438th Air Expeditionary Wing

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438th Air Expeditionary Wing
ACC Shield.svg
Kenneth Van Winkle at Kabul International Airport in October 2011.jpg
A deployed airman keeps guard at Kabul Airport
Active1949–1951; 1952–1957; 1965–1994; 2002; 2008—c. 2021
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
RoleAir Expeditionary
Motto(s)Nunquam non Paratus Latin Never Unprepared [1]
Engagements Desert Storm
War in Afghanistan [2]
Decorations Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm [2]
Insignia
438th Air Expeditionary Wing Emblem [note 1] [2] 438th Air Expeditionary Wing.PNG
438th Military Airlift Wing emblem [note 2] [3] 1611th Air Transport Wing - MATS - Emblem.png

The 438th Air Expeditionary Wing was a United States Air Force unit operating in Afghanistan and assigned to United States Air Forces Central. The wing trained Afghan Air Force members, including pilots. In the Cold War it was active as an airlift wing.

Contents

Subordinate units

There was formerly a third group active at Shindand Airfield:

History

For related history, see 438th Air Expeditionary Group

Air Force Reserve

C-46D of the AF Reserve Curtiss C-46D 44-77957 Hamilton USAF reserve (992616310).jpg
C-46D of the AF Reserve

In 1949 Continental Air Command reorganized its reserve units under the wing base organization, which placed support units under the same headquarters as the combat group they supported. As part of this reorganization, the 438th Troop Carrier Wing was activated at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. The wing absorbed the resources of the 381st Bombardment Group, which was simultaneously inactivated at Offutt. [3] Although the wing's manning, along with that of its component squadrons, was limited to 25% of active duty organization authorizations, it was assigned four squadrons, rather than three. [14] The wing trained under the 2473d Air Force Reserve Training Center for troop carrier operations with the C-46, but also flew the North American T-6 Texan trainer. [3] [15]

All combat units of the Air Force Reserve were ordered to active service for the Korean War. [16] The 438th was called up in the second wave of mobilizations on 10 March 1951. Its personnel were used to man other organizations, primarily those of Strategic Air Command, and it was inactivated on 14 March 1951. [3] [17] Its aircraft were distributed to other organizations as well. [18]

F-80 as flown by the group Lockheed F-80 (5043612054).jpg
F-80 as flown by the group

Little more than a year later the wing was redesignated the 438th Fighter-Bomber Wing and activated at Billy Mitchell Field, Wisconsin, replacing the 924th Reserve Training Wing there. The reserve mobilization for the Korean War, however, had left the Reserve without airplanes, and the unit did not receive aircraft until July 1952. [19] When it finally began to receive its planes, they were World War II era North American F-51 Mustangs, which would serve until the group's Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars arrived. [3] Once more, the 2473d Air Force Reserve Training Center was responsible for the training of the 438th Wing and other units at the station. Despite its designation as a fighter bomber unit, the group initially trained in the air defense role. [20]

In 1957 the group began to upgrade to the North American F-86 Sabre. However, its time with this plane would be short. By 1956, the Joint Chiefs of Staff were pressuring the Air Force to provide more wartime airlift. At the same time, about 150 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars became available from the active force. Consequently, in November 1956 the Air Force directed Continental Air Command to convert three fighter bomber wings to the troop carrier mission by September 1957. [21] The wing inactivated one of its squadrons on in July and completed its inactivation on 16 November 1957, when most of its personnel transferred to the 440th Troop Carrier Group, which was simultaneously activated. [3] [22]

Strategic Airlift

Lockheed C-141A Starlifter of 438 MAW in 1970 Lockheed C-141A 12778 438 MAW Dover 05.70 edited-3.jpg
Lockheed C-141A Starlifter of 438 MAW in 1970

The 438th Military Airlift Wing replaced the 1611th Air Transport Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey in January 1966, equipped with Lockheed C-141 Starlifters. For the next 30 years, the 438th MAW and transported military cargo, mail and passengers worldwide, particularly in the Eastern United States, Atlantic, European and Mediterranean areas, with frequent special missions to the Arctic, the Antarctic, South America, the Far East, and to Southeast Asia combat areas during the Vietnam War.

On 1 December 1991, the wing was redesignated as the 438th Airlift Wing and implemented objective wing. On 1 June 1992, it was assigned to the new Air Mobility Command.

Post Cold War

On 1 October 1993, the 30th AS was moved without personnel or equipment (w/o/p/e) to the 374th Operations Group, Yokota AB, Japan, replacing the 20th AS as part of the Air Force illustrious units realignment. It was replaced by the 13th Airlift Squadron at McGuire which was transferred without personnel or equipment from the 18th Operations Group, Kadena AB, Okinawa.

A KC-10 air refueling squadron, the 2d ARS, was assigned to the wing from the former 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana as part of a major Air Force realignment on 1 October 1994 to have KC-10 bases with two squadrons of 10 aircraft each.

On 1 October 1994, the 438th Airlift Wing was inactivated, being replaced at McGuire by the 305th Air Mobility Wing which was transferred from Grissom AFB, Indiana when Grissom was realigned via a Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action to the Air Force Reserve Command as Grissom ARB.

Iraq and Afghanistan

The 438th Air Expeditionary Group was activated after the September 11 terror attacks in 2001. Its people fought in Iraq and trained Iraqis and then moved to Afghanistan to train Afghan airmen at bases around the country.

In 2014 the wing won the Secretary of Defense Award for Excellence in Maintenance Training, Advice, and Assistance of Foreign Security Forces Award in the operational (large) category. [23]

Lineage

Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951
Inactivated on 14 March 1951
Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952
Inactivated on 16 November 1957
Organized on 8 January 1966
Redesignated 438 Airlift Wing on 1 November 1991
Inactivated on 1 October 1994
Inactivated on 26 July 2002

Assignments

Components

Wing
Groups
Squadrons

Stations

Aircraft

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Approved 10 August 1954, replaced 16 May 1966, reinstated and slightly modified, 19 July 1993.
  2. Approved 16 May 1966. This emblem was approved with a different motto for the 1611th Air Transport Wing and adopted by the wing when it replaced the 1611th.
Citations
  1. Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 310-311
  2. 1 2 3 Musser, James (6 September 2019). "Factsheet 438 Air Expeditionary Wing (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Ravenstein, pp. 234-236.
  4. Airman leads joint Mi-35 attack helicopter advisor team for Afghan Air Corps
  5. 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron change of command, 9 February 2011
  6. US, Afghan airmen perform 1st joint operational air-assault mission, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs, 10/14/2011
  7. Maintenance: Keeping them in the air Archived 25 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine , Commentary by Maj. Jeffrey Hunziker, 442nd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron Commander, 11/7/2011
  8. Successful organizations are built around a strong core, Commentary by Senior Master Sgt. Brian Kruzelnick, 1/12/2012
  9. TIOH - Heraldry - 802d Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
  10. Staff Sgt. Nadine Y. Barclay, AAF achieves first fixed-wing UPT flights in 30 years, 3/26/2012, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
  11. "Afghan MI-17 Instructor Pilot trains student for first time". Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  12. Video by Tech. Sgt. Matthew Pardini, 444th AEAS and Afghan Air Force Pilots Conduct a Pre-mission Briefing Archived 3 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  13. 838 AEAG Facebook info
  14. Cantwell, p. 74
  15. See Mueller, p. 457. 2473d Center at Offutt from 1946–1951.
  16. Cantwell, p. 87
  17. Cantwell, pp. 96-97
  18. Cantwell, p. 137
  19. Cantwell, p. 139
  20. See Cantwell, p. 152 (all reserve fighter bomber wings initially assigned an air defense role and later a tactical fighter role.)
  21. Cantwell, p. 168
  22. Ravenstein, pp. 237-238
  23. 2014 Department of Defense Maintenance Award Winners Announced
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Lineage through September 2019 in Musser, Factsheet 438 Air Expeditionary Wing.
  25. "738th AEAG Fact Sheet". Air Forces Central Command Public Affairs. 16 October 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
  26. Air Advisors in Afghanistan-Inactivation of 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency