page_title: 49th Operations Group
section_title: Cold War
hierarchical_section_title: 49th Operations Group / History / Cold War
caption_attribution_description: English: 8th Fighter Squadron F-117A 86-0840 landing at Holloman AFB with drouge chute deployed
context_page_description: The 49th Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 49th Wing. It is stationed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, and is a part of Air Combat Command.
  During World War II, the unit's predecessor unit, the 49th Fighter Group, operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as part of the Fifth Air Force. The group earned three Distinguished Unit Citations for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat in numerous campaigns between 1942 and 1945. During the Korean War, the unit initially covered the evacuation of civilian personnel from Kimpo and Suwon in 1950, later flying missions in support of UN ground forces, hitting gun positions, troop concentrations, and other objectives until the 1953 Armistice, remaining in South Korea for a time afterward.
  After the fall of the Soviet Union, 49th Operations group F-117A Stealth fighters were engaged in combat during Operation Allied Force in 1997, and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.
context_section_description: The 49th moved to Okinawa in August 1945 and to Japan in September. As part of the Army of occupation in Japan, the 49th Fighter Group trained, took part in maneuvers, and flew surveillance patrols, as part of Far East Air Forces. The group was equipped with North American P-51 Mustangs in 1946, with Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars being added in 1948.
  On 10 August 1948, with the adoption of the Hobson Plan, the United States Air Force 49th Fighter Wing was activated, with the 49th Fighter Group being assigned as its combat group.   From this point, the history of the 49th Fighter Group is indistinguishable from that of the 49th Fighter Wing.  Significant changes to the organization were:
  On 1 February 1950, the group was re-designated as the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group
  On 10 December 1957, the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group was inactivated when the wing adopted the Dual Deputy Organization and assigned all combat squadrons directly to the wing; the combat group commander becoming the wing Deputy Commander for Operations (DCO). The honors and history of the Group were temporarily bestowed to the 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing upon inactivation of the Group.
  On 31 July 1985, while inactive, the group was re-designated as the 49th Tactical Fighter Group
caption: 8th Fighter Squadron F-117A Nighthawk stealth fighter 86-0840 landing at Holloman AFB, New Mexico, 2000.
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