49th Fighter Wing

49th Fighter Wing. The 49th Fighter Wing is a combat-ready United States Air Force unit assigned to Pacific Air Forces and currently stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. Known as the "Fighting 49ers," it has a distinguished combat history spanning from World War II to modern conflicts. The wing is responsible for conducting air superiority and close air support missions, and for training pilots and maintainers for advanced fighter aircraft.

History

The wing's origins trace back to its activation as the 49th Pursuit Group in 1940 at Selfridge Field, Michigan. During World War II, the unit, redesignated as the 49th Fighter Group, achieved fame in the Pacific Theater of Operations, particularly while operating P-40 Warhawk and later P-38 Lightning aircraft from bases in Australia and New Guinea under the command of legendary pilots like Richard Bong. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions over the Bismarck Sea. Following the war, the unit was stationed in Japan before transitioning to the Korean War, where it flew F-80 Shooting Star and F-84 Thunderjet fighters in combat missions. The wing was redesignated the 49th Fighter Wing in 1957 and later saw action during the Vietnam War from bases in Thailand. In the 1990s, it participated in Operation Desert Storm and subsequent enforcement of no-fly zones over Iraq. The wing relocated to Holloman Air Force Base in 1992, where it operated the F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter for two decades before transitioning to its current training mission.

Organization

The wing is composed of several subordinate groups and squadrons. The 49th Operations Group oversees all flying operations, including the 7th Fighter Squadron, the 8th Fighter Squadron, and the 9th Fighter Squadron, which have their own storied lineages. The 49th Maintenance Group provides critical aircraft generation and sustainment support for the wing's fleet. Additional support functions are managed by the 49th Mission Support Group and the 49th Medical Group, ensuring base infrastructure, security, and healthcare. The wing also hosts several geographically separated units and tenant organizations, including detachments from Air Combat Command and Air Education and Training Command.

Aircraft

Throughout its history, the wing has operated numerous iconic fighter aircraft. Its early combat years featured propeller-driven planes like the P-40 Warhawk and P-38 Lightning. In the jet age, it transitioned to the F-80 Shooting Star, F-84 Thunderjet, and F-105 Thunderchief during the Cold War. Later, it flew the F-4 Phantom II, F-15 Eagle, and F-16 Fighting Falcon in air superiority roles. From 1992 to 2008, the wing was the sole operator of the F-117 Nighthawk stealth attack aircraft. Currently, its primary mission involves training pilots for the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II through the 7th Fighter Squadron, while also operating MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft for reconnaissance and strike missions.

Operations

The wing's primary mission is to train aircrews for the F-22 Raptor and support Fifth-generation fighter readiness for Pacific Air Forces and Air Combat Command. This involves extensive advanced tactical training, including Dissimilar air combat training and large-scale exercises like Red Flag. Concurrently, the wing conducts continuous intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance and strike operations globally with its MQ-9 Reaper fleet. It maintains a rapid deployment capability to support United States Indo-Pacific Command contingency plans and global taskings from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The wing also partners with Republic of Singapore Air Force detachments for joint training at Holloman Air Force Base.

Assignments

The wing has been assigned to several major commands throughout its history. It was originally part of the United States Army Air Corps before falling under the Fifth Air Force during World War II and the Korean War. In subsequent decades, it was assigned to Tactical Air Command, participating in numerous Cold War exercises and deployments. Following the inactivation of Tactical Air Command, the wing was realigned under Air Combat Command upon its establishment in 1992. Its current assignment is to Pacific Air Forces, reflecting its focused support for the Indo-Pacific region, though it operates from a stateside base.

Bases

The wing has been stationed at numerous locations both domestically and overseas. Its initial home was Selfridge Field, Michigan. During World War II, it operated from a series of forward bases, including Darwin in Australia and Port Moresby in New Guinea. Post-war assignments included Misawa Air Base in Japan and Taegu Air Base (now Daegu) in South Korea. During the Vietnam War, it was based at Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. Stateside bases have included Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, which has been its primary station since 1992.