516th Aeronautical Systems Wing
Encyclopedia
The 516th Aeronautical Systems Wing (516 AESW) is a wing
of the United States Air Force
assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
, Ohio
.
Performed Reserve troop carrier training under supervision of 2584th Air Force Reserve Training Center, June 1949 – April 1951. Upon entering active duty in April 1951. assumed responsibility for operating and maintaining Memphis Muni Airport and participated in tactical exercises and worldwide airlift. Converted from C-46 to C-119 aircraft in 1952. Replaced by 463d Troop Carrier Wing in January 1953.
Replaced 64th Troop Carrier Wing in January 1963. Until replaced by 463d Tactical Airlift Wing in June 1972, performed worldwide tactical airlift and participated in a constant stream of tactical exercises and operations. Frequently deployed squadrons overseas in Europe, the Far East, and the Canal Zone. Conducted C-7 combat crew training in addition to other missions. August 1969 – May 1972 (for USAF personnel) and August–October 1971 (for South Vietnamese crews).
Inactivated on 1 June 1972.
Squadrons
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
of the United States Air Force
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...
assigned to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Mission
The 516th AESW is responsible for modernization, development, test, production, deployment and sustainment of new and existing aircraft systems to meet Air Mobility Command, Air Force Reserve Command, Air National Guard, and Special Ops Forces Global Mobility mission areas. The wing executes a $16.9 billion budget.Units
The 516th Aeronautical Systems Wing comprises the following units:- 866th Aeronautical Systems Group (C-130)
- Directs the modernization, development, test, production, deployment and plans for sustainment of the C-130 aircraft, support, and training systems. This Department of Defense airlift program provides tactical airlift capability in support of U.S. national interests.
- 716th Aeronautical Systems Group (C-5)
- Directs the modernization, development, test, production, deployment and plans for sustainment of C-5 aircraft, support and training systems. This Department of Defense airlift modernization program provides strategic airlift capability in support of U.S. national interests.
- 516th Aeronautical Systems Group (C-17)
- Directs the modernization, development, test, production, deployment and sustainment of C-17 aircraft, F117 engine, support, and training systems. This Department of Defense airlift program provides vital airlift capability in support of U.S. national interests.
- 836th Aeronautical Systems Group, (Tanker Modernization)
- Directs the development, test, production, deployment and sustainment of KC-10 Aircraft Modernization and KC-135 Replacement Tanker aircraft, support, and training systems programs. These programs provide strategic mobility and force enabling capability to Air Mobility Command in support of U.S. national interests and worldwide readiness support.
- 654th Aeronautical Systems Squadron (LAIRCM)
- Directs the development, test, production, deployment and plans for sustainment of the Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures system for both transport and tanker aircraft. This Department of Defense program develops advanced missile warning systems and countermeasures.
- 655th Aeronautical Systems Squadron (Commercial Derivatives)
- Directs the acquisition, modernization, deployment and sustainment of a fleet of leased and purchased aircraft for the operational support airlift/very important person special air mission (OSA/VIPSAM) that includes the C-32A, C-37A/B, C-40B/C, and E-10. The program supports Air Mobility Command, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve missions providing support airlift and communications capability to our nation’s leaders.
Operational History
Replaced 64th Troop Carrier Wing in January 1963. Until replaced by 463d Tactical Airlift Wing in June 1972, performed worldwide tactical airlift and participated in a constant stream of tactical exercises and operations. Frequently deployed squadrons overseas in Europe, the Far East, and the Canal Zone. Conducted C-7 combat crew training in addition to other missions. August 1969 – May 1972 (for USAF personnel) and August–October 1971 (for South Vietnamese crews).
Inactivated on 1 June 1972.
Lineage
- Established as 516th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 10 May 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 26 June 1949
- Ordered to active service on 16 April 1951
- Inactivated on 16 January 1953
- 516th Troop Carrier Group activated 8 March 1955
- Inactivated 9 July 1956
- Activated on 19 July 1962
- Organized on 1 January 1963
- Redesignated: 516th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 March 1966
- Redesignated: 516th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 May 1967
- Inactivated on 1 June 1972
- Redesignated: 516th Aeronautical Systems Wing 2003
- Activated 2003
Assignments
- Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 26 June 1947- 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...
, 17 April 1951
- Tactical Air Command
- Eighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It was activated on 1 October 2003 and headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
, 8 March 1955 – 9 July 1956- 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...
, 19 July 1962
- Tactical Air Command
- Twelfth Air Force, 1 January 1963
- 839th Air Division839th Air DivisionThe 839th Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-First Air Force, being stationed at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee...
, 1 July 1963 – 9 November 1964 - 838th Air Division838th Air DivisionThe 838th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command, assigned to Twelfth Air Force, being stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas. It was inactivated on December 24, 1969....
, 9 November 1964 – 24 December 1969
- 839th Air Division
- Twelfth Air Force, 24 December 1969
- 834th Air Division, 15 March – 1 June 1972.
- Air Force Material Command since 2006
- 834th Air Division, 15 March – 1 June 1972.
- WPAFB Aeronautical Systems CenterAeronautical Systems CenterThe Aeronautical Systems Center is an Air Force product center that designs, develops and delivers dominant aerospace weapon systems and capabilities for U.S. Air Force, other U.S. military, allied and coalition-partner warfighters, in support of Air Force leadership priorities...
Stations
- Memphis Muni AirportMemphis International AirportMemphis International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located three miles south of the central business district of Memphis, a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States....
, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee 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...
, 26 June 1949 – 16 January 1953 - Sewart AFB, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee 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...
: 8 March 1955 – 9 July 1956 - Dyess AFB, Texas, 1 January 1963 – 1 June 1972.
- Wright-Patterson Air Force BaseWright-Patterson Air Force BaseWright-Patterson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base in Greene and Montgomery counties in the state of Ohio. It includes both Wright and Patterson Fields, which were originally Wilbur Wright Field and Fairfield Aviation General Supply Depot. Patterson Field is located approximately...
, OhioOhioOhio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
since 2006
Operational Components
Group- 516th Troop Carrier: 26 June 1949 – 16 January 1953
- Detached and assigned to 314th Troop Carrier Wing314th Airlift WingThe 314th Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas.-World War 2 and aftermath:...
: 8 March 1955 – 9 July 1956
Squadrons
- 17th Troop Carrier: 1 January 1963 – 15 June 1964.
- 18th Troop Carrier (later Military Airlift): 1 January – 1 June 1963; 15 October 1969 – 1 June 1972
- 345th Troop Carrier: 8 January 1963 – 27 November 1965
- 346th Troop Carrier (later Military Airlift): 1 April 1963 – 15 March 1969
- Detached 1 July – c. 1 September 1964, 5 February – 30 May 1968
- 347th Troop Carrier (later Military Airlift): 1 July 1963 – 1 June 1972
- Detached 18 May—c. 20 July 1964, 22 June – 27 September 1967, January 27 – 11 March 1968, 15 June – 15 October 1968, 25 February – 28 May 1969, 13 June – 3 September 1969, 3 February – 10 April 1970, 7 September – 11 November 1970, 4 June – 10 August 1971, 4 February – 17 April 1972
- 348th Military Airlift: 5 July 1968 – 1 June 1972
- Detached 15 October 1968 – 10 January 1969, 1 September – 13 November 1969, 5 May – 7 July 1970, 5 January – 10 March 1971, 5 October – 17 December 1971, 8 May—June 1, 1972.
- 4449th Combat Crew Training: 27 August – 15 October 1969.
Aircraft
- T-7, 1949–1951
- T-11, 1949–1951
- C-46, 1949–1953
- C-119, 1952–1953
- C-130, 1963–1972
- C-7, 1969–1972.