It also partners with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide weather satellite observation for the U.S. Armed Forces.

[6][7] Mission Delta 2 was originally established on 1 February 1942 as the 21st Bombardment Group (21 BG), flying the B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder in antisubmarine patrols during World War II.

[1] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 2 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.

On 24 June 1942, the 21st Bombardment Group moved to MacDill Field, Florida and converted to Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombers.

While stationed at MacDill Field, the group conducted anti-submarine patrols in the Caribbean Sea, participating in the American Theater of World War II.

[9][1] On 31 March 1944, the 21st Fighter Group, Two Engine, was activated on 21 April at Wheeler Field, Hawaii and assigned to the US Army Air Forces, Central Pacific Area before being realigned under Seventh Air Force's VII Fighter Command on 24 April 1944.

On the Morning of 26 February 1945, the elements of the 21st Fighter Group was attacked by Imperial Japanese Army soldiers on the ground.

Following the engagement on the ground, the 21st Fighter Group provided close air support for the remainder of the Battle of Iwo Jima.

On 16 July 1945, the group transferred to Iwo Jima's South Field and flew its last combat mission over Japan on 14 August 1945.

For its raid over Nakajima Aircraft Company, the 21st Fighter Group was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation.

Following the end of World War II, the wing replaced the group as the primary unit of organization within the Air Force.

In September and October 1953, the 21st Fighter-Bomber Group participated in a special arctic warfare program at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

Following the completion of this exercise, it sent six F-86s to participate in Project Willtour, which consisted of an 11,000 mile tour of twelve Central, Caribbean, and South American countries.

[9] One of the most notable pilots in the 21st Fighter-Bomber Group was then-First Lieutenant Michael Collins, who would later become a NASA astronaut, flying the Gemini 10 and Apollo 11 missions, before retiring from the Air Force as a major general.

[9] The 21st Fighter-Bomber Group conducted close air support training with United States Army Europe land forces and took first place at the United States Air Forces in Europe's gunnery meet at Wheelus Field, Libya.

Following the 21st Operations Group's activation, the Air Force implemented a program that directed that each base would have one wing and one commander.

In November 2005, Morón Air Base would receive the El Raven telescope and in June 2006 it would gain the RO4 high-volume superior resolution camera.

[9] The 21st Operations Group maintained a set of command and control squadrons to coordinate its primary missions.

As part of an Air Force manpower saving program, the 18th Space Control Squadron was inactivated in April 2004, with its Detachments 1-4 directly realigned under the 21st Operations Group.

In April 2013, the 13th Space Warning Squadron gained oversight of the Cobra Dane radar at Eareckson Air Station, Alaska.

[1] On 31 October 2024 it was redesignated Mission Delta 2 and gained sustainment responsibilities, along with organic cyber defense and intelligence forces.