438th Air Expeditionary Wing
Encyclopedia
The 438th Air Expeditionary Wing (438 AEW) is an active United States Air Force
unit operating in Afghanistan
and assigned to United States Air Forces Central. The wing trains Afghan Air Force
members, including pilots.
. It was activated in the USAF reserve on 27 June 1949. The wing flew C-45, C-46 and C-47 aircraft. It was ordered to active service on 10 March 1951. It was inactivated on 14 March 1951.
The 438th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated at General Billy Mitchell Field
, Wisconsin
in the reserves flying F-80 Shooting Stars and later F-86 Sabres on 15 June 1952. It was inactivated 16 November 1957.
The 438th Military Airlift Wing replaced the 1611th Air Transport Wing at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
in June 1966, equipped with Lockheed C-141 Starlifters. For the next 30 years, the 438th MAW and transported military cargo, mail and passengers worldwide, particularly in the Eastern United States, Atlantic, European and Mediterranean areas, with frequent special missions to the Arctic, the Antarctic, South America, the Far East, and to Southeast Asia combat areas during the Vietnam War
.
On 1 December 1991, the wing was redesignated as the 438th Airlift Wing and implemented objective wing. On 1 June 1992, it was assigned to the new Air Mobility Command
.
A KC-10 air refueling squadron, the 2d ARS, was assigned to the wing from the former 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
as part of a major Air Force realignment on 1 October 1994 to have KC-10 bases with two squadrons of 10 aircraft each.
On 1 October 1994, the 438th Airlift Wing was inactivated, being replaced at McGuire by the 305th Air Mobility Wing
which was transferred from Grissom AFB, Indiana
when Grissom was realigned via BRAC
action to the Air Force Reserve Command
as Grissom ARB.
Wing
Group
Squadrons
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit operating in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and assigned to United States Air Forces Central. The wing trains Afghan Air Force
Afghan Air Force
The Afghan Air Force , formerly the Afghan National Army Air Corps and Afghan National Army Air Force , is one of seven "corps" of the military of Afghanistan, responsible for air defense and air warfare. It was officially established in 1924 and for most of its history has functioned as a small...
members, including pilots.
Subordinate units
- 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group (Kabul International AirportKabul International Airport-Facilities:The airport has two terminal buildings, the modern for international flights and the Soviet built one for domestic flights. Several hangars along the runway are for military aircraft...
)- 438th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 439th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 440th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 538th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- Detachment 1 (JalalabadJalalabadJalalabad , formerly called Adinapour, as documented by the 7th century Hsüan-tsang, is a city in eastern Afghanistan. Located at the junction of the Kabul River and Kunar River near the Laghman valley, Jalalabad is the capital of Nangarhar province. It is linked by approximately of highway with...
) - Detachment 3 (Mazar-e-Shariff)
- 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group (Kandahar AirfieldKandahar AirfieldKandahar International Airport is located 10 miles south-east of Kandahar City in Afghanistan. The airport was built by the United States in the 1960s, under the United States Agency for International Development program. It may have been intended to be used as a possible U.S...
)- 441st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
training) - 442nd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 443rd Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 441st Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (Mi-17
- 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group (Shindand Air Base)
- 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (Mi-17Mil Mi-17The Mil Mi-17 is a Russian helicopter currently in production at two factories in Kazan and Ulan-Ude...
training) - 445th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron
- Detachment 1 (HeratHeratHerāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
)
- 444th Air Expeditionary Advisory Squadron (Mi-17
Cold War
The 438th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium) was established on 10 May 1949, at Offut AFB, NebraskaNebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
. It was activated in the USAF reserve on 27 June 1949. The wing flew C-45, C-46 and C-47 aircraft. It was ordered to active service on 10 March 1951. It was inactivated on 14 March 1951.
The 438th Fighter-Bomber Wing was activated at General Billy Mitchell Field
General Mitchell International Airport
General Mitchell International Airport is a county-owned public airport located five miles south of the central business district of Milwaukee, a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
in the reserves flying F-80 Shooting Stars and later F-86 Sabres on 15 June 1952. It was inactivated 16 November 1957.
The 438th Military Airlift Wing replaced the 1611th Air Transport Wing at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in June 1966, equipped with Lockheed C-141 Starlifters. For the next 30 years, the 438th MAW and transported military cargo, mail and passengers worldwide, particularly in the Eastern United States, Atlantic, European and Mediterranean areas, with frequent special missions to the Arctic, the Antarctic, South America, the Far East, and to Southeast Asia combat areas during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
On 1 December 1991, the wing was redesignated as the 438th Airlift Wing and implemented objective wing. On 1 June 1992, it was assigned to the new Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
.
Modern era
On 1 October 1993, the 30th AS was moved w/o/p/e to the 374th Operations Group, Yokota AB, Japan, replacing the 20th AS as part of the Air Force illustrious units realignment. It was replaced by the 13th Airlift Squadron at McGuire which was transferred w/o/p/e from the 18th Operations Group, Kadena AB, Okinawa.A KC-10 air refueling squadron, the 2d ARS, was assigned to the wing from the former 2d Bomb Wing at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
as part of a major Air Force realignment on 1 October 1994 to have KC-10 bases with two squadrons of 10 aircraft each.
On 1 October 1994, the 438th Airlift Wing was inactivated, being replaced at McGuire by the 305th Air Mobility Wing
305th Air Mobility Wing
The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force strategic airlift and air refueling wing under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command...
which was transferred from Grissom AFB, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
when Grissom was realigned via BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
action to the Air Force Reserve Command
Air Force Reserve Command
The Air Force Reserve Command is a major command of the U.S. Air Force with its headquarters at Robins AFB, Georgia.It stood up as a major command of the Air Force on 17 February 1997....
as Grissom ARB.
Global War On Terrorism
The 438th Air Expeditionary Group was activated as part of the Global War on Terrorism in 2001. It's people fought in Iraq and trained Iraqis and then moved to Afghanistan to train Afghan airmen at bases around the country.Lineage
- Established as 438th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 27 June 1949
- Ordered to Active Service on 10 March 1951
- Inactivated on 14 March 1951
- Redesignated 438th Fighter-Bomber Wing on 26 May 1952
- Activated in the Reserve on 15 June 1952
- Inactivated on 16 November 1957
- Redesignated 438th Military Airlift Wing, and activated, on 27 December 1965
- Organized on 8 January 1966, assuming personnel and equipment of 1611th Air Transport Wing1611th Air Transport WingThe 1611th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey...
(MATS) which was discontinued. - Redesignated 438 Airlift Wing on 1 November 1991
- Inactivated on 1 October 1994
- Redesignated 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 4 December 2001.
Assignments
- Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
, 27 June 1949-14 March 1951; 15 June 1952-16 November 1957 - Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(later, Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
), 27 December 1965 - Twenty-First Air ForceTwenty-First Air ForceThe 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the Air Force’s Air Mobility Command. It is headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey$3...
, 8 January 1966-1 October 1994 - Air Combat CommandAir Combat CommandAir Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
, to activate or inactivate anytime after 4 December 2001 - United States Air Forces Central
Components
Former:Wing
- 514th Military Airlift (later Airlift) Wing514th Air Mobility WingThe 514th Air Mobility Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.-History:...
: attached 1 July 1973–1 October 1994
Group
- 438th Troop Carrier (later Fighter-Bomber, later Operations) Group: 27 June 1949–14 March 1951; 15 June 1952–16 November 1957; 1 November 1991–1 October 1994
- 903d Military Airlift Group: attached 25 September 1968–30 June 1973
Squadrons
- 18th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January-15 June 1966 (not operational, 1 February–15 June 1966); 1 August 1968–
- 29th Military Airlift Squadron29th Military Airlift SquadronThe 29th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 438th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey...
: 8 January 1966-31 August 1968 (not operational, 12–31 August 1968) - 40th Military Airlift Squadron40th Military Airlift SquadronThe 40th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 438th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey...
: 8 January 1966-4 March 1968 (not operational, 1 December 1967–4 March 1968) - 45th Military Airlift Squadron: 3 July 1967-31 August 1968 (not operational, 12–31 August 1968)
- 30th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 April 1967–1 November 1991
- 6th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 April 1970–1 November 1991
- Military Airlift Squadron Provisional, 1645th: attached 15 March–3 July 1967
- Naval Air Transport Squadron VR-3: attached 1 February 1966–1 July 1967.
Stations
- Offutt AFB, NebraskaNebraskaNebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, 27 June 1949–14 March 1951 - Mitchell Field, WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, 15 June 1952; 5 January 1953–16 November 1957 - McGuire AFB, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 8 January 1966–1 October 1994 - Undisclosed locations after 4 December 2001
- Kabul Afghan Air Force Base, AfghanistanAfghanistanAfghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, (2007-Present)
Aircraft
- C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1949–1951; 1953 - F-51 Mustang, 1953–1954
- F-80 Shooting Star, 1954–1957
- F-86 SabreF-86 SabreThe North American F-86 Sabre was a transonic jet fighter aircraft. Produced by North American Aviation, the Sabre is best known as America's first swept wing fighter which could counter the similarly-winged Soviet MiG-15 in high speed dogfights over the skies of the Korean War...
, 1957
- C-130E Hercules, 1966–1968
- C-135, 1966–1967
- C-141 StarlifterC-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, 1967–1994