The 49th had its origins in the 49th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter), activated on 15 January 1941 at Hamilton Field, California. During World War 2, 49th's pilots saw battle first in 1942 over Africa and the Balkans and in 1943 over Italy, flying P-38 "Lightning" to escort B-17 and B-24 bombers to their target. By VE-Day, the squadron was based in Italy where it was inactivated in September 1945, Back in the States, the 49th FS was activated again in 1946 for a three-year stint at Dow Field, Maine, equipped with P-47s and the unit's first jet aircraft, F-84s. In 1949, the 49th was once again inactivated until 1952. The unit went back to active status again at Dow Field, equipped with F-80s and later picked up more capable F-86s for its air defense role within the 4711th Defense Wing, Air Defense Command. In 1955, the unit moved to Lawrence G.Hanscom Field in Bedford, Mass. 1959 saw the 49th converting to the F-101B and moving to Griffiss AFB, NY in July. 'Voodoos' flew air defence missions for most of the 1960s. The squadron was inactivated on 30 September 1968. The 49th FIS was reactivated later that same day, having acquired the assets of the 438th FIS from Kincheloe AFB, Michigan. Officially nicknamed the 'Cavaliers' (as its emblem depicted a knight in shining armour), the unit was also unofficially referred to as the 'Green Eagles'. On 8 September 1969, the squadron deployed to Alaska to replace the 84th FIS. In William Tell competitions, the 49th FIS scored second in the F-106 category in 1974, second in 1976, first in 1978, fourth in 1980, and first again in 1982. On 1 October 1979, the 49th FIS transferred to Tactical Air Command, with the rest of Air Defense Command's interceptor squadrons. By the mid-eighties, it was the last active-duty USAF flying the F-106. The 49th FIS was inactivated at Griffiss AFB on July 1st, 1987, when the air defense mission was transferred to the Air National Guard. The 49th reappeared again in 1993 as the 49th Flying Training Squadron flying the AT-38B from Columbus AFB, Mississipi.

During its period of flying the F-106, the 49th operated 23 airframes and lost five on operations. The first of the unit's F-106 to be retired to AMARC was 59-0065 on 12 January 1982. The last two (59-0062 and 59-0136) arrived at Davis-Monthan AFB, home of AMARC, on 9 July 1987.

(Photos from author's collection)