Although initially equipped with Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks reclaimed from the Air National Guard, the 366th re-equipped with the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II, with which it moved to Vietnam in 1966.

[1][4][5] From late in 1958 through the end of 1959, the 1st Tow Target Squadron, stationed at Biggs Air Force Base, Texas, and primarily equipped with the Martin B-57 Canberra, but also flying a few Douglas B-26 Invaders was attached to the division.

[8][9] The 366th Tactical Fighter Wing, flying Republic F-84F Thunderstreaks at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico was assigned to the division in October 1964.

After its conversion was complete and it was combat ready the 366th Wing moved to Phan Rang Air Base, Viet Nam in March 1966 and was reassigned.

In anticipation of converting the wing to fly the General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, it began to receive a few personnel in the fall of 1966, but these people were withdrawn in June 1967 and the 474th remained unmanned until January 1968, when it moved to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada and was reassigned.

The 49th was the United States Air Force's first "dual-based" wing, committed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and subject to immediate return to Europe when needed.

The 49th's capability to rapidly deploy and operate in Europe was tested annually in a series of Crested Cap/Reforger exercises[1][11] The 49th Wing's NATO commitment lasted until it was reassigned in 1970.

The following year saw the retirement of the division's original aircraft, the F-100, when the last combat ready squadron in the active duty Air Force was inactivated.

[13] In September 1972, the 474th Wing deployed its F-111s to Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand, leaving only a small housekeeping detachment behind at Nellis.

By August it had transferred its remaining Aardvarks to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho and converted to The F-4 Phantom II.

[15] In addition to its training mission, the 832nd was tasked to provide forces to augment the air defense of the United States in the event of an emergency.