316th Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 316th Wing


caption= 316th Wing emblem
dates= 1947-1949
1966-1975
2006-Present
country= United States
allegiance= United States
branch= United States Air Force
type=
role= Air Base Management and Rotary-Wing Airlift
size=
command_structure= Air Force District of Washington
current_commander=Colonel [http://www.andrews.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=11583 Steven M. Shepro]
garrison= Andrews Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= Vigilance ... Strength ... Fortitude
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=

The 316th Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Mission

Provide contingency response capability critical to national security to include emergency reaction rotary-wing airlift for the National Capital Region, combat-ready Airmen to Air and Space Expeditionary Forces, and a secure installation and robust infrastructure to support Andrews Air Force Base organizations.

History

The wing was originally established as the 316th Troop Carrier Wing in 1947 at the former Greeneville AFB, SC, primarily operating the C-47 and C-82. It was subsequently inactivated in 1949. In 1966, the unit was reactivated at Langley AFB, VA as the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing (316 TAW) of the Tactical Air Command (TAC). The 316 TAW conducted C-130 replacement training from January 1966 to November 1967 and C-130 maintenance training from February to Dececember 1966. In late 1967, the 316 TAW relinquished its training mission and became a typical operational tactical airlift wing with the C-130E Hercules. As an operational wing, the organization operated three tactical airlift squadrons in addition to its various maintenance and support squadrons.

The 316 TAW participated in joint airborne training, glider training, exercises maneuvers, and ferried freight in the United States and overseas. It also participated in worldwide tactical airlift operations, humanitarian missions, and special exercises and maneuvers, including joint airborne training. In 1973, the wing also participated in repatriation of South Vietnamese and American prisoners of war from North Vietnam.

In 1975, all tactical airlift assets in TAC were transferred to the Military Airlift Command (MAC). With TAC Headquarters being at Langley AFB, and with the pending arrival of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing (1 TFW) and the first operational F-15A Eagles at Langley, MAC and TAC agreed to inactivate the 316 TAW and two of its three tactical airlift squadrons. All of the wing's C-130 aircraft assets were redistributed to other C-130 wings with the exception of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS), now known as the 36th Airlift Squadron, which was reassigned with its personnel and C-130E aircraft to the 62nd Military Airlift Wing (62 MAW), now known as the 62nd Airlift Wing (62 AW), a then-C-141 Starlifter strategic airlift wing at McChord AFB, WA in the summer of 1975.

From 1980-1991, the 1776th Air Base Wing (1776 ABW) was the host wing that operated, administered and maintained Andrews AFB, MD for all its tenant commands. The 1776 ABW wing was consolidated with the newly-established 316th Wing (316 WG) on 21 June 2006. In addition to base operations and support of Andrews AFB, the 316 WG also operates UH-1N Twin Huey aircraft for quick-reaction rotary-wing airlift in the National Capital Region.

Operations

Previous designations

*316th Troop Carrier Wing (1947 – 1949)
*316th Tactical Airlift Wing (1966 – 1975)
*316th Wing (2006 – Present)

The 316th Wing bears the consolidated lineage of the 1776th Air Base Wing, the former host unit at Andrews.

Assignments

Major command

*Tactical Air Command (1965 – 1975): 840th Air Division, 25 Nov 1965-24 Dec 1969: 839th Air Division, 31 Mar 1970-31 Dec 1974
*Military Airlift Command (1975)

Numbered Air Force

*9th Air Force (1947 – 1948, 1969 – 1974)
*14th Air Force (1949)
*21st Air Force (1974 – 1975, 1985 – 1991)
*Air Force District of Washington (2006 – Present)

ubordinate organizations

316th Operations Group (316 OG)
*1st Helicopter Squadron
*316th Operations Support Squadron(316 OSS)

316th Mission Support Group (316 MSG)
*316th Civil Engineering Squadron (316 CES)
*316th Security Forces Squadron (316 SFS)
*316th Contracting Squadron (316 CONS)
*316th Logistics Readiness Squadron (316 LRS)
*316th Force Support Squadron (316 FSS)

Bases stationed

*Greenville Air Force Base, South Carolina (1947 – 1949)
*Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (1965 – 1975)
*Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland (1980 – 1991, 2006 – Present)

Aircraft operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1947 – 1949)
*C-82 Packet (1947 – 1949)
*CG-15 Waco (1947 – 1949)
*C-130 Hercules (1966 – 1975)
*UH-1N Twin Huey (2006 – Present)

References

External Links