137th SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP – GAGGLE – OCP

$9.00

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SKU: SOG-137-1151-B Categories: , ,

Description

Computer made/mounted on velcro   4.0 inch/100mm

 

137th SPECIAL OPERATIONS GROUP

Lineage. Constituted as the 404 Bombardment Group (Dive) on 25 Jan 1943. Activated on 4 Feb 1943. Redesignated 404 Fighter-Bomber Group on 10 Aug 1943; 404 Fighter Group, Single Engine on 30 May 1944. Inactivated on 9 Nov 1945. Redesignated 137 Fighter Group, Single Engine and allotted to the National Guard on 1 Sep 1947. Extended federal recognition on 18 Dec 1947. Redesignated 137 Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 Jul 1955; 137 Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 1 Aug 1957; 137 Air Transport Group, Heavy on 1 Apr 1961; 137 Military Airlift Group on 1 Jan 1966; 137 Tactical Airlift Group on 10 Dec 1974. Inactivated on 9 Feb 1975. Redesignated 137 Operations Group and activated on 16 Mar 1992-.

Assignments. III Fighter Command, 4 Feb 1943; IX Fighter Command, 4 Apr 1944; 84 Fighter Wing (Attached to: IX Tactical Air Command, 1 Aug 1944); XXIX Tactical Air Command, 26 Oct 1944; 64 Fighter Wing, 16 Jan-2 Aug 1945; III Fighter Command, 1 Sep-9 Nov 1945. 71 Fighter Wing, 18 Dec 1947; 63 Fighter Wing, 23 May 1948; 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 26 Oct 1950-10 Jul 1952; 137th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 137 Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 137 Air Defense Wing, 137 Air Transport Wing, 137 Military Airlift Wing, 137 Tactical Airlift Wing), 10 Jul 1952-9 Feb 1975. 137 Airlift Wing (later 137 Air Refueling Wing), 16 Mar 1992-.

Components. World War II. Squadrons. 455 Fighter, 1 Dec 1943-12 Feb 1944; 620 Bombardment Squadron (later 506 Fighter-Bomber, 506 Fighter): 4 Feb 1943-9 Nov 1945; 621 Bombardment Squadron (later 507 Fighter-Bomber, 507 Fighter): 4 Feb 1943-9 Nov 1945; 622 Bombardment Squadron (later 508th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 508th Fighter): 4 Feb 1943-9 Nov 1945; 623 Bombardment Squadron: 4 Feb-15 Aug 1943. Air National Guard. Squadrons. 117 Fighter-Interceptor: 23 Feb 1957-10 Apr 1958; 125 Fighter Squadron (later 125 Fighter-Bomber, 125 Fighter-Interceptor): 18 Dec 1947 – 10 July 1952, 10 Jul 1952-1 Aug 1957; 127 Fighter (later 127 Fighter-Bomber, 127 Fighter-Interceptor): 1 Sep 1947-10 Jul 1952; 10 Jul 1952-1 Aug 1957; 128 Fighter (later 128 Fighter-Bomber): 10 Oct 1950-10 Jul 1952; 154 Fighter: 1 Sep 1947-10 Oct 1950; 185 Fighter (later 185 Fighter-Bomber, 185 Fighter-Interceptor, 185 Air Transport, 185 Military Airlift, 185 Tactical Airlift, 185 Air Refueling): 18 Dec 1947-10 Oct 1950; 1 Jan 1953-9 Feb 1975, 16 Mar 1992-.

Stations. Key Field, MS, 4 Feb 1943; Congaree Army Air Field, SC, 5 Jul 1943; Burns Army Air Field, OR, 4 Sep 1943; Myrtle Beach Army Air Field, SC, 13 Nov 1943-12 Mar 1944; RAF Winkton (AAF-414), England, 4 Apr 1944; Chippelle Airfield (A-5), France, 6 Jul 1944; Bretigny Airfield (A-48), France, 29 Aug 1944; Juvincourt Airfield (A-68), France, 13 Sep 1944; Sint-Truiden Airfield (A-92), Belgium, 4 Oct 1944; Kelz Airfield (Y-54), Germany,[24] 30 Mar 1945; Fritzlar Airfield (Y-86), Germany, 12 Apr 1945; AAF Station Stuttgart/Echterdingen (R-50), Germany, 23 Jun-2 Aug 1945; Drew Field, FL, 1 Sep-9 Nov 1945. Westheimer Airport, OK, 18 Dec 1947; Will Rogers World Airport, OK, 6 Sep 1949; Alexandria Air Force Base, LA, 27 Nov 1950-4 May 1952; Chaumont-Semoutiers Air Base, France, 13 May 1952-10 Jul 1952; Will Rogers World Airport, OK, 10 Jul 1952; Tinker AFB, OK, 1 Oct 2008-.

Aircraft. A-35, 1943; A-24, 1943; P-39, 1943; P-47, 1944-1945. F-51D, 1947-1951, 1953; F-51D, 1951-1952; RF-80A, 1952-1953; F-80C, 1953-1958; F-86D, 1958-1959; F-86L, 1959-1961; C-97C, 1961-1963; C-97G, 1961-1968; C-124C, 1968-1975; LC-130A, H, 1975-1979; C-130H, 1979-2008; KC-135R, 2008-; MC-12W, 2016-.

Operations. Provided top cover for Operation Overlord and the landings in Normandy on 6-7 June 1944. Flew interdiction and escort missions, strafing and bombing such targets as troop concentrations, railroads, highways, bridges, fuel and ammunition dumps, armored vehicles, docks, and tunnels, and covering the operations of bombing missions that bombed factories, airdromes, marshaling yards, and other targets throughout WW-II. The Group’s mission became air defense after reforming in 1947. Federalized for the Korean War on 10 Oct 1950-10 July 1952. Took on the fighter-interceptor mission for Air Defense Command in 1955. Flew long-distance transport missions in support of Air Force requirements, frequently sending aircraft to the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, Hawaii, Japan and the Philippines. During the Berlin Crisis of 1961, flew missions to Europe, although it was not called to active duty as a unit. Part of the 137 Air Transport Group mission was a specially equipped C-97E, 51-0224, the “Miss Oklahoma City” also known as the “Talking Bird”. From 1961-1963 the aircraft was used as an airborne command post to maintain constant secure communications between the nation’s capital and President John F. Kennedy during his visits to foreign countries. After transitioning to C-130, flew humanitarian missions worldwide and provided Counter-drug operations. Provided operational support during the 1991 Gulf War, and contributed logistical assistance in Bosnia in the late 1990s. As a special operations unit, took on the mission of manned intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: American Theater without inscription; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 10 Sep 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm, 29 Jul 1944-31 Jul 1944. Belgian Fourragere, 6 Jun 1944-15 Jan 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:

Emblem.