55th Fighter Wing (Air National Guard)

55th Fighter Wing
F-51D Mustang from the Wing's 166th Fighter Squadron
Active	1943–1945; 1947-1950
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Command and Control
Part of	Ohio Air National Guard
Engagements	Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Insignia
Unofficial 55th Bombardment Wing emblem

The 55th Fighter Wing is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force, last stationed at Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio. It was withdrawn from the Ohio Air National Guard and inactivated on 31 October 1950 when the Guard adopted the Wing Base organizational model and formed the cadre for the 121st Fighter Wing.

During World War II, the wing served as the 55th Bombardment Wing in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, flying strategic bombardment missions against areas under Axis control.

The wing was first activated as the 55th Bombardment Operational Training Wing in March 1943 at MacDill Field, Florida. Various groups were attached to the wing for short periods for training, but none were permanently assigned.

Assigned to Fifteenth Air Force, being stationed at Bari, Italy and was inactivated on 9 September 1945.

Allocated to the Ohio Air National Guard for command and control origination for units in the Ohio River Valley region of the United States. Extended federal recognition and activated on 21 August 1946.

At the end of October 1950, the Air National Guard converted to the wing-base (Hobson Plan) organization. As a result, the wing was withdrawn from the Ohio ANG and was inactivated on 31 October 1950. The 121st Fighter Wing was established by the National Guard Bureau, allocated to the state of Ohio, recognized and activated 1 November 1950; assuming the personnel, equipment and mission of the inactivated 55th Fighter Wing.