Uniting the Past,
Present, and Future
Join us in preserving the heritage and legacy of the 442d Fighter Wing
and honoring the service of its personnel for generations to come.
The 442d Fighter Wing Story retold
Welcome to The 442d Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the 442d Fighter Wing’s heritage and the rich history of its personnel. The Project was born from the Wing’s national award-winning, three-part Mohawk magazine series, ‘The 442nd Heritage Series’. When the series won the Department of Defense’s highest honor, the Thomas Jefferson Award, one of the judges stated that, ‘this sort of thing is not done often enough. Imagine the history that has been lost simply because no one took the time to record it’.
The 442d Project’s mission is to do just that, honor the service and sacrifices of the men and women who have been part of this esteemed unit since its activation in 1943. Through our efforts in procuring, preserving, and presenting historical information, we aim to ensure that the legacy of the 442d Fighter Wing remains a vital and visible part of U.S. Air Force heritage.
Click below to learn more about each period of the 442d Fighter Wing history.
The 442d Troop carrier group
The WWII Years
The “original” 442d from its 1943 Sedalia Army Airfield, Mo., beginnings, to its role in every major European operation, to the repatriation of former war prisoners post-World War II.
442d T.c.g., 442d t.c.w., 442d M.a.w., 442 a.w.
The AirLift Years
With its 1949 Air Force Reserve rebirth at Fairfax Airfield, Kans., to the conclusion of its C-130 days at Richards-Gebaur A.F.B., Mo., the 442d expands to a worldwide airlift mission.
442d T.F.W. and 442d F.W.
The A-10 Years
In 1982, armed with the infamous A-10 “Warthog” fighter, the 442d is reimagined to develop into the Air Force’s go-to choice for close air support and taking the fight to the enemy.
How Can You Help?
Your support is crucial to our mission at The 442d Project. Here are ways you can contribute to preserving the 442d Fighter Wing history:
Financial Donations
(A 501c3 nonprofit organization)
Your financial contributions play a vital role in our preservation efforts. By clicking on the donation button link, you can assist in:
- Ensuring proper archival storage of artifacts
- Maintaining and enhancing our online storage and search system
- Supporting the development and presentation of educational programs
Artifact Donations
You can help by providing physical or digital artifacts such as photos, documents, flight logs, personal letters, “war” stories, medals, uniforms, and patches to enrich our collection.
Do you know someone…
You can help by sharing this link to someone you know who may have historical resources, including their own story. This is how we will build The 442d Project to become The 442d Story.
Our Vision
At The 442d Project, we envision a future where the legacy of the 442d Fighter Wing is celebrated and preserved for generations to come. Our vision includes:
✓ Procuring the history
The history is built through the procurement of both physical artifacts and the stories. These are obtained through military resources, other organizations, research, and the service men and woman.
✓ Preserving the history
All history is preserved following archival industry standards.
✓ Presenting the history
- Providing a platform for individuals to easily search and access historical information.
- Developing comprehensive education programs tailored for classroom use.
- A long-term vision of a physical location, such as a musuem.
In summary, The 442d Project envisions a future where the distinguished eighty-plus year history of the 442d Fighter Wing and its people is permanently recognized as a cornerstone of U.S. Air Force Reserve heritage. We aspire to be the definitive, professionally managed archive for this legacy, securing the resources—through grants, endowments, and community support—necessary to establish online and physical exhibits, educational programs, and a dedicated facility that honors the unit’s profound contributions to national defense
Did you know…
The 442d Project (spoken as “The Four-Forty-Second Project”) is a tribute to the service of the 442d Fighter Wing, presently an Air Force Reserve Command component of the United States Air Force, based at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and all its predecessor organizations which date back to 1943 when the 442d was brought into existence during World War II.
Since World War II, where the 442d flew airlift missions in all the major European operations, including the Normandy invasion on D-Day, the men and women of the 442d have participated in a range of U.S. military operations and major conflicts throughout its existence.
Through its earlier history the unit flew a variety of transport aircraft and, since 1982, continues to fly the A-10 Thunderbolt II fighter aircraft, also known as the “Warthog.”