th Air Refueling Squadron were activated within the group, introducing F-22 and KC-135 operations.

• 2005

  535th Airlift Squadron assigned

  [1]15th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 535th Airlift Squadron joined the group, bringing C-17 Globemaster III airlift operations.

• 2003

  C-40 aircraft added and C-135 retired

  [1]15th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Boeing C-40 aircraft entered the inventory, while the group's Boeing C-135 aircraft were retired.

• 2002

  C-37 aircraft added

  [1]15th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group added Gulfstream C-37 aircraft for special-mission and senior-leader transportation.

• 1992

  Group constituted and activated

  [1]15th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 15th Operations Group was constituted on 1 April and activated on 13 April as part of the Air Force objective-wing reorganization.

A Hawaii-based United States Air Force operations group focused on air defense, airlift, senior-leader mobility, operational support, and regional command-and-control missions.

• Air defense and fighter operations · 2010

  F-22 Raptor operations

  The 19th Fighter Squadron operates Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor aircraft as the group's fighter component. The squadron supports air-defense and air-superiority responsibilities associated with United States Air Force operations in Hawaii and the Pacific region.

• Strategic and operational airlift · 2005

  C-17 Globemaster III airlift

  The 535th Airlift Squadron operates McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. Its mission provides heavy airlift capability for personnel, equipment, and other military cargo across operational theaters and between established bases.

• Executive and special-mission air transport · 2002

  C-37A and C-40B special-mission transport

  The 65th Airlift Squadron operates Gulfstream C-37 and Boeing C-40 aircraft for special-mission transportation. These aircraft support authorized senior military and civilian leaders, command mobility, and other government transportation requirements.

• Air operations support · 1992

  Operational support

  The 15th Operations Support Squadron provides the planning, coordination, command, and other operational functions required to support the group's flying units and associated regional missions.

• 2010

  Addition of F-22 fighter operationsStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force expanded the group's operational responsibilities in Hawaii.

  Action taken

  The 19th Fighter Squadron was activated within the group with Lockheed Martin F-22 aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The group incorporated a dedicated fifth-generation fighter mission into its air defense and regional operations portfolio.

  Source

• 2005

  Expansion into C-17 airliftStrategy

  Background

  The group's air mobility portfolio was expanded beyond smaller command-support aircraft.

  Action taken

  The 535th Airlift Squadron was assigned to the group with C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The group gained a heavy-airlift capability alongside its fighter and special-mission transport roles.

  Source

• 2003

  Transition from C-135 to newer special-mission transportsGeneration change

  Background

  The group's command-support transportation mission was modernized during the early 2000s.

  Action taken

  Boeing C-40 aircraft were added and the group's Boeing C-135 aircraft were retired.

  Aftermath

  The group continued senior-leader and special-mission transportation with C-37 and C-40 aircraft.

  Source

• 1992

  Adoption of the objective-wing structureStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force reorganized its wings to place operational functions in dedicated operations groups.

  Action taken

  The 15th Operations Group was constituted and activated under the 15th Air Base Wing, assuming flying and operational responsibilities previously managed at wing level.

  Aftermath

  The group became the wing's flying component and retained responsibility for operational matters at Hickam, Bellows, and Wake Island.

  Source

1. 115th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org