Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
479th Flying Training Group (AETC)
Lineage. Established as 479 Fighter Group (Twin Engine) on 12 Oct 1943. Activated on 15 Oct 1943. Redesignated as 479 Fighter Group, Two Engine c. 21 Feb 1944. Apparently redesignated as 479 Fighter Group, Single Engine by 5 Sep 1944. Inactivated on 1 Dec 1945. Redesignated as 479 Fighter-Bomber Group on 15 Oct 1952. Activated on 1 Dec 1952. Redesignated as 479 Fighter-Day Group on 15 Feb 1954. Inactivated on 8 Oct 1957. Redesignated as: 479 Tactical Training Group on 31 Jul 1985; 479 Fighter Group on 1 Jul 1991. Activated on 26 Jul 1991. Inactivated on 15 Nov 1991. Redesignated as 479 Flying Training Group on 6 Jul 2000. Activated on 31 Jul 2000. Inactivated on 21 Jun 2007. Activated on 2 Oct 2009.
Assignments. IV Fighter Command, 15 Oct 1943; Los Angeles Fighter Wing, 1 Nov 1943; Eighth Air Force, 15 May 1944; VIII Fighter Command, 16 May 1944; 2 Bombardment Division, 15 Sep 1944; 65 Fighter Wing, 10 Oct 1944; Eighth Air Force, by Jul 1945; 3 Air Division, 16 Jul 1945; 66 Fighter Wing, by Oct 1945; 3 Air Division, 16 Oct 1945; Army Service Forces, by late Nov-1 Dec 1945. 479 Fighter-Bomber (later, 479 Fighter-Day) Wing, 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957. 833 Air Division, 26 Jul-15 Nov 1991. Nineteenth Air Force, 31 Jul 2000-21 Jun 2007. 12 Flying Training Wing, 2 Oct 2009-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 3 Flying Training, 2 Apr 2001-26 Apr 2007. 49 Flying Training (later, 49 Fighter Training): 10 Oct 2000-10 May 2007. 433 Tactical Fighter Training (later, 433 Fighter): 26 Jul-15 Nov 1991. 434 Fighter (later, 434 Fighter-Bomber; 434 Fighter-Day): 15 Oct 1943-1 Dec 1945; 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957 (detached 1 Dec 1952-11 Jan 1953). 435 Fighter (later, 435 Fighter-Bomber; 435 Fighter-Day; 435 Flying Training; 435 Fighter Training): 15 Oct 1943-1 Dec 1945; 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957 (detached 1 Dec 1952-27 Mar 1953, 26 Jul-6 Sep 1955); 1 Oct 2001-2 Mar 2007. 435 Tactical Training (later, 435 Training): 26 Jul-15 Nov 1991. 436 Fighter (later, 436 Fighter-Bomber; 436 Fighter-Day; 436 Tactical Fighter Training): 15 Oct 1943-1 Dec 1945; 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957 (detached 1 Dec 1952-11 Jan 1953, 7-27 Feb 1954); 26 Jul-2 Aug 1991. 451 Flying Training, 2 Oct 2009-. 455 Flying Training, 2 Oct 2009-.
Stations. Grand Central Air Terminal, CA, 15 Oct 1943; Lomita Flight Strip, CA, c. 6 Feb 1944; Santa Maria AAFld, CA, 7 Apr 1944; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 20 Apr-2 May 1944; Wattisham, England, 15 May 1944-c. 23 Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, c. 29 Nov-1 Dec 1945. George AFB, CA, 1 Dec 1952-8 Oct 1957. Holloman AFB, NM, 26 Jul-15 Nov 1991. Moody AFB, GA, 31 Jul 2000-21 Jun 2007. Pensacola NAS, FL, 2 Oct 2009-.
Aircraft. P-38, 1943-1944; P-40, 1943-1944; P-51, 1944-1945; P-47, 1945. F-51, 1953; F-86, 1953-1955; F-100, 1954-1957. T-38, 1991. T-38, 2000-2007; T-6, 2001-2007; AT-38, 2001-2002.
Operations. Trained for combat and served as an air defense organization, Oct 1943-Apr 1944. Moved to England in May 1944, joining Eighth Air Force. Flew combat in the European Theater of Operations (ETO), 26 May 1944-25 Apr 1945. Escorted heavy bombers during operations against targets on the Continent, strafed targets of opportunity, and flew fighter-bomber, counter air, and area patrol sorties. During Normandy invasion on 6 Jun 1944, patrolled the beachhead from dawn until well after dark. While on escort or fighter-bomber sorties during summer and fall 1944, strafed and dive-bombed enemy troops, bridges, locomotives, railway cars, barges, vehicles, airfields, gun emplacements, flak towers, ammunition dumps, power stations, and radar sites. Flew area patrols to support the breakthrough at St Lo in Jul 1944 and the airborne attack on Holland in Sep 1944. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for the destruction of numerous aircraft on airfields in France on 18 Aug and 5 Sep and during an aerial battle near Munster on 26 Sep. Continued escort and fighter-bomber activities from Oct to mid-Dec 1944. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge (Dec 1944-Jan 1945) by escorting bombers to and from targets in the battle area and by strafing transportation targets while on escort duty. Flew escort sorties from Feb to Apr 1945 and also provided area patrols to support the airborne assault across the Rhine River during Mar 1945. Returned to the US in Nov 1945. Activated in Dec 1952 as a fighter-bomber group, but due to personnel shortages was not manned until 12 Jan 1953. Trained from Jan 1953 to Oct 1957 as a fighter-bomber and, later, as a fighter-day group. Replaced the 479 Tactical Training Wing at Holloman AFB, NM, Jul-Nov 1991. Taught Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training (JSUPT) and Introduction of Fighter Fundamentals (IFF) courses, Jul 2000-Jun 2007.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: ETO, 18 Aug, 5 and 26 Sep 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 2001-31 Dec 2002; 1 Jul 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Oct 2005-[21 Jun] 2007. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 5-15 Jun 1944.
Emblem. Original approved on 10 Sep 1954; Newest rendition approved on 26 Sep 2000.