Lineage. Established as 54 Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 15 Jan 1941. Redesignated as 54 Fighter Group on 15 May 1942. Disbanded on 1 May 1944. Reestablished and redesignated as 54 Fighter Group (Air Defense) on 20 Jun 1955. Activated on 18 Aug 1955. Inactivated on 8 Jan 1958. Redesignated as 54 Fighter Group on 20 Feb 2014. Activated on 1 Mar 2014.
Assignments. First Wing, 15 Jan 1941; II Interceptor Command, 9 Apr 1941; V Support Command, 31 Jan 1942; III Interceptor (later, Fighter) Command, 18 Apr 1942-1 May 1944. 4708 Air Defense Wing, 18 Aug 1955; 30 Air Division, 8 Jul 1956-8 Jan 1958. 56 Fighter Wing, 1 Mar 2014; 49 Wing, 1 Oct 2018-.
Operational Components. Squadrons. 8 Fighter: 4 Aug 2017-. 42 Pursuit (Interceptor) (later, 42 Fighter; 42 Fighter-Interceptor): 15 Jan 1941-1 May 1944; 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958. 56 Pursuit (Interceptor) (later, 56 Fighter): 15 Jan 1941-1 May 1944. 57 Pursuit (Interceptor) (later, 57 Fighter): 15 Jan 1941-1 May 1944. 311 Fighter: 1 Mar 2014-. 314 Fighter: 6 Jul 2015-.
Stations. Hamilton Field, CA, 15 Jan 1941; Paine Field, WA, 26 Jun 1941; Harding Field, LA, 31 Jan 1942 (air echelon at March Field, CA, 27 May 1942; Ontario, CA, 28 May 1942; Elmendorf Field, AK, 12 Jun-21 Dec 1942); Bartow AAFld, FL, 11 May 1943-1 May 1944. Greater Pittsburgh Aprt, PA, 18 Aug 1955-8 Jan 1958. Holloman AFB, NM, 1 Mar 2014-.
Commanders. Capt Harry A. Hammond, 15 Jan 1941; Col Phineas K. Morrill, Feb 1941; Col Charles M. McCorkle, 12 Sep 1942; Lt Col George B. Greene Jr., 11 Aug 1943; Lt Col Ward W. Harker, 17 Sep 1943; Col Joseph S. Holtoner, 6 Mar-1 May 1944. Col Edward F. Roddy, 1955; Col Joe K. McNay, 1 Jul 1956-unkn. Col Rodney Petithomme, 1 Mar 2014-.
Aircraft. P-36, 1941; P-40, 1941-1942; P-39, 1942-1943; P-51, 1943-1944. F-86, 1955-1958. F-16, 2014-.
Operations. Participated in defense of US west coast, 1941. Awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for combat operations against the Japanese in the Aleutian Islands during summer 1942. Served as replacement training unit, 1943-1944. Served as part of US east coast defense, 1955-1958. Activated as an F-16 training unit, 2014-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Aleutian Islands.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Aleutian Islands, [Jun]-4 Nov 1942. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 11 Mar-30 Jun 2014; 1 Jul 2014-30 Jun 2015; 1 Jul 2015-30 Jun 2016; 1 Jul 2016-30 Jun 2017.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, Honors, Commanders, Aircraft, and
Operations through 19 Nov 2018.
Commanders through 14 Apr 2014.
Supersedes statement prepared on 14 Apr 2014.
Emblem. Approved on 8 Mar 1957.
Prepared by Daniel Haulman.