55th Fighter Wing

55th Fighter Wing
F-51D-25-NA Mustang (s/n 44-73348) from the 162d Fighter Squadron, Ohio Air National Guard
Active	1943–1945; 1947-1950
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Command and Control
Part of	Ohio Air National Guard
Engagements	World War II European Campaign (1943–1945)
Insignia
Emblem of the 55th Bomb Wing

The 55th Fighter Wing (55 FW) is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Columbus, Ohio. It was withdrawn from the Ohio Air National Guard (OH ANG) and inactivated on 31 October 1950.

This wing is not related to the United States Air Force 55th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing or subsequent units that was constituted on 29 June 1948 and activated on 19 July 1948.

History

Established in early 1943 as an intermediate-level command and control organization. Initially was a Third Air Force training unit at McDill Field, Florida, with responsibility for B-26 Marauder training by III Bomber Command.

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

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.

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 As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Ohio ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950.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

• Constituted as 55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium) on 17 March 1943

Activated on 31 March 1943

Re-designated 55th Bombardment Wing (Medium) in October 1943

Re-designated 55th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in December 1943

Inactivated 9 September 1945.

• Re-designated 55th Fighter Wing, and allotted to the Ohio ANG on 21 August 1946

Extended federal recognition and activated on 7 December 1947

Inactivated, and returned to the control of the Department of the Air Force, on 31 October 1950

• Disbanded on 15 June 1983

Assignments

• Third Air Force, 31 March 1943 – February 1944
• Fifteenth Air Force, March 1944 – 9 September 1945
• Ohio Air National Guard, 7 December 1947-31 October 1950

Stations

• MacDill Field, Florida, 31 March 1943–February 1944
• Spinazzola Airfield, Italy, March 1944
• Pantanella Airfield, Italy (465th Bomb Group)
• Bari Airfield, Italy, July–September 1945
• Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio, 7 December 1947-31 October 1950

Components

World War II

• 21st Bombardment Group, 31 March 1943 – 10 October 1943 (B-26 OTU)
• 336th Bombardment Group, 13 October-6 November 1943 (B-26 RTU)
• 460th Bombardment Group, 5 February 1944 – 15 June 1945
• 464th Bombardment Group, 2 October 1943 – 31 June 1945
• 465th Bombardment Group, 1 April 1944 – 15 June 1945
• 485th Bombardment Group, 1 April 1944 May-15 May 1945

Ohio Air National Guard

• 121st Fighter Group, 26 June 1948-31 October 1950
• 122d Fighter Group, 9 December 1946-31 October 1950 (Indiana ANG)
• 123d Fighter Group, 20 September 1947-10 October 1950 (Kentucky ANG)
• 112th Bombardment Squadron (Light), 7 December 1947-31 October 1950
• 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

Aircraft

• B-26 Marauder, 1943
• B-24 Liberator, 1944-1946

• RB-26C Invader, 1947-1950
• F-51D Mustang, 1947-1948

References

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

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-89201-092-4.
• Maurer, Maurer. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force: World War II. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1982.