51st Operations Group
The 51st Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 51st Fighter Wing, stationed at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
| 51st Operations Group | |
|---|---|
A-10 Thunderbolt IIs taxi for a training mission at Osan AB | |
| Active | 1941–1945; 1946–1957; 1990 – present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Motto(s) | Deftly and Swiftly |
| Engagements | Burma Campaign Korean War |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Korean Presidential Unit Citation |
| Insignia | |
| 51st Operations Group emblem | |
| 51st Fighter Group emblem (approved 5 February 1942) | |
The group was first activated during the buildup for World War II as the 51st Pursuit Group. It was one of the first groups deployed from the United States after the Attack on Pearl Harbor, traveling west to India via Australia and Ceylon. It returned to the United States in December 1945 and inactivated. It was quickly reactivated on Okinawa and became part of the occupation forces. Later, during the Korean War, the group's aircraft were some of the first United States Air Force fighters to engage in combat operations over South Korea, frequently engaging enemy fighters in air-to-air combat.