57th Operations Group
Active	1940-1968;1991-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Fighter; Interceptor; Operational Test and Evaluation
Garrison/HQ	Nellis Air Force Base
Engagements	World War II European Campaign (1942–1945)
Decorations	DUC AFOUA FCdG w/ Palm

The 57th Operations Group (57 OG) is the flying component of the 57th Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Air Combat Command. The group is stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

The 57th Pursuit Group trained with P-40s on the east coast of the United States before and just after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. It moved to the Middle East in July and August 1942 and trained with the British Commonwealth Desert Air Force. In October 1942, it began combat operations. The group took part in the Battle of El Alamein and, as part of 9th Air Force, supported the Commonwealth Eighth Army's drive across Egypt and Libya, escorting bombers and flying strafing and dive-bombing missions against airfields, communications, and troop concentrations until Axis defeat in Tunisia in May 1943. After the group destroyed more than 70 of the enemy's transport and fighter aircraft in an aerial battle over the Gulf of Tunis on April 18, 1943, it received a Distinguished Unit Citation. The unit participated in the reduction of Pantelleria (May-June 1943) and the conquest of Sicily (July-August 1943). For front-line operations in direct support of the Eighth Army from the Battle of El Alamein to the capitulation of enemy forces in Sicily, the group received another Distinguished Unit Citation.

The 57th supported the British Eighth Army's landing at Termoli and subsequent operations in Italy (October 1943 – February 1944) by flying dive-bombing strafing, patrol, and escort missions. Early in 1944, the group converted to P-47 aircraft and flew interdiction operations in Italy. The group moved to Corsica on March 30, 1944 to operate as a separate task force. It flew interdiction missions against railroads, communication targets, and motor vehicles behind enemy lines, providing a minimum of 48 fighter-bomber sorties per day. During 9 days of combat operations during early April 1944, the 57th exceeded 50 sorties per day. It earned a third Distinguished Unit Citation c. April 14, 1944 for attacks in the Florence-Arezzo area. The group participated in the French campaign against Elba in June 1944 and in the invasion of Southern France in August. It engaged in interdiction and support operations in northern Italy from September 1944 to May 1945. For its operations in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, the 57th earned the French Croix de Guerre (Cross of War) with Palm (awarded in late 1967).

Beginning in August 1946 it provided air defense in the Alaskan area from Elmendorf Air Force Base. In addition, the wing provided intra-theater troop carrier and airlift support, 1948–1950, using several attached troop carrier squadrons. In January 1951, it was replaced by 39th Air Depot Wing. From April 1961 – September 1968 the wing provided air defense for the Seattle, Washington, area.

In 1968 the group was inactivated with the operational squadrons being assigned directly to the wing.

On 1 November 1991, the 57th Operations Group was activated as a result of the 57th Fighter Wing implementing the USAF objective wing organization. Upon activation, the 57th OG was bestowed the lineage and history of the 57th Fighter Group. The 57 OG was assigned control of the wing's tactical units.

Since its activation, 57th Operations Group managed Air Force tactical training through Red Flag and Air Warrior exercises. Between Jul 1995 and Mar 2002, the group gained the three reconnaissance squadrons equipped with Predator RQ-1A Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. The Group deployed elements of the 11th and 15th Squadrons in support of operations in Bosnia (Apr 2000), Kuwait (Oct 2000), and Pakistan, Sep 2001-Jan 2002 in support of Enduring Freedom. The 57th Group's 66th Helicopter Squadron also deployed for operations in Northern Watch and Enduring Freedom. While at Nellis, the Group continued to provide air combat units for US and Allies with realistic, large force combat training at Red Flag.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0912799129.

• Nellis AFB Home Page
• 57th Wing

v t e Air Combat Command
Air Forces	First (Northern) Ninth (Central) Twelfth (Southern) Fifteenth Sixteenth (Cyber)
Centers	601st Air Operations 609th Air Operations 612th Air Operations 616th Operations Air Force Technical Applications Cyberspace Capabilities United States Air Force Warfare
Bases	Beale Creech Davis–Monthan Grand Forks Langley–Eustis (Langley) Moody Mountain Home Nellis Offutt Seymour Johnson Shaw Tonopah Tyndall
Wings	Composite 23rd 53rd 55th 57th 355th 432nd Fighter 1st 4th 20th 325th 366th 388th Cyberspace 67th 688th Other 9th Reconnaissance 70th ISR 93rd Air Ground Operations 99th Air Base 319th Reconnaissance 363rd ISR 461st Air Control 480th ISR 505th Command and Control 552nd Air Control 557th Weather 633rd Air Base

v t e United States Air Force
Leadership	Department of the Air Force Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Air Staff Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Director of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Four-star generals Three-star generals 1940–1959 2000–2009 2010–2019 2020–present House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Airland Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major commands ACC AETC AFGSC AFMC AFRC AFSOC AMC PACAF USAFE–AFAFRICA Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Expeditionary Fifteenth Sixteenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security Forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Personnel Rank officers cadets enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Security Forces Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: Air Force Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Aircraft Uniforms
History and traditions	History Aeronautical Division / Aviation Section / Division of Military Aeronautics / Army Air Service / Army Air Corps / Army Air Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Women Airforce Service Pilots Air Force One / Air Force Two Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Air & Space Forces Association
Category