452d Air Mobility Wing
Encyclopedia
The 452d Air Mobility Wing (452 AMW) is a United States Air Force
air mobility unit located at March ARB, California. It is assigned to Air Force Reserve Command
(AFRC), and is operationally gained by Air Mobility Command
(AMC).
flying squadron and a KC-135R Stratotanker flying squadron, as well as an aeromedical evacuation squadron; the 452d Maintenance Group (452 MXG) includes two aircraft maintenance squadrons, a maintenance operations squadron and a maintenance squadron; the 452d Mission Support Group (452 MSG) includes the civil engineering squadron, communications squadron, mission support squadron, security forces squadron, two aerial port squadrons, logistic readiness squadron and a services squadron; the 452d Medical Group (452 MG) includes an aerospace medicine squadron, aeromedical staging squadron and a medical squadron. In addition, the commander has a personal staff which consists of the following offices: inspector general, legal, chaplain, financial management, public affairs, recruiting, safety plans, historian and equal opportunity.
The wing also has a medical squadron which augments joint forces with qualified, professional, aeromedical evacuation aircrews who provide medical care for sick and injured patients transported by air in peacetime and wartime.
Activated on 13 June 1952, absorbing the resources of the 921st Reserve Training Wing. Trained as a tactical reconnaissance wing, 1952–1955; as a tactical bombardment wing, 1955–1957; as a troop carrier wing, 1957–1966; as a military airlift wing, 1966–1972; as a tactical airlift wing, 1972–1976. From 1957 to 1976 the 452d participated in troop carrier and airlift joint training exercises with ground forces and performed routing, special transport, and humanitarian missions within the U.S. In the early 1960s began flying missions to Alaska, including airlift support for exercises and humanitarian relief missions for the 1964 Alaska earthquake. Airlifted troops and cargo to the Dominican Republic during the 1965 contingency operation (Power Pack) to restore a stable government there. In 1965 began flying airlift missions worldwide, but especially to the Far East and Southeast Asia. Was the base host organization at Hamilton AFB, 1 October 1973 – December 1975.
Converted to an air refueling mission in 1976, the first reserve wing to directly support Strategic Air Command (SAC) bombers. From1977 participated in tanker task forces worldwide. On 1 October 1977 a wing squadron (336th) began standing permanent alert duty with the active duty bombardment wing at March AFB, a duty which continued until cancellation of SAC alert on 27 September 1991. Won the wing navigation trophy at the SAC Bombing and Navigation Competitions in 1983 and 1985 and the Saunders Trophy in 1985.
Deployed aircraft and volunteer aircrews and other personnel to Saudi Arabia in support of Desert Shield, beginning August 1990. The 336th ARS went on active duty in December 1990 and two squadron aircrews were among the first refuelers to launch on the first day of the Southwest Asia War (Desert Storm) against Iraq. Also, the Security Police Flight went on active duty and deployed to Saudi Arabia, February–June 1991
In 1993, March AFB was selected for realignment. The 445th MAW was transferred from Norton AFB, to March AFB. As part of the Air Force's realignment, March's two reserve units, the 445th MAW and 452d ARW were deactivated and their personnel and equipment joined under the 452d Air Mobility Wing on 1 April 1994. On 1 April 1996, March officially became March Air Reserve Base. In 2005, the wing retired its C-141 fleet.
Squadrons
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...
air mobility unit located at March ARB, California. It is assigned to 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....
(AFRC), and is operationally gained by 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).
Mission
The wing’s mission is to organize, train and equip aircrews to provide air refueling and strategic airlift any time, any place. The wing’s aircraft operate under widely varying situations ranging from small movements in battle to large movements over long distances.Overview
The wing consists of the 452d Operations Group (452 OG) which includes a C-17 Globemaster IIIC-17 Globemaster III
The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
flying squadron and a KC-135R Stratotanker flying squadron, as well as an aeromedical evacuation squadron; the 452d Maintenance Group (452 MXG) includes two aircraft maintenance squadrons, a maintenance operations squadron and a maintenance squadron; the 452d Mission Support Group (452 MSG) includes the civil engineering squadron, communications squadron, mission support squadron, security forces squadron, two aerial port squadrons, logistic readiness squadron and a services squadron; the 452d Medical Group (452 MG) includes an aerospace medicine squadron, aeromedical staging squadron and a medical squadron. In addition, the commander has a personal staff which consists of the following offices: inspector general, legal, chaplain, financial management, public affairs, recruiting, safety plans, historian and equal opportunity.
The wing also has a medical squadron which augments joint forces with qualified, professional, aeromedical evacuation aircrews who provide medical care for sick and injured patients transported by air in peacetime and wartime.
Units assigned
-
- 452d Operations Group452d Operations GroupThe 452d Operations Group is the flying component of the 452d Air Mobility Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve. The group is stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California....
- 336th Air Refueling Squadron336th Air Refueling SquadronThe 336th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March Joint Air Reserve Base, California. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...
- 912th Air Refueling Squadron912th Air Refueling SquadronThe 912th Air Refueling Squadron is an "Active Associate" organization, a full-time active duty Regular Air Force squadron located with and assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command's 452nd Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California, while administrative control is maintained by the...
- 729th Airlift Squadron729th Airlift SquadronThe 729th Airlift Squadron is part of the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.-Mission:...
- 452d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
- 452d Operations Support Squadron
- 452d Airlift Control Flight
- 336th Air Refueling Squadron
- 452d Maintenance Group
- 452d Maintenance Operations Squadron
- 452d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 752nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 452d Maintenance Squadron
- 452d Medical Group
- 452d Aeromedical Squadron
- 752nd Medical Squadron
- 452d Aeromedical Patient Staging Squadron
- 452d Operations Group
-
- 452d Mission Support Group
- 452d Mission Support Squadron
- Civilian Personnel
- 452d Civil Engineering Squadron
- Environmental
- Fire Department
- 452d Services Squadron
- March Field Honor Guard
- 452d Security Forces Squadron
- 452d Communications Squadron
- 50th Aerial Port Squadron
- 56th Aerial Port Squadron
- 452d Aerial Port Support Flight
- 452d Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 452d Mission Support Squadron
- 452d Mission Support Group
Aircraft and missiles operated
- KC-135R (since 1996)
- C-17C-17 Globemaster IIIThe Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
A (since 2004)
Cold War
Trained in the Reserve as a light bombardment wing, 1949–1950. Ordered to active service during the Korean War. Moved to Japan, October–November 1950, assigned to Fifth Air Force. Arriving in Japan on 25 October, the wing's air echelon began B-26 combat operations over Korea two days later. The ground echelon arrived by ship in mid-Nov. Wing combat elements flew reconnaissance, medium-level bombardment, and close air support for ground forces in Korea, accumulating nearly 14,000 combat sorties before May 1952.Activated on 13 June 1952, absorbing the resources of the 921st Reserve Training Wing. Trained as a tactical reconnaissance wing, 1952–1955; as a tactical bombardment wing, 1955–1957; as a troop carrier wing, 1957–1966; as a military airlift wing, 1966–1972; as a tactical airlift wing, 1972–1976. From 1957 to 1976 the 452d participated in troop carrier and airlift joint training exercises with ground forces and performed routing, special transport, and humanitarian missions within the U.S. In the early 1960s began flying missions to Alaska, including airlift support for exercises and humanitarian relief missions for the 1964 Alaska earthquake. Airlifted troops and cargo to the Dominican Republic during the 1965 contingency operation (Power Pack) to restore a stable government there. In 1965 began flying airlift missions worldwide, but especially to the Far East and Southeast Asia. Was the base host organization at Hamilton AFB, 1 October 1973 – December 1975.
Converted to an air refueling mission in 1976, the first reserve wing to directly support Strategic Air Command (SAC) bombers. From1977 participated in tanker task forces worldwide. On 1 October 1977 a wing squadron (336th) began standing permanent alert duty with the active duty bombardment wing at March AFB, a duty which continued until cancellation of SAC alert on 27 September 1991. Won the wing navigation trophy at the SAC Bombing and Navigation Competitions in 1983 and 1985 and the Saunders Trophy in 1985.
Deployed aircraft and volunteer aircrews and other personnel to Saudi Arabia in support of Desert Shield, beginning August 1990. The 336th ARS went on active duty in December 1990 and two squadron aircrews were among the first refuelers to launch on the first day of the Southwest Asia War (Desert Storm) against Iraq. Also, the Security Police Flight went on active duty and deployed to Saudi Arabia, February–June 1991
Modern era
On 1 April 1993, the 445th Military Airlift Wing located at Norton AFB, California, became the first Associate Wing to transition to a "unit-equipped" wing by taking ownership of its own aircraft and resources. The wing's two flying squadrons, 729th Airlift Squadron and 730th Airlift Squadron trace their lineage directly to the 729th and 730th Bombardment Squadrons under the 452d Bombardment Wing during World War II.In 1993, March AFB was selected for realignment. The 445th MAW was transferred from Norton AFB, to March AFB. As part of the Air Force's realignment, March's two reserve units, the 445th MAW and 452d ARW were deactivated and their personnel and equipment joined under the 452d Air Mobility Wing on 1 April 1994. On 1 April 1996, March officially became March Air Reserve Base. In 2005, the wing retired its C-141 fleet.
Lineage
- Established as 452d Bombardment Wing, Light on 10 May 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 27 June 1949
- Ordered to Active Service on 10 August 1950
- Inactivated on 10 May 1952
- Redesignated: 452d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 6 June 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 13 June 1952
- Redesignated: 452d Bombardment Wing, Tactical on 22 May 1955
- Redesignated: 452d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 1 July 1957
- Redesignated: 452d Military Airlift Wing on 1 July 1966
- Redesignated: 452d Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 April 1972
- Redesignated: 452d Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1976
- Redesignated: 452d Air Refueling Wing, Heavy on 8 March 1978
- Redesignated: 452d Air Refueling Wing on 1 February 1992
- Redesignated: 452d Air Mobility Wing on 1 May 1994.
Assignments
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, 27 June 1949 - 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...
, 10 August 1950 - Fifth Air ForceFifth Air ForceThe Fifth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces . It is headquartered at Yokota Air Base, Japan....
, 15 November 1950 – 10 May 1952
- Attached to: 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 15–30 November 1950
- Attached to: 314th Air Division314th Air DivisionThe 314th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Pacific Air Forces, based at Osan AB, South Korea. It was inactivated in September 1986....
, 1 December 1950 – 25 May 1951- 4 Air Reserve District, 13 June 1952
- Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, 1 December 1952 - Sixth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 September 1960
- Western Air Force Reserve Region, 31 December 1969
- 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....
, 8 October 1976 - Fourth Air ForceFourth Air ForceThe Fourth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve . It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California....
, since 1 October 1993
Components
Groups- 98th Air Refueling Group: 1 August 1992 – 1 October 1993
- 452d Bombardment (later, 452 Tactical Reconnaissance; 452 Bombardment; 452 Troop Carrier; 452 Operations) Group452d Operations GroupThe 452d Operations Group is the flying component of the 452d Air Mobility Wing, assigned to the United States Air Force Reserve. The group is stationed at March Air Reserve Base, California....
: 27 June 1949 – 10 May 1952; 13 June 1952 – 14 April 1959; 1 August 1992–. 507: 1–15 April 1994. 904: 31 December 1969 – 1 September 1975. 916: 1 October 1986 – 1 July 1987. 931: 1 July 1978 – 1 July 1987 - 939th Tactical (later, 939 Military) Airlift Group: 26 January 1968 – 15 June 1969 (detached entire period)
- 940th Air Refueling Group: 26 January 1968 – 1 October 1994
- 942nd Troop Carrier (later, 942 Air Transport; 942 Military Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 1 January 1972
- 943d Troop Carrier (later, 943 Tactical Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 25 April 1969
- 944th Troop Carrier (later, 944 Tactical Airlift; 944 Military Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 25 July 1969 (detached 25 March 1968 – 25 July 1969)
- 945th Troop Carrier (later Military Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 1 July 1972 (detached 15 February – 1 July 1972)
Squadrons
- 77th Air Refueling Squadron77th Air Refueling SquadronThe 77th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina. It operates the KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions.-History:...
: 1 October 1985 – 1 October 1986 - 78th Air Refueling Squadron78th Air Refueling SquadronThe 78th Air Refueling Squadron is part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It operates the KC-10 Extender aircraft conducting aerial refueling missions as the reserve associate to the 305th Air Mobility Wing....
: 1 November 1981 – 1 October 1987 - 79th Air Refueling Squadron79th Air Refueling SquadronThe 79th Air Refueling Squadron is a unit part of the USAF, belonging to the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California...
: 1 September 1982 – 1 August 1992 - 336th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1975 – 1 August 1992
- 728th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963
- 729th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963
- 730th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963
- 733d Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 28 October 1962; 28 November 1962 – 17 January 1963
- Reserve Air Refueling Squadron, Provisional, 9500: attached 1 November 1980 – 1 November 1981.
Stations
- Long Beach AAF (later, Long Beach Muni Aprt), California, 27 June 1949
- George AFB, California, 10 August – October 1950
- Itazuke AB, Japan, 26 October 1950
- Miho AB, Japan, c. 10 December 1950
- Pusan-East AB (K-9), South Korea, 23 May 1951 – 10 May 1952
- Long Beach Airport, California, 13 June 1952
- March AFB, California, 14 October 1960
- Hamilton AFB, California, 1 January 1972
- March AFB (later, ARB), California 12 January 1976 – .
Aircraft
- B-26 Invader, 1949-1952; 1953-1957, FB-26, 1953-1954, TB-26, 1954-1957
- C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1952-1954, 1957-1958 - F/TF-51P-51 MustangThe North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, 1953-1954 - C-45 Expeditor, 1953-1955, 1957-1958
- F/TF-80 Shooting StarP-80 Shooting StarThe Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but...
, 1954-1955 - TB-25 Mitchell, 1954-1955
- C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, 1957-1958
- C-119 Flying BoxcarC-119 Flying BoxcarThe Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, 1958-1969 - 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....
, 1965-1972 - C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, 1972-1976 - KC-135 StratotankerKC-135 StratotankerThe Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an aerial refueling military aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype. The KC-135 was the US Air Force's first jet-powered refueling tanker and replaced the KC-97 Stratotanker...
, 1976-Present - KC-10 ExtenderKC-10 ExtenderThe McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender is the military adaptation of the three-engined DC-10 airliner for the United States Air Force . The KC-10 incorporates military-specific equipment for its primary roles of transport and aerial refueling. It was developed to supplement the KC-135 Stratotanker...
, 1981-1995 - C-141 StarlifterC-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, 1994