Roll call commemorates "Fightin' 49er" past, present, future

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  For the first time in decades, the "Fightin' 49ers" gathered for a roll call to celebrate where the wing has been and where it is going.

With the latest addition of the new remotely piloted vehicle training mission to Holloman, the time was ideal to take a moment and recognize the history and future of the wing.

"I want everyone to understand just how historic this day is for the 49th," said Col. Jeff Harrigian, 49th Fighter Wing commander. "We have been placed in the spotlight by our leadership and selected for a very important mission, and that is integrating into our wing the remotely piloted vehicle mission."

Colonel Harrigian focused his outlook for the future of the wing on teamwork.

"As a team, we can meet our mission statement and that is 'one team ... combat ready,'" the wing commander said. "That's what you all should be focused on and I know that's what you're going to bring to the shop every day."

To mark months of hard work in preparation for the wing's new roles and missions, each unit assigned to the 49th was introduced and represented by a guidon held by an Airman from their respective unit.

The guidon bearers then did an in-unison salute to symbolize the entire team dedicated to the next generation of the 49th FW.

Tom Fuller, 49th Fighter Wing community relations chief and narrator for the event, spoke about Holloman's history, enlightening the standing-room only crowd of the wing's heritage.

"For more than six decades, the 'Fightin' 49ers' have defended the nation while projecting air power from the remote pacific islands in World War II, to leading the way in Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Mr. Fuller. "Even today, more than 200 of our number are overseas, many in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The 49th FW made it's modest beginning as the 49th Pursuit Group in 1940, just prior to the nation's entry into World War II. It first deployed to the Pacific Theater in 1942 and by the war's end, the group had 678 enemy kills to it's credit.

In 1950, the 'Fightin' 49ers' flew some of it's first sorties during the Korean War, and in the next six months, the group flew nearly 2,500 sorties and dropped more than two million pounds of ordnance.

After Korea, the 49th flew from air bases in Japan, France and Germany, said Mr. Fuller. It wasn't until 1968 that the, then, 49th Tactical Fighter Wing made Holloman it's home.

Four years later, in 1972, the 49th Fighter Wing was called to action at the height of the Vietnam War. More than 10,000 combat missions were flown in support of the war, dropping more than 41 million pounds of ordnance.

By 1992, the wing was flying the F-117A Nighthawk and in 1999, it saw it's first combat during action Operation Allied Force, where it flew more than 1,000 combat sorties.

Following the terror attacks of Sept. 11, members of the 49th Materiel Maintenance Group deployed almost 150 Airmen and more than 1,900 tons of equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They also flew more than 100 combat sorties in 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The year 2008 was marked by the departure of the last F-117 and in June, the first F-22A Raptor arrived. This year proved a historic one for 49th FW history as well with the stand up of four RPV squadrons.

"Today, we recognize the continued growth of the 49th Fighter Wing with the addition of four new squadrons and two new aircraft," said Mr. Fuller.

To ensure the continued growth and success of the 49th, Colonel Harrigian challenged every Airman to get to know one another, each other's jobs and how they all play a vital role to Holloman's mission.

"As we walk down this path together, I need you to think about how we, as a team, are going to deliver this important mission, and how we're going to deliver combat power to the joint forces commander, wherever they need it, anywhere -- anytime," he said.