49th Operations Group The 49th Operations Group ( 49 OG ) 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 ( ACC ) . 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 Citation s ( DUC ) 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 . During the modern era , 49th Operations group F - 117A Stealth fighters were engaged in combat during Operation Allied Force in 1997 , and in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003 . Overview . The 49th Operations Group ( Tail Code : " HO " ) supports national security objectives , as directed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff , by utilizing the Air Force ' s F - 22A Raptor Stealth Fighter aircraft and in training U . S . Air Force and allied aircrews in F - 22A and T - 38 transition , instructor and fighter weapons instructor . The group also conducts training using the MQ - 1 Predator and MQ - 9 Reaper Units of the 49th Operations Group are : History . World War II . The 49th Operations Group traces its origins to the formation of the 49th Pursuit Group ( Interceptor ) at Selfridge Field , Michigan on 20 November 1940 . The group trained with Seversky P - 35 s and consisted of three operational squadrons ( 7th , 8th , and 9th ) . With the advent of World War II , the group moved to Australia and became part of Fifth Air Force in January 1942 . It was re - designated as the 49th Fighter Group in May 1942 . The unit received Curtiss P - 40 Warhawks in Australia and , after training for a short time , provided air defense for the Northern Territory , being awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for engaging the enemy in frequent and intense aerial combat while operating with limited materiel and facilities for the period March – August 1942 . The group moved to New Guinea in October 1942 to help stall the Japanese drive southward from Buna to Port Moresby . Engaged primarily in air defense of Port Moresby ; also escorted bombers and transports , and attacked enemy installations , supply lines , and troop concentrations in support of Allied ground forces . The 49th participated in the Allied offensive that pushed the Japanese back along the Kokoda Track , took part in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea in March 1943 , fought for control of the approaches to Huon Gulf , and supported ground forces during the campaign in which the Allies eventually recovered New Guinea . It covered the landings on Noemfoor and had a part in . the conquest of Biak . After having used Lockheed P - 38 Lightnings , Curtiss P - 40 Warhawks and Republic P - 47 Thunderbolts , the 49th was equipped completely in September 1944 with P - 38 ' s , which were used to fly long - range escort and attack missions to Mindanao , Halmahera , Seram , and Borneo . The unit arrived in the Philippines in October 1944 , shortly after the assault landings on Leyte and engaged enemy fighters , attacked shipping in Ormoc Bay , supported ground forces , and covered the Allied invasion of Luzon . For or intensive operations against the Japanese on Leyte , the group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation . Other missions from the Philippines included strikes against industry and transportation on Formosa and against shipping along the China coast . By the war ' s end , the group ' s pilots destroyed 668 enemy aircraft ( there may be some disagreement here as the 49th group site lists 678 but most sources agree at 668 ) , a record surpassing that of any other fighter group in the Pacific Theater . The group ' s World War II activities merited two Philippines Republic Presidential Unit Citation s , three U . S . Distinguished Unit Citation s , and 10 battle honors . Among the unit ' s 43 aces were Lt . Colonel Boyd D . " Buzz " Wagner , the first World War II ace in the Pacific Theater , and Major Richard I . Bong , whose 40 kills made him America ' s number one ace ( a record that still stands ) . The 49th soon became endeared to the American people through the nickname , " Fighting 49ers . " Cold War . 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 : Modern era . On 1 November 1991 , the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing adopted the Air Force Objective Organization plan and the 49th Tactical Fighter Group was re - designated as the 49th Operations Group and re - activated . The operational squadrons of the wing came under the control of the Operations Group . The 49th Operations Group was transferred the lineage , honors and history of the 49th Fighter Group .