33d Operations Group
The flying component of the United States Air Force's 33d Fighter Wing, responsible primarily for F-35A pilot and maintainer training at Eglin Air Force Base.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
The 33d Operations Group is an operational organization of the United States Air Force and the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing. It is assigned to Air Combat Command and is based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. Unlike a commercial brand, the group is a military formation whose identity is expressed through its lineage, mission, squadrons, aircraft, and combat record. The organization traces its lineage to the 33d Pursuit Group, activated in January 1941 at Mitchel Field, New York. It initially trained with Bell P-39 Airacobras and later Curtiss P-40 Warhawks. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it performed air-defense duties along the United States East Coast while preparing for overseas combat. In November 1942, as part of Operation Torch, the group moved to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Its aircraft were transported aboard the aircraft carrier USS Chenango and launched for service in North Africa. The group subsequently operated in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy, providing close air support and attacking transportation networks, ports, fuel facilities, bridges, and troop concentrations. Its defense of Thelepte Airfield against German and Italian aircraft on 15 January 1943 earned it a Distinguished Unit Citation. In 1944 the group transferred to the China-Burma-India Theater. It exchanged its P-40s for Lockheed P-38 Lightnings and Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, trained in India and China, and later conducted patrol, dive-bombing, and strafing missions in Burma. It returned to the United States in November 1945 and was inactivated. The formation was reactivated in Germany in 1946 as part of the occupation forces, later moved to Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, and became associated with early postwar experiments in the wing-base organizational system. It received Republic F-84 Thunderjets in 1948 and then moved to Otis Air Force Base, Massachusetts, where it performed northeastern United States air-defense duties with F-84s, North American F-86 Sabres, and later Northrop F-89 Scorpions. Various reorganizations and inactivations followed during the Cold War. A separate 33d Tactical Group was activated in South Vietnam in 1963 to manage support functions and reconnaissance-related detachments at Tan Son Nhut and other bases. That formation was inactivated in 1965 and later consolidated with the fighter group's lineage. The modern 33d Operations Group was activated on 1 December 1991 during the Air Force's Objective Wing reorganization. It initially commanded F-15 Eagle fighter squadrons and an operations support squadron. During the 1990s and early 2000s, its personnel and aircraft deployed to locations including Saudi Arabia, Canada, the Caribbean, South America, Jamaica, Iceland, Italy, and Puerto Rico. These deployments supported air-defense, contingency, humanitarian, and counter-drug missions, including Operations Southern Watch, Coronet Macaw, Restore Hope, Support Justice, and Uphold Democracy. Members of the group were among those killed in the 25 June 1996 Khobar Towers bombing in Saudi Arabia. The group began transitioning from the F-15 Eagle to the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II in 2009. Its contemporary mission is to train United States and international partner pilots, air battle managers, and maintainers for fifth-generation air operations. Its assigned units include the 33d Operations Support Squadron, the 58th and 60th Fighter Squadrons, and the 337th Air Control Squadron. The organization therefore combines flying training, operational support, tactical command-and-control instruction, and international partnership activities.
History
The lineage of the 33d Operations Group begins with the 33d Pursuit Group, activated in January 1941 with the 58th, 59th, and 60th Pursuit Squadrons. It trained in fighter operations at Mitchel Field and initially flew P-39 Airacobras before converting to P-40 Warhawks. Following Pearl Harbor, the group undertook East Coast air-defense duties. Two of its squadrons were also positioned on the West Coast during 1942 as part of the wider American defensive effort. The group was selected to support the Western Task Force in Operation Torch. In November 1942, its aircraft crossed the Atlantic aboard USS Chenango and were launched near Port Lyautey, Morocco. The operation was technically difficult because the pilots and aircraft were not carrier-trained in the conventional sense, and damaged runways caused additional landing losses. Once established in North Africa, the group supported Allied operations in Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy. On 15 January 1943, it defended Thelepte Airfield against a German-Italian raid, destroying attacking aircraft and receiving a Distinguished Unit Citation. It later supported the reduction of Pantelleria, the invasion of Sicily, the Salerno and Anzio landings, and ground forces across southern Italy. The 99th Fighter Squadron, an early African-American combat unit, was attached to the group during 1943. In February 1944, the group moved to the China-Burma-India Theater. It retrained on P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts, operated in China, and returned to India in September. Its later missions included patrol, interception, dive bombing, and strafing in Burma. After Japan's surrender, the group returned to the United States and was inactivated in November 1945. The formation was reactivated in Germany in August 1946 as part of the occupation forces, taking over the personnel and equipment of the 357th Fighter Group. It operated P-51 Mustangs and underwent several organizational and geographic changes. In 1947 it was organized at Roswell Army Air Field and became part of the experimental wing-base structure that later influenced Air Force-wide organization. The group received F-84 Thunderjets in 1948 and moved to Otis Air Force Base, where it performed air-defense duties. It later flew F-86 Sabres and F-89 Scorpions and was redesignated the 33d Fighter-Interceptor Group. It was inactivated in 1952, reactivated under Project Arrow in 1955, and inactivated again in 1957. A 33d Tactical Group was activated in Vietnam in 1963. It supported reconnaissance and base operations at Tan Son Nhut and other locations, including Can Tho and Nha Trang, before inactivation in 1965. Its lineage was later consolidated with that of the fighter group. The modern 33d Operations Group was activated on 1 December 1991 as part of the Objective Wing reorganization. It initially directed F-15-equipped fighter squadrons and operational support functions. Between 1992 and 2002, its personnel deployed widely in support of air-defense, contingency, humanitarian, and counter-drug operations. The group began converting to the F-35A in 2009. Today it trains Air Force and international partner pilots and maintainers, while its air-control squadron trains air battle managers and supports tactical command-and-control instruction.
- 2009
F-35 transition begins
[1]The group began replacing its F-15 training role with F-35A Lightning II instruction.
- 1991
Reactivation as 33d Operations Group
[1]The group was activated on 1 December to command the operational units of the 33d Fighter Wing.
- 1948
Entry into the jet era
[1]The group received Republic F-84 Thunderjets and later moved to Otis Air Force Base for northeastern air defense.
- 1944
Transfer to China-Burma-India Theater
[1]The group moved from Italy, converted to P-38 and P-47 aircraft, and continued operations in Asia.
- 1943
Distinguished Unit Citation action
[1]The group defended Thelepte Airfield against a German-Italian air attack on 15 January.
- 1942
Deployment for Operation Torch
[1]The group moved to North Africa as part of the Allied invasion of French North Africa.
- 1941
Activation as 33d Pursuit Group
[1]The organization was activated in January at Mitchel Field, New York, and began fighter training with P-39 Airacobras before converting to P-40 Warhawks.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force operational training organization focused on fifth-generation fighter and air battle management instruction, supported by a long combat and air-defense lineage.
Military flight training · 2009
F-35A Lightning II training
The group's principal contemporary activity is training United States and international partner pilots and maintainers for the conventional-takeoff-and-landing F-35A. The program combines flight instruction, aircraft systems knowledge, tactical employment, maintenance training, and operational support for a multinational fifth-generation fighter community.
Command-and-control training
Air battle manager training
The 337th Air Control Squadron trains air battle managers for the Air Force, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Command. It also supports F-22 training-related command and control at Tyndall Air Force Base and provides instruction for international officers.
Fighter operations · 1991
F-15 Eagle operations and training
From its reactivation in 1991 until the F-35 transition, the group organized and supported F-15 Eagle fighter operations. Its squadrons deployed to multiple overseas and domestic locations for contingency, air-defense, and cooperative missions.
Marketing campaigns
- 1994Operation Uphold Democracy
Haiti · Caribbean
The group supported the multinational operation in Haiti through deployed aircraft and personnel.
Outcome. The operation demonstrated the group's ability to support Caribbean contingency missions.
- 1992Operation Southern Watch
Saudi Arabia · Persian Gulf region
Deployed group aircraft and personnel supported the enforcement of the southern Iraqi no-fly zone and related regional air operations.
Outcome. The group maintained a recurring expeditionary presence in the region.
- 1990Operation Restore Hope
Somalia
Group personnel participated in the United States-led humanitarian intervention and associated air operations in Somalia.
Outcome. The deployment extended the group's post-Cold War contingency role beyond traditional fighter air defense.
- 1942Operation Torch
North Africa
The group supported the Allied invasion of North Africa, transporting P-40 aircraft aboard USS Chenango and establishing operations from Moroccan airfields.
Outcome. The group became operational in the Mediterranean theater and continued combat support in North Africa and Italy.
Brand decisions
2009
Transition from F-15 to F-35A trainingGeneration changeBackground
The Air Force selected the 33d Fighter Wing and its operations group to support the introduction of the F-35A training mission at Eglin Air Force Base.
Action taken
The group began converting its flying and support activities from the F-15 Eagle to the F-35A Lightning II and incorporated international partner training.
Aftermath
The group became a central United States Air Force venue for F-35 pilot and maintainer instruction.
Recent events
- 2009
33d Operations Group begins F-35 transition[1]
Product generation · Product launch
The group began transitioning from the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle to the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II and subsequently focused on training United States and partner-nation personnel.
- 1996
Khobar Towers bombing affects deployed group personnel[1]
Other
Members of the 58th Fighter Squadron, 60th Fighter Squadron, and 33d Operations Support Squadron were among the United States personnel killed during the bombing in Saudi Arabia on 25 June 1996.
- 1991
33d Operations Group activated under Objective Wing reorganization[1]
Leadership change · Other
The group was reactivated on 1 December 1991 to command the operational units of the 33d Fighter Wing, initially centered on F-15 Eagle operations.
Sources1 sources
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