commands. Conversion to fighter organization The 442d flew humanitarian and mercy missions on numerous occasions in addition to worldwide airlift operations until conversion, in June 1982, to a fighter mission with the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. The 442d again returned to the operational control of TAC and in October 1982, the wing was inactivated while its 442d Tactical Fighter Group continued to train on the new aircraft. In February 1984, the wing was once again activated as the 442d Tactical Fighter Wing and trained for A-10 fighter operations, including close air support, anti-armor, battlefield air interdiction, and combat search and rescue missions. In 1992, as part of another USAF-wide reorganization, TAC was inactivated and the 442d was renamed as the 442d Fighter Wing under the newly established Air Combat Command. With the pending closure of Richards-Gebaur due to Base Realignment and Closure action, the wing began relocation of its home base to Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri in 1993, completing the move by 1994. On a recurring basis from December 1993, the wing deployed personnel and aircraft to Aviano Air Base, Italy, to participate in operations over Bosnia and Herzegovina. It also deployed personnel and aircraft to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, in September and October 1998. 18 August 2016, the 442nd returned from a deployment to Ämari Air Base, Estonia in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. The deployment gave the pilots the opportunity to practice highway landings on the Jägala-Käravete Highway in Northern Estonia. On 2 November 2019, Lt. Col. Tony "Crack" Roe and Maj. John "Sapper" Tice, pilots with the 442nd's 303rd Fighter Squadron received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroic actions that helped to save the lives of many U.S. servicemen in their respective close air support missions in Afghanistan. War on Terror On 21 April 2018 the wing returned from a 90-day deployment to Kandahar Air Base, Afghanistan, where the wing flew close air support missions for U.S. and Afghan forces. This marked the unit's sixth deployment to Afghanistan since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Lineage Established as the 442d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949 Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949 Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951 Inactivated on 12 March 1951 Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952 Redesignated 442d Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 8 May 1961 Ordered to active service on 1