1943

July 1 - By issuance of the War Department, 28 Officers, 58 Enlisted Men, and 25 P-38, known as "Squadron X" (449th), depart from Northwest African Training Command.

Mid-July - Capt. Sam L. Palmer takes command of "Squadron X" and 25 P-38's begin their flight over "the Hump" to China.  22 planes make it.

• During the first several weeks in China "Squadron X" is temporarily attached to the 23rd Fighter Group and Major R. Goss is assigned to indoctrinate the pilots to aerial combat.  Aerial combat victories were scored during the month of July, 1943.

August 2  - Washington officially designates "Squadron X," the 449th Fighter Squadron.

August 6  - Captain Palmer is officially assigned as squadron Commanding Officer.

August 14  - The entire 449th Fighter Squadron makes Lingling, China their permanent base.

September 17 - Captain Palmer is transferred to ground duties and Captain Enslen takes over as Commanding Officer

October 2 - The 449th becomes a permanent part of the 51st Fighter Group which had just arrived in China from the 10th Air Force in India.

October 30 - While on a Yangtze River mission Captain Enslen and Lieutenants Taylor, Robbins and Harmon are listed as "missing in action".

• Captain Enslen, when found was badly wounded and later died of pneumonia.
• Captain Ryan M. Moon assumes temporary command of the 449th.

November - Lieutenant Colonel George B. McMillan becomes the Commanding Officer of the 449th Fighter Squadron.

November 25 - The 449th has its "most notable and successful mission" on its attack on Formosa

• The raid consisted of P-38's and P-51's for fighter/escort and B-25's for fragmentation bomb runs.
• The following 449th pilots were on that mission:  Colonel McMillan, Captains Palmer, Moon, Schultz and Lieutenants Rose, Yorston, and Dowis.

November 30 - Lieutenant Tommy Harmon returns from 32 days behind enemy lines from the October 30th Yangtze River mission.



1944

February- The 449th Fighter Squadron is relocated to Suichwan.  One of the most eastern outposts of the 14th Air Force.

• Captain Rex T. Barber, recently assigned to the squadron in January, is promoted to Major defective April 1st.
• Major (select) Barber is well known for his participation in the Yamamoto mission in the South Pacific.

March 27 - Major Barber takes over as acting Squadron Commanding Officer while Colonel McMillan is detached on service to India.

April 29 - Major Barber is injured after being forced to bail out at only a 400 foot altitude.

• He suffered led and arm injuries thus completing his tour with the 449th.
• Captain Moon takes over until Colonel McMillan's return.

June 24 - During a ground support mission, Colonel McMillan's plane his by anti-aircraft fire and is killed while attempting a forced landing.

• Colonel McMillan's replacement is Captain James L. Bledsoe
• Captain Bledsoe is selected for promotion to Major in August.

June 1944 - The Japanese ground offensive cannot be stopped and the 449th is forced to withdrawal from Suichwan.

• The flight echelon is relocated to Kweilin from which the Squadron flies only one escort mission before being ordered to Chengkung, about 15 kilometers south of Kunming.
• Most of the Squadron is reunited in Chengkung by July 16th.
• One week later, a detachment of 8 of the P-38 pilots and ground personnel depart for Yunnanyi on the Burma Road near the China-Burma-India border.
• The detachment remains in Yunnanyi until March1945, assisting in the Allied drive to open the Ledo Road.

July 29 - 17, P-38's take off from Chengkung to provide escort cover for B-24's and B-25's attacking Hainan Island. 

• The following 449th pilots had a very successful mission:  Major Bledsoe, Captain Dowis, and Lieutenants Stubbee, Mahon,  Yorston, Frank, Robinson, Rogers, Weber, Robertson, Calder, and Burrell.

September 8 - 449th pilots from Yunnanyi encounter enemy aircraft while covering the Allied drive in Northern Burma.

• Lieutenants Rea, Heitkotter, and Forsythe met with 12 Oscars attacking Paoshan Airfield.

November - Captain Ralph L. Wire joins the 449th.

December 28 - Captain Wire takes over for Major Bledsoe who is sent to 51st Fighter Group Headquarters.



1945

January 5 - 9, P-38's and 12, P-51's take off for Hainan Island

• The flight included:  Captains Wire, Mahon, Rogers, Lieutenants Roll, Heitkotter, Tribby, Mercer, Huber, and Cristy.
• Captains Mahon and Wire became aces that day.

February 2 - Captain Wire is promoted to Major

• Captain Mahon and Major Wire were preforming a mock dog fight with P-38's and Major Wire was injured while bailing out because of mechanical problems.
• Major Wire was replaced by Captain Rogers as Commanding Officer of the 449th Fighter Squadron.

March - The Yunnanyi detachment ceases to exist and returns to Chengkung.

• Early in July, the entire Squadron is reunited in a move to Mentze, South of Kunming near the French-Indio-China border.

May 11 - Major William Moore becomes the new Commanding Officer and remains in command throughout the entirety of the war.

July 6 - During a river sweep from Hanoio Lieutenant Dougherty reported a Nate victory which was not officially recorded. 

July 10 - The Squadron meets the enemy for the last time in the air.

• Lieutenants Fodor and Jones are attacked by 4 Oscars south of Vinh Airfield.
• Lieutenant Jones' plane was damaged.
• Lieutenant Fodor covers Jones' return to base where he successfully belly landed.

August 15 - By the end of the war the 449th Fighter Squadron had been the only tactical P-38 unit in China.

• In slightly over 2 years of combat, the 449th had made an enviable record against the Japanese in the China and Southeast Asian Skies.
• There were 73 Aerial Victories by the pilots of the 449th.