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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.
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
The squadron was first activated as the 49th Pursuit Squadron in 1941 during the expansion of the United States military that preceded World War II. Immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor , the squadron flew air defense patrols off the southern Pacific coast.
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
On 1 October 1991, the 49th was redesignated the 49th Fighter Wing as part of an Air Force wide redesignation of units. On 1 November 1991, the 7th Fighter Squadron ceased F-15 operations, performing a Lead-In Fighter Training (LIFT) mission with Northrop AT-38B Talons , preparing for the transition to the Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk . during ...
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]
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.