92d Operations Group
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The 92d Operations Group (92 OG) is a United States Air Force unit located at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington. Its mission is to train and equip KC-135 flight and support crews in support of Air Mobility Command and US Strategic Command missions. The 92 OG is part of the 92d Air Refueling Wing.
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[edit] History
[edit] 92d Bombardment Group
The 92d Bombardment Group was established on 28 January 1942. It was activated at Barksdale Field (now Barksdale Air Force Base) on 1 March 1942. During World War II the group flew B-17s as a component of the Eighth Air Force. The group was based in England from 18 May 1942 to sometime in June 1945 when it moved to Istres Air Base, France.
The group remained in France until July 1946 when it moved to Fort Worth Army Air Field, Texas. In October 1946 the 92 BG moved again, this time to Smokey Hill Army Air Field, Kansas where they remained until June 1947. The groups final move was to Spokane Army Air Field (now Fairchild Air Force Base) near Spokane, Washington.
In July 1950, the group deployed its B-29 aircraft to Yokota Air Base, Japan in support of United Nations combat operations against North Korea. The 92 BG aircraft flew missions over the Korean Peninsula until October 1950 when they returned to their home base at Spokane.
In 1951 the group converted to the B-36 bomber. These were replaced in 1952 by B-52s. In June of that year the unit was inactivated and it was 39 years before being reactivated as the 92d Operations Group, again with B-52s at Fairchild Air Force Base.
[edit] 92d Operations Group
When the 92d BG was reactivated after 39 years as an inactive unit, it was renamed to 92d Operations Group even though some of its components were flying B-52 bombers. As part of their new mission, the 92d also gained two squadrons of KC-135 tankers. The 92 OG ended B-52 alert duties in Sep 1992, and from Feb 1993, performed air sampling missions for the Department of Energy with modified B-52Hs. The group's mission changed to solely air refueling in 1994. During 1993 the group also had a UH-1 helicopter squadron, but this unit was gone by 1994 as were the B-52s.
Regularly deployed elements during the late 1990s to support overseas tanker taskforces in support of humanitarian, peacekeeping, and contingency operations in the Balkans and Southwest Asia. Today the 92d Operations Group is only responsible for KC-135 operations.
This aircraft realignment was a result of the 92d Bomb Wing becoming the 92d Air Refueling Wing.
[edit] Unit Lineage
- 92d Bombardment Group (Heavy), 28 January 1942 - 14 July 1946 (inactive, 28 February, 1946 - 3 August 1946)
- 92d Bombardment Group, Very Heavy, 15 July 1946 - 27 May 1948 (reactivated 4 August, 1946)
- 92d Bombardment Group, Medium, 28 May 1948 - 15 June 1951
- 92d Bombardment Group, Heavy, 16 June 1951 - 16 June 1952)
- 92d Operations Group, 29 August 1991 - present
[edit] Currently Assigned Units
The 92d OG currently has the following units assigned to it:
- 92d Operations Support Squadron
- 92d Air Refueling Squadron
- 93d Air Refueling Squadron
[edit] Component units
These are all the squadrons ever assigned to the 92 OG.
- 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (later, 407th Bombardment): 1 March 1942-28 February 1946.
- 43d Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1991-1 June 1992; 1 July 1994-31 March 1995.
- 92d Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1991-1 June 1992; 1 July 1994-.
- 93d Air Refueling Squadron: 31 March 1995-.
- 96th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1994-31 March 2005.
- 97th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1994-30 September 2004.
- 98th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 July 1994-1 July 1998.
- 325th Bombardment Squadron (later, 325th Bomb): 1 March 1942-28 February 1946; 4 August 1946-16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951-15 June 1952); 1 September 1991-1 July 1994.
- 326th Bombardment Squadron: 1 March 1942-28 February 1946; 4 August 1946-16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951-15 June 1952).
- 327th Bombardment Squadron: 1 March 1942-28 February 1946; 4 August 1946-16 June 1952 (detached 16 February 1951-15 June 1952).