Lineage. 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.
Assignments. Tenth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949-12 Mar 1951. Tenth Air Force, 15 Jun 1952; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Sep 1960; Ninth Air Force, 1 Oct 1961; Twelfth Air Force, 1 Feb 1962; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 27 Aug 1962; Central Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969; Fourth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976-1 Oct 1982. Tenth Air Force, 1 Feb 1984-.
Components. Groups. 442 Troop Carrier (later, 442 Operations): 27 Jun 1949-12 Mar 1951; 15 Jun 1952-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992-. 476 Fighter: 1 Feb 2009-. 507 Tactical Fighter: 20 May-25 Jul 1972. 916 Troop Carrier: 1 Jul 1963-8 Jan 1965. 917 Troop Carrier (later, 917 Fighter): 1 Jul 1963-5 Feb 1965; 11 Jan 2011-. 924 Fighter: 1 Jan 2011-1 Oct 2012. 926 Tactical Airlift (later, 926 Tactical Fighter): 1 Jul 1972-1 Jan 1978; 1 Feb 1984-1 Jul 1987. 930 Tactical Airlift (later, 930 Fighter): 1 Jul 1987-1 Aug 1992. 932 Troop Carrier (later, 932 Military Airlift): 1 Oct 1966-1 Apr 1969. 934 Tactical Airlift: 1 Apr 1978-1 Oct 1981. 935 Troop Carrier (later, 935 Air Transport; 935 Military Airlift; 935 Tactical Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-1 Nov 1974. 936 Troop Carrier (later, 936 Air Transport; 936 Military Airlift; 936 Tactical Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-30 Jun 1974. 937 Troop Carrier (later, 937 Military Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-5 Feb 1965; 21 Apr 1971-20 May 1972. Squadrons. 303 Troop Carrier (later, 303 Tactical Airlift; 303 Tactical Fighter; 303 Fighter): 14 Apr 1959-17 Jan 1963; 1 Nov 1974-1 Oct 1982; 1 Feb 1984-1 Aug 1992. 304 Troop Carrier: 14 Apr 1959-17 Jan 1963. 305 Troop Carrier: 14 Apr 1959-17 Jan 1963.
Stations. Fairfax Field, KS, 27 Jun 1949; Olathe NAS, KS, 27 May 1950-12 Mar 1951. Olathe NAS, KS, 15 Jun 1952; Grandview (later, Richards-Gebaur) AFB, MO, 3 Apr 1955-1 Oct 1982. Richards-Gebaur AFB, MO, 1 Feb 1984; Whiteman AFB, MO, 1 Apr 1994-.
Commanders. Col Russell W. DeLany, 27 Jun 1949; Col Archie W. League, c. Aug 1950; Col Loyd C. Waldorf, by Sep 1950; Col Lyman H. Goff Jr., 1 Oct 1950-12 Mar 1951. Col Frank E. Vrooman, 15 Jun 1952; Col Charles D. Daily, 11 Jul 1953; Col James H. McPartlin, 8 Aug 1961; Maj Edward J. Struewing Jr., 28 Aug 1962; Brig Gen James H. McPartlin, 12 Sep 1962; Col George L. Cooper, 3 Jun 1965; Brig Gen Ben J. Mangina, 8 Jul 1965; Brig Gen Ralph M. Lain, 28 Jun 1970; Col George L. Cooper, by Jun 1971; Brig Gen Alvin J. Moser, 20 Jul 1971; Brig Gen William W. Basnett, 16 Oct 1978-1 Oct 1982. Lt Col Robert A. McIntosh, 1 Feb 1984; Col Robert H. Jones, 30 Mar 1984; Brig Gen Robert A. McIntosh, 16 Jan 1987; Brig Gen John A. Bradley, 5 Jul 1989; Col Bob L. Efferson, 31 Jan 1993; Col Craig S. Ferguson, 15 Jul 1994; Col Charles E. Stenner Jr., 2 Aug 1997; Col Michael K. Lynch, 3 Dec 1998; Col Roger G. Disrud, 16 Apr 2000-unkn; Brig Gen Eric S. Overturf, Dec 2010-.
Aircraft. T-6, 1949-1950; T-7, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1951; 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. A-10, 1984-.
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-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1987-31 Jul 1988; 1 Nov 1989-31 Oct 1991; 1 Oct 1997-31 Aug 1999; 1 Mar 2003-28 Feb 2005; 1 Mar 2005-28 Feb 2007. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-28 Jun 1971.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 442 Operations Group prior to 27 Jun 1949. Service Streamers. None. Campaign
Streamers. World War II: Normandy; Rome-Arno; Southern France; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. Decorations. Distinguished Unit
Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 6 Feb 2017.
Commanders through Dec 2010;
Aircraft, and Operations through Sep 2000.
Supersedes statement prepared on 19 Oct 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 3 Jan 1996.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.