58th Operations Group

The 58th Operations Group, commonly abbreviated as 58 OG, is a United States Air Force operational organization based at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. It forms the flying and operational-training component of the 58th Special Operations Wing and supports the preparation of aircrews for special operations, combat search and rescue, airlift, helicopter training, intelligence instruction, and contingency response. Unlike a commercial brand, the group is a military formation whose identity is expressed through its lineage, missions, aircraft, subordinate squadrons, and service heritage. The organization traces its lineage to the 58th Pursuit Group, established in November 1940 and activated in January 1941. During the early years of the Second World War, the group initially served as a replacement training organization for fighter pilots. It later moved to the Southwest Pacific Theater, where it began combat operations in 1944. Its missions included defending American bases, escorting transport aircraft and bombers, protecting maritime routes, and attacking Japanese airfields and installations across areas including New Guinea, the Moluccas, and the Philippines. On 26 December 1944, the group strafed a Japanese naval force threatening a U.S. base on Mindoro in the Philippines. That action earned the unit a Distinguished Unit Citation. In the final months of the war, it operated from Okinawa against targets in Korea and Japan and later conducted reconnaissance over Japan. The wartime group was inactivated in January 1946. The lineage returned to active service during the Korean War. Redesignated the 58th Fighter-Bomber Group, it absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 136th Fighter-Bomber Group and conducted close air support, interdiction, and attacks on enemy airfields, ports, railways, industrial facilities, and military installations. It initially operated F-84D Thunderjets and later transitioned to the longer-range and faster F-84G. The group attacked targets including Sinuiju, the Kumgang Political School, the North Korean tank and infantry school at Kangso, and major dams whose destruction disrupted transport routes and affected agricultural areas. Its final Korean War operations included attacks on Kanggye and Sunan airfield on 27 July 1953. The group received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance during the last three months of the conflict. After the Korean War, the organization supported the defense of South Korea and periodically deployed tactical elements to Taiwan. It was later redesignated the 58th Tactical Missile Group, serving in a South Korean air-defense role until its inactivation in 1962. The group was reactivated and redesignated as the 58th Operations Group on 1 October 1991. In the 1990s it conducted F-15E and F-16 aircrew training, supported national air-defense augmentation missions, and trained Republic of Singapore pilots on F-16A/B aircraft. In 1994, it transferred from Luke Air Force Base to Kirtland Air Force Base and assumed resources associated with the inactivating 542d Crew Training Wing. Since that reorganization, the group has concentrated on special operations and rescue aviation. Its responsibilities have included specialized undergraduate helicopter pilot training, training for combat search-and-rescue and special operations aircrews, intelligence training, simulator instruction, and support for pararescue and combat-control training. It also maintains the ability to deploy personnel and equipment for contingencies, humanitarian missions, and search-and-rescue responses requested by civil authorities. Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, the group airlifted a federal task force to Pennsylvania to support investigation of the crash site of United Airlines Flight 93. Its personnel and associated units have subsequently supported U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The group currently oversees flying-training, special-operations, rescue, and operational-support squadrons operating a range of helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft, tiltrotors, and associated simulators.

The 58th Operations Group is the current organizational successor to a series of United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force formations with a long operational history. Its lineage began with the 58th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), established on 20 November 1940 and activated on 16 January 1941. During the opening period of the Second World War, it functioned primarily as a replacement training unit for fighter pilots. In 1943 it moved overseas to the Southwest Pacific Theater and entered combat in February 1944. In the Pacific, the group protected American bases, escorted transport aircraft, supported bomber operations, and guarded convoys. From Noemfoor it attacked Japanese airfields and installations on islands including Ceram, Halmahera, and the Kai Islands. After moving to the Philippines in November 1944, it conducted fighter sweeps, supported ground forces, and protected maritime and transport routes. Its 26 December 1944 attack on a Japanese naval force threatening Mindoro resulted in a Distinguished Unit Citation. From Okinawa, beginning in July 1945, the group attacked railways, airfields, and other targets in Korea and Kyushu. After Japan's surrender, it performed reconnaissance missions before being inactivated without personnel or equipment on 27 January 1946. The group was reactivated on 10 July 1952 as the 58th Fighter-Bomber Group during the Korean War. It absorbed the personnel and equipment of the 136th Fighter-Bomber Group and provided close air support and interdiction for United Nations forces. The group moved from F-84D aircraft to F-84G aircraft during the conflict, expanding its speed and range. It attacked airfields, ports, railways, schools, supply facilities, and dams. Notable operations included the attack on Sinuiju in September 1952, attacks on military schools in late 1952 and early 1953, and attacks on North Korean dams in May 1953. Its final wartime actions occurred on 27 July 1953 against Kanggye and Sunan airfield. The group earned a second Distinguished Unit Citation for its performance in the closing phase of the war. Following the armistice, it provided air defense for South Korea and rotated tactical elements to Taiwan from January 1955 through February 1957. It was redesignated the 58th Tactical Missile Group in 1958 and operated an air-defense mission in South Korea until it was discontinued and inactivated in March 1962. The modern 58th Operations Group was redesignated and activated on 1 October 1991. Initially it supported fighter and fighter-crew training, including F-15E and F-16 instruction. It also trained Singaporean F-16 pilots beginning in 1993. In April 1994, the group relinquished its fighter-pilot training role, moved from Luke Air Force Base to Kirtland Air Force Base, and assumed the resources of the inactivating 542d Crew Training Wing. This marked its transition toward special operations, rescue, airlift, and helicopter training. At Kirtland, the group expanded its responsibilities to include specialized undergraduate helicopter training, special operations and combat-search-and-rescue aircrew preparation, intelligence instruction, simulator operations, and support for pararescue and combat-control training. Its aircraft and training systems have included the UH-1H/N, HH-60G, HC-130, MC-130, CV-22, and associated simulators, with later unit equipment including HC-130J and MC-130J aircraft. The group has also maintained contingency and humanitarian-response capabilities. After the 11 September 2001 attacks, it airlifted a federal investigative task force to Pennsylvania for the Flight 93 crash site and later supported U.S. operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Its modern subordinate units include flying-training, rescue, special-operations, training, and operations-support squadrons.

• 2001

  September 11 response

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Following the September 11 attacks, the group airlifted a federal task force to Pennsylvania to support investigation of the Flight 93 crash site.

• 1994

  Move to Kirtland and mission transition

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group moved from Luke Air Force Base to Kirtland Air Force Base and assumed resources from the inactivating 542d Crew Training Wing.

• 1991

  Activation as 58th Operations Group

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The modern 58th Operations Group was redesignated and activated on 1 October 1991.

• 1958

  Tactical missile redesignation

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the 58th Tactical Missile Group and performed an air-defense mission in South Korea.

• 1953

  Second Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was recognized for its operations during the final three months of the Korean War.

• 1952

  Reactivation as fighter-bomber group

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was reactivated as the 58th Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 July 1952 for Korean War operations.

• 1946

  Postwar inactivation

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The wartime group was inactivated on 27 January 1946 after postwar reconnaissance duties.

• 1944

  Pacific combat operations

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group began combat operations in the Southwest Pacific and conducted escort, defense, interdiction, and ground-support missions.

• 1944

  First Distinguished Unit Citation

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its 26 December attack on a Japanese naval force near Mindoro.

• 1941

  Activation

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 58th Pursuit Group was activated on 16 January 1941.

• 1940

  Lineage established as 58th Pursuit Group

  [1]58th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was established as the 58th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940.

A specialized United States Air Force training and operational organization focused on producing mission-ready special operations, rescue, airlift, and helicopter aircrews while retaining contingency-response capabilities.

• Pilot training · 1994

  Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training—Helicopter

  The group conducts specialized undergraduate helicopter pilot training through the 23d Flying Training Squadron. This mission prepares pilots for military helicopter operations and forms part of the group's broader role in developing aircrew for rescue and special-operations missions.

• Aircrew training · 1994

  Special operations aircrew training

  The group trains aircrews for special operations aircraft and missions, using operational aircraft and corresponding simulators. The training portfolio has included CV-22, MC-130, and other special-mission platforms, with emphasis on mission readiness, aircraft proficiency, and operational procedures.

• Rescue aviation · 1994

  Combat search-and-rescue training

  Rescue units associated with the group train crews for combat search-and-rescue and recovery operations. Aircraft and systems referenced in the group's mission include UH-1, HH-60, and HC-130 platforms, supported by instruction, simulation, and operational-support functions.

• Airlift training · 1994

  Airlift and special-mission training

  The group provides training associated with airlift and special-mission aircraft, including HC-130 and MC-130 variants. These capabilities support long-range mobility, rescue, special operations, contingency deployment, and humanitarian response.

• 2003Iraq support

  Iraq

  Personnel associated with the group deployed in support of U.S. combat operations in Iraq after 2003.

  Outcome. Specific operational outcomes are not detailed in the supplied reference material.

  Source
• 2001September 11 emergency response

  United States

  The group airlifted a federal task force to Pennsylvania to assist with the investigation of the fourth aircraft crash following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

  Outcome. The mission demonstrated the group's contingency airlift and emergency-response role.

  Source
• 2001Afghanistan support

  Afghanistan

  Personnel associated with the group deployed in support of U.S. combat operations in Afghanistan after 2001.

  Outcome. Specific operational outcomes are not detailed in the supplied reference material.

  Source
• 1952Korean War fighter-bomber campaign

  Korean Peninsula

  The 58th Fighter-Bomber Group provided close air support and attacked North Korean airfields, ports, railways, military schools, supply facilities, and dams.

  Outcome. The group supported United Nations ground forces and received a second Distinguished Unit Citation for late-war operations.

  Source
• 1944Southwest Pacific and Philippines operations

  Southwest Pacific Theater · Philippines

  The predecessor fighter group conducted base defense, escort, convoy protection, fighter sweeps, and attacks on Japanese airfields and installations during the Second World War.

  Outcome. The group helped support Allied advances and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for the Mindoro action.

  Source

• 1994

  Shift from fighter training to special operations and rescue trainingStrategy

  Background

  The group relinquished its fighter-pilot training function as the Air Force reorganized training resources.

  Action taken

  It moved from Luke Air Force Base to Kirtland Air Force Base and assumed the resources of the inactivating 542d Crew Training Wing.

  Aftermath

  The reorganization established the group's modern focus on special operations, combat search and rescue, airlift, helicopter training, and contingency response.

  Source

• 1993

  International F-16 pilot trainingStrategy

  Background

  The group expanded its training responsibilities during the early 1990s.

  Action taken

  It began training Republic of Singapore pilots on F-16A/B aircraft, with the first Singaporean aircraft arriving in March 1993.

  Aftermath

  The international training activity preceded the group's later transition away from fighter-pilot training.

  Source

1. 158th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org