15th Operations Group


The 15th Operations Group is the flying component of the 15th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Thirteenth Air Force. The group is stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It is also responsible for managing operational matters at Bellows Air Force Station, Hawaii and Wake Island Airfield.
The 15th Operations Group has three operational squadrons assigned flying C-17, KC-135, F-22, C-40B, and C-37A aircraft along with an operational support squadron supporting the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command and the Commander, Pacific Air Forces.

History

On 1 April 1992 the 15th Operations Group was activated when the USAF objective wing organization was implemented for the 15th Air Base Wing implementing the USAF objective wing organization. Upon activation, the 15th OG assumed responsibility from the 15th Air Base Wing for managing operational matters at Hickam AFB and Bellows AFS, Hawaii; and Wake Island Airfield. The group also provided command and control for the defense of the Hawaiian Islands and directed tactical control of Hawaii Air National Guard alert F-15 aircraft. It was assigned the flying squadrons previously assigned to the wing.
Its 25th Air Support Operations Squadron provided combat ready tactical air control parties ready to advise on the employment of air assets in training and combat and to deploy worldwide with each brigade and battalion of the U.S. Army's 25th Infantry Division and other designated ground components. Beginning in 1992, the group had one airlift squadron assigned and equipped with specially configured C-135 aircraft, which provided transportation for the Commander, US Pacific Command, Commander, Pacific Air Forces, and other high-ranking civilian, military, and foreign dignitaries.
Added C-37 aircraft in 2002 and C-40 aircraft in 2003; retired C-135 aircraft in 2003. Assigned second airlift squadron in 2005.
The 15th Operations Group is integrated with the 154th Operations Group of the Hawaii Air National Guard in the "total force" concept. Three of its four flying squadrons have associate units of the Guard integrated with them:
In 2010, the group added more aircraft to its inventory, when the 19th Fighter Squadron and 96th Air Refueling Squadron were activated. However, the air refueling squadron was inactivated in September 2015.

Components in 2018

The 15th Operations Group consists of the following squadrons: