The 31st was re-designated as the 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing on 20 January 1950 upon joining Strategic Air Command's Second Air Force and subsequently the 31st Fighter-Escort Wing on 16 July 1950, reflecting the Wing's new mission to escort SAC's intercontinental Boeing B-29 and Boeing B-50 Stratofortress bomber fleet.
On 1 April 1957 the 31st was transferred to Tactical Air Command at Turner and was redesignated as the 31st Fighter-Bomber Wing when re-equipped with the new North American F-100 Super Sabre aircraft.