is an Associate unit embedded in the active duty 56th Fighter Wing's 63rd Fighter Squadron at Luke AFB, providing instructor pilots and support personnel for the F-35A Lightning II. The 944th was the first Air Force Reserve fighter unit to fly operational missions with the coalition task force over Northern Iraq in support of Provide Comfort II in 1992–1993. The unit flew 1,090 hours or 308 sorties with only one sortie lost due to maintenance. Lineage Established as the 944th Troop Carrier Group, Medium and activated in the Reserve on 28 December 1962 (not organized) Organized on 17 January 1963 Redesignated 944th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967 Redesignated 944th Military Airlift Group (Associate) on 25 March 1968 Inactivated on 1 July 1973 Redesignated 944th Tactical Fighter Group on 12 November 1986 Activated in the Reserve on 1 July 1987 Redesignated 944th Fighter Group on 1 February 1992 Redesignated 944th Fighter Wing on 1 October 1994 Assignments Continental Air Command, 28 December 1962 (not organized) 452d Troop Carrier Wing (later 452d Military Airlift Wing), 17 January 1963 349th Military Airlift Wing, 25 July 1969 – 1 July 1973 419th Tactical Fighter Wing (later 419th Fighter Wing), 1 July 1987 Tenth Air Force, 1 October 1994 – Present Components 944th Operations Group: 1 Aug 1992 – present 302d Tactical Fighter Squadron: 1 July 1987 – 1 August 1992 728th Military Airlift Squadron: 1 January 1972 – 1 July 1973 729th Military Airlift Squadron: 25 April 1969 – 1 July 1973 730th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 730th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 730th Military Airlift Squadron): 17 January 1963 – 1 July 1973 Stations March Air Force Base, California, 17 January 1963 Norton Air Force Base, California, 25 March 1968 – 1 July 1973 Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, 1 July 1987 – Present Aircraft Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1963–1968 Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, 1968–1973 General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, 1987 – present Lockheed F-35 Lightning II, 2016–present References Notes Explanatory noted Citations Bibliography External links 944th Fighter Wing Unit Page Luke Air Force Base, Arizona Air Force Reserve 944 Military units and formations in Arizona Military units and formations of the United States Air Force Reserves