US Air Force 1 st Fighter Wing
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The 1st Operations Group is the oldest major air combat unit in the United States Air Force. As the 1st Pursuit Group it saw combat in World War I, and as the 1st Fighter Group combat in World War II. Pilots of the 1st Group are credited by the USAF with destroying 554.33 aircraft and 50 balloons, and 36 pilots are recognized as being aces.

After 30 years of inactivation between 1961 and 1991, the group was re-activated as the 1st Operations Group, 1st Fighter Wing, equipped with both F-15 Eagle and F-22 Raptor fighers. 

On 1 October 1991, the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing was redesignated 1st Fighter Wing and the The 1st Operations Group re-activated as the The 1st Operations Group to control its F-15 and operations support squadrons at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia.

On March 15, 1992, the 74th Air Control Squadron was transferred to the 1st Fighter Wing to provided command and control of air operations during deployments. On February 1, 1993, the 41st and 71st Rescue Squadrons, and the 741st Maintenance Squadron were also assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing. Stationed at Patrick AFB, Florida, the units provided search and rescue for NASA's space shuttle missions, and support of combat search and rescue operations in Southwest Asia. Additionally, C-21 operational support aircraft were assigned to the Wing on 1 April 1993 with the establishment of Detachment 1, 1st Operations Group. On 1 May, the detachment inactivated and the 12th Airlift Flight, with the same mission, activated.

On June 14, 1995, the 1st Rescue Group was activated as part of the 1st Fighter Wing and assumed operational control of the Search and Rescue organizations. On April 1, 1997, the 12th Airlift Flight was transferred to Air Mobility Command, leaving the group tasked with only fighter and air control operations.

In 2003 the 27th and 94th FS began transition to the F-22 Raptor, with the 94th FS reaching full operational status on December 16, 2005.

Sources: Shiner, John F., "From Air Service to Air Corps: The Billy Mitchell Era", Winged Shield, Winged Sword: A History of the United States Air Force Vol. I (1997) Chapter 3, ISBN 978-0-16-049009-5 Maurer, Maurer: -Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Office of Air Force History (1961). ISBN 978-0-405-12194-4 _______. Air Force Historical Study 73: A Preliminary List of USAF Aces 1917-1953, Office of Air Force History (1962) pdf file _______. Air Force Historical Study 133: U.S. Air Service Victory Credits, World War I, Office of Air Force History (1969) pdf file Ravenstein, Charles A., Air Force Combat Wings 1947-1977, Office of Air Force History (1984). ISBN 978-0-912799-12-4 Zeske, Jim, "Workbench Review", FineScale Modeler July 2006, Vol.24, No.6, Kalmbach Publishing. Freeman, Roger A. The Mighty Eighth (1993 edition). ISBN 978-0-87938-638-2 Air Force Historical Research Agency USAF Historical Study 85: USAF Credits for Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II very large (27.21 MB) pdf file, pp. 540, 567, and 581 for 1st FG totals 1st Operations Group Fact Sheet

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