Talk:49th Aviation Squadron

Improvements

Hi I am the archivist who processed the collection which includes photos of the men of the 49th. I created this article because there wasn't one. It's my first time ever, so I'd love constructive feedback and help. Once we digitize some of the photos, I may be able to add images to page. Any tips are welcome. Jlparch (talk) 17:26, 13 November 2023 (UTC)

I can't seem to reply to the below comment but I am find that somewhat disheartening and gatekeeper-y. Not you personally, but the notion of 'notability' and who decides what is worthy based on what. Frankly, I think all of the segregated units should have a basic history page; to provide insight into their experience in WWII. Jlparch (talk) 19:01, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

@Jlparch: I have doubts as to whether this unit meets the requirements of Wikipedia:Notability. Articles in Wikipedia about US air units are usually about operational flying units. Support units like the 49th rarely meet notablility guidelines.

During World War II, the Army Air Forces organized about 300 Aviation Squadrons. All of these, except for a handful, were manned by African American enlisted men and served the same functions. Although a few Aviation Squadrons were formed or moved overseas near the end of the war, the vast majority served in the United States until they were disbanded in the Spring of 1944 and absorbed into sections of Army Air Forces Base Units. Practically every base of any size in the United States had one of these squadrons, and nothing about the composition or performance of the 49th seems to set it apart. Perhaps about 20 of these squadrons were reconstituted in 1985 as civil engineering squadrons (one has since been activated as an operations support squadron), but few of these reconstituted units have been active so as to have had subsequent histories that would make them notable. Nothing in this article indicates that the 49th was any different than the other 299 in a way that makes it notable. Although not mentioned in the article, the unit appears to meet the criteria for award of the American Theater Service Streamer. However, it appears not to have earned any awards that would set it apart as notable. (And there are a number of support units that are probably not notable, despite being awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award or Meritorious Unit Award).

On the other hand, as far as the Army Air Forces goes, the only mention I found on a short look at Wikipedia about African American airmen in support units during World War II was a mention in Military history of African Americans of their participation in the Red Ball Express. The only articles about African American airmen in World War II (332d Fighter Group, 477th Bombardment Group (with additional articles about their 8 squadrons) and Tuskegee Airmen) are all about operational flying units. There would seem to be room in Wikipedia for a new article about African-American support units during the war that could include the material in this article. In addition to Aviation Squadrons, other African American support units served with the Army Air Forces, such as Air Base Defense Battalions and Quartermaster Truck Companies, Aviation. 21:52, 17 November 2023 (UTC)

Feedback from New Page Review process

I left the following feedback for the creator/future reviewers while reviewing this article: Hello my friend! Good day to you. Thanks for creating the article, I have marked it as reviewed. Have a blessed day!

✠ SunDawn ✠ (contact) 15:40, 30 January 2024 (UTC)