495th Fighter Group

495th Fighter Group
An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot of the 495th Fighter Group prepares to take off from Bagram Airfield
Active	1943–1945; 2013–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Fighter / Attack
Part of	Air Combat Command
Garrison/HQ	Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina
Engagements	European Theater of Operations
Insignia
495th Fighter Group emblem
Aircraft flown
Attack	A-10 Thunderbolt II
Fighter	F-16 Fighting Falcon

The 495th Fighter Group is an active duty fighter group in the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Ninth Air Force of Air Combat Command, stationed at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, with additional units at multiple active Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard installations across the United States.

The group was first activated in England during World War II as the 495th Fighter Training Group and trained fighter aircraft pilots for Eighth Air Force until it was disbanded in 1945. It was activated again in 2013 as the headquarters for Air Combat Command "active associate" fighter units.

"In 2008, Air Force leadership recognized that the changing force structure demanded creative ways to generate experienced fighter pilots. The solution was to capitalize on the experience and assets of the Guard and Reserve. This Total Force Integration initiative became Active Association, whereby Regular Air Force personnel work side-by-side with host Air Reserve and Air National Guard Component units in a mutually beneficial relationship."

The 495th Fighter Training Group was established on 9 October 1943 and activated 26 October 1943 at RAF Atcham, England to provide forward training on tactics and operations for the European Theater during World War II. The group exercised command over the 551st and 552nd Fighter Training Squadrons flying the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-38 Lightning preparing pilots for action with Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. It moved to RAF Whitchurch, in February 1945, and at the conclusion of hostilities was disbanded 15 April 1945.

"The 495th Fighter Group was reactivated March 8, 2013, at Shaw Air Force Base, SC, as an active association between active-duty pilots and their guard and reserve counterparts and marked a historical moment in the Air Force's ongoing initiative to integrate active-duty Airmen, Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and Air National Guard (ANG) units to streamline training, spending and resource use. As a direct reporting unit to 9th Air Force, the 495FG is made up of more than 600 active-duty personnel across 22 ARC and ANG Fighter Wings under Air Combat Command."