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The 315th Airlift Wing (315 AW) is a
wing A wing is a type of fin that produces both Lift (force), lift and drag while moving through air. Wings are defined by two shape characteristics, an airfoil section and a planform (aeronautics), planform. Wing efficiency is expressed as lift-to-d ...
of the
United States Air Force Reserve The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of commis ...
. It is stationed at
Joint Base Charleston Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located partly in the city of North Charleston, South Carolina, and partly in the city of Goose Creek, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air ...
, in the city of
North Charleston North Charleston is a city in Berkeley, Charleston, and Dorchester counties in the U.S. state of South Carolina.City Planning Department (2008-07)City of North Charleston boundary map. City of North Charleston. Retrieved January 21, 2011. As ...
,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, and operates the
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previ ...
aircraft. If mobilized, the unit would fall under control of
Air Mobility Command The Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri, ...
. 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. The Wing also provides personnel and equipment to fill out normal activities of the active-duty
437th Airlift Wing The 437th Airlift Wing (437 AW) is an active unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to 18th Air Force, Air Mobility Command. It is the mission wing at Charleston Air Force Base, Joint Base Charleston, in the City of North Charleston, ...
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.


Components

315th Operations Group The 315th Operations Group is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to the 315th Airlift Wing. The unit is stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. The 315th Group controls all operational McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemas ...
*
300th Airlift Squadron The 300th Airlift Squadron is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide. Mission Train ...
(300 AS) * 317th Airlift Squadron (317 AS) * 701st Airlift Squadron (701 AS) *315th Aerospace Medicine Squadron (315 AMDS) *315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (315 AES) *315th Airlift Control Flight (315 ACF) *
4th Combat Camera Squadron The 4th Combat Camera Squadron (4th CTCS) is a unit of the U.S. Air Force Reserve, 315th Airlift Wing, 315th Operations Group, located at Joint Base Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina. Mission The 4th CTCS mission is unique and highly ...
(4 CTCS) 315th Maintenance Group (315 MXG) *315th Maintenance Squadron (315 MXS) *315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (315 AMXS) *315th Maintenance Operations Squadron (315 MOS) 315th Mission Support Group (315 MSG) *38th Aerial Port Squadron (38 APS) *53d Aerial Port Squadron (53 APS) *81st Aerial Port Squadron (81 APS) *84th Aerial Port Squadron (84 APS) *315th Mission Support Squadron (315 MSS) *315th Security Forces Squadron (315 SFS) *315th Services Flight (315 SVF) *315th Logistics Readiness Flight (315 LRF)


History

Established as 315 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 23 May 1952 under Far East Air Force in Japan. Activated on 10 Jun 1952. During the
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
, the wing flew troop and cargo airlift and airdrop, leaflet drops, spray missions, air evacuation,
search and rescue Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
, and other aerial missions in
theater Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The performers may communi ...
as part of
Far East Air Forces The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PACAF is headquartered at the Hickam AFB portion of Join ...
315th Air Division The 315th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force formation. Originally designated the 315th Bombardment Wing, it was activated in July 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado as a command organization for four very heavy Boeing B-29 Superf ...
. It remained in the Far East after the war to fly transport missions and paratroop training flights in Japan, Korea,
French Indo-China French Indochina (previously spelled as French Indo-China), officially known as the Indochinese Union and after 1941 as the Indochinese Federation, was a group of French dependent territories in Southeast Asia from 1887 to 1954. It was initial ...
, and other points until December 1954, after which it was again inactivated 18 Jan 1955. Reactivated in 21 Feb 1966 under
Pacific Air Forces The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
, the unit was established at
Tan Son Nhut Air Base Tan Son Nhut Air Base () (1955–1975) was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility. It was located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War (1959–1975), stationing ...
, South Vietnam. It engaged in special operations directly under Seventh Air Force in Saigon, operating
C-123 Provider The Fairchild C-123 Provider is an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and built by Fairchild Aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. In addition to its USAF service, which included later service with the Air Force Reserve a ...
aircraft with Air Commando squadrons engaging in unconventional warfare. Moved to
Phan Rang Air Base Phan Rang Air Base (also called Thành Sơn Air Base) is a Vietnam People's Air Force (VPAF) ''(Khong Quan Nhan Dan Viet Nam)'' military airfield in Vietnam. It is located north-northwest of Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm in Ninh Thuận Provi ...
in 1967. Also operated UC-123 aerial spraying aircraft for Operation Ranch Hand defoliation missions over South Vietnam. 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 The South Vietnam Air Force, officially the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF; ; ) (sometimes referred to as the Vietnam Air Force or VNAF), was the aerial branch of the Republic of Vietnam Military Forces, the official military of the Repub ...
C-123 aircrews. It was inactivated in South Vietnam in March 1972. Reactivated in 1973 as a heavy transport wing in the Air Force Reserve, operating the
C-141 Starlifter The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a retired military strategic airlifter that served with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), its successor organization the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of t ...
aircraft, stationed alongside and using the same airframes as the active-duty 437th Airlift Wing at
Charleston Air Force Base Charleston Air Force Base is a United States military facility located in the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force's 628th Air Base Wing (628 ABW), a subordinate elem ...
,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
. It has since trained Air Force
Reserve Reserve or reserves may refer to: Places * Reserve, Kansas, a US city * Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish * Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County * Reserve, New Mexico, a US v ...
aircrews for
strategic Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "troop leadership; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the "art o ...
airlift, including channel, special assignment, humanitarian, and combat airlift missions. In the 1980s and 1990s, personnel participated in contingency and
humanitarian aid Humanitarian aid is material and Humanitarian Logistics, logistic assistance, usually in the short-term, to people in need. Among the people in need are the homelessness, homeless, refugees, and victims of natural disasters, wars, and famines. Th ...
airlift operations and
exercises Exercise or workout is physical activity that enhances or maintains fitness and overall health. It is performed for various reasons, including weight loss or maintenance, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovasc ...
worldwide. In 1994, the wing conducted the first 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 2001and has flown the C-17 exclusively since.


Lineage

* Established as 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 : 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 : Redesignated: 315th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994


Assignments

*
315th Air Division The 315th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force formation. Originally designated the 315th Bombardment Wing, it was activated in July 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado as a command organization for four very heavy Boeing B-29 Superf ...
(Combat Cargo), 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955 *
Pacific Air Forces The Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) is a List of Major Commands of the United States Air Force, Major Command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force and is also the air component command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). PAC ...
, 21 February 1966 *
315th Air Division The 315th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force formation. Originally designated the 315th Bombardment Wing, it was activated in July 1944 at Peterson Field, Colorado as a command organization for four very heavy Boeing B-29 Superf ...
(Combat Cargo), 8 March 1966 : Attached to
2d Air Division The 2nd Air Division (2nd AD) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-Third Air Force, being stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. It started operations on 7 ...
, 8–31 March 1966 : Attached to
Seventh Air Force The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
, 1 April-15 October 1966 * 834th Air Division, 15 October 1966 *
Seventh Air Force The Seventh Air Force (Air Forces Korea) (7 AF) is a Numbered Air Force of the United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is headquartered at Osan Air Base, South Korea. The command's mission is to plan and direct air component operations in ...
, 1 December 1971 – 31 March 1972 * Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 July 1973 *
Fourteenth Air Force The Fourteenth Air Force (14 AF; Air Forces Strategic) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command (AFSPC). It was headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. The command was responsible for the organizatio ...
, 8 October 1976 *
Twenty-Second Air Force Twenty-Second Air Force (22 AF) is a Numbered Air Force component of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It was activated on 1 July 1993 and is headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. In the event of mobilization, some of the Twenty- ...
, 1 July 1993 – September 2011 *
Fourth Air Force The Fourth Air Force (4 AF) is a numbered air force of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It is headquartered at March Air Reserve Base, California. 4 AF directs the activities and supervises the training of more than 30,000 Air Force Reserv ...
, September 2011 – present


Components

Groups * 315th Troop Carrier (later, 315 Operations): 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955; 1 August 1992–present Squadrons *
8th Special Operations Squadron The 8th Special Operations Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing, Air Force Special Operations Command, stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. The squadron is equipped with the B ...
: 31 July 1971 – 15 January 1972 (detached 5–15 January 1972). *
9th Special Operations Squadron The 9th Special Operations Squadron is part of the 27th Special Operations Wing (27 SOW) at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. The squadron operates MC-130J Commando II aircraft in support of special operations. The 9th SOS specializes in the u ...
: 30 September 1971 – 29 February 1972 (detached 9 January-29 February 1972) *
12th Air Commando Squadron 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number, numeral, and glyph. It is the first and smallest positive integer of the infinite sequence of natural numbers. This fundamental property has led to its unique uses in other fields, ranging from science to s ...
(later 12 Special Operations Squadron): 15 October 1966 – 30 September 1970 * 19th Air Commando Squadron (later 19 Special Operations Squadron): 8 March 1966 – 10 June 1971 * 38th Aerial Port Squadron, 1 October 1982 – 1 August 1992 *
300th Military Airlift Squadron The 300th Airlift Squadron is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide. Mission Train an ...
(later 300th Airlift Squadron): 1 July 1973 – 1 August 1992 *
309th Air Commando Squadron The 309th Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last based at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium and assigned to the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It operated a single Gulfstream V, C-37 aircraft providing ex ...
(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 The 311th Airlift Squadron was part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operated Learjet C-21 aircraft providing executive airlift for Unified Combatant Command, Combatant Commanders. History World War II The 311 ...
(later 311th Special Operations Squadron, 311th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 8 March 1966 – 5 October 1971 * 317th Airlift Squadron: 1 April-1 August 1992 *
701st Military Airlift Squadron The 701st Airlift Squadron is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift. The squadron was first activated in April 1943 as the 701st B ...
(later 701st Airlift Squadron): 1 July 1973 – 1 August 1992 *
707th Military Airlift Squadron The 707th Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit. It was last assigned to the 315th Military Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It was inactivated on 1 July 2000. The squadron was active d ...
(later 707th Airlift Squadron): 1 July 1973 – 1 August 1992


Stations

* Brady AB, Japan, 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955 *
Tan Son Nhut AB Tan Son Nhut Air Base () (1955–1975) was a Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) facility. It was located near the city of Saigon in southern Vietnam. The United States used it as a major base during the Vietnam War (1959–1975), stationing ...
,
South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...
, 8 March 1966 * Phan Rang AB,
South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam (RVN; , VNCH), was a country in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975. It first garnered Diplomatic recognition, international recognition in 1949 as the State of Vietnam within the ...
, 15 June 1967 – 31 March 1972 *
Charleston AFB Charleston Air Force Base is a United States military facility located in the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force's 628th Air Base Wing (628 ABW), a subordinate elem ...
,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, 1 July 1973 – 7 January 2010 *
Joint Base Charleston Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located partly in the city of North Charleston, South Carolina, and partly in the city of Goose Creek, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air ...
,
South Carolina South Carolina ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders North Carolina to the north and northeast, the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast, and Georgia (U.S. state), Georg ...
, 8 January 2010 – present


Aircraft

*
Curtiss C-46 Commando The Curtiss C-46 Commando is a low-wing, twin-engine aircraft derived from the Curtiss CW-20 pressurized high-altitude airliner design. Early press reports used the name "Condor III" but the Commando name was in use by early 1942 in company p ...
(1952–1955) * UC-123 (1966–1971) *
Fairchild C-123 Provider The Fairchild C-123 Provider is an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and built by Fairchild Aircraft for the U.S. Air Force. In addition to its USAF service, which included later service with the Air Force Reserve a ...
(1966–1972) *
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly The Cessna A-37 Dragonfly, or Super Tweet, is a jet-powered, light attack aircraft designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer Cessna. It was developed during the Vietnam War in response to military interest in new counter-i ...
(1971–1972) *
Cessna O-2 Skymaster The Cessna O-2 Skymaster (nicknamed "Oscar Deuce") is a military version of the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster, used for forward air control (FAC) and psychological operations (PSYOPS) by the US military between 1967 and 2010. Design and develop ...
(1971–1972) *
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter is a retired military strategic airlifter that served with the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), its successor organization the Military Airlift Command (MAC), and finally the Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the ...
(1973–2000) *
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III The McDonnell Douglas/Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) between the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas. The C-17 carries forward the name of two previ ...
(1993 – present)


Operations

*
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
*
Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...
*
Vietnam War The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
*
Operation Urgent Fury The United States and a coalition of Caribbean countries invaded the small island nation of Grenada, north of Venezuela, at dawn on 25 October 1983. Codenamed Operation Urgent Fury by the U.S. military, it resulted in military occupation with ...
*
Operation Just Cause Operation or Operations may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity * Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory * ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
*
Operation Noble Eagle Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) is the United States and Canadian military operation related to homeland security and support to federal, state, and local agencies. The operation began 11 September 2001, in response to the September 11 attacks.. ...
*
Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used by the U.S. government for both the first stage (2001–2014) of the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response ...
*
Operation Iraqi Freedom The Iraq War (), also referred to as the Second Gulf War, was a prolonged conflict in Iraq lasting from 2003 to 2011. It began with the invasion by a United States-led coalition, which resulted in the overthrow of the Ba'athist governm ...
* Operation New Dawn


Unit shields

File:315th Airlift Wing.png, 315 AW File:300 Military Airlift Sq emblem.png, 300 AS File:317 Airlift Sq.jpg, 317 AS File:701st Airlift Squadron.svg, 701 AS File:315 Operations Support Sq emblem.png, 315 OSS File:315 Special Operations Wg.jpg, 315 SOW File:311 Air Commando Sq.jpg, 311 ACS File:315 Mission Support Sq.jpg, 315 MSS File:315 Maintenance Gp.jpg, 315 MXG File:4th Combat Camera Squadron Emblem.png, alt=4th Combat Camera Squadron, 4 CTCS File:315 Aeromedical Evacuation Sq emblem (old).png, 315 AE


References

* *


External links


315 AW Home Page
* {{USAF Korea Military units and formations in South Carolina 0315