442d Fighter Wing The 442d Fighter Wing ( 442d FW ) is an Air Reserve Component ( ARC ) of the United States Air Force . It is assigned to the Tenth Air Force , Air Force Reserve Command , stationed at Whiteman Air Force Base , Missouri . If mobilized , the Wing is gained by the Air Combat Command . Overview . The 442d Fighter Wing trains Air Force Reserve personnel and to operate , maintain and support the A - 10 Thunderbolt II at the highest level of combat readiness . Units . The 442d Fighter Wing is organized like most Air Force Wings . There are three groups under the wing that are physically located at Whiteman AFB : There are also several geographically separated units ( GSUs ) that report to the 442d Fighter Wing : History . The 442d was activated as a Reserve troop carrier wing under supervision of the 2472nd Air Force Reserve Training ( later , Air Reserve Flying ) Center , June 1949 - February 1951 and June 1952 - March 1959 . During the Korean War , 442d personnel transferred as replacements to other USAF organizations . By the mid - 1950s , it participated regularly in troop / cargo drops , airlift operations and exercises . The wing began incorporating the Air Reserve Technician Program ( ART ) for full - time support personnel in 1958 and completed same in 1959 . The wing was called to active service again during the Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 and continued to remain on active duty until August 1963 , during which time the wing completed conversion to the C - 124 Globemaster . The wing also flew overseas missions , particularly to the Far East and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War . In 1971 , the wing began phasing out the C - 124 and by 1972 , had fully transitioned to the C - 130 Hercules . In 1975 , the wing ' s gaining command shifted from Tactical Air Command ( TAC ) to Military Airlift Command ( MAC ) as part of a USAF - wide shift of tactical airlift assets between the two major commands . The 442d flew humanitarian and mercy missions on numerous occasions in addition to worldwide airlift operations until conversion , in June 1982 , to a fighter mission with the A - 10 Thunderbolt II aircraft . The 442d again returned to the operational control of TAC and in October 1982 , the wing was inactivated while its 442d Tactical Fighter Group continued to train on the new aircraft . In February 1984 , the wing was once again activated as the 442d Tactical Fighter Wing and trained for A - 10 fighter operations , including close air support , anti - armor , battlefield air interdiction , and combat search and rescue missions . In 1992 , as part of another USAF - wide reorganization , TAC was inactivated and the 442d was renamed as the 442d Fighter Wing ( 442 FW ) under the newly established Air Combat Command ( ACC ) . With the pending closure of Richards - Gebaur Air Reserve Station due to Base Realignment and Closure ( BRAC ) action , the 442 FW began relocation of its home base to Whiteman AFB , Missouri in 1993 , completing said move by 1994 . On a recurring basis from December 1993 , the wing deployed personnel and aircraft to Aviano Air Base , Italy , to participate in operations over Bosnia . It also deployed personnel and aircraft to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch , September – October 1998 . Components . Groups Squadrons