Tactical Operations Group 10 (TOG 10)
Composite Tactical Group 10 (CTG 10)
Composite Air Support Force 10 (CASF 10)
The mission of Tactical Operations Group 10 is to plan, control and coordinate the employment of air power in its area of responsibility in Northern Mindanao. Its specific functions include: determining tactical air requirements in its AOR; exercising operational control nad supervision over all Air Force units deployed and/or attached thereat; conducting tactical air operations within area of responsibility; performing forward air control missions; performing airfield operations and service support functions; performing Civil Military Operations (CMO) within its AOR; and performing other functions as directed by Division Commander, 3rd Air Division.
Like most units in Mindanao, the forerunner of Tactical Operations Group 10 emerged under the aegis of Martial Law in 1972. The unit underwent a series of changes in response to the growing need for a military presence in Northern Mindanao. It was during the outbreak of hostilities in Mindanao, especially in 2 Lanao Provinces, when Presidential Decree 1081 was declared. Mindanao State University was overrun by secessionist groups resulting in the Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines being taken hostage. As the hostilities continued, the Philippine Air Force augmented its forces on the island with the creation of the Regional Air Command in Mindanao (RACMIN). The first personnel to staff the unit, all Air Force Specialists, arrived in Cagayan de Oro City on 17 October 1972 and established its headquarters at Lumbia Airport.
The new unit brought in aerial assets including 2 AC-47 gunships and 6 UH-1H helicopters, all equipped with rockets and M60 machine guns. In addition there were the U-17s and U-6s assigned to the 4th Philippine Air Force Detachment, a liaison squadron stationed at Camp Evangelista, then home to the 4th Infantry Division, and attached to the RACMIN. The AC-47 gunships conducted night missions in the Lanao Lake area that deterred the enemy from ferrying supplies and personnel throughout the region. These aircraft were also used to drop flares at night in support of ground operations in Manawi, Buldon, Maguindanao. RACMIN eventually became the core of air operations in Mindanao that included Zamboanga and the southern seaboard areas including Jolo and Tawi-Tawi.
In late 1973, hostilities in the Central Mindanao areas erupted and the bulk of RACMIN personnel were transferred to Cotabato (at PC Hill) under the supervision of Central Mindanao Command (CEMCOM), then the lead AFP unit in Central Mindanao. An Advance Command Post (ACP) was established at PC Hill, but a Rear Command Post (RCP) was retained at Cagayan de Oro. In the early months of 1974, fighting continued in the Southern regions of Mindanao. The Tarragona incident led to the final transfer of RACMIN Headquarters at Bangoy Airport in Davao City. The RACMIN had overseen the security of all airports in Northern Mindanao. It was composed of personnel coming from various units of the PAF. Security personnel were dispatched to the airports in Surigao, Tandag, Bislig, Butuan, Iligan, Malabang, and Ozamis.
On 29 March 1976, RACMIN was dissolved and replaced by the 3rd Air Division. Among its major units were 610th Composite Tactical Group covering the Western part of Mindanao and 620th Composite Tactical Group for Northern and Eastern Mindanao. Under the 620th CTG was the 623rd Composite Tactical Squadron stationed at Lumbia Airport, Cagayan de Oro City, which had absorbed all the personnel of RACMIN RCP. 623rd CTS was given the mission to secure the major airports of Northern Mindanao and to support air operations requirements in this area.
On 27 June 1985, the personnel of the 623rd Composite Tactical Squadron were reorganized as Composite Air Support Force 10 (CASF 10), effective 1 July 1985. CASF 10 was created to provide air support and other operational requirements for Regional Unified Command (RUC) 10, at the time the 4th Infantry Division, while the 623rd CTS had been focused purely on base operations and garrison duty functions.
CASF 10 was initially composed only of 2 Officers and a handful of enlisted personnel. Higher Headquarters saw the need to increase the number of personnel in the unit in order to be more responsive to the demands of air operations in the area. This led to the total inactivation of the 623rd CTS on 1 October 1987. All of the men previously assigned to the 623rd CTS were reassigned to CASF 10 to fully staff the unit. CASF 10's mission subsequently became to provide tactical air support to ground forces in its area of operations.
On 15 ctober 1998, CASF 10 was redesignated as Composite Tactical Group 10 (CTG 10). In 1999, with the reorganization of the Philippine Air Force away from the Air Division organization, CTG 10 was initially reassigned to 530th Composite Tactical Wing, part of the new Tactical Operations Command. In 2001,
On 1 February 2001, Composite Tactical Group 10 was redesignated as Tactical Operations Group 10 (TOG 10). TOG 10 consisted of 5 officers, 55 enlisted personnel and 2 civilian employees. The 530th Composite Tactical Wing was also inactivated in 2001 and the 3rd Tactical Operations Wing was activated. CTG 10 was subsequently placed under the command of that unit.
In 2007, as part of a larger PAF reorganization, the 3rd Tactical Operations Wing was inactivated and the 3rd Air Division was reactivated. TOG 10 was subsequently placed under the command of the 3rd Air Division.
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