Created as the 49th Fighter Wing in August 1948 at Misawa AB operating the P-51, the unit was redesignated 49th Fighter-Bomber Wing in February 1950 and relocated to several bases in Japan and South Korea before transferring from PACAF to USAFE in December 1957 and converting to the F-100 at the same time. The unit was based at Etain/Rouvres AB, France until August 1959 when it moved to Spangdahlem AB, Germany having become a Tactical Fighter Wing in July 1958. The wing converted to the F-105D in 1961 and the F-4D in 1967. They relocated to Holloman AFB as the USAF's first 'dual-based' NATO-committed wing, stationed in the USA but organized to return to Europe immediately if necessary (a forerunner of the rapid deployment force). The unit received the Mackay Trophy in 1969 for 'the most meritorious flight of the year' when it relocated 72 F-4Ds non-stop from Germany to Holloman AFB without a single abort, completing 504 air refuelings. Equipment was upgraded to F-15As beginning October 1977. The unit won the F-15 category and the individual top gun award at the 1988 William Tell competition at Tyndall AFB. The single squadron of AT-38Bs was absorbed when the 479th TTW was relegated to Group status. The unit changed designation to 49th Fighter Wing in October 1991, prior to the arrival of the first F-117As in July 1992. A squadron of F-4Es was transferred from George AFB also during 1992 to perform aircrew training for German Luftwaffe Phantom crews.