495th Fighter Group

The 495th Fighter Group is an active duty fighter group in the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Ninth Air Force of Air Combat Command, stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, with additional units at multiple active Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard installations across the United States.[1]

495th Fighter Group
An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot of the 495th Fighter Group prepares to take off from Bagram Airfield
Active1943–1945; 2013–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleFighter / Attack
Part ofAir Combat Command
Garrison/HQShaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Commanders
ColonelMark Massaro
Insignia
495th Fighter Group emblem
Aircraft flown
AttackA-10 Thunderbolt II
FighterF-16 Fighting Falcon / F-15 Eagle / F-35 Lightning II

The group was first activated in England during World War II as the 495th Fighter Training Group and trained fighter aircraft pilots for Eighth Air Force until it was disbanded in 1945. It was activated again in 2013 as the headquarters for Air Combat Command "active associate" fighter units.

World War II
1943: Three P-38 Lightnings, AAF Ser. No. 42-68184 and two comrades, of the 495th Fighter Training Group in flight.

The 495th Fighter Training Group was established on 9 October 1943 and activated 26 October 1943 at RAF Atcham, England to provide forward training on tactics and operations for the European Theater during World War II. The group exercised command over the 551st and 552nd Fighter Training Squadrons flying the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning preparing pilots for action with Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. It moved to RAF Cheddington, in February 1945, and at the conclusion of hostilities was disbanded 15 April 1945.[2]

Active associate unit

"In 2008, Air Force leadership recognized that the changing force structure demanded creative ways to generate experienced fighter pilots. The solution was to capitalize on the experience and assets of the Guard and Reserve. This Total Force Integration initiative became Active Association, whereby Regular Air Force personnel work side-by-side with host Air Reserve and Air National Guard Component units in a mutually beneficial relationship."[2]

"The 495th Fighter Group was reactivated 8 March 2013, at Shaw Air Force Base, SC, as an active association between active-duty pilots and their guard and reserve counterparts and marked a historical moment in the Air Force's ongoing initiative to integrate active-duty Airmen, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) units to streamline training, spending and resource use. As a direct reporting unit to 9th Air Force, the 495FG is made up of more than 600 active-duty personnel across 22 ARC and ANG Fighter Wings under Air Combat Command."[2]

"Total Force Integration is a vital enterprise aimed at maximizing the combined contributions of the Active and Reserve components, while ensuring "right-sizing" of component mix. The 495th Fighter Group will continue to lead active associate units into the future of Air Force pilot training and the partnerships will allow active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Reserve Component fighter units to share resources, reduce duplications of effort, and ultimately, increase the Air Force's overall air defense capabilities in order to enhance the ability to provide dominant combat airpower for America."[2]

Lineage
  • Established as the 495th Fighter Training Group on 9 October 1943
Activated 26 October 1943
Disbanded on 15 April 1945
  • Reconstituted and redesignated 495th Fighter Group[3]
Activated on 8 March 2013[2]

Assignments
  • VIII Air Force Composite Command, 26 October 1943
  • VIII Fighter Command, December 1943
  • VIII Air Force Composite Command, February 1944
  • VIII Fighter Command, September 1944
  • 1st Bombardment Division (later 1st Air Division), November 1944 – 15 April 1945
  • Ninth Air Force, 8 March 2013 – present[2]

Components
Burlington Air National Guard Base, Vermont
McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina
Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas
Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri
Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida
Montgomery Air National Guard Base, Alabama
Truax Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin[2]
  • 551st Fighter Training Squadron, 26 October 1943 – 15 April 1945
  • 552d Fighter Training Squadron, 26 October 1943 – 15 April 1945[2]

Stations

Aircraft flown
  • F-16 Fighting Falcon, 2013–present
  • A-10 Thunderbolt II, 2013–present[2]
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References
Notes
  1. Currier, Amanda (11 March 2013). "Shaw stands up new total force fighter group". Ninth Air Force Public Affairs. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
  2. "495th Fighter Group". Shaw Air Force Base. 12 April 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
  3. https://www.9af.acc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/1192021/495th-fighter-group/
  4. https://www.158fw.ang.af.mil/BASE/315TH-SQUADRON/
  5. Haulman, Daniel (13 January 2016). "Factsheet 355 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
  6. Haulman, Daniel (13 January 2016). "Factsheet 358 Fighter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 14 March 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2016.
  7. "WW II squadron reactivated". 482d Fighter Wing Public Affairs. 3 November 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
  8. Baldwin, TSG Christopher (November 2015). "In Formation" (PDF). 187th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 December 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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