442d Fighter Wing
Encyclopedia
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
fighter wing
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
, operationally-gained by Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC). It is based at Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base
Whiteman Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately south of Knob Noster, Missouri; east-southeast of Kansas City, Missouri....
in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. The wing currently flies the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
aircraft.
Overview
The 442d Fighter Wing trains Air Force ReserveMilitary reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
personnel and to operate, maintain and support the A-10 Thunderbolt II
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
at the highest level of combat readiness.
Units
The 442d Fighter Wing is organized like most Air Force Wings. There are three groups under the wing that are physically located at Whiteman AFB:- 442d Operations Group442d Operations GroupThe 442d Operations Group is an active United States Air Force Reserve unit. It is the flying component of the Tenth Air Force 442d Fighter Wing, stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri....
- 442d Maintenance Group
- 442d Mission Support Group
- 442d Medical Squadron
There are also several geographically separated units (GSUs) that report to the 442d Fighter Wing:
- 476th Fighter Group476th Fighter GroupThe 476 Fighter Group is a United States Air Force Reserve unit, stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.-Overview:Assigned to the 442d Fighter Wing, at Whiteman AFB, Missouri, the 476th Fighter Group is an Air Force Reseve associate unit linked to the 23d Fighter Group at Moody...
, Moody AFB, Georgia (admin and mission support needs not provided by 23d Wing23d WingThe 23d Wing is a front-line United States Air Force Air Combat Command wing currently assigned to Moody Air Force Base, Georgia.-Mission:The mission of the 23d Wing is to organize, train and employ combat-ready A-10, HC-130 and HH-60, as well as pararescuemen and force protection assets...
at Moody AFB)- 76th Fighter Squadron76th Fighter SquadronThe 76th Fighter Squadron ' is a United States Air Force Reserve unit. It is assigned to the 476th Fighter Group and stationed at Moody Air Force Base, Georgia....
- 76th Fighter Squadron
- 917th Fighter Group917th WingThe 917th Wing is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was last based at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It operated both the A-10 Thunderbolt II and the B-52 Stratofortress....
, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana- 47th Fighter Squadron47th Fighter SquadronThe 47th Fighter Squadron is part of the 917th Fighter Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, and falls under the operational control of the 442nd Fighter Wing, Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri.-World War II:...
- 47th Fighter Squadron
- 710th Medical Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
- 610th Intelligence Operations Flight, Offutt AFB, Nebraska
Lineage
- Established as 442d 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 442d 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: 442d Air Transport Wing, Heavy on 1 December 1965
- Redesignated: 442d Military Airlift Wing on 1 January 1966
- Redesignated: 442d Tactical Airlift Wing on 29 June 1971
- Inactivated on 1 October 1982
- Redesignated 442d Tactical Fighter Wing on 21 November 1983
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 February 1984
- Redesignated 442d Fighter Wing on 1 February 1992.
Assignments
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 27 June 1949 – 12 March 1951; 15 June 1952 - Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 September 1960
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 1 October 1961 - Twelfth Air Force, 1 February 1962
- Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 27 August 1962
- Central Air Force Reserve Region, 31 December 1969
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, 8 October 1976 – 1 October 1982 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 1 February 1984–present
Components
Groups- 442d Troop Carrier (later, 442d Operations): 27 June 1949 – 12 March 1951; 15 June 1952 – 14 April 1959; 1 August 1992–present
- 507th Tactical Fighter: 20 May – 25 July 1972
- 916th: 1 July 1963 – 8 January 1965
- 917th: 1 July 1963 – 5 February 1965
- 926th: 1 July 1972 – 1 January 1978; 1 February 1984 – 1 July 1987
- 930th: 1 July 1987 – 1 August 1992
- 932nd: 1 October 1966 – 1 April 1969
- 934th: 1 April 1978 – 1 October 1981
- 935th: 17 January 1963 – 1 November 1974
- 936th: 17 January 1963 – 30 June 1974
- 937th: 17 January 1963 – 5 February 1965; 21 April 1971 – 20 May 1972.
Squadrons
- 303d 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963; 1 November 1974 – 1 October 1982; 1 February 1984 – 1 August 1992
- 304th 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963. 305 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963.
Stations
- Fairfax Field, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 27 June 1949 - NAS OlatheNaval Air Station OlatheNaval Air Station Olathe is a former United States Navy base located in Gardner, Kansas. On its grounds at one point was Olathe Air Force Station...
, KansasKansasKansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
, 27 May 1950 – 12 March 1951; 5 June 1952 - Grandview (later, Richards-Gebaur) AFBRichards-Gebaur Air Force BaseRichards-Gebaur Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base. It is located south of Kansas City, Missouri. It was closed in 1994....
, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, 3 April 1955 – 1 October 1982 - Richards-Gebaur AFB, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, 1 February 1984 - Whiteman AFB, MissouriMissouriMissouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, 1 April 1994–present
Aircraft
- C/TC-46, 1949, 1950–1951
- C-47, 1949–1950
- C-46, 1952–1957
- C-119, 1957–1961, 1966–1967
- C-124, 1961–1972
- C-130, 1971–1982
- A-10, 1982–present
Operations
The 442d 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 WarKorean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, 442d personnel transferred as replacements to other USAF organizations. By the mid-1950s, it participated regularly in troop/cargo drops, airlift
Airlift
Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...
operations
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
and exercises
Military exercise
A military exercise is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat...
. The wing began incorporating the Air Reserve Technician Program
Air Reserve Technician Program
Air Reserve Technicians, commonly referred to as ARTs, are a nucleus of managers, planners and trainers who have knowledge and expertise to smooth Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard units' transition from a peacetime to a wartime environment...
(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
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
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
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. In 1971, the wing began phasing out the C-124 and by 1972, had fully transitioned to the C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
. In 1975, the wing's gaining command shifted from Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(TAC) to Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC) as part of a USAF-wide shift of tactical airlift assets between the two major commands.
The 442d flew humanitarian
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
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
A-10 Thunderbolt II
The Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II is an American single-seat, twin-engine, straight-wing jet aircraft developed by Fairchild-Republic in the early 1970s. The A-10 was designed for a United States Air Force requirement to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks,...
aircraft. The 442d again returned to the operational claimancy of TAC and in October 1982, the wing organizational structure was temporarily deactivated while its 442d Tactical Fighter Group continued to train on the new aircraft. In February 1984, the wing was once again activated as the 442d Tactical Fighter Wing and trained for A-10 fighter operations, including close air support
Close air support
In military tactics, close air support is defined as air action by fixed or rotary winged aircraft against hostile targets that are close to friendly forces, and which requires detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement of these forces.The determining factor for CAS is...
, anti-armor, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue
Search and rescue
Search and rescue is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger.The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, mostly based upon terrain considerations...
missions.
In 1992, as part of another USAF-wide reorganization, TAC was inactivated and the 442d was renamed as the 442d Fighter Wing (442 FW) under the newly-established Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
(ACC). With the pending closure of Richards-Gebaur Air Reserve Station
Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base
Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base is a closed United States Air Force base. It is located south of Kansas City, Missouri. It was closed in 1994....
due to Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
(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
Aviano Air Base
Aviano Air Base is a NATO Air Base under U.S. Air Force administration in northeastern Italy, in Friuli-Venezia Giulia region. It is located in Aviano municipality, at the foot of the Carnic Pre-Alps, or Southern Carnic Alps, about 15 kilometers from Pordenone.-Units:Aviano is hosted by the...
, Italy, to participate in operations over Bosnia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
. It also deployed personnel and aircraft to Kuwait
Kuwait
The State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
in support of Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
, September-October 1998.