1502d Air Transport Wing
Encyclopedia
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...
unit, being inactivated on 8 January 1966.
The 1502d ATW was a heavy cargo transport wing of the Military Air Transport Service
Military 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), formed on 1 June 1948. The unit was originally designated as the 531st Air Transport Wing and assigned to the MATS Western Transport Air Force, being stationed at Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Air Force Base
Hickam Field, re-named Hickam Air Force Base in 1948, was a United States Air Force facility now part of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, named in honor of aviation pioneer Lt Col Horace Meek Hickam.- History :...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
History
Established on 1 June 1948 concurrent with the activation of the Military Air Transport Service; assumed responsibility for mission previously carried out by the Air Transport CommandAir Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
by transporting cargo and personnel to destinations within Far East Air Force and to the Continental United States. The 531st Air Transport Group was initially equipped with three squadrons of C-54 Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
s that could reach the Continental US, but required intermediate stopovers along the Pacific Transport Routes to stations in the as far as Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. From 1948-1957 the unit has associations with Naval Air Transport squadrons assigned to Hickam as part of the joint service organization of MATS.
Redesignated 1500th Air Transport Wing in a MATS reorganization and redefinition of units, operational squadrons also redesignated in a name-only change. Received two additional C-54 squadrons from 1501st ATW at Fairfeld-Susun (later Travis) AFB in 1949. Received first long-range C-97 Stratofreighter
C-97 Stratofreighter
The Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
aircraft and two additional squadrons in 1951.
Wing reorganized in mid 1952; C-54s reassigned and five C-97 squadrons established; squadrons again redesignated as part of the Wing realignment. In 1955 two squadrons were upgraded to very heavy lift C-124 Globemaster II
C-124 Globemaster II
The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
which gave the wing a worldwide airlift capability. Also beginning in 1955, the wing operated VC-97s for VIP/Special Air Mission flights supporting HQ Far East Air Force (Rear). later HQ Pacific Air Forces, 1957-1966.
Air echelon of wing redesignated as 1502d Air Transport Wing; base support unit retained at 1500th Air Base Group for maintenance and support squadrons on 1 Jul 1955. C-97 squadrons inactivated and aircraft reassigned.
Assumed responsibility for aircraft and personnel of 1503d Air Transport Group
1503d Air Transport Group
The 1503d Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1502d Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan...
at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan in 1964 when 1502d reduced from Wing to Group level.
Remained flying worldwide transport missions with the Globemasters until 1966 when MATS was inactivated and assets transferred to the 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...
61st Military Airlift Wing.
Major airlifts
- In 1950, An earthquake in New DelhiNew DelhiNew Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
brought MATS aircraft into Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta, with emergency medical supplies.
- During the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, MATS airlifted nearly 50,000 combat casualties and patients to the United States.
- In 1952, when Typhoon Olive struck the island, MATS aircraft flew in fresh water, food, medicine, cots, and blankets, and helped evacuate more than 450 people to Hawaii and GuamGuamGuam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
.
- During the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1958, MATS flew 144 airlift trips to the Far East when the crisis arose in the Formosa Straits, supporting the move of a Tactical Air CommandTactical Air CommandTactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
Composite Air Strike Force, and airlifting a squadron of F-104 StarfighterF-104 StarfighterThe Lockheed F-104 Starfighter is a single-engine, high-performance, supersonic interceptor aircraft originally developed for the United States Air Force by Lockheed. One of the Century Series of aircraft, it served with the USAF from 1958 until 1969, and continued with Air National Guard units...
s to Taiwan.
- MATS supported nuclear weapons testing at the Eniwetok Proving Ground by airlifting more than 14,000 tons of cargo and 13,000 personnel, as well as providing 1,100 of its own technical personnel.
- In February, 1961, MATS participated in Long Pass, the first strategic deployment airlift exercise of its size to the Pacific. It used 132 aircraft to move a battle group of the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and equipment for a Tactical Air Command Composite Strike Force (CASF) to Clark Air BaseClark Air BaseClark Air Base is a former United States Air Force base on Luzon Island in the Philippines, located 3 miles west of Angeles City, about 40 miles northwest of Metro Manila. Clark Air Base was an American military facility from 1903 to 1991...
, the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, and back again.
- In February, 1962, MATS used 120 airlift aircraft of all types in a similar exercise, Great Shelf, to Clark Air Base. This time it moved 2,300 Army paratroops of STRAC and 1,100 tons of their equipment over the 7600 smi route.
- In 1962, Devastating 175 miles per hour (281.6 km/h) winds of Typhoon Karen had barely subsided when the first of 50 MATS jet and prop-driven aircraft began landing on the rain-soaked runways of Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, with relief supplies and equipment. MATS airlifted more than 970 tons of material — from huge electric generators to blankets and clothing. Returning aircraft evacuated more than 760 dependents and servicemen whose homes had been shattered by the island's most severe storm in recorded history.
Lineage
- Established as 531st Air Transport Group, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated as 1500th Air Transport Wing, 1 Jun 1949
- Redesignated as 1502d Air Transport Wing, 1 Jul 1955
- Inactivated on 8 Jan 1966, personnel and equipment assigned to 61st Military Airlift Wing
Assignments
- Pacific Division, MATS, 1 Jun 1948
- Western Transport Air Force, (WESTAF), 1 July 1958
- Headquarters, 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...
, 1-8 Jan 1966
Components
Group- 1503d Air Transport Group1503d Air Transport GroupThe 1503d Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1502d Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan...
, 22 Jun 1964-8 Jan 1966
- At Tachikawa Air Base, Japan
Squadrons
- 1st Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1263d Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1949
- Redesignated: 47th Air Transport Squadron, 20 Jul 1952-20 Jun 1957
- 2d Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1264th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1949
- Redesignated: 48th Air Transport Squadron48th Air Transport SquadronThe 48th Air Transport Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1502d Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It was inactivated on 25 June 1965.-History:...
, 20 Jul 1952-25 Jun 1965- 4th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1265th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1949
- Redesignated: 49th Air Transport Squadron49th Air Transport SquadronThe 49th Air Transport Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1502d Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It was inactivated on 1 July 1955.-History:...
, 20 Jul 1952-1 Jul 1955 - Elements deployed to Tachikawa AirfieldTachikawa Airfieldis an airfield in the city of Tachikawa, the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Currently under the administration of the Ministry of Defense, it has also served as the civil aviation with Japan's first scheduled air service.-Operations:...
, Japan during 1952-1953 flying combat resupply missions during Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
- 1453d Medical Air Evacuation squadron, 17 May 1949
- Redesignated: 1453d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 8 Nov 1956-1 Nov 1965
- 1266th Air Transport Squadron, 30 Jun 1949
- Elements deployed to Tachikawa AirfieldTachikawa Airfieldis an airfield in the city of Tachikawa, the western part of Tokyo, Japan. Currently under the administration of the Ministry of Defense, it has also served as the civil aviation with Japan's first scheduled air service.-Operations:...
, Japan during 1951-1952 flying combat resupply missions during Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union... - Redesignated: 50th Air Transport Squadron50th Air Transport SquadronThe 50th Air Transport Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1502d Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. It was inactivated on 8 January 1966.-History:...
, 20 Jul 1952-8 Jan 1966- 1267th Air Transport Squadron, 30 Jun 1949-24 May 1950
- 1268th Air Transport Squadron, 30 Jun 1949
- Redesignated: 51st Air Transport Squadron, 20 Jul 1952-1 Jul 1955
- 1283d Air Transport Squadron, 24 Oct 1951-1 Jun 1952
- 1284th Air Transport Squadron, 24 Oct 1951-1 Jun 1952
- 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 23 Jun 1965-8 Jan 1966
- Naval Air Transport Squadron 8 (VR-8), 1 Jun 1948-5 Sep 1957
- Naval Air Transport Squadron 7 (VR-7), 10 Apr 1955-15 Aug 1957
Aircraft
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
- 1st, 2d, 3d Air Transport Squadrons, 1948-1949
- 1263d, 1264th, 1265th, 1266th, 1268th Air Transport Squadrons, 1949-1952
- 1267th Air Transport Squadron, 1949-1950
- 1283d, 1284th Air Transport Squadrons, 1951-1952
- C-97 StratofreighterC-97 StratofreighterThe Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
- C-97 Stratofreighter
- 1283d, 1284th Air Transport Squadrons, 1951-1952
- 47th, 48th, 49th, 50th, 51st Air Transport Squadrons. 1952-1955
Note: 1284th Air Transport Squadron (later 50th ATS) operated a VC-97 version of Stratofreighter, 1951-1966 for VIP/Special Air Missions.
- C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
,
- 48th, 50th, Air Transport Squadrons, 1955-1966
- 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1965-1966
- C-131 SamaritanC-131 SamaritanThe Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.-Design and development:...
- C-131 Samaritan
- 1453d Medical (later Aeromedical) Air Evacuation Squadron 1956-1965