86th Fighter Wing

Constituted as 86th Fighter Wing on 19 Nov 1943. Activated on 1 Dec 1943. Moved to the Southwest Pacific, Mar-May 1944. Assigned to Fifth AF. Engaged in combat from May until early in 1945 when the wing became responsible for establishing and operating an aircraft warning system in the Philippine Islands. Inactivated in the Philippines on 15 Mar 1946.

Allotted to ANG (Colo) on 24 May 1946. Extended federal recognition on 3 Jul 1946. Inactivated on 31 Oct 1950.

(This wing is not related to an 86th Fighter Wing that was constituted on 1 Jul 1948 and activated in Germany the same day by United States Air Forces in Europe.)

Groups. 8th: 1944-1945. 49th: 1944-1945. 58th: 1944-1945.

Stations. March Field, Calif, 1 Dec 1943-25 Mar 1944; Finschhafen, New Guinea, 1 May 1944; Toem, New Guinea, 4 Aug 1944; Sansapor, New Guinea, 19 Aug 1944; Luzon, 16 Jan 1945-15 Mar 1946.

Commanders. Lt Col Robert L Johnston, 11 Dec 1943; Col Romulus W Puryear, 14 Dec 1943; Col Robert L Johnston, 16 Sep 1944; Col Norman D Sillin, 5 Nov 1944; Col James O Guthrie, 14 Dec 1944; Col Robert L Johnston, 11 Jun 1945-unkn.

Campaigns. New Guinea; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon.

Decorations. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986