The 172d Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force

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...

 airlift

Airlift (military)

An airlift is the organized delivery of supplies or personnel primarily via aircraft.Airlifting consists of two distinct types, strategic and tactical airlifting...

 unit of the Mississippi Air National Guard

Mississippi Air National Guard

The Mississippi Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Mississippi. It is, along with the Mississippi Army National Guard, an element of the Mississippi National Guard...

. It is located at Jackson-Evers International Airport

Jackson-Evers International Airport

Jackson-Evers International Airport is a city-owned, public-use airport located in Jackson, Mississippi, five nautical miles east of the central business district of Jackson, across the Pearl River....

 in Mississippi

Mississippi

Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...

. It operates eight Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and previously flew the C-141B 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...

.

Mission

Coupled with its federal mission to provide the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense with a trained combat-ready strategic military airlift force, the 172d Airlift Wing provides the State of Mississippi support in the event of national emergency, maintains peace and order and supports civil defense and pre-attack planning.

History

The 183rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron held its first formation at Hawkins Field at Jackson, Miss. on July 1, 1953. Following mission and aircraft changes, the same unit continues today as the 183rd Airlift Squadron, part of the 172d Airlift Wing, now located at Allen C. Thompson Field, east of Jackson.

Previous designations

• 172d Airlift Wing (1995–Present)
• 172d Air Transport Group (1964-19??)
• 183rd Aeromedical Transport Squadron (Light) (1957–1964)
• 183rd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (Night Photo) (1953–1957)

Units assigned

• 172d Financial Management Services
• 172d Family Readiness Office
• 172d Operations Group
  • 172d Operations Support Flight
  • 183rd Airlift Squadron
  • 183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
  • 172d Airlift Control Flight
• 172d Maintenance Group
  • 172d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
  • 172d Maintenance Squadron
  • 172d Maintenance Operations Flight
• 172d Support Group
  • 172d Aerial Port Flight
  • 172d Civil Engineering Squadron
  • 172d Communications Flight
  • 172d Mission Support Flight
  • 172d Security Forces Squadron
  • 172d Services Flight
• 172d Medical Group
• 172d Aircraft Generation Squadron

Bases Stationed

• Allen C. Thompson Field, Jackson, Mississippi
  Jackson, Mississippi
  Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
  
   (1963–Present)
• Hawkins Field (airport)
  Hawkins Field (airport)
  Hawkins Field is a city-owned public-use airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Jackson, a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States.-Facilities and aircraft:...
  
  , Jackson, Mississippi
  Jackson, Mississippi
  Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
  
   (1953–1963)

Aircraft operated

• C-17 Globemaster III
  C-17 Globemaster III
  The Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft. Developed for the United States Air Force from the 1980s to the early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas, the C-17 is used for rapid strategic airlift of troops and cargo to main operating bases or forward operating bases throughout...
  
   (2004–Present)
• C-141B Starlifter (1986–2004)
• C-130H Hercules(1980–1986)
• 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....
  
   (1966–1980)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar
  C-119 Flying Boxcar
  The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
  
   (1953–1966)

Decorations

• 12 time recipient of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

External links

• 172d Airlift Wing at globalsecurity.org