The 49th Wing is a remotely piloted vehicle wing of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Nineteenth Air Force, Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing has fought during the Korean War, Vietnam War, Operation Desert Storm and NATO-led Operation Allied Force over Kosovo.
The wing provides combat-ready Airmen training MQ-9 Reaper pilots and sensor operators. It deploys combat-ready and mission-support forces supporting Air Expeditionary Force operations, peacetime contingencies; provides host base support to over 4,600 personnel, including hosting the 54th Fighter Group's F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot training mission, the 96th Test Group's high-speed test track mission, and the German Air Force Flying Training Unit.
Units
49th Operations Group (Tail Code: HO) The 49th Operations Group trains MQ-9 Reaper pilots and sensor operators. 49th Operations Support Squadron 6th Attack Squadron (MQ-9) 9th Attack Squadron (MQ-9) 16th Training Squadron (MQ-9) 29th Attack Squadron (MQ-9) 491st Attack Squadron (MQ-9) 492d Attack Squadron (MQ-9)
49th Maintenance Group
The 49th Maintenance Group maintains aircraft, propulsion, avionics and accessory systems for the MQ-9 aircraft. The group also directs all maintenance, qualification, on-the-job and ancillary training for over 1,200 people.
49th Mission Support Group
The 49th Mission Support Group provides a wide spectrum of support services for wing and tenant organizations – these include military and civilian personnel support, maintenance of facility and utility systems, security police duties, communication capabilities, and family leisure programs for Holloman AFB.
49th Materiel Maintenance Group
The 49th Materiel Maintenance Group is responsible for the storage, inspection, repair, deployment and accountability of bare base assets belonging to Air Combat Command. The group's 431 authorized personnel encompass 42 Air Force specialties and are responsible for bare base assets worth over $234 million dollars.
49th Medical Group
The 49th Medical Group's mission is to sustain and enhance a culture of safety, maximize combat readiness, enhance access to quality patient care, and develop our Airmen and staff.
History
For additional history and lineage, see 49th Operations Group
Origins
The history of the 49th Wing begins with its activation at Misawa Air Base, Japan on 10 August 1948. With the end of World War II, the United States Army 32d Engineering Construction Group under the command of Captain Davis K. Stark occupied and began rebuilding the former Imperial Japanese Navy Air Base at Misawa, Japan. In January 1946, the 49th Fighter Group became the first United States Army Air Forces unit assigned to the rebuilt base. In 1948, with the adoption of the Hobson Plan, the United States Air Force 49th Fighter Wing was activated, with the 49th Fighter Group as its combat group.
The initial mission of the 49th Fighter Wing was the air defense of Northern Honshu and Hokkaido. Its 7th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Squadron and 9th Fighter Squadrons were initially equipped with P-51D Mustangs, later being upgraded to the new F-80C Shooting Star jet fighter.
Korean War
With the outbreak of the Korean War in June 1950, the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing was one of the first USAF units dispatched to Korea from Japan, its tactical squadrons began operations with P-51D Mustangs. Initially under its parent wing, the 49th was reassigned to the 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing during July through September, and finally the 6149th Tactical Support Wing during October and November 1950. Korean War squadrons of the 49th were the 7th, 8th and 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadrons.
The 49th's first task in South Korea was to cover the evacuation of civilians from Kimpo and Suwon. Next, it flew close air support missions to help slow the advancing North Korean armies. Later, it turned to the interdiction of enemy troops, supplies and communications.
Phasing out its F-51s for Lockheed F-80C Shooting Stars jets, the 49th FBW moved to Taegu AB (K-2) on 1 October 1950, becoming the first jet fighter outfit to operate from bases in South Korea. It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat operations during the first five months of the war.