133d Operations Group

The 133d Operations Group is a United States Air Force organization assigned to the Minnesota Air National Guard's 133d Airlift Wing. Based at Minneapolis–Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station in Minnesota, it commands and coordinates the wing's flying and operational support elements. When activated for federal service, the group is gained by Air Mobility Command. Its responsibilities include the airlift of troops, cargo, and medical patients, as well as the supervision of flying standards, operational procedures, training, and safety across the units under its control. The organization traces its lineage to the 367th Fighter Group, which was activated at Hamilton Field, California, on 15 July 1943 during World War II. Initially equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras, the group trained in California and Nevada before deploying to England in spring 1944. There it joined IX Fighter Command and converted to Lockheed P-38 Lightnings. The group entered combat in May 1944 and conducted fighter sweeps, bomber escort, armed reconnaissance, dive-bombing, interdiction, and close-air-support missions during the Normandy campaign and the Allied advance across France, Belgium, and Germany. The 367th participated in the fighting around Normandy, Saint-Lô, the Falaise area, the liberation of France, Operation Market-Garden, the Battle of the Bulge, and the final Allied operations in Germany. It later transitioned to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts. The group received two Distinguished Unit Citations, recognition in Belgian Army Orders of the Day, and the Belgian Fourragere. It ended combat operations on 8 May 1945 and was inactivated at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, on 7 November 1945. In May 1946, the lineage was allotted to the National Guard and redesignated the 133d Fighter Group. The Minnesota organization trained with North American P-51 Mustangs and was mobilized during the Korean War in 1951 for an air-defense mission. After returning to the Minnesota Air National Guard in December 1952, it continued as a fighter and air-defense unit until converting to the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter and an airlift role in 1960. It was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and replaced its C-97 aircraft with Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports in 1971. The group was inactivated in early 1975 when its component units were assigned directly to the parent 133d Tactical Airlift Wing. It was reactivated in 1994 as the operational component of the 133d Wing. In its present form, the group is not a commercial brand or consumer-facing business; its identity is that of a military operational organization whose historical designation includes the 367th Fighter Group and whose current mission centers on military airlift and related operational readiness.

The organization's lineage begins with the 367th Fighter Group, activated at Hamilton Field, California, on 15 July 1943. Its initial components were the 392d, 393d, and 394th Fighter Squadrons. Several members of the initial cadre had previous combat experience, including service with the American Volunteer Group popularly known as the Flying Tigers. The group received Bell P-39 Airacobras in late August and trained at Santa Rosa Army Air Field, Oakland Municipal Airport, and other western United States locations. The squadrons also conducted dive-bombing and gunnery training at Tonopah Army Air Field, Nevada. Training accidents involving the Airacobra caused a number of fatalities before the unit prepared for overseas movement. In early 1944, the group was reinforced with personnel from other fighter groups. It moved through Camp Shanks, New York, and sailed for Britain aboard the SS Duchess of Bedford, arriving at Greenock, Scotland, on 3 April 1944. The unit proceeded to RAF Stoney Cross in England, where it unexpectedly encountered Lockheed P-38 Lightnings rather than the single-engine fighters on which most of its personnel had trained. The transition required extensive work by pilots and ground crews. The group flew its first combat mission on 9 May, a fighter sweep over Alençon. During the Normandy campaign, the 367th conducted fighter sweeps, bomber escort, dive-bombing, interdiction, and air-cover missions. On D-Day and the following days it helped protect Allied shipping carrying invasion forces. It also tested the P-38's ability to carry large bombs beneath its wings. The group's first credited air-to-air victory came on 12 June 1944, when two of its pilots jointly brought down a German Me 410. The unit suffered severe losses during a low-level attack near Cherbourg on 22 June, when intense German defenses caused the loss of several aircraft and pilots. As the Allied armies advanced, the group moved from England to forward bases in Normandy and then across France. It supported General George Patton's Third Army, attacked railways and transport columns, and struck German airfields, armored formations, flak positions, and strongpoints. Its operations included attacks around the Falaise pocket and combat near Laon, where it fought German fighters while conducting attacks against Luftwaffe installations. On 25 August 1944, the group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for a particularly intense series of operations against airfields and enemy aircraft. It also supported Operation Market-Garden by escorting troop-carrier aircraft and attacking anti-aircraft positions. The Belgian Army recognized the group's performance in its Orders of the Day. During the Battle of the Bulge, the group supported the defense of Bastogne, including escorting C-47 resupply aircraft and conducting armed reconnaissance. In early 1945 it began converting from the P-38 to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt while continuing combat operations. Its second Distinguished Unit Citation recognized the 19 March 1945 attack on the German headquarters complex at Ziegenburg near Bad Nauheim. The operation used coordinated low-level and dive-bombing attacks, including conventional bombs and napalm, against a heavily defended command installation. Although senior German personnel reached protected underground facilities, the attack severely damaged the complex and disrupted communications. The group continued close air support and interdiction missions during the advance across the Rhine and the final campaign in Germany. It moved to Eschborn Airfield near Frankfurt on 10 April 1945 and flew its final combat mission on 8 May. After the end of the European war, it was selected for possible redeployment to the Pacific and began preparations involving long-range P-47N aircraft. Japan's surrender ended that plan. The remaining personnel reassembled at Seymour Johnson Field, North Carolina, and the 367th Fighter Group was inactivated on 7 November 1945. In May 1946, the lineage was transferred to the National Guard and redesignated the 133d Fighter Group. The Minnesota unit trained with P-51 Mustangs and was mobilized during the Korean War in 1951. It served in an air-defense role until it was inactivated in February 1952 during an Air Defense Command reorganization. Returned to the Minnesota Air National Guard in December 1952, it remained an air-defense fighter organization until converting to the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter and taking on an airlift mission in 1960. The group was called to federal active duty during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and later replaced its C-97 aircraft with Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports in 1971. The group was inactivated in early 1975, when its component units were assigned directly to the 133d Tactical Airlift Wing. It was reactivated in 1994 and resumed its role as the operational component of the 133d Wing. Today, as the 133d Operations Group, it supports federal and state requirements for airlift and oversees operational procedures, standardization, training, and safety for the wing's flying and support units.

• 1994

  Reactivation as an operations group

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was reactivated as the operational component of the 133d Wing, later known as the 133d Operations Group.

• 1975

  Group inactivated

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated when its component units were assigned directly to the parent 133d Tactical Airlift Wing.

• 1971

  Adoption of the C-130 Hercules

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit replaced its C-97 aircraft with Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports.

• 1960

  Conversion to airlift

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Minnesota organization converted from a fighter and air-defense mission to the Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter and airlift operations.

• 1951

  Korean War mobilization

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was mobilized and served in an air-defense role during the Korean War period.

• 1946

  Transfer to the National Guard

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The lineage was allotted to the National Guard and redesignated the 133d Fighter Group in May.

• 1945

  Transition to P-47 Thunderbolts

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began converting from P-38 Lightnings to Republic P-47 Thunderbolts while continuing operations in the European theater.

• 1945

  Inactivation after World War II

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After the planned Pacific redeployment was canceled following Japan's surrender, the 367th Fighter Group was inactivated on 7 November at Seymour Johnson Field.

• 1944

  Deployment to England and entry into combat

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group arrived in England in April, converted to P-38 Lightnings, and flew its first combat mission on 9 May.

• 1944

  Normandy and continental operations

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group supported the Normandy invasion and then moved through France, conducting fighter-bomber, interdiction, escort, and close-support missions.

• 1943

  367th Fighter Group activated

  [1]133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 367th Fighter Group was activated at Hamilton Field, California, on 15 July with the 392d, 393d, and 394th Fighter Squadrons.

A military airlift operations group rather than a commercial brand, positioned as the operational flying component of Minnesota's 133d Airlift Wing with a World War II fighter-group lineage.

• World War II fighter aircraft · 1943

  Bell P-39 Airacobra

  The P-39 Airacobra was the 367th Fighter Group's first principal aircraft. The group used it during stateside training in California and Nevada, including gunnery and dive-bombing exercises, before deploying overseas. Its training period exposed the unit to the operational difficulties and hazards of the type.

• World War II fighter aircraft · 1944

  Lockheed P-38 Lightning

  The P-38 Lightning became the group's main combat aircraft after its arrival in England in spring 1944. The twin-engine fighter was used for escort, fighter sweeps, bombing, strafing, reconnaissance, and close air support throughout Normandy and the advance across Western Europe.

• World War II fighter-bomber · 1945

  Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

  The group transitioned to P-47 Thunderbolts in early 1945 as Ninth Air Force sought greater aircraft standardization. The Thunderbolt was used in the final combat operations in Germany, including attacks on ground forces, armored vehicles, flak positions, and command installations.

• National Guard fighter aircraft · 1946

  North American P-51 Mustang

  After its postwar transfer to the National Guard and redesignation as the 133d Fighter Group, the organization trained with P-51 Mustangs before and around its later Korean War air-defense mobilization.

• Strategic airlift aircraft · 1960

  Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter

  The C-97 Stratofreighter marked the group's transition from fighter and air-defense operations to airlift. The aircraft supported the Minnesota unit's new transport mission beginning in 1960.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 1971

  Lockheed C-130 Hercules

  The C-130 Hercules replaced the group's C-97 aircraft in 1971 and established the modern airlift orientation associated with the 133d Wing's operational organization.

• 1944Normandy campaign

  France · English Channel

  The group provided air cover over invasion shipping, conducted fighter sweeps and bombing missions, and supported Allied operations during and after the Normandy landings.

  Outcome. The unit continued operations from forward bases in Normandy and helped support the Allied breakout from the beachhead.

  Source
• 1944Operation Market-Garden

  France · Belgium · Netherlands

  The group escorted troop-carrier aircraft and attacked flak positions in support of the Allied airborne and ground offensive.

  Outcome. The group's performance during the autumn operations was recognized in a Belgian Army Order of the Day.

  Source
• 1944Battle of the Bulge

  Belgium · Luxembourg · Germany

  The group supported the defense of Bastogne, including forward air-control activity, C-47 resupply escort, armed reconnaissance, and combat with German fighters.

  Outcome. It continued close air support and interdiction as the German offensive was contained and Allied forces resumed their advance.

  Source

• 1971

  Replacement of C-97 aircraft with C-130sGeneration change

  Background

  The wing required a modern tactical airlift platform for its continuing transport mission.

  Action taken

  The unit replaced its C-97 Stratofreighters with Lockheed C-130 Hercules transports.

  Aftermath

  The C-130 became the aircraft associated with the wing's modern airlift role.

  Source

• 1960

  Shift from fighter defense to airliftStrategy

  Background

  The Minnesota Air National Guard organization was reorganized around an airlift mission after years as an air-defense fighter unit.

  Action taken

  The group converted to Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter aircraft and assumed an airlift role.

  Aftermath

  The organization later adopted C-130 Hercules aircraft and developed the operational lineage that supports the current 133d Operations Group.

  Source

• 1945

  Conversion from P-38s to P-47sGeneration change

  Background

  Ninth Air Force sought to standardize its fighter-bomber fleet during the final phase of the European war.

  Action taken

  The group trained on P-47 Thunderbolts while continuing to fly combat missions with P-38 Lightnings, then used the Thunderbolt in later operations.

  Aftermath

  The group conducted its final European combat missions with the P-47 and received further recognition for its operations.

  Source

1. 1133d Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org