122nd Operations Group
| 122nd Operations Group | |
|---|---|
Group F-16 Fighting Falcon in a commemorative paint scheme | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1946–1952; 1952–1974; 1993–present |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | Indiana |
| Branch | Air National Guard |
| Role | Fighter |
| Part of | Indiana Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Fort Wayne Air National Guard Base, Indiana |
| Nickname | Orange Tails |
| Mottos | Conquer Above (Since 1954) With Sword and Wings (World War II) |
| Engagements | European Theater of Operations |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation French Croix de Guerre with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 122nd Operations Group emblem | |
| 358th Fighter Group emblem | |
| Tail code | IN |
| Former tail code | FW |
The group was activated during World War II as the 358th Fighter Group. It trained in the United States. The group moved to England during October 1943, where it began combat operations on 20 December 1943. It served in combat with Eighth and later, Ninth Air Force until V-E Day. It earned three Distinguished Unit Citations and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions in combat. In July 1945, it returned to the United States for inactivation.
In 1946, the group was allotted to the National Guard and organized later in the year as the 122nd Fighter Group. It was called to active duty for the Korean War, serving as an air defense unit in its home state of Indiana. It returned to state control in 1952. It was again called to active service for the Berlin Crisis of 1961, although it deployed aircraft and personnel to France, they became part of another unit and the group remained in the United States. The group was inactivated in a reorganization of National Guard wings in 1974, but was again activated in 1993 as the 122nd Operations Group.