118th Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
's 118th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard
located at Berry Field Air National Guard Base
at Nashville International Airport
, Tennessee
. As an Air National Guard
organization, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Education and Training Command
(AETC) and is the host wing for the C-130 International Training Center. The 105th Airlift Squadron
is its single flying squadron.
On 4 December 1921, the unit received federal recognition and was designated the 136th Observation Squadron, and assigned to the U.S. Army’s 30th "Old Hickory" Division. Subsequently dubbed the "Old Hickory" Squadron, the squadron insignia still includes a figure of Andrew Jackson "Old Hickory" on horseback. In March 1922, the squadron received the first Curtiss JN-6HG
airplanes. The 136th Observation Squadron would eventually receive eight JN-6s and one DeHavilland DH-4 airplane. In July 1923, the squadron was changed from the 136th to the 105th Observation Squadron. In the next fifteen years, the Squadron developed strength and stature in Nashville, along with receiving more reliable O-2 Observation airplanes in 1926.
in 1931, the Douglas O-25 in 1935 and later the North American O-47
in 1938. The O-47 was the unit’s first operational single wing aircraft. The unit was actually disbanded for a few months from late 1930 to early 1931. In 1931, the unit was moved to Sky Harbor Airport, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee
, where it shared hangar space with Interstate Airways, now American Airlines
. In 1937, the unit began the move to its current location at Berry Field
, the main airport for Nashville, Tennessee. By 1938, the squadron had completed its move to Berry Field. The unit formerly occupied Hangars #1, #2, and #4 between Hangar Lane and present taxiway T4. The southeastern end of the airport still contains architecture of the original Berry Field.
Members of the 105th were to make history around the globe flying a variety of missions, including observation, antisubmarine patrol, reconnaissance and bombardment. They found themselves switching organizations frequently and flying different aircraft as follows; the twin engine Martin B-10
, the Vega Ventura B-34, and the North American B-25G "Mitchell" medium bomber.
In 1940, after the summer Louisiana Maneuvers
, the squadron was activated. It was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina
and assigned to the newly organized 65th Observation Group, which was equipped with O-52 “Owl” aircraft. Members of the 105th became a ready source of trained personnel and pilots during World War II. From 1943 to 1945, the men from the 105th performed with distinction in the Pacific Campaign and flew over 100 combat missions flying the B-25G "Mitchell" against Japanese targets. During the course of the war, the unit was re-designated the 820 Bomb Squadron and assigned to the 41st Bomb Group, 7th Air Force.
In 1950, the 105th Fighter Squadron was re-designated 118th Composite Wing and in 1951 the 118th Composite Wing, 118th Composite Group and 105th Fighter Squadron were redesignated the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW), Group and Squadron respectively. The 118th TRW was activated for federal service in 1950. It was re-designated as the 105th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and was activated in place in early 1951. While on active duty, it operated two geographically separated units: Detachment 1 flying F-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, from McGhee Tyson AFB
at Knoxville, TN, providing air defense for the Atomic Energy Commission facilities at Oak Ridge, and Detachment 2, operating as the 467th Ground Observer Squadron out of Sewart AFB in Smyrna
, Tennessee.
In late 1952, the Wing was released from active duty and in early 1953 reformed in Nashville as Headquarters, 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The 118th TRW consisted of the 105th Squadron, as well as units at Memphis
, Tennessee, Little Rock
, Arkansas and Fort Smith
, Arkansas all flying North American F-51 Mustangs from 1953 to 1955. The units flew the Lockheed RF-80C Shooting Star from 1955 to 1956, and the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash from 1956 to 1961.
(MATS) was renamed Military Airlift Command
(MAC). As a result, the 118th Air Transport Wing, Group and Squadron were redesignated 118th Military Airlift Wing, Group and Squadron respectively. Six years later the 118th MAW converted to the Douglas C-124C Globemaster II transport and received the first of eight of the aircraft in 1967.
In 1971, the Wing converted to the Lockheed C-130A Hercules and became the 118th Tactical Airlift Wing. In 1978 the Wing was recognized for its achievements and was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. In 1979, the Wing was enlarged from eight to sixteen C-130A Aircraft. In 1989, it had been ten years since the unit had acquired the C-130 airframe while supporting a worldwide tactical airlift mission. Participation in exercises such as Brave Shield, Brim Frost and Red Flag were accomplished with some of the oldest aircraft in the inventory (A models were built from 1954 to 1957). Rotations to Panama in support of Operation Volant Oak beginning in 1977 had become routine. In 1990, the 118th received a total of sixteen new C-130H aircraft from Lockheed, replacing the 30 year-old A models. But, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 was to place the largest demand upon 118th personnel in almost 40 years.
(MAC) was reorganized as the Air Mobility Command
(AMC). As a part of this reorganization, the 118th Tactical Airlift Wing became the 118th Airlift Wing. With sixteen C-130H aircraft and 1406 personnel at Nashville, the 118th Airlift Wing was one of the largest flying units in the Air National Guard
at that time.
, the Department of Defense was recommended to realign Berry Field Air National Guard Base. This recommendation would distribute the C-130H aircraft of the 118th Airlift Wing to the 182d Airlift Wing
of the Illinois Air National Guard
at Greater Peoria Airport Air National Guard Station, IL (four aircraft), and the 123d Airlift Wing
of the Kentucky Air National Guard
at Louisville IAP Air National Guard Station, KY (four aircraft). Flying related ECS (aerial port and fire fighters) would move to Memphis IAP Air National Guard Station and the aeromedical squadron from Nashville would move to NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX. Other ECS would remain in place at Nashville. Nashville (104) had a low military value ranking and was near other ANG bases keeping or gaining aircraft.
(AMC)-gained unit to that of a training organization operationally gained by the Air Education and Training Command
(AETC). As the C-130 International Training Center, the 118 AW assumed a new role in support of DoD Foreign Military Sales (FMS), training up to 150 international military C-130E and C-130H flight crew and maintenance students annually. Although its C-130H2 aircraft were transferred to other Air National Guard airlift wings, the 118 AW did gain six WC-130H aircraft that had been retired from weather reconnaissance duties with the Air Force Reserve Command
's 403d Wing
at Keesler AFB, Mississippi
. The first class of international C-130 students trained by the 118 AW graduated in October 2008.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
's 118th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard
Tennessee Air National Guard
The Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
located at Berry Field Air National Guard Base
Berry Field Air National Guard Base
Berry Field Air National Guard Base has hosted the Tennessee Air National Guard 118th Airlift Wing since 1937.-Overview:...
at Nashville International Airport
Nashville International Airport
Nashville International Airport is a joint civil-military airport in southeastern Nashville, Tennessee. The IATA Airport Code BNA is derived from the early name of the facility—Berry Field, NAshville. Berry Field was the name of the airport until 1988, when the name was changed to reflect...
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. As an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
organization, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
(AETC) and is the host wing for the C-130 International Training Center. The 105th Airlift Squadron
105th Airlift Squadron
The 105th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 118th Airlift Wing.-History:...
is its single flying squadron.
Early History
Roots of the 105th Airlift Squadron and the 118th Airlift Wing reach to 1917, when the 105th Aero Squadron of the American Expeditionary Force was formed at Kelly Field, Texas. In 1919, veterans of the 105th Aero Squadron residing in the Nashville area gathered began organizing the air element of the Tennessee National Guard that became the 118th Airlift Wing.Curtiss JN-4
The Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" was one of a series of "JN" biplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane Company of Hammondsport, New York, later the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. Although the Curtiss JN series was originally produced as a training aircraft for the U.S...
airplanes. The 136th Observation Squadron would eventually receive eight JN-6s and one DeHavilland DH-4 airplane. In July 1923, the squadron was changed from the 136th to the 105th Observation Squadron. In the next fifteen years, the Squadron developed strength and stature in Nashville, along with receiving more reliable O-2 Observation airplanes in 1926.
Interwar period
In 1927 flying operations began at McConnell Field, west of downtown Nashville. McConnell Field was named after First Lieutenant Frank B. “Brower” McConnell, a squadron pilot killed during an airplane accident on maneuvers at Langley Field, Virginia. The years 1928–1938 were characterized by frequent changes in assigned aircraft. The unit would fly the Curtiss O-11 and O-17 in 1928, followed by the Douglas O-38Douglas O-38
-References:*The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, , 1152 pp.-External links:...
in 1931, the Douglas O-25 in 1935 and later the North American O-47
North American O-47
|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.* Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946....
in 1938. The O-47 was the unit’s first operational single wing aircraft. The unit was actually disbanded for a few months from late 1930 to early 1931. In 1931, the unit was moved to Sky Harbor Airport, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
, where it shared hangar space with Interstate Airways, now American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
. In 1937, the unit began the move to its current location at Berry Field
Nashville International Airport
Nashville International Airport is a joint civil-military airport in southeastern Nashville, Tennessee. The IATA Airport Code BNA is derived from the early name of the facility—Berry Field, NAshville. Berry Field was the name of the airport until 1988, when the name was changed to reflect...
, the main airport for Nashville, Tennessee. By 1938, the squadron had completed its move to Berry Field. The unit formerly occupied Hangars #1, #2, and #4 between Hangar Lane and present taxiway T4. The southeastern end of the airport still contains architecture of the original Berry Field.
Members of the 105th were to make history around the globe flying a variety of missions, including observation, antisubmarine patrol, reconnaissance and bombardment. They found themselves switching organizations frequently and flying different aircraft as follows; the twin engine Martin B-10
Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to go into regular use by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934...
, the Vega Ventura B-34, and the North American B-25G "Mitchell" medium bomber.
World War II
Louisiana Maneuvers
The Louisiana Maneuvers were a series of military exercises held all over north and west-central Louisiana, including Fort Polk, Camp Claiborne and Camp Livingston, in August and September 1941...
, the squadron was activated. It was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
and assigned to the newly organized 65th Observation Group, which was equipped with O-52 “Owl” aircraft. Members of the 105th became a ready source of trained personnel and pilots during World War II. From 1943 to 1945, the men from the 105th performed with distinction in the Pacific Campaign and flew over 100 combat missions flying the B-25G "Mitchell" against Japanese targets. During the course of the war, the unit was re-designated the 820 Bomb Squadron and assigned to the 41st Bomb Group, 7th Air Force.
Cold War
After the Second World War, the Tennessee guardsmen returned to Nashville and the 105th was reactivated, reorganized under state control, and granted federal recognition. In 1947, the 356th Fighter Group was redesignated the 118th Fighter Group and allocated to the Tenn ANG. Subsequently both the 118th Fighter Group and the 105th Fighter Squadron were federally reorganized. The 105th Fighter Squadron was assigned to the 118th Fighter Group flying the Republic P-47 “Thunderbolt”. By 1947, the 105th had received 25 P-47’s and additional support aircraft. The unit moved to its present facilities located on Knapp Boulevard in 1952. Berry Field is now known as Nashville International Airport, however the Air National Guard Base is still referred to as Berry Field.In 1950, the 105th Fighter Squadron was re-designated 118th Composite Wing and in 1951 the 118th Composite Wing, 118th Composite Group and 105th Fighter Squadron were redesignated the 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (TRW), Group and Squadron respectively. The 118th TRW was activated for federal service in 1950. It was re-designated as the 105th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and was activated in place in early 1951. While on active duty, it operated two geographically separated units: Detachment 1 flying F-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, from McGhee Tyson AFB
McGhee Tyson Airport
-Top Destinations:-Accidents and incidents:* On 06 August, 1962, an American Airlines Lockheed L-188 Electra veered off the runway on landing, striking the raised edge of an under-construction taxiway with the landing gear, causing it to collapse...
at Knoxville, TN, providing air defense for the Atomic Energy Commission facilities at Oak Ridge, and Detachment 2, operating as the 467th Ground Observer Squadron out of Sewart AFB in Smyrna
Smyrna, Tennessee
Smyrna is a town in Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. Smyrna's population was 25,569 people at the 2000 census. The Census estimate of the 2009 population is 39,142.-Geography:Smyrna is located at ....
, Tennessee.
In late 1952, the Wing was released from active duty and in early 1953 reformed in Nashville as Headquarters, 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing. The 118th TRW consisted of the 105th Squadron, as well as units at Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee, Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, Arkansas and Fort Smith
Fort Smith, Arkansas
Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...
, Arkansas all flying North American F-51 Mustangs from 1953 to 1955. The units flew the Lockheed RF-80C Shooting Star from 1955 to 1956, and the Republic RF-84F Thunderflash from 1956 to 1961.
Conversion to Airlift Mission
In 1961, the wing converted to the airlift mission flying the Boeing C-97G. In 1966, the Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(MATS) was renamed Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC). As a result, the 118th Air Transport Wing, Group and Squadron were redesignated 118th Military Airlift Wing, Group and Squadron respectively. Six years later the 118th MAW converted to the Douglas C-124C Globemaster II transport and received the first of eight of the aircraft in 1967.
In 1971, the Wing converted to the Lockheed C-130A Hercules and became the 118th Tactical Airlift Wing. In 1978 the Wing was recognized for its achievements and was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. In 1979, the Wing was enlarged from eight to sixteen C-130A Aircraft. In 1989, it had been ten years since the unit had acquired the C-130 airframe while supporting a worldwide tactical airlift mission. Participation in exercises such as Brave Shield, Brim Frost and Red Flag were accomplished with some of the oldest aircraft in the inventory (A models were built from 1954 to 1957). Rotations to Panama in support of Operation Volant Oak beginning in 1977 had become routine. In 1990, the 118th received a total of sixteen new C-130H aircraft from Lockheed, replacing the 30 year-old A models. But, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990 was to place the largest demand upon 118th personnel in almost 40 years.
Post-Cold War
The Wing mobilized 462 personnel during 21 deployments for Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm in southwest Asia and flew a record 7239 flying hours. In 1992, Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
(MAC) was reorganized as the Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC). As a part of this reorganization, the 118th Tactical Airlift Wing became the 118th Airlift Wing. With sixteen C-130H aircraft and 1406 personnel at Nashville, the 118th Airlift Wing was one of the largest flying units in the Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
at that time.
Post-11 September 2001
Following 11 September 2001, the operational tempo increased. Over one-third of the Wing was activated for one year or more to supporting the National Homeland Security Plan (Operation Noble Eagle), which included deploying aircraft and personnel to bases inside the United States for several months, then assigned a home station alert mission. Shortly after the Wing completed the Noble Eagle mission, the Wing was selected to deploy to Southwest Asia in support CENTCOM Operations.Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom
In 2003, the 118th deployed ten C-130’s and over 320 personnel to the Middle East in direct support of combat operations at the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While living in austere conditions in tents, enduring the desert heat and sand storms, the men and women of the 118th supported combat operations into and out of Baghdad and surrounding areas of Iraq. The 118th was the lead wing in establishing a bare base in support of the largest contingent of C-130’s ever based in a combat environment, over 46 C-130’s located at a single base. The unit supported CENTCOM at various locations in Iraq, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. The unit returned home at different times in late 2003 as U.S. forces were drawn down and rotated to meet the changing requirements. In late 2003, the Wing again deployed to Uzbekistan supporting Operating Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.BRAC 2005
As part of BRAC 2005Base Realignment and Closure, 2005
The preliminary 2005 Base Realignment and Closure list was released by the United States Department of Defense on May 13, 2005. It is the fifth Base Realignment and Closure proposal generated since the process was created in 1988. It recommends closing 33 major United States military bases and...
, the Department of Defense was recommended to realign Berry Field Air National Guard Base. This recommendation would distribute the C-130H aircraft of the 118th Airlift Wing to the 182d Airlift Wing
182d Airlift Wing
The 182d Airlift Wing is an Air National Guard unit, part of the United States Air Force. It is located at General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport in Illinois.-History:...
of the Illinois Air National Guard
Illinois Air National Guard
The Illinois Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is, along with the Illinois Army National Guard, an element of the Illinois National Guard...
at Greater Peoria Airport Air National Guard Station, IL (four aircraft), and the 123d Airlift Wing
123d Airlift Wing
The 123d Airlift Wing is a Kentucky Air National Guard unit, part of the United States Air Force. It is located at Louisville International Airport, Kentucky.-History:...
of the Kentucky Air National Guard
Kentucky Air National Guard
The Kentucky Air National Guard is a subordinate air force unit of the United States National Guard. It is located in the state of Kentucky. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission.-People:...
at Louisville IAP Air National Guard Station, KY (four aircraft). Flying related ECS (aerial port and fire fighters) would move to Memphis IAP Air National Guard Station and the aeromedical squadron from Nashville would move to NAS JRB Fort Worth, TX. Other ECS would remain in place at Nashville. Nashville (104) had a low military value ranking and was near other ANG bases keeping or gaining aircraft.
C-130 International Training Center
In October 2007, it was announced that as an amendment to the BRAC 2005 decision, the 118 AW would continue to retain a flying mission, transitioning from an Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC)-gained unit to that of a training organization operationally gained by the Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command
Air Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
(AETC). As the C-130 International Training Center, the 118 AW assumed a new role in support of DoD Foreign Military Sales (FMS), training up to 150 international military C-130E and C-130H flight crew and maintenance students annually. Although its C-130H2 aircraft were transferred to other Air National Guard airlift wings, the 118 AW did gain six WC-130H aircraft that had been retired from weather reconnaissance duties with the Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
's 403d Wing
403d Wing
403d Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command. It is located at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, and employs a military manning authorization of more than 1,400 reservists, including some 250 full-time air reserve technicians.403d Wing performs...
at Keesler AFB, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. The first class of international C-130 students trained by the 118 AW graduated in October 2008.
Lineage
- 356th Fighter Group356th Fighter GroupThe 356th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945....
, 8 December 1942-10 November 1945 - Allotted to Tennessee Air National GuardTennessee Air National GuardThe Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
as 118th Fighter Group, 24 May 1946
- Extended federal recognition and activated on 2 October 1947
- Re-designated: 118th Composite Wing, 1 December 1950
- Re-designated: 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 1 February 1951
- Re-designated: 118th Air Transport Wing, 1961
- Re-designated: 118th Military Airlift Wing, 1966
- Re-designated: 118th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1971
- Re-designated: 118th Airlift Wing, 1992-Present
Assignments
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
(ADC), 2 October 1947 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(ADC), 1 July 1948 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(ConAC), 1 December 1948 - Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
(TAC), 1 December 1950 - 834th Air Division (TAC), 25 September 1957
- Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, 1961 - Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, 1966 - Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
, 1992 - Air Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training CommandAir Education and Training Command was established July 1, 1993, with the realignment of Air Training Command and Air University. It is one of the U.S. Air Force's ten major commands and reports to Headquarters, United States Air Force....
, 2007-Present
Aircraft
- WC-130H Hercules (2008–present)
- C-130H Hercules (1990–2008)
- C-130A Hercules (1971–1990)
- C-124C Globemaster II (1967–1971)
- C-97G Stratofreighter (1961–1967)
- RF-80A Shooting Star (1954–1956)
- RF-84F Thunderflash (1956–1961)
- F-51D Mustang (1953–1955)
- P-47 ThunderboltP-47 ThunderboltRepublic Aviation's P-47 Thunderbolt, also known as the "Jug", was the largest, heaviest, and most expensive fighter aircraft in history to be powered by a single reciprocating engine. It was heavily armed with eight .50-caliber machine guns, four per wing. When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to...
(1947–1954)
Operations
- Operation Volant & Operation Coronet Oak- airlift support for SOUTHCOM in Central & South America
- Operation Brim Frost – airlift support to Alaska in 1985, 1987, 1989
- Operation Arctic Warrior – airlift support to Alaska, early 1990s
- Operation Amalgam Warrior – airlift support to Alaska, late 1990s
- Operation Amalgam Virgo – airlift support to Alaska, late 1990s
- Operation Creek Resolve – airlift support in Turkey
- Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm – deployments of Forces in support of CENTCOM in Southwest Asia
- Operation Distant Haven – humanitarian operations for Haitian refugees in Surinam
- Operation Provide ReliefOperation Provide ReliefOperation Provide Relief was part of United Nations endorsed effort called The Unified Task Force to secure and facilitate humanitarian relief for the people of Somalia, an effort that was assisted by the UN UNOSOM I mission beginning in 1991 in light of a severe famine, initiated and exacerbated...
– humanitarian airlift into SomaliaSomaliaSomalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory... - Operation Provide PromiseOperation Provide PromiseOperation Provide Promise was a humanitarian relief operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars, from 2 July 1992, to 9 January 1996, which made it the longest running humanitarian airlift in history....
– airlift into SarajevoSarajevoSarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
and airdrops over BosniaBosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the... - Operation Support HopeOperation Support HopeOperation Support Hope was a 1994 United States military effort to provide immediate relief for the refugees of the Rwandan Genocide and allow a smooth transition to a full United Nations humanitarian management program...
– humanitarian operations in or near RwandaRwandaRwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo... - Operation Uphold DemocracyOperation Uphold DemocracyOperation Uphold Democracy was an intervention designed to remove the military regime installed by the 1991 Haitian coup d'état that overthrew the elected President Jean-Bertrand Aristide...
– supporting military forces in HaitiHaitiHaiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island... - Operation Southern WatchOperation Southern WatchOperation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...
– enforcing the no-fly zoneNo-fly zoneA no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
over southern IraqIraqIraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert.... - Operation Joint Guard – supporting peacekeeping operations in YugoslaviaYugoslaviaYugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
- Operation Joint Endeavor – supporting peacekeeping operations in Bosnia
- Operation Noble EagleOperation Noble EagleOperation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...
– supporting the National Homeland Security Plan - Operation Enduring Freedom – deployments of forces in support of CENTCOM
- Operation Iraqi Freedom – continued deployments of forces in support of CENTCOM operations in Iraq
See also
- United States Air ForceUnited States Air ForceThe United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
- Tennessee Air National GuardTennessee Air National GuardThe Tennessee Air National Guard is the independent air arm of the Tennessee National Guard. Along with the Tennessee Army National Guard, it comprises the National Guard of the U.S...
- Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...