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442nd Fighter Wing
442d Fighter Wing - Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - 79-0164
442nd Fighter Wing - Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II - 79-0164
Active 27 June 1949 – present
Country Flag of the United States United States
Branch Flag of the United States Air Force United States Air Force
Type Wing
Role Fighter
Size 1,100 personnel
Part of AFR Shield  Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
Tail code Yellow/red tail stripe "KC"
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation ribbon DUC
Outstanding Unit ribbon AFOUA
Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d RVGC with Palm
Commanders
Current
commander
Col Hubert C. Hegtvedt
Insignia
442nd Fighter Wing emblem 442d Fighter Wing
Aircraft flown
Attack A-10 Thunderbolt II

The 442nd Fighter Wing (442nd FW sometimes 442d) is an Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. If mobilized, the wing is gained by the Air Combat Command.

Overview[]

The 442nd Fighter Wing trains Air Force Reserve personnel and to operate, maintain and support the A-10 Thunderbolt II at the highest level of combat readiness.

Units[]

The 442nd Fighter Wing is organized like most Air Force wings. There are three groups under the wing that are physically located at Whiteman AFB:

There are also several geographically separated units (GSUs) that report to the 442nd Fighter Wing:

History[]

For additional lineage and history, see 442nd Operations Group
File:442 Org Chart.jpg

442nd FW Organizational Chart

The 442nd was activated as a reserve troop carrier wing under supervision of the 2472nd Air Force Reserve Training (later, Air Reserve Flying) Center, June 1949 - February 1951 and June 1952 - March 1959. During the Korean War, 442nd personnel transferred as replacements to other USAF organizations. By the mid-1950s, it participated regularly in troop/cargo drops, airlift operations and exercises. The wing began incorporating the Air Reserve Technician Program (ART) for full-time support personnel in 1958 and completed same in 1959.

The wing was called to active service again during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and continued to remain on active duty until August 1963, during which time the wing completed conversion to the C-124 Globemaster. The wing also flew overseas missions, particularly to the Far East and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. In 1971, the wing began phasing out the C-124 and by 1972, had fully transitioned to the C-130 Hercules. In 1975, the wing's gaining command shifted from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Military Airlift Command (MAC) as part of a USAF-wide shift of tactical airlift assets between the two major commands.

The 442nd flew humanitarian and mercy missions on numerous occasions in addition to worldwide airlift operations until conversion, in June 1982, to a fighter mission with the A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The 442nd again returned to the operational control of TAC and in October 1982, the wing was inactivated while its 442nd Tactical Fighter Group continued to train on the new aircraft. In February 1984, the wing was once again activated as the 442nd Tactical Fighter Wing and trained for A-10 fighter operations, including close air support, anti-armor, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue missions.

In 1992, as part of another USAF-wide reorganization, TAC was inactivated and the 442nd was renamed as the 442nd Fighter Wing (442 FW) under the newly established Air Combat Command (ACC). With the pending closure of Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve Station due to Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action, the 442 FW began relocation of its home base to Whiteman AFB, Missouri in 1993, completing said move by 1994.

On a recurring basis from December 1993, the wing deployed personnel and aircraft to Aviano Air Base, Italy, to participate in operations over Bosnia. It also deployed personnel and aircraft to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, in September and October 1998.

Lineage[]

  • Established as 442nd Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949
Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951
Inactivated on 12 March 1951
  • Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952
Redesignated 442nd Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 8 May 1961
Ordered to active service on 1 October 1961
Relieved from active duty on 27 August 1962
Redesignated: 442nd Air Transport Wing, Heavy on 1 December 1965
Redesignated: 442nd Military Airlift Wing on 1 January 1966
Redesignated: 442nd Tactical Airlift Wing on 29 June 1971
Inactivated on 1 October 1982
  • Redesignated 442nd Tactical Fighter Wing on 21 November 1983
Activated in the reserve on 1 February 1984
Redesignated 442nd Fighter Wing on 1 February 1992.

Assignments[]

Components[]

Groups

Squadrons

Stations[]

Aircraft[]

References[]

PD-icon This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

External links[]



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