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Members of the 315th and 437th Airlift Wings, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., participated in the International Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, France, 18 June 2009.An F-15 Eagle from the 60th Fighter Squadron, Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., escorts a C-17 Globemaster III from the 14th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Charleston, S.C., as they fly over the USS Yorktown and the Arthur J. Ravenel Jr. Bridge in the Charleston, S.C., area during a local training missionA C-123K of the 19th ACS, 315th ACW, Phan Rang, Vietnam, 1968.
The mission of the 315th Airlift Wing is to fly airlift missions, and provide expeditionary combat support and aeromedical evacuation personnel as a source of augmentation for the Air Force active force.[1] The Wing also provides personnel and equipment to fill out normal activities of the active-duty 437th Airlift Wing and the 628th Air Base Wing, both also based at Joint Base Charleston. Peacetime missions include humanitarian airlift as part of the Denton Cargo Program.
Established as the 315 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 23 May 1952 under Far East Air Forceces (FEAF) in Japan. Activated on 10 Jun 1952. During the Korean War, the wing flew troop and cargo airlift and airdrop, leaflet drops, spray missions, air evacuation, search and rescue, and other aerial missions in theater as part of FEAF's 315th Air Division. It remained in the Far East after the war to fly transport missions and paratroop training flights in Japan, Korea, French Indo-China, and other points until December 1954, after which it was again inactivated 18 Jan 1955.[2]
Reactivated in 21 Feb 1966 under Pacific Air Forces, the unit was established at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. It engaged in special operations directly under Seventh Air Force in Saigon, operating Fairchild C-123 Provider aircraft with Air Commando squadrons engaging in unconventional warfare. Moved to Phan Rang Air Base in 1967. Also operated UC-123 aerial spraying aircraft for Operation Ranch Hand defoliation missions. Phased out special operations missions in 1970, and thereafter carried out transport missions within South Vietnam. In 1971, became to train Republic of Vietnam Air Force C-123 aircrews. It was inactivated in South Vietnam in March 1972.[2]
Reactivated in 1973 as a heavy transport wing in the Air Force Reserve, operating the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter aircraft, stationed alongside and using the same airframes as the active-duty 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It has since trained Air Force reserve aircrews for strategic airlift, including channel, special assignment, humanitarian, and combat airlift missions. In the 1980s and 1990s, personnel participated in contingency and humanitarian aid airlift operations and exercises worldwide. In 1994, the wing conducted the first McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III flight with an all-Air Force reserve crew. It also took part in the first combined U.S. – Russian exercise that year. The unit retired its last C-141 in 2001 and has flown the C-17 exclusively since.[2]
Lineage
Established as the 315th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 23 May 1952
Activated on 10 June 1952
Inactivated on 18 January 1955
Redesignated 315th Air Commando Wing, Troop Carrier and activated, on 21 February 1966 (not organized)
Organized on 8 March 1966
Redesignated 315th Air Commando Wing on 1 August 1967
Redesignated 315th Special Operations Wing on 1 August 1968
Redesignated 315th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 January 1970
Inactivated on 31 March 1972
Redesignated 315th Military Airlift Wing (Associate) on 29 January 1973
Activated in the reserve on 1 July 1973
Redesignated 315th Airlift Wing (Associate) on 1 February 1992
309th Air Commando Squadron (later 309th Special Operations Squadron, 309th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 8 March 1966 – 31 July 1970
310th Air Commando Squadron (later 310th Special Operations Squadron, 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 8 March 1966 – 15 January 1972, attached 16–26 January 1972
311th Air Commando Squadron (later 311th Special Operations Squadron, 311th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 8 March 1966 – 5 October 1971
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