55th Fighter Wing
F-51D Mustang from the Wing's 166th Fighter Squadron[note 1]
Active1943–1945; 1947-1950
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeWing
RoleCommand and Control
Part ofOhio Air National Guard
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
Insignia
Unofficial 55th Bombardment Wing emblem[note 2]

The 55th Fighter Wing is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was withdrawn from the Ohio Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950 when the Guard adopted the Wing Base organizational model and formed the cadre for the 121st Fighter Wing.

During World War II, the wing served as the 55th Bombardment Wing in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, flying strategic bombardment missions against areas under Axis control.

History

World War II

The wing was first activated as the 55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing in March 1943 at MacDill Field, Florida. Various groups were attached to the wing for short periods for training, but none were permanently assigned.[1]

Assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Bari, Italy and was inactivated on 9 September 1945.[1]

Air National Guard

Allocated to the Ohio Air National Guard for command and control origination for units in the Ohio River Valley region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 21 August 1946.

At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base (Hobson Plan) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Ohio ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950. The 121st Fighter Wing was established by the National Guard Bureau, allocated to the state of Ohio, recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated 55th Fighter Wing.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium) on 17 March 1943
Activated on 31 March 1943
Redesignated 55th Bombardment Wing (Medium) in October 1943
Redesignated 55th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in December 1943
Inactivated 9 September 1945
  • Redesignated 55th Fighter Wing and allotted to the National Guard on 21 August 1946
Activated and extended federal recognition on 7 December 1947
Inactivated on 31 October 1950[1]
  • Disbanded on 15 June 1983[2]

Assignments

Stations

Components

World War II

Ohio Air National Guard

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Aircraft is North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang serial 44-73029.
  2. ↑ Maurer indicates the wing had no approved emblem. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 397-398
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 397-398
  2. ↑ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 498q, 15 June 1983, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  3. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (28 December 2007). "Factsheet 460 Space Wing (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  4. ↑ Robertson, Patsy (9 April 2012). "Factsheet 461 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

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