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The group was sent overseas to Australia in January 1942 and was assigned to the Fifth Air Force. They moved to Darwin in April 1942 and was redesignated 49th Fighter Group in May. The group was equipped with P-40's Curtiss P-40 Warhawk aircraft in Australia and after a brief period of training, provided air defense for the Northern Territory.
49th Fighter Group (later 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, 49th Operations Group): 18 August 1948 – 10 December 1957, 15 November 1991 – present; Detached 9 July-30 November 1950, 16–31 March 1953, 2 November 1953 – 15 April 1957. 543d Tactical Support Group: attached 1 December 1950 – 26 January 1951 [2] Battalions
49th Pursuit Group (later 49th Fighter Group, 49th Fighter-Bomber Group), 15 January 1941; Attached to Japan Air Defense Force, 17 December 1952 – November 1953; 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 17 August–c. 6 September 1950 and after 15 April 1957) 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing (later 49th Tactical Fighter Wing, 49th Fighter Wing, 10 December 1957
In August 1958 he assumed command of the 7th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing at Etain Air Base, France and in August 1959 moved the squadron to Spangdahlem Air Base, West Germany. In June 1960 he was assigned to U.S. Air Forces in Europe as liaison officer in Rabat, Morocco, and commander of the 7416th Support Squadron.
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Watkins, Robert A. (2009). Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. Vol. IV, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater of Operations.
48th Tactical Fighter Wing - Statue de La Liberte (The Statue of Liberty) [27] 49th Tactical Fighter Wing - Tutor et Ultor (I Protect and Avenge) [27] 50th Tactical Fighter Wing - Master of the Sky [27] 51st Fighter Wing (formerly 51st Tactical Fighter Wing) - Leading the Charge (1993–present); Deftly and Swiftly (former motto) [27] [30]
During World War II, the unit's predecessor unit, the 49th Fighter Group, operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as part of the Fifth Air Force. The group earned three Distinguished Unit Citations (DUC) for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat in numerous campaigns between 1942 and 1945.
Gerald Richard Johnson (June 23, 1920 – October 7, 1945) was a World War II flying ace who flew for the United States Army Air Forces. Johnson commanded the 9th Fighter Squadron and 49th Fighter Group, and became the fourth ranking fighter ace in the Pacific during World War II. He ended his war career with 22 kills.