:
For additional lineage and history, see 49th Fighter Wing World War II The 49th Operations Group traces its origins to the formation of the 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) at Selfridge Field, Michigan on 20 November 1940. The group trained with
Seversky P-35s and consisted of three operational squadrons (7th, 8th, and 9th). With the advent of
World War II, the group moved to Australia and became part of
Fifth Air Force in January 1942. It was re-designated as the
49th Fighter Group in May 1942. The unit received
Curtiss P-40 Warhawks in Australia and, after training for a short time, provided air defense for the
Northern Territory, being awarded a
Distinguished Unit Citation for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat while operating with limited materiel and facilities for the period March–August 1942. a record surpassing that of any other fighter group in the Pacific Theater. The group's World War II activities merited two
Philippines Republic Presidential Unit Citations, three U.S.
Distinguished Unit Citations, and 10 battle honors. Among the unit's 43 aces were Lt. Colonel
Boyd D. "Buzz" Wagner, the first World War II ace in the Pacific Theater, and Major
Richard I. Bong, whose 40 kills made him America's number one ace (a record that still stands). The 49th soon became endeared to the American people through the nickname, "Fighting 49ers."
Assignments • GHQ Air Force, 15 January 1941 •
Third Air Force, 24 May 1941 : Attached to
III Interceptor Command, 9 August-1 October 1941 •
III Interceptor Command, 2 October 1941 • Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, February 1942 •
Fifth Air Force, 10 October 1942 •
V Fighter Command, 11 November 1942 : Attached to:
310th Bombardment Wing, 1 February 1944– •
85th Fighter Wing, 19 April 1944 : Remained attached to:
310th Bombardment Wing until 1 May 1944 : Attached to:
86th Fighter Wing, 1 May 1944– •
308th Bombardment Wing, 5 June 1944 : Remained attached to:
86th Fighter Wing entire time •
86th Fighter Wing, 11 July 1944 •
V Fighter Command, 11 August 1944 : Remained attached to:
86th Fighter Wing entire time •
309th Bombardment Wing, 21 August 1944 : Remained attached to:
86th Fighter Wing entire time •
86th Fighter Wing, 22 August 1944 •
308th Bombardment Wing, 26 September 1944 : Remained attached to:
86th Fighter Wing entire time •
V Fighter Command, 8 December 1944 : Remained attached to:
86th Fighter Wing until 9 January 1945 : Attached to:
310th Bombardment Wing, 9 January – 29 May : Attached to:
309th Bombardment Wing, 29 May-25 September 1945 : Attached to:
310th Bombardment Wing, 25 September-10 November 1945 •
V Bomber Command, 10 November 1945 •
314th Composite Wing, 1 June 1946 •
49th Fighter (later, 49th Fighter-Bomber) Wing, 18 August 1948 – 10 December 1957 : Attached to:
8th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 7 August-30 September 1950 : Attached to: 6149th Tactical Support Wing, 1 October-30 November 1950 : Attached to:
58th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 16–31 March 1953 : Attached to: Japan Air Defense Force, 2 November 1953 – 31 August 1954 : Attached to:
Fifth Air Force, 1 September 1954 – 15 April 1957 •
49th Fighter (later 49th Wing), 15 November 1991–present
Components •
6th Attack Squadron •
7th Pursuit (later, Fighter; Fighter-Bomber; Fighter; Combat Training; Fighter) Squadron: 16 January 1941 – 10 December 1957; 15 November 1991 – 2 May 2014 •
8th Pursuit (later, Fighter; Fighter-Bomber; Fighter) Squadron: 16 January 1941 – 10 December 1957; 15 November 1991 – 2007; 25 September 2009 – 19 May 2011 •
9th Pursuit (later, Fighter; Fighter-Bomber; Fighter) Squadron: 16 January 1941 – 10 December 1957; 15 November 1991 – present •
20th Fighter Squadron: 1 July 1993 – 20 December 2004 •
29th Attack Squadron: 23 October 2009 – present • 48th Rescue Squadron: 1 May 1993 – 1 February 1999 •
415th Fighter Squadron: 8 July 1992 – 1 July 1993 •
416th Fighter Squadron: 8 July 1992 – 1 July 1993 •
417th Fighter Squadron: 8 July 1992 – 1 December 1993 •
433d Fighter Squadron: 15 November 1991 – 8 July 1992 •
435th Fighter Squadron: 12 May 1993 – 1 April 1997 •
491st Attack Squadron: 15 April 2019 – present •
492d Attack Squadron: 15 April 2019 – present
Stations •
Selfridge Field,
Michigan, 15 January 1941 • Morrison Field, Florida, c. 23 May 1941 – 5 January 1942 • Camp Darley (near Melbourne), Australia, 2 February 1942 •
Bankstown Airfield, Australia, 16 February 1942 •
Archerfield Airport, Australia, 7 April 1942 •
RAAF Base Darwin, Australia, 17 April 1942 •
Port Moresby Airfield Complex,
New Guinea, 9 October 1942 •
Dobodura Airfield Complex,
New Guinea, March 1943 •
Gusap Airfield,
New Guinea, 20 November 1943 •
Finschhafen Airfield,
New Guinea, 19 April 1944 •
Hollandia Airfield Complex,
Netherlands East Indies, c. 17 May 1944 •
Mokmer Airfield,
Biak,
Netherlands East Indies, 5 June 1944 •
Tacloban Airfield,
Leyte, Philippines, 24 October 1944 •
McGuire Field,
San Jose, Mindoro, Philippines, c. 30 December 1944 •
Lingayen Airfield,
Luzon, Philippines, c. 25 February 1945 •
Kadena Airfield,
Okinawa, 16 August 1945 •
Atsugi Airfield, Japan, 15 September 1945 •
Chitose Airfield, Japan, 18 February 1946 •
Misawa AAB (later, AB), Japan, late March 1948 •
Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 9 July 1950 •
Taegu AB (K-2),
South Korea, 1 October 1950 •
Kunsan AB (K-8),
South Korea, 1 April 1953 •
Komaki Air Base, Japan, 2 November 1953 •
Nagoya AB (later, Nagoya Air Stn; Moriyama Air Stn), Japan, 16 September 1954 •
Misawa Air Base, Japan, 1 June-9 December 1957 •
Étain-Rouvres Air Base, France, 10 December 1957 •
Holloman AFB,
New Mexico, 15 November 1991–present
Aircraft •
Seversky P-35, 1941 •
P-40 Warhawk, 1941–1944 •
P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944 •
P-38 Lightning, 1943, 1944–1946 •
P-51 Mustang, 1946–1950 •
F-80 Shooting Star, 1948–1951 •
F-84 Thunderjet, 1951–1957 •
F-86 Sabre, 1956–1957 •
F-100 Super Sabre, 1957 •
F-15 Eagle, 1991–1992 •
F-4 Phantom II, 1992–2004 •
F-117 Nighthawk, 1992–2007 •
F-22 Raptor, 2007–2014 •
MQ-1 Predator, 2009 – present •
MQ-9 Reaper, 2009 – present ==See also==