The unit's origins begin with its predecessor, the World War II 49th Bombardment Wing, which was part of Fifteenth Air Force. The 47th engaged in heavy bombardment B-24 Liberator operations against Germany.
World War II
The 49th Air Division was established and activated at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina in March 1943 as a medium bomber (North American B-25 Mitchell) operational training wing. It was reassigned to Greenville Army Air Base, South Carolina in April where it commanded training of B-25 bomb groups in the southeast prior to their overseas deployment.
As part of Fifteenth Air Force the groups of the 49th attacked such targets as oil refineries, marshalling yards, aircraft factories, bridges, and airfields in Italy, Germany, Austria, and Bulgaria. Subordinate units inflicted heavy damage on the oil refineries at Ploiești, participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944, and supported the final advances of Allied armies in northern Italy in April 1945.
The wing was inactivated in Italy on 16 October 1945.
The division supervised and participated in numerous training missions such as Quick Shot, Kingpin, and Bear Claw.[1] It was inactivated on 1 July 1956 as a result of a budgetary reduction.
Lineage
Established as the 49th Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Medium) on 17 March 1943
Activated on 31 March 1943
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing (Medium) on 18 October 1943
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing (Heavy) on 4 December 1943
Redesignated 49th Bombardment Wing, Heavy c. August 1944
Inactivated on 16 October 1945
Activated in the Reserve as 49th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 20 December 1946
Redesignated 49th Air Division, Bombardment on 16 April 1948
Inactivated on 27 June 1949
Redesignated 49th Air Division on 25 October 1951
Activated on 7 November 1951
Redesignated 49th Air Division, Operational on 1 April 1952
Redesignated 49th Air Division (Operational) on 15 November 1954