Constituted as 49th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium) on
17 Mar 1943 and activated on 31 Mar. Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing
(Medium) in Oct 1943, and 49th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) in Dec. Moved to
Italy (Feb-Apr 1944) where groups were assigned. Operated with Fifteenth
AF in the Mediterranean and European theaters from Apr 1944 until May
1945. Inactivated in Italy on 16 Oct 1945.
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy). Allotted to the
reserve. Activated in the US on 20 Dec 1946. Redesignated 49th Air
Division (Bombardment) in Apr 1948. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
Redesignated 49th Air Division. Activated on 7 Nov 1951. Assigned to
Tactical Air Command. Redesignated 49th Air Division (Operational) in Apr
1952. Moved to England, May-Jun 1952, and assigned to United States Air
Forces in Europe. No combat elements were assigned but wings were attached
for operations.
Groups. 100th: 1946-1949. 380th: 1946-1949. 451st: 1944-1945. 461st:
1944-1945. 484th: 1944-1945.
Stations. Columbia AAB, SC, 31 Mar 1943; Greenville AAB, SC, c. 28 Apr
1943-2 Feb 1944; Italy, Apr 1944-16 Oct 1945. Miami AAFld, Fla, 20 Dec
1946-27 Jul 1949. Langley AFB, Va, 7 Nov 1951-May 1952; Sculthorpe RAF
Station, England, Jun 1952-.
Commanders. Brig Gen William L Lee, c. 31 Mar 1943; Col Robert F
Worden, 4 Aug-c. Oct 1945. Col James D Jones, 7 Nov 1951; Brig Gen John D
Stevenson, Feb 1952; Brig Gen James F Whisenand, 26 Feb 1955-.
Campaigns. Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Rome-Arno;
Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland;
Central Europe; Po Valley.
Decorations. None.
Insigne. Shield: Quarterly argent and sable, rising from base the
outline of a atomic cloud counterchanged, overall lightning flash issuing
from sinister chief and striking to dexter base or. (Approved 23 Dec
1953.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 | 
