Lineage. Established as 56 Airdrome Group, on 28 Jul 1947. Organized on 15 Aug 1947. Discontinued on 1 Aug 1948. Consolidated (1 Oct 1984) with 56 Air Base Group which was established on 14 Jun 1948. Activated on 1 Aug 1948. Inactivated on 6 Feb 1952. Activated on 28 Dec 1960. Organized on 1 Feb 1961. Redesignated as 56 Combat Support Group on 1 Apr 1963. Discontinued, and inactivated on 1 Jan 1964. Activated on 16 Mar 1967. Organized on 8 Apr 1967. Redesignated as 56 Support Group on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 4 Jan 1994. Activated on 1 Apr 1994. Redesignated as 56 Mission Support Group on 27 Sep 2002.
Assignments. 56 Fighter Wing, 15 Aug 1947-1 Aug 1948. 56 Fighter (later, 56 Interceptor) Wing, 1 Aug 1948-6 Feb 1952. 56 Fighter Wing, 1 Feb 1961-1 Jan 1964. 56 Air Commando (later, 56 Special Operations; 56 Tactical Fighter; 56 Tactical Training; 56 Fighter) Wing, 8 Apr 1967-4 Jan 1994. 56 Fighter Wing, 1 Apr 1994-.
Stations. Selfridge Field (later, Selfridge AFB), MI, 15 Aug 1947-1 Aug 1948. Selfridge AFB, MI, 1 Aug 1948-6 Feb 1952. K. I. Sawyer AFB, MI, 8 Feb 1961- 1 Jan 1964. Nakhon Phanom Airport, Thailand, 16 Mar 1967; MacDill AFB, FL, 30 Jun 1975-4 Jan 1994. Luke AFB, AZ, 1 Apr 1994-.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/ Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter Spring 1969-1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia): 1 Nov 1968-1 May 1969; 1 Oct 1969-30 Apr 1970; 1 Apr 1972-22 Feb 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jun 1970-31 May 1971; 1 Dec 1971-29 Feb 1972; 23 Feb 1973-28 Feb 1974; 24 Jan-2 May 1975. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1977-1 Jan 1979; 1 Jul 1980-30 Jun 1982; 1 Jun 1984-31 May 1986; 1 May 1987-30 Apr 1989; 1 May 1989-30 Apr 1990; 1 May 1990-30 Apr 1991; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jul 1998-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2001-30 Jun 2003; [2 Jun] 2003-30 Jun 2005; 1 Jul 2005-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2009; 1 Jul 2009-30 Jun 2010; 1 Jul 2010-30 Jun 2011; 1 Jul 2011-30 Jun 2012; 1 Jul 2012-30 Jun 2013; 1 Jul 2013-30 Jun 2014; 1 Jul 2014-30 Jun 2015; 1 Jul 2015-30 Jun 2016. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 8 Apr 1967-28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 4 Aug 2017.
Supersedes statement prepared on 12 Jul 2017.
Emblem. Approved on 16 May 2013.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.