442nd Fighter Wing, US Air Force
442ND FIGHTER WING, US AIR FORCE
History: Established as 442 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 12 Mar 1951. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952. Redesignated as 442 Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 8 May 1961. Ordered to Active Service on 1 Oct 1961. Relieved from Active Duty on 27 Aug 1962. Redesignated as: 442 Air Transport Wing, Heavy on 1 Dec 1965; 442 Military Airlift Wing on 1 Jan 1966; 442 Tactical Airlift Wing on 29 Jun 1971. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1982. Redesignated as 442 Tactical Fighter Wing on 21 Nov 1983. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 1984. Redesignated as 442 Fighter Wing on 1 Feb 1992.
Operations. Trained as a Reserve troop carrier wing under supervision of the 2472 Air Force Reserve Training (later, Air Reserve Flying) Center, Jun 1949-Feb 1951 and Jun 1952-Mar 1959. Ordered to active service during the Korean war, and personnel transferred to other USAF organizations. By the mid-1950s, participated regularly in troop/cargo drops, airlift operations and exercises. Converted to the Air Reserve Technician (ART) program in 1958-1959. Was on active service again, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, Oct 1961-Aug 1962, during which time the tactical units completed conversion to C-124s. Flew many overseas missions, particularly to the Far East and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict. Flew humanitarian and mercy missions on numerous occasions in addition to worldwide airlift operations until 1982. In Jun 1982, began receiving A-10A aircraft in preparation for conversion to a fighter mission. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1982, replaced by the 442 Tactical Fighter Group. Activated again on 1 Feb 1984, replacing the group-level organization. Trained for A-10 fighter operations, including close air support, anti-armor, battlefield interdiction, and combat search and rescue missions. On a recurring basis beginning in Dec 1993, the wing deployed personnel and aircraft to Aviano AB, Italy, to participate in operations over Bosnia. Deployed personnel and aircraft to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, Sep-Oct 1998. Trained to maintain combat readiness for worldwide deployment of A-10 aircraft and aircrews, 2000-.
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Origin/meaning
Emblem approved on 3 Jan 1996.
Literature:Image from Wikimedia Commons