49th Operations Group

The 49th Operations Group, commonly abbreviated as 49 OG, is a United States Air Force operational unit assigned to the 49th Wing at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The wing falls under Air Combat Command, and the group provides the flying, training, intelligence, operations-support, and weapons-and-tactics functions required to operate and sustain remotely piloted aircraft activities at Holloman and in support of associated ranges and tenant organizations. The modern group traces its lineage to the 49th Pursuit Group, established at Selfridge Field, Michigan, in November 1940 and activated in January 1941. During the Second World War, the predecessor became the 49th Fighter Group and moved to Australia in early 1942 as part of the Fifth Air Force. It subsequently fought throughout the Southwest Pacific Theater, initially flying P-40 Warhawks and later operating P-38 Lightnings and P-47 Thunderbolts. Its missions included air defense, bomber and transport escort, attacks on Japanese airfields and supply lines, interdiction of shipping, and direct support of Allied ground forces. The group participated in campaigns in New Guinea, the Bismarck Sea area, the Huon Peninsula, Noemfoor, Biak, the Philippines, and the China Sea region. Its wartime record produced three United States Distinguished Unit Citations, two Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citations, and numerous campaign honors. After the war, the organization remained in the Pacific region, moving through Okinawa and Japan while serving with occupation and Far East Air Forces units. It transitioned through several fighter types, including the P-51 Mustang and F-80 Shooting Star. In 1950 it became a fighter-bomber group and supported United Nations forces during the Korean War. Its Korean missions included covering the evacuation of civilians from Kimpo and Suwon, attacking troop concentrations and gun positions, and providing close air support and other tactical missions until the 1953 armistice. The group was inactivated in December 1957 when the 49th Wing adopted an organizational structure that placed combat squadrons directly under the wing. The lineage was retained during the inactive period, including redesignation as the 49th Tactical Fighter Group in 1985. On 1 November 1991, the organization was redesignated the 49th Operations Group under the Air Force Objective Organization plan and was activated on 15 November 1991. The reactivated group inherited the lineage, honors, and history of the earlier fighter group. In the post-Cold War period, aircraft associated with the 49th Wing and its operational components included F-117A stealth fighters, which participated in Operation Allied Force in 1999 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The group also supported fighter operations before its contemporary focus shifted toward remotely piloted aircraft training. Today, the group is centered on MQ-9 Reaper instruction and operational support. Its components include the 49th Operations Support Squadron, which provides weather, airfield operations, intelligence, current operations, aircrew equipment, radar, and weapons-and-tactics support; the 16th Training Squadron, which provides academic and simulator instruction; and multiple attack squadrons that conduct formal training for MQ-9 pilots and sensor operators. The 6th Attack Squadron, 9th Attack Squadron, 29th Attack Squadron, 491st Attack Squadron, and 492d Attack Squadron represent successive phases in the unit's remotely piloted aircraft mission. The group is therefore not a commercial brand but an institutional identity used by a military organization with a long operational lineage.

The organization now known as the 49th Operations Group originated as the 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor), established on 20 November 1940 and activated at Selfridge Field on 15 January 1941. Its initial operational squadrons were the 7th, 8th, and 9th. With the United States' entry into the Second World War, the group moved to Australia and joined the Fifth Air Force. It was redesignated the 49th Fighter Group in May 1942 and received P-40 Warhawks for air-defense and tactical missions. From Australia, the group moved to New Guinea, where it helped defend Port Moresby and supported the Allied effort to halt and reverse the Japanese advance. It escorted bombers and transports, attacked enemy installations and logistics networks, and provided close support to ground forces. The group participated in operations connected with the Kokoda Track, the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, the Huon Gulf campaign, and the Allied advances through New Guinea. It later supported landings and fighting at Noemfoor and Biak. Aircraft used during the war included the P-40, P-38 Lightning, and P-47 Thunderbolt. By September 1944 the group was fully equipped with P-38s, allowing it to conduct long-range escort and attack missions across a wide area of the Southwest Pacific. The group moved to the Philippines in October 1944 after the Leyte landings. It fought Japanese aircraft, attacked shipping in Ormoc Bay, supported ground forces, and helped cover the invasion of Luzon. It subsequently struck industrial and transportation targets on Formosa and attacked shipping along the China coast. The unit received three United States Distinguished Unit Citations, two Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citations, and multiple battle honors. Its wartime personnel included notable fighter aces such as Boyd D. Wagner and Richard I. Bong, although this dossier does not treat individual wartime personnel as modern group executives. After Japan's surrender, the group moved to Okinawa and then Japan, where it performed occupation, training, maneuver, and surveillance duties. It operated P-51 Mustangs and later F-80 Shooting Stars. The postwar organizational system changed the unit's designation to the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group on 1 February 1950. During the Korean War it initially supported the evacuation of civilians from Kimpo and Suwon and then flew tactical missions for United Nations ground forces, including attacks on gun positions, troop concentrations, and other targets. It remained in South Korea for a period after the 1953 armistice. On 10 December 1957, the group was inactivated as the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group when the 49th Wing adopted the Dual Deputy Organization. Its lineage was temporarily carried by the wing and later preserved through redesignation as the 49th Tactical Fighter Group on 31 July 1985. The group was redesignated the 49th Operations Group on 1 November 1991 and activated on 15 November 1991 under the Air Force Objective Organization plan. The reactivated group received the earlier fighter group's lineage, honors, and history. During the post-Cold War period, the 49th Wing's F-117A force participated in Operation Allied Force in 1999 and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. The group later became associated with remotely piloted aircraft training at Holloman. The 6th squadron was reactivated in 2009 in a reconnaissance designation to provide initial qualification training for MQ-1 Predator pilots and sensor operators, later transitioning to MQ-9 instruction. The 9th Fighter Squadron was redesignated and activated as the 9th Attack Squadron in October 2012. The 7th Fighter Squadron was inactivated in May 2014. The 491st and 492d Attack Squadrons were activated within the group in April 2019, expanding the MQ-9 training structure. The group currently combines attack-squadron training with simulator, academic, intelligence, weather, airfield, and operational-support functions.

• 2019

  491st and 492d Attack Squadrons added

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 491st and 492d Attack Squadrons were activated within the group on 15 April as part of its MQ-9 training structure.

• 2012

  9th Attack Squadron activated

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 9th Fighter Squadron was redesignated and activated as the 9th Attack Squadron on 4 October to train MQ-9 crews.

• 2009

  MQ-1 qualification training begins at Holloman

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 6th squadron was reactivated at Holloman to provide initial qualification training for remotely piloted aircraft crews, later transitioning from MQ-1 to MQ-9 training.

• 1991

  Operations Group reactivated

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 49th Tactical Fighter Group was redesignated the 49th Operations Group on 1 November and activated on 15 November.

• 1957

  Inactivated under wing reorganization

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 10 December 1957 when combat squadrons were assigned directly to the 49th Wing.

• 1950

  Redesignated as a fighter-bomber group

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization became the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group on 1 February 1950 and subsequently supported United Nations forces in Korea.

• 1942

  Southwest Pacific deployment

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  After moving to Australia, the group was redesignated the 49th Fighter Group and began combat operations with the Fifth Air Force.

• 1941

  Group activated

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was activated at Selfridge Field, Michigan, on 15 January 1941 with the 7th, 8th, and 9th squadrons.

• 1940

  49th Pursuit Group established

  [1]49th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The predecessor of the modern group was established as the 49th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on 20 November 1940.

A United States Air Force operational and training organization focused on MQ-9 Reaper aircrew qualification, remotely piloted aircraft operations, and integrated base and mission support.

• Military aviation training

  MQ-9 Reaper training

  The group's principal contemporary mission is formal training for MQ-9 Reaper pilots and sensor operators. Attack squadrons conduct initial qualification instruction, while associated support elements provide the operational, intelligence, weather, airfield, weapons, and tactics services needed for safe and effective training.

• Simulator and academic training

  Predator Mission Aircrew Training System instruction

  The 16th Training Squadron provides classroom and simulator instruction for remotely piloted aircraft aircrews. Its training infrastructure supports the academic development and mission rehearsal required before pilots and sensor operators conduct operational MQ-9 qualification activities.

• Military operational support

  Operations support

  The 49th Operations Support Squadron brings together weather, aircrew flight equipment, airfield operations, radar, intelligence, current operations, and weapons-and-tactics functions. These services support the 49th Wing, tenant units, and activities associated with White Sands Missile Range.

• 2003Operation Iraqi Freedom

  Iraq

  F-117A aircraft associated with the 49th Wing participated in combat during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

  Outcome. The operation was among the final major combat-era activities linked to the wing's stealth-fighter force.

  Source
• 1999Operation Allied Force

  Balkans

  F-117A stealth fighters associated with the 49th Wing conducted combat operations during the NATO campaign known as Operation Allied Force.

  Outcome. The operation represented one of the group's broader post-Cold War combat-era associations before its current MQ-9-centered training role.

  Source
• 1950Korean War operations

  South Korea

  The group first helped cover the evacuation of civilian personnel from Kimpo and Suwon, then conducted tactical missions against positions and concentrations supporting United Nations ground forces.

  Outcome. The unit continued operations until the 1953 armistice and remained in South Korea for a period afterward.

  Source
• 1944Philippines campaign

  Philippines · Southwest Pacific

  The group supported the Leyte and Luzon operations, attacked Japanese aircraft and shipping, and provided cover and ground support for Allied landings.

  Outcome. The group's intensive operations in the Philippines earned another Distinguished Unit Citation and contributed to the Allied recapture of key territory.

  Source
• 1942Southwest Pacific air campaign

  Australia · New Guinea

  The predecessor 49th Fighter Group conducted air defense, escort, interdiction, and ground-support missions during the Allied campaign against Japanese forces in the Southwest Pacific.

  Outcome. The group helped defend Allied positions and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for intense combat under constrained conditions.

  Source

• 2009

  Shift toward remotely piloted aircraft trainingStrategy

  Background

  The group and its squadrons were adapted to support the expanding United States Air Force remotely piloted aircraft mission at Holloman.

  Action taken

  The 6th squadron was reactivated to provide initial qualification training, first for MQ-1 crews and later for MQ-9 crews.

  Aftermath

  MQ-9 Reaper training became the group's defining contemporary mission.

  Source

• 1991

  Transition to the Operations Group structureStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force Objective Organization plan reorganized the 49th Wing's operational structure after the Cold War.

  Action taken

  The 49th Tactical Fighter Group was redesignated and reactivated as the 49th Operations Group, bringing the wing's operational squadrons under group control.

  Aftermath

  The group became the institutional successor responsible for carrying the lineage and honors of the earlier 49th Fighter Group.

  Source

1. 149th Operations Groupen.wikipedia.org