History
During World War II, the 85th Fighter Wing was a command and control organization of Fifth Air Force, operating primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater. Its assigned units participated in aerial combat in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands (February 1944 – August 1945) flyingt cover missions for convoys, patrols, escorted bombers, attacked enemy airfields, and supported ground forces.
After the war's end, the organization provided fighter protection for the Philippine Islands and conducted an intensive training program in aerial combat, gunnery, and instrument flying, until the units inactivation in June 1948.
During the Cold War the unit was reactivated as an Air Division by Air Defense Command. It was assigned to the Eastern Air Defense Force in September 1955 with a mission to intercept unidentified aircraft over the Washington, D.C. area. It participated in numerous training exercises. It also took part in gunnery and air-launched training and readiness tests. Inactivated in September 1958.
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