314th Airlift Wing

Last updated

314th Airlift Wing
314th Airlift Wing.png
C-130 Thunderbirds.jpg
C-130 with the Thunderbirds over Little Rock
Active1948–present
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Airlift training
Part of Air Education and Training Command
Garrison/HQ Little Rock Air Force Base
Motto(s)“Herk Nation Starts Here!” [1]
Decorations Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V Device
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Commanders
Current
commander
Col. Jonathan E. Tucker
Vice commanderCol. Jennifer J. Fuller
Command Chief CCM Cameron C. Davis
Notable
commanders
Alfred G. Hansen
Thomas S. Power
Adriel N. Williams
Insignia
314th Airlift Wing emblem (Approved 12 February 1995) [2] 314th Airlift Wing.png
314th Troop Carrier Wing emblem (Approved 17 June 1954) [3] 314th Troop Carrier Wing Emblem.png

The 314th Airlift Wing (314 AW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Little Rock Air Force Base in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its mission is to carry out Lockheed C-130 Hercules combat airlift training.

Contents

The wing was activated in November 1948 as the 314th Troop Carrier Wing at Smyrna Air Force Base, Tennessee, but traces earlier history to the creation of the 314th Troop Carrier Group in 1942.

Subordinate units

48th Airlift Squadron (48 AS) - C-130J
62d Airlift Squadron (62 AS) - C-130J
714th Training Squadron (714 TRS)
314th Maintenance Squadron
314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
314th Maintenance Operations Squadron

History

See the 314th Operations Group for related history and lineage

Korean War

The wing was activated in November 1948 as the 314th Troop Carrier Wing at Smyrna Air Force Base, Tennessee. [3]

The wing served in Japan during the Korean War, participating in two major airborne operations, at Sunchon in October 1950 and at Munsan-ni in March 1951. It later transported supplies to Korea and evacuated prisoners of war.

Early Cold War and Vietnam War periods

The wing was transferred without personnel or equipment back to the U.S. in 1954. There it served as a primary troop carrier unit in the eastern U.S., participating in joint airborne training with Army forces, developing assault airlift operations, and performing in aerial demonstrations, exercises, maneuvers, and joint operations. Between January 1966 and May 1971, it operated from Ching Chuan Kang Air Base Taiwan as part of the 315th Air Division to provide passenger and cargo airlift throughout the Far East and combat airlift in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War period.

Later Cold War period

Again returning to the U.S. in May 1971, the 314th acquired the assets of the inactivated 64th Tactical Airlift Wing and incurred host organization responsibilities of Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It has since operated C-130 training schools, providing classroom instruction and flying training to all branches of the U.S. military and allied nations and served as a tactical airlift wing involved in worldwide airborne training, airlift, and special operations including deployments in support of the Commander-in-Chief, United States Air Forces in Europe. It also provided joint airborne communications center and command post support for the United States Readiness Command. In October 1983, the wing provided Joint Airborne Communications Center/Command Post equipment in support of the rescue of U.S. nationals in Grenada. During December 1989 and January 1990, it provided airlift support during the intervention in Operation Just Cause in Panama.

Post Cold War period

The 314th conducted airlift control support in addition to airlift of troops and equipment to the Middle East in support of the liberation of Kuwait, August 1990 – March 1991.

From 1991 to present, in addition to its primary mission of aircrew training, the wing conducted numerous disaster relief and humanitarian support missions including airdrop of U.S. Army Troops; humanitarian aid; emergency supplies; and medical evacuations in addition to airlifting passengers and equipment.

Operations

Lineage

Activated on 1 November 1948

Assignments

Components

Groups
Attached to Far East Air Forces, 7 September 1950, FEAF Combat Cargo Command, 10 September 1950, 314th Air Division, 1 December 1950, 315th Air Division, 25 January 1951 – c. 1 November 1952; attached to 483d Troop Carrier Wing, 1 January 1953 – 15 November 1954) [5]
Hospital

Stations

Aircraft operated

Unit emblems

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References

Notes

  1. Haulman, Daniel L. (22 June 2021). "Factsheet 314 Airlift Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Haulman, Daniel L. (22 June 2017). "Factsheet 314 Airlift Wing (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency.
  3. 1 2 Ravenstein, pp. 161–163
  4. These are two different units that have had the same name at differenct times
  5. Robertson, Patsy (14 December 2010). "Factsheet 314 Operations Group (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 30 September 2015.

Bibliography

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