436th Airlift Wing

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=436th Airlift Wing


caption=
dates= 23 March 1943 — present
country=United States
allegiance=
branch=Air Force
type=Airlift
role=
size=6,000
command_structure=Air Mobility Command
current_commander=Colonel [http://public.dover.amc.af.mil/library/biographies/bio.asp?id=9792 Steven Harrison]
garrison=Dover Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=Eagle Wing
patron=
motto=
colors=
identification_symbol=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders= William J. Begert
anniversaries=
decorations=
battle_honours=

The 436th Airlift Wing (436 AW) is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

Mission

The 436 AW mission is to safely fix and fly aircraft, prepare and deploy people, move cargo and return America's fallen heroes with dignity, honor and respect.

History

The 436th trained for duty in Europe with the Ninth Air Force during 1943. It continued training in England from January-May 1944. The group began combat operations in June 1944 and participated in four major airborne operations by May 1945. The 436th received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its first missions, which were flown during the Normandy invasion; dropping paratroops of 82d Airborne Division over the beachhead early on 6 June; releasing gliders with reinforcement of troops and supplies on the afternoon of D-Day and on the following morning; later picking up undamaged gliders on the coast. In July 1944, the group deployed 49 aircraft and crews to Italy to take part in the invasion of Southern France, again releasing gliders carrying , and dropping paratroops in the assault area on 15 August. It flew several resupply missions to France and then dropped supplies to Allied forces in Italy. The deployed element returned to England late in August, and in September the group carried out airborne operations over Holland, dropping paratroops of 101st Airborne Division and releasing gliders with reinforcements of troops and equipment during Operation Market Garden. It towed gliders to Wesel on 24 March 1945 to provide troops for the airborne assault across the Rhine. Further, it carried gasoline to the front lines and evacuated patients, 30-31 March. The 436th also flew transport missions almost daily when not engaged in airborne operations, hauling such things as gasoline, ammunition, medical supplies, rations, clothing, and evacuated the wounded to hospitals in England and France. After V-E Day, the group continued to evacuate patients and prisoners of war, and flew practice missions with French paratroops before being redeployed to the U.S. and deactivated.

The group was reactivated in the Reserves in 1947 and the wing was established in 1949. During this time, until the 346th’s deactivation in 1951, it trained under supervision of the 2236th Air Force Reserve Training Center. The wing was again activated in 1955 and trained under supervision of the 2230th Air Reserve Flying Center until 1958. During this period trained personnel from the 436th served as fillers for other USAF units.

In January 1966 the 436th was called to active duty and replace the 1607th Air Transport Wing in as the host wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The wing initially flew C-124, C-133, and C-141 aircraft, but gradually replaced C-124 and C-133 types with C-5s. By mid-1973, the 436th exclusively flew the C-5. During the late 1960s and early 1970s the wing flew numerous missions to Southeast Asia, although primary wing routes served Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It participated in joint training with U.S. Army, tooking part in numerous tactical exercises in the United States and overseas, particularly in support of NATO. Additionally, it flew worldwide airlift missions, including hauling mail and other high priority cargo, conducting aeromedical evacuation, serving as personnel transport, participating in humanitarian relief, and diplomatic missions. Wing aircrews were also augmented by attached Reserve aircrews from the 512th Airlift Wing. It airlifted personnel and equipment for operations in Grenada, 24 October 1983 – 18 December 1983; and Panama, 19 December 1989-14 January 1990. The 436th deployed an Airlift Control Element (ALCE) at Tocumen International Airport, Panama on 19 December 1989. It also provided airlift of personnel and equipment, and logistical support for operations in Southwest Asia, August 1990-May 1991. It has since served as the only combat ready C-5 unit capable of airdrop and special operations procedures in support of tactical forces and national objectives. It has flown special mortuary airlift missions from Iraq and Afghanistan and operated the only joint services mortuary on the East coast since 1991.

Operations

*World War II
*Operation Urgent Fury
*Operation Just Cause
*Operation Desert Shield
*Operation Desert Storm
*Operation Enduring Freedom
*Operation Iraqi Freedom

Previous designations

*436th Troop Carrier Group (1943 – 1949)
*436th Troop Carrier Wing (1949 – 1965)
*436th Military Airlift Wing (1965 – 1991)
*436th Airlift Wing (1991 – Present)

Assignments

Major command

*Continental Air Forces (1945)
*Military Air Transport Service (1947 – 1966)
*Military Airlift Command (1966 – 1992)
*Air Mobility Command (1992 – Present)

Numbered Air Force

*11th Air Force (1947 – 1949)
*9th Air Force (1949 – 1950)
*1st Air Force (1950 – 1951, 1955 – 1958)
*14th Air Force (1958)
*21st Air Force (1966 – 2003)
*18th Air Force (2003 – Present)

ubordinate organizations

436th Operations Group (436 OG)
*3d Airlift Squadron (3 AS)
*9th Airlift Squadron (9 AS)
*436th Operations Support Squadron (436 OSS)

436th Maintenance Group (436 MXG)
*436th Maintenance Squadron (436 MXS)
*436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (436 AMXS)
*736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (736 AMXS)
*436th Maintenance Operations Squadron (436 MOS)

436th Mission Support Group (436 MSG)
*436th Contracting Squadron (436 CONS)
*436th Security Forces Squadron (436 SFS)
*436th Services Squadron (436 SVS)
*436th Aerial Port Squadron (436 APS) **436th Aerial Port Mobility Flight (436 APMF)
*436th Logistics Readiness Squadron (436 LRS)
*436th Mission Support Squadron (436 MSS)
*436th Communications Squadron (436 CS)
*436th Civil Engineering Squadron (436 CES)

436th Medical Group (436 MDG)
*436th Medical Operations Squadron (436 MDOS)
*436th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron (436 ADS)
*436th Medical Support Squadron (436 MDSS)

Additionally, the 436th Comptroller Squadron (436 CPTS) reports directly to the wing staff.

Bases stationed

*Baer Field, Indiana (1943)
*Alliance Army Airfield, Nebraska (1943)
*Laurinburg-Maxton Army Airfield, North Carolina (1943)
*RAF Bottesford, England (1944)
*RAF Membury, England (1944 – 1945)
*Villaroche, France (1945)
* Baer Field, Indiana (1945)
*Malden Army Airfield, Missouri (1945)
*Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky (1947 – 1950)
*Standiford Field, Kentucky (1950 – 1951)
*U.S. Naval Air Station, New York, New York (1955 – 1958)
*Dover Air Force Base, Delaware (1966 – Present)

Aircraft operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1943 – 1945, 1949 – 1951)
*C-45 Expeditor (1949, 1955 – 1957)
*T-7 (1949 – 1951)
*T-11 (1949 – 1951)
*T-28 Trojan (1955)
*T-33 Shooting Star (1955)
*C-46 Commando (1955 – 1957)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957)
*C-124 Globemaster II (1966 – 1969)
*C-133 Cargomaster (1966 – 1971)
*C-141 Starlifter (1966 – 1973)
*C-5 Galaxy (1971 – Present)
*C-17 Globemaster III (2007 – Present)

Unit shields

References

External links

* [http://public.dover.amc.af.mil/ Dover AFB Home Page]