USAF PATCH 944 FIGHTER WING DEPLOYED US AIR FORCE WING PATCH

Lineage.   Established as 944 Troop Carrier Group, Medium, and activated in the Reserve, on 28 Dec 1962.  Organized on 17 Jan 1963.  Redesignated as: 944 Tactical Airlift Group on 1 Jul 1967; 944 Military Airlift Group (Associate) on 25 Mar 1968.  Inactivated on 1 Jul 1973.  Redesignated as 944 Tactical Fighter Group on 12 Nov 1986.  Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jul 1987.  Redesignated as: 944 Fighter Group on 1 Feb 1992; 944 Fighter Wing on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments.  Continental Air Command, 28 Dec 1962; 452 Troop Carrier (later, 452 Military Airlift) Wing, 17 Jan 1963 (attached to 63 Military Airlift Wing, 25 Mar 1968-25 Jul 1969); 349 Military Airlift Wing, 25 Jul 1969-1 Jul 1973.  419 Tactical Fighter (later, 419 Fighter) Wing, 1 Jul 1987; Tenth Air Force, 1 Oct 1994-.

Components.  Group.  414 Fighter:  1 Oct 2012-.  924 Fighter:  1 Oct 2012-.  944 Operations: 1 Aug 1992-.  Squadrons. 302 Tactical Fighter (later, 302 Fighter): 1 Jul 1987-1 Aug 1992.  728 Military Airlift: 1 Jan 1972-1 Jul 1973.  729 Military Airlift: 25 Apr 1969-1 Jul 1973.  730 Troop Carrier (later, 730 Tactical Airlift; 730 Military Airlift): 17 Jan 1963-1 Jul 1973.

Stations.  March AFB, CA, 17 Jan 1963; Norton AFB, CA, 25 Mar 1968-1 Jul 1973.  Luke AFB, AZ, 1 Jul 1987-.

Commanders.  Col Merle E. Larson, by Jun 1963; Col Richard P. McFarland, 25 Mar 1968; Col John F. McCormick, 12 Jul 1970; Col Richard P. McFarland, 1 Jun 1971; Lt Col Ronald R. Blalack, Jul 1971; Lt Col Clair A. Martin, 5 Aug 1971; Col Edward Dillon, 21 Dec 1971-1 Jul 1973.  Col Jerry A. Wrucha, by Jan 1988; Col Richard L. Hall, 30 Oct 1989; Col Craig S. Ferguson, 16 Aug 1997-unkn; Col Richard Scobee, 5 Aug 2007; Col Michael G. Popovich, 13 Apr 2009; Col Jose R. Monteagudo; 23 Dec 2010; Col Kurt J. Gallegos, 10 Feb 2013-.

Aircraft.  C-119, 1963-1968; C-141, 1968-1973.  F-16, 1987-.

Operations.   Trained for and performed airlift missions, 1963-1973.  Delivered cargo and passengers worldwide, including to the Far East and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict and participated in numerous humanitarian airlift missions and in the evacuation of American former prisoners of war from North Vietnam (Operation Homecoming).  Group was the first Reserve unit to convert to an “associate” unit.  Associated with the active-duty 63 Military Airlift Wing, whose C-141s were flown and maintained in part by Reserve personnel, 1968-1973.  Activated as a fighter group in 1987 and trained to perform missions of counterair, interdiction, and close air support of ground forces.  Gained a second (301) fighter squadron in 1992.  Deployed personnel and equipment several times since late 1992 to bases in Turkey to help enforce the no-fly zone over Iraq and to bases in Italy to support UN air operations in the Balkans.   Provided personnel and aircraft resources in support of Operations Provide Comfort II, Northern Watch, Southern Watch during the 1990s, and Enduring Freedom after 2001.   

Service Streamers.  None.

Campaign Streamers.  None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  None.

Decorations.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1970-30 Jun 1971; 1 Jul 1987-31 Aug 1989; 1 Jan 1990-31 Dec 1991; 1 Jan 1992-30 Jun 1993; 28 Nov 1993-6 Feb 1994; 6 Sep 1998-5 Sep 2000.  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jan 1972-28 Jan 1973.