The 325th Operations Group is the flying component of the
325th Fighter Wing
The 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based in Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Mission
The 325th Fighter Wing's primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance per ...
, assigned to
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
of the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...
. The
group is stationed at
Tyndall Air Force Base
Tyndall Air Force Base is a United States Air Force Base located east of Panama City, Florida. The base was named in honor of World War I pilot 1st Lt. Frank Benjamin Tyndall. The base operating unit and host wing is the 325th Fighter Wing (32 ...
, Florida. It conducts training on the
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). As the result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, t ...
and commands one operational Raptor squadron. It directs the flying and support operations of two F-22 squadrons, a fighter training squadron, an operations support squadron and a training support squadron.
The group was first activated in August 1942 as the 325th Fighter Group at
Mitchel Field
Mitchell may refer to:
People
*Mitchell (surname)
* Mitchell (given name)
Places Australia
* Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate
* Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst
* Mitchell, Northern Terri ...
, New York. After training at
Hillsgrove Army Air Field
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is a public international airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, south of the state's capital and largest city of Providence. Opened in 1931, the airport was named for former Rhode Isla ...
, Rhode Island, the group moved to North Africa in 1943, where it flew combat missions with the
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...
, earning a
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed ene ...
for actions over
Sardinia
Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label= Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label= Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, af ...
for engaging a superior force of enemy aircraft and destroying more than half of them. The group was withdrawn from combat in the fall of 1943 and re-equipped with the
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
. After moving to Italy, the group re-entered combat, earning a second Distinguished Unit Citation in January 1944. The group continued in combat until
VE Day
Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easte ...
, returning to the United States in the fall for inactivation.
The 325th was again activated in 1947 as an all-weather fighter unit, moving late in the year to
Hamilton Air Force Base Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilto ...
. California. It assumed responsibility for
air defense
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...
of the northern Pacific coast after moving to
Moses Lake Air Force Base, Washington. With the beginning of the
Korean War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Korean War
, partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict
, image = Korean War Montage 2.png
, image_size = 300px
, caption = Clockwise from top: ...
, a number of
Air National Guard units were activated, one of which was attached to the group. In December 1951, the group dispatched one of its squadrons to Korea to provide all-weather air defense for the
Seoul
Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the Capital city, capital and largest metropolis of South Korea.Before 1972, Seoul was the ''de jure'' capital of the North Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea ...
region. However,
Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly ina ...
(ADC) was finding that the
single group and wing organization did not fit its model of dispersed fighter squadrons. Accordingly, it replaced its fighter wings and groups with regionally oriented defense wings and inactivated the group in February 1952.
In 1955, ADC implemented Project Arrow, which replaced its Air Defense Groups organized in the early 1950s with fighter groups that had been active during World War II. The 325th was activated once again at
McChord Air Force Base
McChord Field is a United States Air Force base in the northwest United States, in Pierce County, Washington. South of Tacoma, McChord Field is the home of the 62d Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, the field's primary mission being worl ...
, Washington to replace the
567th Air Defense Group, whose personnel, equipment and mission it assumed. The following year, the
325th Fighter Wing
The 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based in Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Mission
The 325th Fighter Wing's primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance per ...
was again activated, and until 1957 the group was a paper organization, used to staff various wing offices. It was inactivated in 1960, with its sole remaining squadron assigned directly to the 325th Wing.
The 325th remained in inactive status until 1991 when it was again activated as the 325th Operations Group.
Assigned units
The 325th Operations Group commands three flying squadrons and two support squadrons.
*
2d Fighter Training Squadron "American Beagle Squadron"
: The 2d Fighter Training Squadron was reactivated in August 2014 to operate
Northrop T-38 Talon
The Northrop T-38 Talon is a two-seat, twinjet supersonic jet trainer. It was the world's first, and the most produced, supersonic trainer. The T-38 remains in service in several air forces.
The United States Air Force (USAF) operates the mo ...
s and conduct adversary training for F-22 Raptor pilots flying air superiority missions.
*
43d Fighter Squadron
The 43d Fighter Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts advanced fighter training for F-22 Raptor pilots.
The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating ...
"American Hornets" (Diagonals on tails)
: The 43d Fighter Squadron was the first squadron to receive the
Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor
The Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor is an American single-seat, twin-engine, all-weather stealth tactical fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). As the result of the USAF's Advanced Tactical Fighter (ATF) program, t ...
and is the only Raptor training squadron.
*
95th Fighter Squadron "Mr. Bones"
: The 95th Fighter Squadron activated in October 2013 as an operational F-22A Raptor Squadron.
* 325th Training Support Squadron "Black Bears"
: The 325th Training Support Squadron manages training resources and conducts academic and simulator training for F-22 pilots, air battle managers and intelligence officers.
* 325th Operations Support Squadron
: The 325th Operations Support Squadron supports F-22 Raptor pilots. The squadron controls all air traffic at Tyndall, manages the airfield complex, and provides weather observation and forecasting. The squadron also provides operations, weapons and tactics, life support and water survival training and scheduling.
History
World War II

The 325th was first activated as the 325th Fighter Group at
Mitchel Field
Mitchell may refer to:
People
*Mitchell (surname)
* Mitchell (given name)
Places Australia
* Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate
* Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst
* Mitchell, Northern Terri ...
, New York in August 1942 with the
317th,
[Maurer, pp. 386–387] 318th,
[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', pp. 388-389] and
319th Fighter Squadrons assigned. It trained at
Hillsgrove Army Air Field
Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport is a public international airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, south of the state's capital and largest city of Providence. Opened in 1931, the airport was named for former Rhode Isla ...
with
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter and ground-attack aircraft that first flew in 1938. The P-40 design was a modification of the previous Curtiss P-36 Hawk which reduced development time and ...
aircraft
[Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 206–208] before moving to North Africa by ship and transport planes in January through February 1943. The
group entered
combat
Combat (French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, o ...
in April 1943 and began escorting medium
bomber
A bomber is a military combat aircraft designed to attack ground and naval targets by dropping air-to-ground weaponry (such as bombs), launching aerial torpedo, torpedoes, or deploying air-launched cruise missiles. The first use of bombs dropped ...
s, flying
strafing
Strafing is the military practice of attacking ground targets from low-flying aircraft using aircraft-mounted automatic weapons.
Less commonly, the term is used by extension to describe high-speed firing runs by any land or naval craft such ...
missions, and conducting sea sweeps from bases in Algeria and Tunisia.
The 325th participated in the defeat of
Axis forces in Tunisia, the reduction of
Pantelleria
Pantelleria (; Sicilian: ''Pantiddirìa'', Maltese: ''Pantellerija'' or ''Qawsra''), the ancient Cossyra or Cossura, is an Italian island and comune in the Strait of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea, southwest of Sicily and east of the Tunisi ...
, and the conquest of
Sicily
(man) it, Siciliana (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 = Ethnicity
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographi ...
.
The 325th received a
Distinguished Unit Citation
The Presidential Unit Citation (PUC), originally called the Distinguished Unit Citation, is awarded to units of the uniformed services of the United States, and those of allied countries, for extraordinary heroism in action against an armed ene ...
(DUC) for action over
Sardinia
Sardinia ( ; it, Sardegna, label= Italian, Corsican and Tabarchino ; sc, Sardigna , sdc, Sardhigna; french: Sardaigne; sdn, Saldigna; ca, Sardenya, label= Algherese and Catalan) is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, af ...
on 30 July 1943 when the group, using diversionary
tactics
Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to:
* Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks
** Military tactics
Military tactics encompasses the art of organizing and employing fighting forces on or near the battlefiel ...
, forced a superior number of enemy planes into the air and destroyed more than half of them.
The group did not fly combat missions from the end of September to mid-December 1943 as the 325th converted to
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bom ...
aircraft and moved to Italy.
The 325th began operations with
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Air Force (15 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base. It was reactivated on 20 August 2020, merging the previous units of the Ninth Air Force ...
in December 1943, and primarily engaged in bomber escort operations.
It received a second DUC for a mission on 30 January 1944 when the group flew more than 300 miles at very low altitude to surprise the enemy
fighters that were defending German
airfield
An aerodrome (Commonwealth English) or airdrome (American English) is a location from which aircraft flight operations take place, regardless of whether they involve air cargo, passengers, or neither, and regardless of whether it is for publ ...
s near Villaorba, Italy; by severely damaging the enemy's force, the 325th enabled heavy bombers to strike vital targets in the area without encountering serious opposition.
The group converted to
North American P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
aircraft in May 1944 and provided the fighter escort on the first shuttle bombing mission from Italy to Russia in early June 1944, and became the first American group to score a victory while flying from a Russian base. It escorted heavy bombers during long-range missions to attack the
Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt AG () was a German share-ownership limited, aircraft manufacturing corporation named after its chief designer Willy Messerschmitt from mid-July 1938 onwards, and known primarily for its World War II fighter aircraft, in part ...
factory at
Regensburg, the
Daimler-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz Group AG (previously named Daimler-Benz, DaimlerChrysler and Daimler) is a German multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is one of the world's leading car manufactu ...
tank
A tank is an armoured fighting vehicle intended as a primary offensive weapon in front-line ground combat. Tank designs are a balance of heavy firepower, strong armour, and good battlefield mobility provided by tracks and a powerful e ...
factory at Berlin,
oil refineries
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where petroleum (crude oil) is transformed and refined into useful products such as gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, asphalt base, fuel oils, heating oil, kerosene, liquef ...
at
Vienna
en, Viennese
, iso_code = AT-9
, registration_plate = W
, postal_code_type = Postal code
, postal_code =
, timezone = CET
, utc_offset = +1
, timezone_DST ...
, and other targets, such as airfields,
marshalling yards
A classification yard ( American and Canadian English (Canadian National Railway use)), marshalling yard ( British, Hong Kong, Indian, Australian, and Canadian English (Canadian Pacific Railway use)) or shunting yard (Central Europe) is a rail ...
, and communications targets in Italy, France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia. It also covered operations of
reconnaissance
In military operations, reconnaissance or scouting is the exploration of an area by military forces to obtain information about enemy forces, terrain, and other activities.
Examples of reconnaissance include patrolling by troops ( skirmishe ...
aircraft and strafed such targets as trains, vehicles, and airfields. The group continued combat operations until May 1945.
The group moved back to the U.S. and was inactivated after
V-E Day
Victory in Europe Day is the day celebrating the formal acceptance by the Allies of World War II of Germany's unconditional surrender of its armed forces on Tuesday, 8 May 1945, marking the official end of World War II in Europe in the Easte ...
.
325th Ftr Gp Aerial Victories
Cold War

The group was inactive from 1945 until 1947, when it was activated as an all-weather fighter group equipped with
Northrop P-61 Black Widow
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow is a twin-engine United States Army Air Forces fighter aircraft of World War II. It was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed specifically as a night figh ...
s.
In 1948, the group converted to
North American F-82 Twin Mustang
The North American F-82 Twin Mustang is the last American piston-engined fighter ordered into production by the United States Air Force. Based on the North American P-51 Mustang, the F-82 was originally designed as a long-range escort fighter ...
aircraft
and moved to Washington, to provide
air defense
Anti-aircraft warfare, counter-air or air defence forces is the battlespace response to aerial warfare, defined by NATO as "all measures designed to nullify or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action".AAP-6 It includes surface based ...
for the
Atomic Energy Commission Hanford Plant. In 1948, the
US Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
unified operational and support organizations under a single wing under what is called the
Hobson Plan
The Hobson Plan was an organizational structure established by the United States Air Force (USAF) in 1948, following experimental organization in 1947. Known as the "Wing-Base Organization," it replaced the organization used by the United States A ...
. As a result, the
325th Fighter Wing
The 325th Fighter Wing (325 FW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based in Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.
Mission
The 325th Fighter Wing's primary mission is to provide air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots and maintenance per ...
became the parent for the 325th Group and three other supporting groups
Beginning in Spring 1949, it conducted the All Weather Combat Crew Training School, while participating in air defense operations,
exercises and training.
[ In 1951, as ADC expanded its mission, the Federalized ]123d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 123d Fighter Squadron is a unit of the Oregon Air National Guard 142d Fighter Wing located at Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon. The 123d is equipped with the McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle.
The squadron is a descendant organization o ...
, flying World War II era F-51Ds, was attached to the group (now named the 325th Fighter-Interceptor Group).[Cornett & Johnson, p. 122] Although the 123d received some day fighter North American F-86 Sabre
The North American F-86 Sabre, sometimes called the Sabrejet, is a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as the United States' first swept-wing fighter that could counter the swept-wing ...
s in July, it continued to fly Mustangs while attached to the 325th.[ Meanwhile, the other three squadrons of the 325th converted from their Twin Mustangs to early model ]Lockheed F-94 Starfire
The Lockheed F-94 Starfire was a first-generation jet powered all-weather, day/night interceptor of the United States Air Force. A twin-seat craft, it was developed from the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star trainer in the late 1940s. It reached o ...
s in June and December 1951.[Cornett & Johnson, p. 125]
In December 1951, Fifth Air Force
The Fifth Air Force (5 AF) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan. It is the U.S. Air Force's oldest continuously serving Numbered Air Force. The organi ...
, engaged in the Korean War
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Korean War
, partof = the Cold War and the Korean conflict
, image = Korean War Montage 2.png
, image_size = 300px
, caption = Clockwise from top: ...
, indicated to Headquarters, United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army S ...
that it needed all-weather interceptors to defend the Seoul area. In response, ADC dispatched the group's 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron to Suwon Air Base
Suwon Air Base is a Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) base near Suwon city.
Units
The base is home to the ROKAF's 10th Fighter Wing (제10전투비행단), comprising:
*101st Fighter Squadron flying KF-5E/KF-5F/F-5F
*153rd Fighter Squadron f ...
, although the squadron remained assigned to the 325th group. The 325th group and wing
A wing is a type of fin that produces lift while moving through air or some other fluid. Accordingly, wings have streamlined cross-sections that are subject to aerodynamic forces and act as airfoils. A wing's aerodynamic efficiency is exp ...
inactivated in February 1952 as part of a major Air Defense Command
Aerospace Defense Command was a major command of the United States Air Force, responsible for continental air defense. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air Defense Command, was established in 1946, briefly ina ...
(ADC) reorganization that replaced its fighter wings with regional air defense wings, responding to ADC's difficulty under the existing wing base organizational structure in deploying fighter squadrons to best advantage. Its operational squadrons were transferred to the 4704th Defense Wing
The 4704th Defense Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the 25th Air Division of Air Defense Command (ADC) at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, where it was discontinued in 1954. It was e ...
at McChord Air Force Base
McChord Field is a United States Air Force base in the northwest United States, in Pierce County, Washington. South of Tacoma, McChord Field is the home of the 62d Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, the field's primary mission being worl ...
and the 4703d Defense Wing at Larson Air Force Base
Larson Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located five miles (8 km) northwest of the central business district (CBD) of Moses Lake, in Grant County, Washington. After its closure in 1966, the airport facility became ...
, Washington.
In 1955 the personnel and equipment of the inactivating 567th Air Defense Group, including the 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were transferred to the newly designated 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense), which activated once again at McChord as result of ADC's Project Arrow, which was designed to bring back on the active list the fighter units which had compiled memorable records in the two world wars.[Buss, ''et al''., p.6] Because one purpose of Project Arrow was to reunite fighter squadrons with their traditional groups,[ the 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was moved from ]Presque Isle Air Force Base
Presque Isle Air Force Base was a military installation of the United States Air Force located near Presque Isle, Maine. In the late 1950s and early 1960s it became a base for Strategic Air Command.
The original airport was constructed in 193 ...
. to assume the personnel and equipment of the 567th's 465th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron
The 465th Air Refueling Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 507th Operations Group, 507th Air Refueling Wing, stationed at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The squadron operates the KC-135R aircraft conduct ...
. Both of the group's squadrons flew the radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance ('' ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
equipped and rocket
A rocket (from it, rocchetto, , bobbin/spool) is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using the surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entire ...
armed F-86D version of the Sabre.[ The 325th served as the USAF "host" group at McChord Air Force Base until October 1956, when the 325th Fighter Wing was reactivated][ and was assigned several support organizations to fulfill its duties.][Cornett & Johnson, p. 138][Cornett & Johnson, p. 151][Abstract, History of 325th USAF Hospital, Jul-Dec 1955]
. Retrieved 23 May 2012 At the same time it conducted air defense operations.[
The group became subordinate to the 325th Fighter Wing again in October 1956 and was non-operational as all group headquarters personnel were used to man the wing headquarters until about June 1957.][ The squadrons upgraded to ]Convair F-102 Delta Dagger
The Convair F-102 Delta Dagger was an American interceptor aircraft designed and manufactured by Convair.
Built as part of the backbone of the United States Air Force's air defenses in the late 1950s, it entered service in 1956. Its main purpos ...
s, the 317th Squadron in December 1956 and the 318th in March 1957.[ In August 1957, the 317th Squadron moved to Alaska and was reassigned from the group,] while the 64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron simultaneously moved from Alaska to McChord.[Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 244] The group regained control over its tactical squadrons in June 1957 and continued air defense operations of the wing, with annual squadron deployments to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida for firing practice.[ Just before the group was discontinued, the 64th Squadron moved to Paine Field, Washington, where it was reassigned to the ]326th Fighter Group
3 (three) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 2 and preceding 4, and is the smallest odd prime number and the only prime preceding a square number. It has religious or cultural significance in many societie ...
. The group was in the process of converting to Convair F-106 Delta Dart
The Convair F-106 Delta Dart was the primary all-weather interceptor aircraft of the United States Air Force from the 1960s through to the 1980s. Designed as the so-called "Ultimate Interceptor", it proved to be the last specialist interceptor i ...
s[ when it was discontinued in March 1960, with its remaining tactical squadron being transferred directly to 325th Fighter Wing control.][
]
Reactivation
On 1 September 1991, the group was redesignated the 325th Operations Group and activated when the 325th Fighter Wing implemented the USAF Objective Wing organization.[ The 325th Group was assigned control of the wing's tactical units.][ The group was originally part of ]Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...
, but in an Air Force realignment of advanced crew training responsibilities, it transferred to Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command (AETC) is one of the nine Major Commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force (USAF), reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force. It was established 1 July 1993, with the realignment of Air Trainin ...
in June 1992. The group mission was to train McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle
The McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle is an American twin-engine, all-weather tactical fighter aircraft designed by McDonnell Douglas (now part of Boeing). Following reviews of proposals, the United States Air Force selected McDonnell Douglas's ...
pilots. It continued this mission until 2010, adding F-22 Raptor training in 2003. When F-15 training ended, the group was reduced to a single flying squadron.[ The group also conducted battle management training through its 325th Air Control Squadron. This mission ended in October 2012 and transferred to the ]33d Operations Group
The 33d Operations Group is the flying component of the 33d Fighter Wing, assigned to Air Education and Training Command of the United States Air Force. The group is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida.
The group was first activated in J ...
.
In October 2012, the Air Force combined both combat and training F-22 Raptor squadrons into a single group, and realigned the group under Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
.
Lineage
* Constituted as the 325th Fighter Group on 24 June 1942
: Activated on 3 August 1942
: Inactivated on 28 October 1945
* Redesignated 325th Fighter Group (All Weather) on 2 May 1947
: Activated on 21 May 1947
: Redesignated: 325th Fighter Group, All Weather, on 10 May 1948
: Redesignated: 325th Fighter-All Weather Group on 20 January 1950
: Redesignated: 325th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 May 1951
: Inactivated on 6 February 1952
* Redesignated 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 June 1955
: Activated on 18 August 1955
: Discontinued on 25 March 1960[The group is not related to a 325th Fighter Group (Air Defense), Provisional that was organized at McChord on 1 November 1960 and discontinued on 1 February 1961. ''see'' Cornett & Johnson, p. 78.]
* Redesignated 325th Tactical Training Group on 31 July 1985 (remained inactive)
* Redesignated 325th Operations Group on 1 September 1991
: Activated on 1 September 1991.[Lineage, including assignments, components, stations and aircraft in Kane, AFHRA Factsheet 325 Operations Group, except as noted.]
Assignments
* I Fighter Command
I Fighter Command was a United States Army Air Forces intermediate command responsible for command and control of the fighter operations within the First Air Force during World War II. It was initially established in June 1941 as the 1st Inte ...
, 3 August 1942
* Boston Air Defense Wing, 11 August 1942
* Twelfth Air Force
The Twelfth Air Force (12 AF; Air Forces Southern, (AFSOUTH)) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
The command is the air component to ...
, 13 February 1943
* Northwest African Tactical Air Force, 18 February 1943
* Northwest African Strategic Air Force, 14 March 1943
* 47th Bombardment Wing
The 47th Flying Training Wing is a United States Air Force pilot training wing based at Laughlin Air Force Base, near Del Rio, Texas. It is one of five pilot training units in the Air Force's Air Education and Training Command which conducts ...
, 27 March 1943
* 2686 Medium Bombardment Wing (Provisional), 7 June 1943
* 42d Bombardment Wing
4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures.
In mathematics
Four is the smalles ...
, 24 August 1943
* 5th Bombardment Wing
The 5th Bomb Wing (5 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to Air Force Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force. It is stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The wing is also the host unit at Minot. The 5 BW is one of onl ...
, 22 October 1943
* 306th Bombardment (later, 306th Fighter) Wing, 27 March 1944
* 305th Bombardment Wing
The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command. It generates, mobilizes and deploys C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Extender aircraft. T ...
, 13 June 1945
* 49th Bombardment Wing, Heavy, August 1945
* Army Service Forces
The Army Service Forces was one of the three autonomous components of the United States Army during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Ground Forces, created on 9 March 1942. By dividing the Army into three large comm ...
(for inactivation), c. 9–28 October 1945
* First Air Force
The First Air Force (Air Forces Northern; 1 AF-AFNORTH) is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command (ACC). It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Its primary mission is the air defense of the Cont ...
, 21 May 1947
* Fourth Air Force
The Fourth Air Force (4 AF) is a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California.
4 AF directs the activities and supervises the training of more than 30,000 Air Force Reser ...
, 2 December 1947
* 325th Fighter Wing, All Weather (later, 325th Fighter-All Weather Wing, 325th Fighter-Interceptor Wing), 9 June 1948 – 6 February 1952
* 25th Air Division
The 25th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force intermediate echelon command and control organization. It was last assigned to First Air Force, Tactical Air Command (ADTAC). It was inactivated on 30 September 1990 at McChord Air ...
, 18 August 1955
* 325th Tactical Training Wing (later, 325th Fighter Wing), 1 September 1991–present[
]
Components
Operational Squadrons
* 1st Tactical Fighter Training (later, 1st Fighter): 1 September 1991 – 15 December 2006;
* 2d Tactical Fighter Training Squadron (later 2d Fighter Squadron, 2d Fighter Training Squadron): 1 September 1991 – 11 May 2010, 22 August 2014 – present
* 43d Fighter Squadron
The 43d Fighter Squadron is part of the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. It conducts advanced fighter training for F-22 Raptor pilots.
The squadron is one of the oldest in the United States Air Force, its origins dating ...
: 1 October 2002 – present
* 64th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron: 15 August 1957 – 15 March 1960
* 95th Tactical Fighter Training (later, 95th Fighter): 1 September 1991 – 21 September 2010; 11 October 2013 – present
* 123d Fighter Squadron, Single Engine (later 123d Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): attached 12 February 1951 – 6 February 1952
* 317th Fighter Squadron (later 317th Squadron, All Weather; 317th Fighter-All Weather Squadron; 317th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 3 August 1942 – 28 October 1945; 31 December 1947 – 6 February 1952; 18 August 1955 – 15 August 1957 (attached to 325th Fighter Wing 18 October 1956-c. June 1957)
* 318th Fighter Squadron (later 318th Fighter Squadron, All Weather; 318th Fighter-All Weather Squadron; 318th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 3 August 1942 – 28 October 1945; 21 May 1947 – 6 February 1952; 18 August 1955 – 25 March 1960 (attached to 325th Fighter Wing 18 October 1956-c. June 1957)
* 319th Fighter Squadron (later 319th Fighter Squadron, All Weather; 319th Fighter-All Weather Squadron; 319th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 3 August 1942 – 28 October 1945; 1 July 1949 – 6 February 1952 (attached to the 101st Fighter-Interceptor Wing 14 December 1951 – 6 February 1952).
Support Units
* 325th USAF Hospital: 18 August 1955 - 18 October 1956[
* 325th Air Police Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956][''See'' Mueller, p. 395 for a list of support units activated in August 1955 along with the group.]
* 325th Armament & Electronics Maintenance Squadron: 15 November 1958 - 25 June 1960[
* 325th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 8 September 1957 - 15 November 1958][
* 325th Field Maintenance Squadron: 18 August 1955 - 18 October 1956][
* 325th Food Service Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956][
* 325th Installations Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956][
* 325th Transportation Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956][
* 325th Organizational Maintenance Squadron: 15 November 1958 – 25 June 1960][
* 325th Operations Squadron (later 325th Operations Support Squadron): 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956,][ 1 September 1991 – present][
* 325th Supply Squadron: 18 August 1955 – 18 October 1956][
* 325th Tactical Training Squadron (later 325th Training Squadron, 325th Air Control Squadron, 325th Training Support Squadron), 1 September 1991 – 1 October 2012][
* 625th Field Maintenance Squadron: 15 November 1958 – 25 June 1960][Cornett & Johnson, p. 142]
Stations
* Mitchel Field, New York, 3 August 1942
* Hillsgrove Army Air Field, Rhode Island, c. 31 August 1942
* Camp Kilmer
Located in Central New Jersey, Camp Kilmer is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service ...
, New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
, 23 January – 7 February 1943
* Tafaraoui Airfield
Oran Tafaraoui Airport is a joint civil/military airport in Oran Province, Algeria .
History
During World War II, it was a primary mission objective of the United States Army 34th Infantry Division during the Allied Operation Torch landings on ...
, Algeria, 28 February 1943
* Montesquieu Airfield
Montesquieu Airfield was a World War II military airfield in Algeria, located in the mountains near M'Daourouch, about 112 km southeast of Constantine. Its precise location is undetermined. It was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers and ...
, Algeria, 5 April 1943
* Souk-el-Khemis Airfield
Souk-el-Khemis Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, located approximately 3 km southeast of Bou Salem, and 110 km west-southwest of Tunis. It was a temporary airfield built by the US Army Corps of Engin ...
, Tunisia, 3 June 1943
* Mateur Airfield, Tunisia, 19 June 1943
* Soliman Airfield
Soliman Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Tunisia, located approximately 12 km west-northwest of Manzil Bū Zalafah, and 39 km southeast of Tunis. It was a temporary airfield, not designed for heavy bomber or ...
, Tunisia, 4 November 1943
* Foggia Airfield, Italy, 11 December 1943
* Lesina Airfield
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy. The airfields were used by the United States Army Air Force Fifteenth Air Force as part of the strat ...
, Italy, 29 March 1944
* Rimini Airfield
Federico Fellini International Airport ( it, Aeroporto Internazionale di Rimini e San Marino 'Federico Fellini'; ), formerly ''Rimini Miramare Airport'', is an international airport located at Miramare, southeast of Rimini, Italy. It also is th ...
, Italy, c. 5 March 1945
* Mondolfo Airfield
Mondolfo Airfield is an abandoned World War II military airfield in Italy, located about 6 km southeast of Marotta and 4 km east of Mondolfo in the Marche region.
The airfield had two 4000' (2000m) parallel runways aligned approxim ...
, Italy, April 1945
* Vincenzo Airfield
The Foggia Airfield Complex was a series of World War II military airfields located within a radius of Foggia, in the Province of Foggia, Italy. The airfields were used by the United States Army Air Force Fifteenth Air Force as part of the s ...
, Italy, July-9 October 1945
* Camp Kilmer
Located in Central New Jersey, Camp Kilmer is a former United States Army camp that was activated in June 1942 as a staging area and part of an installation of the New York Port of Embarkation. The camp was organized as part of the Army Service ...
, New Jersey
New Jersey is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...
, 26–28 October 1945
* Mitchel Field
Mitchell may refer to:
People
*Mitchell (surname)
* Mitchell (given name)
Places Australia
* Mitchell, Australian Capital Territory, a light-industrial estate
* Mitchell, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst
* Mitchell, Northern Terri ...
, New York, 21 May 1947
* Hamilton Field (later, Hamilton Air Force Base), California, 2 December 1947
* Moses Lake Air Force Base, Washnington, 26 November 1948
* McChord Air Force Base, Washington, 23 April 1950 – 6 February 1952; 18 August 1955 – 25 March 1960
* Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, 1 September 1991 – present[
]
Aircraft
* P-40 Warhawk, 1942–1943
* P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944)
* P-51D Mustang, 1944–1945, 1951–1952
* P-61 Black Widow, 1947–1948
* F-82 Twin Mustang, 1948–1951
* F-94A Starfire, 1950–1952
* F-86E Sabre, 1951
* F-86D Sabre, 1955–1957
* F-102 Delta Dagger, 1956–1960
* F-106 Delta Dart, 1960
* McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, 1991–2010
* Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, 2003 – present[
]
Awards and campaigns
See also
* List of F-86 Sabre units
* F-94 Starfire units of the United States Air Force
* List of F-106 Delta Dart units of the United States Air Force
* List of F-15 operators
References
Notes
; Explanatory notes
; Citations
Bibliography
* Buss, Lydus H.(ed), Sturm, Thomas A., Volan, Denys, and McMullen, Richard F., History of Continental Air Defense Command and Air Defense Command July to December 1955, Directorate of Historical Services, Air Defense Command, Ent AFB, CO, (1956)
*
*
* Grant, C.L., (1961
The Development of Continental Air Defense to 1 September 1954, USAF Historical Study No. 126
*
*
*
* Newton, Wesley P. Jr. and Senning, Calvin F., (1963
USAF Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II, USAF Historical Study No. 85
*
*
; Further reading
*
*
*
*
External links
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Operations groups of the United States Air Force
Military units and formations in Florida