72d Fighter Wing

History

The wing was initially activated as a command and control organization for heavy bomber training. In 1943 it became single-engine fighter training organization for Second Air Force. The wing had jurisdiction for fighter training Operational Training Units and Replacement Training Units in the midwest. Bases assigned to the wing included:

Lineage

Constituted as 72d Bombardment Operational Training Wing (Heavy) on 12 August 1943

Activated on 20 August 1943 Redesigned 72d Fighter Wing on 1 September 1943 Inactivated on 9 April 1946

Disbanded on 15 June 1983

Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesigned 372d Electronic Warfare Group

Disbanded on 9 September 1992

Assignments

Second Air Force, 12 August 1943 – 9 April 1946

Components

36th Fighter Group, 17 September 1943 – 4 April 1944

84th Fighter Group, 1 November 1943 – 1 April 1944

357th Fighter Group, 7 October – 9 November 1943

407th Fighter Group, 9 March 1943 – 21 March 1944

408th Fighter Group, 1 November 1943 – 1 April 1944

476th Fighter Group, 26 March-1 April 1944

507th Fighter Group, 12 October 1944 – 24 June 1945

508th Fighter Group, 12 October 1944 – 6 January 1945

Stations

Rapid City AAB, South Dakota, 20 August 1943

Colorado Springs AAB, Colorado, 7 October 1943

Peterson Field, Colorado, November 1943;

Colorado Springs AAB, Colorado, December 1945-9 April 1946

Awards

American Theater of World War II