37th Operations Group

The 37th Operations Group was a United States Air Force operational unit with lineage extending back to the 37th Pursuit Group, constituted in December 1939 and activated at Albrook Field in the Panama Canal Zone on 1 February 1940. Its first mission was the defense of the Panama Canal during the military buildup preceding the United States’ entry into the Second World War. The unit initially operated a mixed inventory that included Boeing P-26A Peashooter fighters, North American BC-1 trainers, and Northrop A-17 attack aircraft. It later received Curtiss P-40 Warhawks, which substantially improved its combat readiness and allowed the obsolete P-26 aircraft to be transferred elsewhere. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the group’s aircraft and detachments were dispersed across Panama and other Caribbean locations. In 1942 it supported regional air defense, including a detachment of P-40 aircraft sent to Waller Field in Trinidad. The unit was redesignated the 37th Fighter Group in May 1942 and operated from Albrook Field, Howard Field, and satellite locations including Aguadulce Field. As the perceived threat to the Panama Canal declined, the group was disbanded in late 1943 and its personnel were returned to the United States for reassignment. The lineage was revived during the Korean War buildup. Reconstituted as the 37th Fighter-Bomber Group in March 1953, it was activated at Clovis Air Force Base, New Mexico, in April of that year. This activation was brief and largely administrative: the group was neither manned nor equipped before being inactivated on 25 June 1953. It was subsequently redesignated the 37th Tactical Fighter Group in 1985 while remaining inactive. The group’s best-known modern incarnation followed the United States Air Force’s adoption of the Objective Wing organizational structure. The 37th Operations Group was activated on 1 November 1991 as the operational element of the 37th Fighter Wing. Based at Tonopah Test Range Airport, Nevada, it controlled squadrons associated with the F-117A Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft, as well as operational support functions. The group also had an association with T-38 Talon aircraft. Tonopah was suitable for the specialized F-117 mission but was not considered an appropriate long-term fully operational base. After facilities were prepared at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, the group’s assets moved there in July 1992 and were assigned to the 49th Operations Group. The 37th Operations Group was consequently inactivated on 8 July 1992. Its history and honors were later temporarily bestowed upon the 37th Training Wing.

The unit’s lineage began when the 37th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) was constituted on 22 December 1939 under the Army Air Corps’ prewar expansion program. It was activated at Albrook Field in the Panama Canal Zone on 1 February 1940 and assigned the mission of defending the Panama Canal. Its early aircraft were a mixture of transferred and newly assigned types, reflecting the rapid expansion of American air forces before World War II. The group operated P-26A fighters, BC-1 trainers, and A-17 attack aircraft before receiving an OA-8 amphibian and approximately 35 Curtiss P-40B and P-40C fighters in 1941. The P-40s enabled the unit to reach operational readiness by the end of that summer, and later P-40E aircraft were also assigned. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Caribbean Air Force dispersed aircraft and personnel to reduce vulnerability and broaden the defense of the Canal Zone. The group sent five P-40Cs to Waller Field, Trinidad, on 1 May 1942; the detachment returned to Albrook Field on 22 June. On 15 May 1942 the unit was redesignated the 37th Fighter Group. It moved to Howard Field in October 1942 while maintaining detachments at Albrook and Aguadulce. The group was disbanded on 1 November 1943 when the danger to the Panama Canal was judged to have diminished. The lineage was reconstituted on 3 March 1953 as the 37th Fighter-Bomber Group during the Korean War-era expansion of the Air Force. Assigned to the 37th Fighter-Bomber Wing, it was activated at Clovis Air Force Base on 8 April. Because it was never staffed or equipped, this incarnation lasted only until 25 June 1953. In 1985 the group was redesignated the 37th Tactical Fighter Group but remained inactive. The decisive modern reactivation occurred after the 37th Tactical Fighter Wing became the 37th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1991 and adopted the Objective Wing structure. The 37th Operations Group was activated the following month to serve as the wing’s operational element at Tonopah Test Range Airport. Its components included the 37th Operations Support Squadron and the 415th, 416th, and 417th Fighter Squadrons. The group’s principal modern mission centered on the F-117 Nighthawk, the United States’ operational stealth attack aircraft, with T-38 Talons also listed among its aircraft. Tonopah’s specialized facilities were not regarded as suitable for a permanent operational base, so the F-117 force was transferred to Holloman Air Force Base. The group’s assets moved on 8 July 1992 and were assigned to the 49th Operations Group, bringing the 37th Operations Group’s final activation to an end. Its lineage and honors were subsequently temporarily entrusted to the 37th Training Wing.

• 1992

  Transfer to Holloman and inactivation

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group’s operational assets moved to Holloman Air Force Base on 8 July and were assigned to the 49th Operations Group, after which the 37th Operations Group was inactivated.

• 1991

  Reactivation as an operations group

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 37th Operations Group was activated on 1 November as the operational element of the reorganized 37th Fighter Wing at Tonopah Test Range Airport.

• 1953

  Short-lived Korean War-era reactivation

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Reconstituted as the 37th Fighter-Bomber Group, the unit was activated at Clovis Air Force Base but was never manned or equipped and was inactivated that June.

• 1943

  World War II disbandment

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was disbanded on 1 November after the perceived threat to the Panama Canal declined.

• 1942

  Redesignation as the 37th Fighter Group

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was redesignated the 37th Fighter Group on 15 May and supported air-defense arrangements in the Panama and Caribbean regions.

• 1941

  Transition to P-40 Warhawks

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received Curtiss P-40 fighters, replacing much of its obsolete early equipment and improving its readiness for regional air defense.

• 1940

  Activation in the Panama Canal Zone

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated at Albrook Field on 1 February 1940 to defend the Panama Canal.

• 1939

  Constitution as the 37th Pursuit Group

  [1]37th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was constituted on 22 December 1939 as the 37th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) during the prewar expansion of the United States Army Air Corps.

A United States Air Force operational formation organized at different points in its lineage for regional air defense, fighter-bomber administration, and specialized stealth-aircraft operations.

• Fighter aircraft · 1941

  Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

  The P-40 was the group’s principal World War II fighter after its 1941 re-equipment. P-40B and P-40C aircraft improved the group’s ability to conduct air defense in the Panama Canal Zone, while later P-40E aircraft were also assigned.

• Stealth attack aircraft · 1991

  F-117 Nighthawk

  The F-117A was the defining aircraft of the group’s final operational period. From Tonopah Test Range Airport, the group controlled squadrons associated with the specialized stealth-aircraft mission before the force moved to Holloman Air Force Base in 1992.

• Jet trainer · 1991

  T-38 Talon

  The T-38 Talon is listed among the aircraft associated with the group during its 1991–1992 activation, supporting the operational environment surrounding the F-117 force.

• 1992

  Transfer of the stealth-fighter force to HollomanStrategy

  Background

  Tonopah Test Range Airport supported the specialized F-117 mission but was not considered suitable as a fully operational permanent base.

  Action taken

  The group’s assets moved to Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, on 8 July 1992.

  Aftermath

  The assets were assigned to the 49th Operations Group and the 37th Operations Group was inactivated.

  Source

• 1942

  Regional dispersal and Trinidad detachmentStrategy

  Background

  After the United States entered World War II, air-defense forces in the Canal Zone were dispersed and regional responsibilities were reorganized.

  Action taken

  The group sent five P-40C aircraft to Waller Field, Trinidad, on 1 May 1942, with the detachment returning to Albrook Field on 22 June.

  Aftermath

  The group continued its Panama-based defense mission and was redesignated the 37th Fighter Group during the same period.

  Source

1. 137th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org