The unit's origins begin with its predecessor, the World War II 49th Bombardment Wing, which was part of Fifteenth Air Force. The 47th engaged in heavy bombardment B-24 Liberator operations against Germany.
The 49th Air Division was established and activated at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina in March 1943 as a medium bomber (North American B-25 Mitchell) operational training wing. It was reassigned to Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina in April where it commanded training of B-25 bomb groups in the southeast prior to their overseas deployment.
As part of Fifteenth Air Force the groups of the 49th attacked such targets as oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, bridges, and airfields in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria. Subordinate units inflicted heavy damage on the oil refineries at Ploiești, participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944, and supported the final advances of Allied armies in northern Italy in April 1945.
The wing was inactivated in Italy on 16 October 1945.
The division supervised and participated in numerous training missions such as Quick Shot, Kingpin, and Bear Claw before it was inactivated on 1 July 1956[1] as a result of a budgetary reduction.
Lineage
Established as the 49th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium) on 17 March 1943
Activated on 31 March 1943
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 18 October 1943
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 4 December 1943
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing, Heavy c. August 1944
Inactivated on 16 October 1945
Activated in the Reserve as 49th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 20 December 1946
Redesignated 49th Air Division, Bombardment on 16 April 1948
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 49th Air Division on 25 October 1951
Activated on 7 November 1951
Redesignated 49th Air Division, Operational on 1 April 1952
Redesignated 49th Air Division (Operational) on 15 November 1954
^Aircraft is Consolidated B-24H-30-CF Liberator Serial 44-50443 displaying wing markings c. 1945. The upper tail surface and circle were red in color.
Citations
^ abcdefghij. Air Force Historical Research Agency. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 17 October 2012. Retrieved 2 April 2014.
^ ab"Abstract, History 49 Bombardment Wing Mar 43 – Apr 44". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
January 31, 2023
49th, division, inactive, united, states, force, unit, last, assignment, with, united, states, forces, europe, sculthorpe, england, inactivated, july, 1956, thunderstreakof, division, 81st, fighter, bomber, wing, about, 1955, note, active1943, 1945, 1946, 1949. The 49th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe at RAF Sculthorpe England It was inactivated on 1 July 1956 49th Air DivisionF 84F Thunderstreakof the division s 81st Fighter Bomber Wing about 1955 note 1 Active1943 1945 1946 1949 1951 1956Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleOperational control of tactical forcesEngagementsMediterranean Theater of OperationsInsignia49th Air Division emblem note 2 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Cold War 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Components 2 3 Stations 2 4 Aircraft 3 References 3 1 Notes 3 2 BibliographyHistory EditThe unit s origins begin with its predecessor the World War II 49th Bombardment Wing which was part of Fifteenth Air Force The 47th engaged in heavy bombardment B 24 Liberator operations against Germany World War II Edit 451st Bombardment Group B 24H Liberator note 3 The 49th Air Division was established and activated at Columbia Army Air Base South Carolina in March 1943 as a medium bomber North American B 25 Mitchell operational training wing It was reassigned to Greenville Army Air Base South Carolina in April where it commanded training of B 25 bomb groups in the southeast prior to their overseas deployment It was decided to redesignate the wing as the 49th Bombardment Wing Heavy and prepare it to command Consolidated B 24 Liberator heavy bomb groups as part of Fifteenth Air Force in late 1943 Groups assigned to the wing were the 461st and 484th Bombardment Groups training at Hammer Field California and Harvard Army Air Field Nebraska After the wing deployed to Bari Italy in March 1944 a third group the 451st Bombardment Group was transferred to the wing from the 47th Bomb Wing As part of Fifteenth Air Force the groups of the 49th attacked such targets as oil refineries marshalling yards aircraft factories bridges and airfields in Italy Germany Austria and Bulgaria Subordinate units inflicted heavy damage on the oil refineries at Ploiești participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944 and supported the final advances of Allied armies in northern Italy in April 1945 The wing was inactivated in Italy on 16 October 1945 Cold War Edit Beginning in 1947 the 49th served in the Reserve for two years as a B 29 Superfortress organization during which time it was redesignated as an Air Division 1 and controlled the 100th Bombardment Group at Miami International Airport and the 380th Bombardment Group at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida As a result of the expansion of the United States Air Forces in Europe the division moved to England and served as a command and control organization No combat elements were assigned but the 20th Fighter Bomber Wing RAF Wethersfield the 47th Bombardment Wing RAF Sculthorpe and the 81st Fighter Bomber Wing at RAF Bentwaters were attached for operations 1 The division supervised and participated in numerous training missions such as Quick Shot Kingpin and Bear Claw before it was inactivated on 1 July 1956 1 as a result of a budgetary reduction Lineage EditEstablished as the 49th Bombardment Operational Training Wing Medium on 17 March 1943Activated on 31 March 1943 Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing Medium on 18 October 1943 Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing Heavy on 4 December 1943 Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing Heavy c August 1944 Inactivated on 16 October 1945Activated in the Reserve as 49th Bombardment Wing Very Heavy on 20 December 1946Redesignated 49th Air Division Bombardment on 16 April 1948 Inactivated on 27 June 1949Redesignated 49th Air Division on 25 October 1951Activated on 7 November 1951 Redesignated 49th Air Division Operational on 1 April 1952 Redesignated 49th Air Division Operational on 15 November 1954 Inactivated on 1 July 1956 1 Assignments Edit Third Air Force 31 March 1943 c 3 February 1944 Army Service Forces Port of Embarkation c 3 February 1944 Fifteenth Air Force c 11 March 1944 16 October 1945 Fourteenth Air Force 20 December 1946 Ninth Air Force 22 December 1948 Fourteenth Air Force 1 February 27 June 1949 Tactical Air Command 7 November 1951 Third Air Force 5 June 1952 1 July 1956 1 Components Edit Wings20th Fighter Bomber Wing attached 12 February 1952 1 July 1956 47th Bombardment Wing attached 12 February 1952 1 July 1956 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing later 81st Fighter Bomber Wing attached 1 March 1954 1 July 1956 1 Groups100th Bombardment Group 29 May 1947 27 June 1949 380th Bombardment Group 17 October 1947 27 June 1949 451st Bombardment Group c 6 April 1944 c 19 June 1945 461st Bombardment Group c 30 April 1944 c 1 July 1945 484th Bombardment Group c 6 April 1944 c 25 May 1945 1 Stations Edit Columbia Army Air Base South Carolina 31 March 1943 Greenville Army Air Base South Carolina c 28 April 1943 2 February 1944 Bari Italy 9 March 1944 Naples Italy 9 April 1944 2 Incoronata Italy 2 c 11 April 1944 16 October 1945 Miami Army Air Field later Miami International Airport Florida 20 December 1946 27 June 1949 Langley Air Force Base Virginia 7 November 1951 21 May 1952 RAF Sculthorpe England 1 June 1952 1 July 1956 1 Aircraft Edit Consolidated B 24 Liberator 1944 1945 Republic F 84 Thunderjet 1952 1956 North American B 45 Tornado 1954 1956 North American RB 45 Tornado 1954 1956 1 References EditNotes Edit Explanatory notes Aircraft is Republic F 84F 50 RE Thunderstreak Serial 52 6852 assigned to the 81st Wing s 91st Fighter Bomber Squadron Approved 23 December 1953 Aircraft is Consolidated B 24H 30 CF Liberator Serial 44 50443 displaying wing markings c 1945 The upper tail surface and circle were red in color Citations a b c d e f g h i j Factsheet 49 Air Division Operational Air Force Historical Research Agency 5 October 2007 Archived from the original on 17 October 2012 Retrieved 2 April 2014 a b Abstract History 49 Bombardment Wing Mar 43 Apr 44 Air Force History Index Retrieved 26 January 2015 Bibliography Edit This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 49th Air Division amp oldid 1062139953, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
