1608th Air Transport Wing
Encyclopedia
The 1608th 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 Charleston Air Force Base
, South Carolina
. It was inactivated on 8 January 1966
With the disestablishment of MATS, the assets of the Wing were reassigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
.
assumed jurisdiction at Charleston from Tactical Air Command
.
Initially established as a C-54 Skymaster
medium transport unit, transporting cargo within the United States to other MATS stations. Was upgraded to heavy transport wing, being re-equipped with long-range intercontinental C-124 Globemaster II
s for cargo and C-121 Constellations for passenger overseas transport. Established Aerial Port in 1956 for embarkation to and from the United States as well as large Air Terminal for transshipment of cargo. Received C-130E Hercules transports in 1962, replacing C-121s and jet C-141 Starlifter
s in 1965 to replace the C-124s.
Supported Air Weather Service and Air Rescue Service
squadrons and aircraft as well as Air Defense Command interceptor aircraft and other air defense units.
Discontinued on 8 January 1966 along with MATS, equipment and personnel reassigned to MAC 437th MAW same date.
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. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The 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...
, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base
Charleston Air Force Base
Joint Base Charleston is a United States military facility located in North Charleston, South Carolina. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 628th Air Base Wing, Air Mobility Command...
, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. It was inactivated on 8 January 1966
With the disestablishment of MATS, the assets of the Wing were reassigned to the 437th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The 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...
.
History
Established in 1954 at Charleston AFB, South Carolina after Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport Service
The 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...
assumed jurisdiction at Charleston from Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
.
Initially established as a C-54 Skymaster
C-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
medium transport unit, transporting cargo within the United States to other MATS stations. Was upgraded to heavy transport wing, being re-equipped with long-range intercontinental C-124 Globemaster II
C-124 Globemaster II
The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
s for cargo and C-121 Constellations for passenger overseas transport. Established Aerial Port in 1956 for embarkation to and from the United States as well as large Air Terminal for transshipment of cargo. Received C-130E Hercules transports in 1962, replacing C-121s and jet C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
s in 1965 to replace the C-124s.
Supported Air Weather Service and Air Rescue Service
Air Rescue Service
The Air Rescue Service is a disestablished organization in the United States Air Force. Previously a subcommand of the Military Air Transport Service , a USAF major command , ARS was redesignated as the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service on 1 Jan 1966 when MATS was redesignated as the Military...
squadrons and aircraft as well as Air Defense Command interceptor aircraft and other air defense units.
Discontinued on 8 January 1966 along with MATS, equipment and personnel reassigned to MAC 437th MAW same date.
Lineage
- Established as 1608th Air Transport Group on 1 January 1954
- Activated on 15 January 1954
- Redesignated as 1608th Air Transport Wing (Medium) on 1 March 1955
- Redesignated as 1608th Air Transport Wing (Heavy) on 24 November 1957
- Discontinued on 8 January 1966
Components
- 1608th Air Transport Group, 18 Jan 1954-18 Jan 1963
- 3d Air Transport Squadron, 18 Jun 1958-8 Jan 1966
- 17th Air Transport Squadron, 18 Jul 1954-8 Jan 1966
- 22d Air Transport Squadron, 8 Mar 1954-18 Mar 1958
- 23d Air Transport Squadron, 8 Mar 1954-1 Jul 1955
- 35th Air Transport Squadron, 20 Oct 1955-18 Jun 1958
- 41st Air Transport Squadron, 13 Apr 1954-8 Jan 1966
- 76th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Feb 1956-8 Jan 1966
- 86th Air Transport Squadron, 20 May 1954, 1 Jul 1955
Aircraft
- VC-47D Skytrain, 1954–1966
- C-45G Expeditor, 1954–1955
- T-34A MentorT-34The T-34 was a Soviet medium tank produced from 1940 to 1958. Although its armour and armament were surpassed by later tanks of the era, it has been often credited as the most effective, efficient and influential design of World War II...
, 1954
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1954–1955 - C-121C Constellation, 1955–1963
- C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
, 1957–1965 - C-130E Hercules, 1962–1966
- 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...
, 1965–1966
- H-19B Chickasaw, 1954–1960
- H-43 Huskie, 1960–1966