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{{about|the 55th Fighter Wing|the 55th Reconnaissance Wing|55th Wing}}
{{use dmy dates}}{{Infobox Military Unit
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
|unit_name= 55th Bombardment Wing
{{Infobox military unit
|image= [[Image:55bw-ww2-insignia.jpg|200px]]
|caption= Emblem of the 55th Bomb Wing
|unit_name= 55th Fighter Wing
[[File:US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg|center|60px]]
|dates= 1943 – 1945
| image= 166th Fighter Squadron - North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-73029.jpg
|country= United States
| image_size = 300
|allegiance=
|caption=[[F-51D Mustang]] from the Wing's [[166th Fighter Squadron]]<ref group=note>Aircraft is North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang serial 44-73029.</ref>
|branch= [[United States Army Air Forces]]
|dates= 1943–1945; 1947-1950
|type=
|country={{flag|United States|23px}}
|role= Bombardment
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type= Wing
|role= Command and Control
|size=
|size=
|command_structure= [[Fifteenth Air Force]]
|command_structure= [[Ohio Air National Guard]]
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|garrison_label=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|nickname=
|nickname=
|patron=
|patron=
|motto=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|march=
|mascot=
|mascot=
|battles=[[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]]
|battles=<center>[[Image:World War II Victory Medal ribbon.svg|60px]]&nbsp;[[Image:European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign ribbon.svg|60px]]</center>
|notable_commanders=
* World War II
: European Campaign (1943 &ndash; 1945)
|anniversaries=
|anniversaries=
<!-- Insignia -->
|decorations=
|identification_symbol=[[Image:55 bombardment wg-ww2-insignia.jpg|150px]]
|battle_honours=
|identification_symbol_label=Unofficial 55th Bombardment Wing emblem<ref group=note>Maurer indicates the wing had no approved emblem. Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 397-398</ref>
}}
}}
The '''55th Bombardment Wing''' (55th BW) was a [[World War II]] [[United States Army Air Force]] organization assigned to [[Fifteenth Air Force]] as a intermediate-level command and control organization. It was stationed at [[Bari]], Italy and was inactivated on 9 September 1945.


The '''55th Fighter Wing''' is a disbanded unit of the [[United States Air Force]], last stationed at [[Lockbourne Air Force Base]], Ohio. It was withdrawn from the [[Ohio Air National Guard]] and inactivated on 31 October 1950 when the Guard adopted the [[Hobson Plan|Wing Base organizational model]] and formed the cadre for the [[121st Fighter Wing]].
== History ==
=== Lineage===
* Constituted as '''55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium)''' on 17 March 1943
: Activated on 31 March.
: Redesignated '''55th Bombardment Wing (Medium)''' in October 1943
: Redesignated '''55th Bombardment Wing (Heavy)''' in December 1943
: Inactivated 9 September 1945.


During [[World War II]], the wing served as the '''55th Bombardment Wing''' in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]], flying strategic bombardment missions against areas under Axis control.
=== Assignments ===
* [[Third Air Force]], 31 March 1943 &ndash; February 1944
* [[Fifteenth Air Force]], March 1944 &ndash; 9 September 1945


=== Stations ===
==History==
===World War II===
* [[MacDill AFB|MacDill Field]], [[Florida]], 31 March 1943-February 1944
The [[wing (military aviation unit)|wing]] was first activated as the '''55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing''' in March 1943 at [[MacDill Field]], Florida. Various [[group (military aviation unit)|groups]] were attached to the wing for short periods for training, but none were permanently assigned.<ref name=Maurer55BW>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 397-398</ref>
* [[Spinazzola Airfield]], [[Italy]], March 1944
* [[Bari Airfield]], [[Italy]], July-September 1945


Assigned to [[Fifteenth Air Force]], being stationed at [[Bari]], Italy and was inactivated on 9 September 1945.<ref name=Maurer55BW/>
=== Components ===
* [[460th Space Wing|460th Bombardment Wing]]
* [[464th Tactical Airlift Wing|464th Bombardment Wing]]
* [[465th Bombardment Wing]]
* [[485th Air Expeditionary Wing|485th Bombardment Wing]]


=== Aircraft ===
===Air National Guard===
Allocated to the [[Ohio Air National Guard]] for command and control origination for units in the Ohio River Valley region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 21 August 1946.
* [[B-24 Liberator]]


At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base ([[Hobson Plan]]) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Ohio ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950. The [[121st Fighter Wing]] was established by the [[National Guard Bureau]], allocated to the state of Ohio, recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated 55th Fighter Wing.
== References ==
{{User:NDCompuGeek/templates/Template:AFHRA}}
* Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.


==Lineage==
== External links ==
* Constituted as the '''55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing''' (Medium) on 17 March 1943
{{portal|United States Air Force|Seal of the US Air Force.svg}}
: Activated on 31 March 1943
{{portalpar|Military of the United States|Flag of the United States.svg|65}}
: Redesignated '''55th Bombardment Wing''' (Medium) in October 1943
: Redesignated '''55th Bombardment Wing''' (Heavy) in December 1943
: Inactivated 9 September 1945
* Redesignated '''55th Fighter Wing''' and allotted to the National Guard on 21 August 1946
: Activated and extended federal recognition on 7 December 1947
: Inactivated on 31 October 1950<ref name=Maurer55BW/>
* Disbanded on 15 June 1983<ref>Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 498q, 15 June 1983, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units</ref>


===Assignments===
* [[III Bomber Command]], 31 March 1943
* [[XV Bomber Command]], March 1944 – 9 September 1945
* [[Ohio Air National Guard]], 7 December 1947 – 31 October 1950

===Stations===
* MacDill Field, Florida, 31 March 1943 – c. February 1944
* [[Spinazzola Airfield]], Italy, March 1944
* [[Bari Airfield]], Italy, c. July – September 1945
* [[Lockbourne Air Force Base]], Ohio, 7 December 1947 – 31 October 1950<ref name=Maurer55BW/>

===Components===
====World War II====
* [[460th Bombardment Group]],<ref name=Maurer55BW/> c. 5 February 1944 – 15 June 1945<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433979/460-space-wing-afspc/ |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 460 Space Wing (AFSPC)|date=28 December 2007|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
* [[461st Bombardment Group]],<ref name=Maurer55BW/> 5 February 1944 – 15 June 1945<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/432088/461-operations-group-acc/ |last1=Robertson|first1=Patsy|title=Factsheet 461 Operations Group (ACC)|date=9 April 2012|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=22 November 2016}}</ref>
* [[464th Bombardment Group]],<ref name=Maurer55BW/> 2 October 1943 – 31 June 1945
* [[465th Bombardment Group]],<ref name=Maurer55BW/> 1 April 1944 – 15 June 1945
* [[485th Bombardment Group]],<ref name=Maurer55BW/> 1 April 1944 May-15 May 1945

====Ohio Air National Guard====
* [[121st Fighter Group]], 26 June 1948 – 31 October 1950
* [[122d Fighter Group]], 7 December 1947 – 31 October 1950 (Indiana ANG)
* [[123d Fighter Group]], 7 December 1947 – 10 October 1950 (Kentucky ANG)
* [[112th Bombardment Squadron]] (Light), 7 December 1947 – 31 October 1950
* [[149th Fighter Squadron]], 21 June 1947 – 31 October 1950 (Virginia ANG)
* [[162d Fighter Squadron]], 7 December 1947 – 26 June 1948
* [[164th Fighter Squadron]], 20–26 June 1948
* [[166th Fighter Squadron]], 10 November 1947 – 26 June 1948
* [[167th Fighter Squadron]], 7 March 1957 – 10 October 1950 (West Virginia ANG)

==References==


; Notes
{{Reflist|group=note}}

; Citations
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf |edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf|edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}

{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{Air National Guard}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{USAAF 15th Air Force World War II}}
{{USAAF 15th Air Force World War II}}
}}


[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]
[[Category:Wings of the United States Air National Guard|0055]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:European theatre of World War II]]
[[Category:World War II European theatre| ]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Ohio]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1945]]
[[Category:Fighter wings of the United States Army Air Forces|055]]
[[Category:World War II strategic bombing]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1950]]
[[Category:Wings of the United States Army Air Force in World War II]]
[[Category:Fighter wings of the United States Air Force|055]]

Latest revision as of 15:09, 9 February 2024

55th Fighter Wing
Active1943–1945; 1947-1950
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
TypeWing
RoleCommand and Control
Part ofOhio Air National Guard
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
Insignia
Unofficial 55th Bombardment Wing emblem[note 2]

The 55th Fighter Wing is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was withdrawn from the Ohio Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950 when the Guard adopted the Wing Base organizational model and formed the cadre for the 121st Fighter Wing.

During World War II, the wing served as the 55th Bombardment Wing in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, flying strategic bombardment missions against areas under Axis control.

History

[edit]

World War II

[edit]

The wing was first activated as the 55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing in March 1943 at MacDill Field, Florida. Various groups were attached to the wing for short periods for training, but none were permanently assigned.[1]

Assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Bari, Italy and was inactivated on 9 September 1945.[1]

Air National Guard

[edit]

Allocated to the Ohio Air National Guard for command and control origination for units in the Ohio River Valley region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 21 August 1946.

At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base (Hobson Plan) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Ohio ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950. The 121st Fighter Wing was established by the National Guard Bureau, allocated to the state of Ohio, recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated 55th Fighter Wing.

Lineage

[edit]
  • Constituted as the 55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium) on 17 March 1943
Activated on 31 March 1943
Redesignated 55th Bombardment Wing (Medium) in October 1943
Redesignated 55th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in December 1943
Inactivated 9 September 1945
  • Redesignated 55th Fighter Wing and allotted to the National Guard on 21 August 1946
Activated and extended federal recognition on 7 December 1947
Inactivated on 31 October 1950[1]
  • Disbanded on 15 June 1983[2]

Assignments

[edit]

Stations

[edit]

Components

[edit]

World War II

[edit]

Ohio Air National Guard

[edit]

References

[edit]
Notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is North American F-51D-25-NA Mustang serial 44-73029.
  2. ^ Maurer indicates the wing had no approved emblem. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 397-398
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 397-398
  2. ^ Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 498q, 15 June 1983, Subject: Disbandment of Certain Inactive Air Force Units
  3. ^ Robertson, Patsy (28 December 2007). "Factsheet 460 Space Wing (AFSPC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  4. ^ Robertson, Patsy (9 April 2012). "Factsheet 461 Operations Group (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 22 November 2016.

Bibliography

[edit]

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency