Lineage. Established as 21 Bombardment Group (Medium) on 13 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Feb 1942. Disestablished on 10 Oct 1943. Reestablished and consolidated (31 Jul 1985) with the 21 Fighter Group, Two Engine, which was established on 31 Mar 1944. Activated on 21 Apr 1944. Inactivated on 10 Oct 1946. Redesignated as 21 Fighter-Bomber Group on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Inactivated on 8 Feb 1958. Redesignated as: 21 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985; 21 Operations Group on 25 Sep 1991. Activated on 26 Sep 1991. Inactivated on 19 Dec 1991. Activated on 15 May 1992. Redesignated as Space Delta 2 on 24 Jul 2020. Changed status from unit of the United States Air Force armed force to unit of the United States Space Force armed force on 21 Oct 2020.
Assignments. Air Force Combat Command, 1 Feb 1942; III Bomber Command, 11 Mar 1942; XII Bomber Command, 2 May 1942; III Bomber Command, 8 May 1942-10 Oct 1943. US Army Air Forces, Central Pacific Area, 21 Apr 1944; VII Fighter Command, 24 Apr 1944; 7 Fighter Wing, 3 Jul 1944; VII Fighter Command (later, 20 Fighter Wing), 10 Nov 1944-10 Oct 1946 (attached to 7 Fighter Wing, 10 Nov 1944-28 Feb 1945). 21 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 1 Jan 1953-8 Feb 1958. 21 Wing, 26 Sep-19 Dec 1991. 21 Space Wing, 15 May 1992; United States Space Force (later, Space Operations Command), 24 Jul 2020-.
Components. Squadrons. 8 Reconnaissance (later, 398 Bombardment): attached 1 Feb-21 Apr 1942, assigned 22 Apr 1942-10 Oct 1943. 18 Space Control: 26 Apr 1995-1 Jul 2004; 22 Jul 2016-. 20 Space Control: 26 Apr 1995-. 21 Crew Training: 15 May 1992-1 Oct 1994. 21 Operations Support: 26 Sep-19 Dec 1991; 15 May 1992-. 43 Fighter: 26 Sep-19 Dec 1991. 46 Fighter: 15 Jun 1944-10 Oct 1946. 54 Fighter: 26 Sep-19 Dec 1991. 72 Fighter (later, 72 Fighter-Bomber): 15 Jun 1944-10 Oct 1946; 1 Jan 1953-8 Feb 1958 (detached 27 Aug-17 Sep 1953 and 15 Apr 1957-8 Feb 1958). 76 Space Control: Space 22 Jan 2008-6 Feb 2015. 90 Fighter: 26 Sep-19 Dec 1991. 313 Bombardment: 1 Feb 1942-10 Oct 1943. 314 Bombardment: 1 Feb 1942-10 Oct 1943. 315 Bombardment: 1 Feb 1942-10 Oct 1943. 416 Fighter-Bomber: 1 Jan 1953-8 Feb 1958 (detached 12 Sep-c. 2 Oct 1953 and 15 Apr 1957-8 Feb 1958). 531 Fighter (later, 531 Fighter-Bomber):15 Jun 1944-10 Oct 1946; 1 Jan 1953-8 Feb 1958 (detached 26 Sep-c. 17 Oct 1953 and 15 Apr 1957-8 Feb 1958). 549 Night Fighter: attached, 25 Jun-10 Oct 1946. Flights. 84 Airlift: 1 Nov 1993-1 Apr 1997.
Stations. Bowman Field, KY, 1 Feb 1942; Jackson AAB, MS, 6 Feb 1942; Columbia AAB, SC, 21 Apr 1942; Key Field, MS, 24 May 1942; MacDill Field, FL, 24 Jun 1942-10 Oct 1943. Wheeler Field, TH, 21 Apr 1944; Mokuleia Field, TH, 13 Oct 1944-9 Feb 1945; Central Field, Iwo Jima, 26 Mar 1945; South Field, Iwo Jima, 16 Jul 1945; Isley Field, Saipan, 4 Dec 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, 17 Apr-10 Oct 1946. George AFB, CA, 1 Jan 1953-26 Nov 1954; Chambley AB, France, 12 Dec 1954-8 Feb 1958. Elmendorf AFB, AK, 26 Sep-19 Dec 1991. Peterson AFB (later, SFB), CO, 15 May 1992-.
Service Streamers. Global War on Terrorism – Service (GWOT-S).
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Antisubmarine, American Theater; Air Offensive, Japan.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 7 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1992-30 Sep 1994; 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997; 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1999; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1998; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1999; 1 Jan 2000-31 Aug 2001; 1 Oct 2005-30 Sep 2007; 1 Oct 2009-30 Sep 2011; 1 Oct 2011-30 Sep 2012.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 24 Jan 2022.
Supersedes statement prepared on 4 Sep 2014.
Emblem. Approved on 29 Jun 2022.
Prepared by Margaret Ream.