316th Wing

316th Wing

316th Wing emblem
Active
  • 1947 - 1949
  • 1966 - 1975
  • 1980 - 1991
  • 2006 - 2010
Country United States
Allegiance United States
Branch United States Air Force
Role Air Base Management and Rotary-Wing Airlift
Part of Air Force District of Washington
Garrison/HQ Andrews Air Force Base
Motto(s) Vigilance ... Strength ... Pride
Decorations DUC
AFOUA

The 316th Wing (316 WG) is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was the host wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland. As host wing, the 316 WG operated, administered and maintained the base.

The wing's Operations Group was a highly decorated C-47 Skytrain unit that served with Ninth Air Force and Twelfth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations and the Mediterranean theaters during World War II.

The wing's officially stated mission was to 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 December 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 operated UH-1N Twin Huey aircraft for quick-reaction rotary-wing airlift in the National Capital Region. Upon the recommendation of Base Realignment and Closure, 2005, the 11th Wing of Bolling Air Force Base merged with the 316th Wing and was redesignated the 11th Wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility.[1]

Units

316th Operations Group (316 OG)

316th Mission Support Group (316 MSG)

History

See the 316th Operations Group for additional history and lineage and history prior to 1947

Lineage

Organized on 15 August 1947
Discontinued on 25 August 1948
Inactivated on 20 October 1949
Organized on 25 November 1965
Redesignated: 316th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 March 1966
Redesignated: 316th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 May 1967
Inactivated on 1 October 1975
Inactivated on 12 July 1991
Activated on 22 June 2006
Inactivated on 30 September 2010

Assignments

Attached to Operating Location A, Headquarters Twenty-First Air Force, 31 December 1974-30 June 1975

Components

Groups

Squadrons

Stations

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.  This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "http://www.andrews.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=4747 316th Wing Fact Sheet".

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