492nd Special Operations Wing

492nd Special Operations Wing
PZL C-145A flown by the 6th Special Operations Squadron
Active	1943–1945; 2017–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Special Operations
Engagements	European Theater of Operations[1]
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation French Croix de Guerre with Palm[1]
Insignia
492nd Special Operations Wing emblem (approved 13 July 2017)[2]

The 492nd Special Operations Wing is a United States Air Forces unit stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It was activated in May 2017 to replace the Air Force Special Operations Air Warfare Center.

During World War II the unit entered combat in May 1944, and sustained the heaviest losses of any Consolidated B-24 Liberator group for a three-month period. The group was withdrawn from combat with its personnel and equipment being reassigned to other units. The 801st Bombardment Group (Provisional) was replaced by the 492nd Bombardment Group, and the group performed special operations missions throughout the remainder of the war in Europe. It was inactivated on 17 October 1945.

In June 2017 official USAF descriptions said that the wing organized, trained and equipped forces to conduct special operations missions. It led Major Command irregular warfare activities and executes special operations test and evaluation programs. It also developed doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures for United States Air Force special operations forces.^[3]