Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch-90mm
49th OPERATIONS GROUP (ACC)
Lineage. Established as 49 Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated: 49 Fighter Group on 15 May 1942; 49 Fighter Group, Single Engine, on 20 Aug 1943; 49 Fighter Group on 6 Nov 1944; 49 Fighter-Bomber Group on 1 Feb 1950. Inactivated on 10 Dec 1957. Redesignated as: 49 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985; 49 Operations Group on 1 Nov 1991. Activated on 15 Nov 1991.
Assignments. GHQ Air Force, 15 Jan 1941; Third Air Force, 24 May 1941 (attached to III Interceptor Command, 9 Aug-1 Oct 1941); III Interceptor Command, 2 Oct 1941; Allied Air Forces, Southwest Pacific Area, Feb 1942; Fifth Air Force, 10 Oct 1942; V Fighter Command, 11 Nov 1942; 85 Fighter Wing, 19 Apr 1944; 308 Bombardment Wing, 5 Jun 1944; 86 Fighter Wing, 11 Jul 1944; V Fighter Command, 11 Aug 1944; 309 Bombardment Wing, 21 Aug 1944; 86 Fighter Wing, 22 Aug 1944; 308 Bombardment Wing, 26 Sep 1944; V Fighter Command, 8 Dec 1944; V Bombardment Command, 10 Nov 1945; 314 Composite Wing, 1 Jun 1946; 49 Fighter (later, 49 Fighter-Bomber) Wing, 18 Aug 1948-10 Dec 1957 (attached to 8 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 7 Aug-30 Sep 1950; 6149 Tactical Support Wing, 1 Oct-30 Nov 1950; 58 Fighter-Bomber Wing, 16-31 Mar 1953; Japan Air Defense Force, 2 Nov 1953-31 Aug 1954; Fifth Air Force, 1 Sep 1954-15 Apr 1957). 49 Fighter Wing (later 49 Wing), 15 Nov 1991-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 6 Reconnaissance, 23 Oct 2009-. 7 Pursuit (later, 7 Fighter; 7 Fighter-Bomber; 7 Fighter; 7 Combat Training; 7 Fighter): 16 Jan 1941-10 Dec 1957; 15 Nov 1991-. 8 Pursuit (later, 8 Fighter; 8 Fighter-Bomber; 8 Fighter): 16 Jan 1941-10 Dec 1957; 15 Nov 1991-. 9 Pursuit (later, 9 Fighter; 9 Fighter-Bomber; 9 Fighter): 16 Jan 1941-10 Dec 1957; 15 Nov 1991-. 20 Fighter: 1 Jul 1993-20 Dec 2004. 29 Attack, 23 Oct 2009-. 48 Rescue: 1 May 1993-1 Feb 1999. 415 Fighter: 8 Jul 1992-1 Jul 1993. 416 Fighter: 8 Jul 1992-1 Jul 1993. 417 Fighter: 8 Jul 1992-1 Dec 1993. 433 Fighter: 15 Nov 1991-8 Jul 1992. 435 Fighter: 12 May 1993-1 Apr 1997.
Stations. Selfridge Field, MI, 15 Jan 1941; Morrison Field, FL, c. 23 May 1941-5 Jan 1942; Camp Darley (near Melbourne), Australia, 2 Feb 1942; Bankstown, Australia, 16 Feb 1942; Brisbane, Australia, 7 Apr 1942; Darwin, Australia, 17 Apr 1942; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 9 Oct 1942; Dobodura, New Guinea, Mar 1943; Gusap, New Guinea, 20 Nov 1943; Finschhafen, New Guinea, 19 Apr 1944; Hollandia, New Guinea, c. 17 May 1944; Biak, 5 Jun 1944; Tacloban, Leyte, 24 Oct 1944; San Jose, Mindoro, c. 30 Dec 1944; Lingayen, Luzon, c. 25 Feb 1945; Okinawa, 16 Aug 1945; Atsugi AB, Japan, 15 Sep 1945; Chitose AB, Japan, 18 Feb 1946; Misawa AAB (later, AB), Japan, late Mar 1948; Itazuke AB, Japan, 9 Jul 1950; Taegu AB, South Korea, 1 Oct 1950; Kunsan AB, South Korea, 1 Apr 1953; Komaki AB, Japan, 2 Nov 1953; Nagoya AB (later, Nagoya Air Stn; Moriyama Air Stn), Japan, 16 Sep 1954; Misawa AB, Japan, 1 Jun-9 Dec 1957; Etain/Rouvres AB, France, 10 Dec 1957. Holloman AFB, NM, 15 Nov 1991-.
Aircraft. P-35, 1941; P-40, 1941-1944; P-47, 1943-1944; P-38, 1943, 1944-1946; P-51, 1946-1950; F-80, 1948-1951; F-84, 1951-1957; F-86, 1956-1957; F-100, 1957. F-15, 1991-1992; F-4, 1992-2004; F-117, 1992-2008; AT-38, 1992-1997; T-38, 1993-; HH-60, 1993-1999; F-22, 2008-; MQ-1, 2009-; MQ-9, 2009-.
Operations. In 1941, the group trained in the United States for tactical operations. Provided air defense for northern Australia after moving there in early 1942. Earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat while operating with limited materiel and facilities, 14 Mar-25 Aug 1942. In New Guinea, flew air defense missions against a Japanese offensive toward Port Moresby and escorted bombers and transports. Earned a second DUC for operations over Papua, Oct 1942-Jan 1943. In Mar 1943, took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Interdicted enemy installations, supply lines, and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces that eventually pushed the Japanese out of New Guinea. Covered Allied landings on Noemfoor and participated in the conquest of Biak. Flew long-range escort and attack missions to Mindanao, Halmahera, Ceram, and Borneo. Engaged enemy fighters, attacked shipping in Ormoc Bay, supported ground forces, and covered the Allied invasion of Luzon. For intensive operations from 27 Oct to 7 Dec 1944 against the Japanese on Leyte, the group earned a third DUC. Other missions from the Philippines included strikes against industrial and transportation targets on Formosa and against shipping along the Chinese coast. During the occupation of Japan, took part in maneuvers and surveillance patrols as part of Far East Air Forces. In the summer of 1950, during the invasion of South Korea, the group covered the evacuation of civilian personnel from Kimpo and Suwon and flew missions against enemy gun positions and troop concentrations in support of UN ground forces. Later, struck interdiction targets in North Korea. Became the first combat jet fighter group to operate from bases in South Korea. Earned fourth and fifth DUCs for combat air operations in Korea, Jun-Nov 1950 and 9 Jul-27 Nov 1951. Continued air support of ground forces and interdiction missions to the end of the war in 1953. On occasion, attacked special high-priority targets such as the Suiho Dam hydroelectric plants in Jun 1952 and the Kumgang Political School in Oct 1952. Provided air defense for Japan, 1953-1957. Not operational, 15 Apr-10 Dec 1957. In 1991, resumed operations, deploying aircraft and crews to Southwest Asia for combat air patrol around Kuwait. In Mar 1992, also began basic fighter training for USAF crews. Under the 49 Fighter Wing, the group managed the only stealth fighter squadrons in the Air Force. Personnel and aircraft deployed periodically to Southwest Asia to enforce no-fly zones over Iraq, take part in shows of force, and support United Nations weapons inspectors. One of the group’s squadrons flew HH-60 helicopters for search and rescue missions from 1993 to 1999. Trained German Air Force pilots in the F-4, 1992-2004, and Taiwanese Air Force fighter pilots in the AT-38, 1993-1997. During the winter and spring of 1999, the group deployed stealth fighters and their crews to Europe for stealth fighter air strikes against Serbia during Operation ALLIED FORCE. In 2003, the group’s stealth fighters and crews also took part in air strikes against Iraq during the successful U.S.-led invasion of that country, Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Continued to support combat operations there until the complete overthrow of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Replaced F-117 with new fifth generation fighter F-22 Raptors and began training pilots in the new aircraft in 2008. Trained officers as pilots and enlisted personnel as sensor operators for flight operations of the MQ-1 Predator and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems beginning in 2009.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: East Indies; Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; Papua; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; China Offensive. Korea: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer 1953. Kosovo: Kosovo Air.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Australia, 14 Mar-25 Aug 1942; Papua, [Oct] 1942-23 Jan 1943; Philippine Islands, 27 Oct-7 Dec 1944; Korea, [Jun]-25 Nov 1950; Korea, 9 Jul-27 Nov 1951. Meritorious Unit Award, 30 Apr 2008-1 May 2009. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1995-31 May 1997; 1 Jun 1998-31 May 1999; 2 May 2004-31 May 2005. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII). Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citations: [Jun] 1950-7 Feb 1951; 8 Feb 1951-31 Mar 1953.
Emblem. Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.