144th Operations Group

World War II The group was activated in late October 1943 at Hamilton Field, California as the 372nd Fighter Group. its assigned squadrons were the 407th, 408th and 409th Fighter Squadrons. The group moved to Portland Army Air Base, Oregon in early December. It was equipped with P-39 Airacobras, It then assumed responsibility for their training and oversaw their expansion with graduates of Army Air Forces Training Command schools to become effective combat units. Phase I training concentrated on individual training in crewmember specialties. Phase II training emphasized the coordination for the crew to act as a team. The final phase concentrated on operation as a unit. In March 1944, the group moved to Esler Field, Louisiana, but three weeks later moved to Pollock Army Air Field, Louisiana. The last F-16 departed the 144th Fighter Wing on 7 November 2013, destined for 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard. It was announced in 2023 that the 144th Fighter Wing would replace the F-15C Eagle with the updated Boeing F-15EX Eagle II. ==Lineage==

• Constituted as the 372nd Fighter Group on 12 October 1943 : Activated on 28 October 1943 : Redesignated 372nd Fighter-Bomber Group 5 April 1944 : Redesignated 372nd Fighter Group 5 June 1944 : Inactivated on 7 November 1945 : Redesignated 144th Fighter Group, Single Engine and allotted to California ANG on 24 May 1946 : Activated and extended federal recognition on 2 June 1948 : Redesignated 144th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 October 1952 : Redesignated 144th Fighter-Bomber Group on 15 December 1952 : Redesignated 144th Fighter-Interceptor Group on 1 July 1955 : Redesignated 144th Fighter Group (Air Defense) c. 1 January 1958 : Redesignated 144th Fighter-Interceptor Group c. 1 October 1972 : Inactivated on 9 July 1976 : Redesignated 144th Operations Group : Activated c. 1 January 1993 Assignments • San Francisco Fighter Wing, 28 October 1943 • Seattle Fighter Wing, 7 December 1943 • III Fighter Command, 29 March 1944 – 7 November 1945 • 61st Fighter Wing, 2 June 1948 • 144th Fighter Wing (later 144th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, 144th Aur Defense Wing, 144th Fighter-Interceptor Wing), 1 November 1950 – 9 July 1976 • 144th Fighter Wing, c. 1 January 1993 – present Components • 407th Fighter Squadron (later 191st Fighter Squadron, 191st Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 191st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 15 October 1943 – 7 November 1945, 2 June 1948 – 1 July 1958 • 408th Fighter Squadron (later 192nd Fighter Squadron, 192nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 191nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron): 15 October 1943 – 7 November 1945, 25 June 1948 – 19 April 1958 • 409th Fighter Squadron (later 194th Fighter Squadron, 194th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 194th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 194th Fighter Squadron): 15 October 1943 – 7 November 1945, 2 June 1948 – 9 July 1976, c. 1 January 1993 – present Stations • Hamilton Field, California, 15 October 1943 • Portland Army Air Base, Oregon, 7 December 1943 • Esler Field, Louisiana, 25 March 1944 • Pollock Army Air Field, Louisiana, 15 April 1944 • Esler Field, Louisiana, 9 February 1945 • Alexandria Army Air Field, Louisiana, 14 September – 7 November 1945 • Naval Air Station Alameda, California, 2 June 1948 • Hayward Municipal Airport, California, 1949 • Fresno Air Terminal (later Fresno Air National Guard Base), California, April 1956 Aircraft • Bell P-39 Airacobra, 1943–1944 • Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, 1944–1945 • North American P-51D (later F-51) Mustang, 1945, 1948-1954 • Ryan L-17 Navion, 1948-1954 • North American T-6 Texan, 1948-1954 • Douglas B-26 Invader, 1948-1954 • Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1948-1954 • North American F-86A Sabre, 1954–1958 • North American F-86L Sabre, 1958–1964 • Convair F-102 Delta Dagger, 1965–1974 • Convair F-106 Delta Dart, 1974–1976 • General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1993–1995 • McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, 2013–present ==References==