452d Air Mobility Wing
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| 452d Air Mobility Wing | |
|---|---|
 452d Air Mobility Wing emblem |
|
| Active | 1950-Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | March ARB, California |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Brigadier General James L. Melin |
The United States Air Force's 452d Air Mobility Wing (452d AMW) is an Air Force Reserves air mobility unit located at March ARB, California.
Contents |
[edit] Mission
[edit] History
[edit] 452d Bombardment Wing, Light
During the Korean War, the 452d Bomb Wing was mobilized and ordered to active duty August 10, 1950. Flying B-26s from bases in Japan, the 452d flew its first Korean combat mission October 27th. It was the first Air Force Reserve wing to fly combat missions in Korea. The unit returned to reserve status May 10, 1952, and returned to Long Beach, California.
Operational Units:
- 452d Bombardment Group (Light)
- 728th Bombardment Squadron
- 729th Bombardment Squadron
- 730th Bombardment Squadron
Stations:
- Itazuke AB, Japan, (October - December 1950)
- Miho AB, Japan, (December 1950 - May 1951)
- Pusan East AB, South Korea, (May 1951 - May 1952)
Aircraft flown:
[edit] 452d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing
Over the next several years, the 452d changed missions and converted to different aircraft many times. The unit, still equipped with B-26s was redesignated the 452d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on June 13, 1952, and .
[edit] 452d Tactical Bombardment Wing
On May 22, 1955, the unit was redesignated the 452d Tactical Bombardment Wing (452d TBW).
[edit] 452d Troop Carrier Wing
The 452d converted to C-46 "Commandos" July 1, 1957, and was redesignated the 452d Troop Carrier Wing (Medium). The 452d converted to the C-119 "Flying Boxcar" April 8, 1958, and moved from Long Beach to March AFB, Calif., November 1, 1960. The 452d's 942d Troop Carrier Group converted to C-124 "Globemasters" April 1, 1965, while the 943d and 944th Troop Carrier Groups continued to fly the C-119.
[edit] 452d Military Airlift Wing
The 452d Troop Carrier Wing was redesignated the 452d Military Airlift Wing July 1, 1966. In 1968, the former 944th became the 445th Airlift Wing and the first unit in the Associate Reserve Program. Under the Associate Program, the mission of the 445th was to provide necessary augmentation to the active duty in the form of aircrew, maintenance and aerial port operations to achieve full use of military airlift aircraft under various conditions of heightened tension, up to and including total mobilization of reserve forces.
[edit] 452d Tactical Airlift Wing
The 452d MAW moved to Hamilton AFB, Calif., January 1, 1972, converted to C-130B "Hercules" April 1, and was redesignated the 452d Tactical Airlift Wing. Hamilton AFB became an Air Force Reserve base and the 452d its host unit October 1, 1973.
[edit] 452d Air Refueling Wing
The 452d returned to March AFB January 12, 1976 and converted to KC-135E "Stratotanker" aircraft, and was redesignated the 452d Air Refueling Wing October 1, 1976. The 452d ARW became the single manager of all Air Force Reserve refueling organizations flying the KC-135E. It was responsible for the 336th Air Refueling Squadron at March AFB, 940th Air Refueling Group at Mather AFB, located in Sacramento, Calif., and the 931st Air Refueling Group at Grissom AFB, Ind.
In October 1977, the wing became the first reserve unit to stand alert alongside a then Strategic Air Command (SAC) active duty wing. The action solidified the "Total Force" concept by placing the Air Force Reserve on the front lines of this nation's military deterrence posture.
The 452d entered the Associate program again when it formed the 78th Air Refueling Squadron (Associate) November 1, 1981, at Barksdale AFB, LA. This squadron became the first reserve unit to fly the Air Force's new KC-10A "Extender" tanker/cargo aircraft. Two sister squadrons, the 79th ARS and 77th ARS were formed and activated at March AFB, Calif., and Seymour-Johnson, N.C., September 1, 1981 and October 1, 1985, respectively.
On April 1, 1993, the 445th Military Airlift Wing located at Norton AFB, Calif., 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.
[edit] 452d Air Mobility Wing
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 452nd ARW were deactivated and their personnel and equipment joined under the 452nd Air Mobility Wing on April 1, 1994. On April 1, 1996, March officially became March Air Reserve Base. In 2005, the wing retired its C-141 fleet.
[edit] Assignments
[edit] Major Command/Gaining Command
- Air Force Reserve Command (2007-Present)
- Air Force Reserve/Air Mobility Command (1992-2007)
- Air Force Reserve/Strategic Air Command (1976-1992)
[edit] Numbered Air Force
[edit] Air Command
- (Air Mobility Command - AMC)
[edit] Previous designations
- 452d Air Mobility Wing (April 1, 1994 - Present)
- 452d Air Refueling Wing (October 1, 1976 - March 31, 1994)
- 452d Tactical Airlift Wing (April 1, 1972 - September 30, 1976)
- 452d Military Airlift Wing (July 1, 1966 - March 31, 1972)
- 452d Troop Carrier Wing (July 1, 1957 - June 30, 1966)
- 452d Tactical Bombardment Wing, Light (May 22, 1955 - June 30, 1957)
- 452d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing (June 13, 1952 - May 21, 1955)
- 452d Bombardment Wing, Heavy (August 10, 1950 - June 12, 1952)
[edit] Units assigned
-
- 452d Operations Group
- 336th Air Refueling Squadron
- 729th Airlift Squadron
- 452d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
- 452d Operations Support Squadron
- 452d Airlift Control Flight
- 452d Maintenance Group
- 452d Maintenance Operations Squadron
- 452d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 752d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 452d Maintenance Squadron
- 452d Medical Group
- 452d Aeromedical Squadron
- 752d Medical Squadron
- 452d Aeromedical Patient Staging Squadron
- 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 Operations Group
[edit] Bases stationed
- March ARB, California (???-Present)
[edit] Aircraft and missiles operated
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Futrell, Robert Frank (1983) The United States Air Force In Korea, 1950-1953, Maxwell AFB, Alabama Office of Air Force History, ISBN 0912799714
- Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947-1977. Maxwell * [1] Air Force Historical Research Agency
[edit] External links
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