98th Operations Group
US Air Force unit / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 98th Operations Group is a component unit of the Nevada Test and Training Range, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It provides day-to-day control of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) and directly supports Air Force, joint and multi-national test and training activities; and operates two Air Combat Command bombing ranges; the NTTR and Leach Lake Tactics Range, near Barstow, California.
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (January 2013) |
98th Operations Group | |
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Active | 1942–1945; 1947–1952; 1992–1994; 2001–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Garrison/HQ | Nellis Air Force Base |
Motto(s) | Force for Freedom[1] |
Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations Korean War[2] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation[2] |
Insignia | |
98th Operations Group emblem[note 1] | |
98th Air Refueling Group emblem (approved c. December 1988)[3] | |
98th Bombardment Group emblem (approved 28 July 1942)[1] |
During World War II, the group's predecessor unit, the 98th Bombardment Group was a Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bomb group that fought in North Africa and Italy. Two of its members, Colonel John R. (Killer) Kane and First Lieutenant Donald Pucket were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in combat. The group flew a total of 417 missions, earning a total of 15 battle streamers as well as two Presidential Unit Citations.
In the postwar era, the 98th Bombardment Group was one of the first United States Army Air Forces units assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) on 1 July 1947, prior to the establishment of the USAF. Equipped with low-hour Boeing B-29 Superfortress World War II aircraft, it was deployed to Far East Air Force in 1950 and flew combat missions over North Korea early in the Korean War. The group was inactivated in 1952 when the parent wing adopted the Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all of the group's squadrons directly to the wing. It was reactivated in 1987 as the 98th Air Refueling Group, Heavy; as an Air Force Reserve associate unit of the 434th Air Refueling Wing.