512th Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The 512th Airlift Wing, an associate C-5 Galaxy
Air Force Reserve
unit is located at Dover AFB, Delaware
. The 512 AW helps maintain, repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts. Members of the 512 AW work side-by-side with members of the 436th Airlift Wing
(436 AW) in fulfilling the mission, maintaining and flying the C-5, and working together to form the "Dover Team".
As one of only two Air Force Reserve
Associate units flying the C-5, the 512 AW has a unique role in the Air Force. The first C-5 all-reserve aircrew flew out of Dover AFB November 1973.
In June 1952, the 512th Troop Carrier Wing was again activated in the Reserve and stationed at New Castle County Airport. 512th aircrews flew C-46 Commando
s throughout the periods of reserve and active status. In 1957, the Wing converted to C-119 Flying Boxcar
s. After that transition, the Wing was transferred to Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania
, in July 1958. While at NAS Willow Grove, the Cuban Missile Crisis
thrust the Wing into active service for one month, beginning 28 October 1962.
The 512th Troop Carrier Wing, (Medium), was redesignated the 512th Troop Carrier Wing in January 1965. That same month the Wing was transferred without personnel or equipment to Carswell Air Force Base
, Texas. Aircrews conducted training and airlift operations in C-124 Globemasters. While stationed at Carswell AFB, two more name changes occurred: 1 December 1965, the Wing was redesignated the 512th Transportation Wing, (Heavy), and on 1 January 1966, was redesignated the 512th Military Airlift Wing. On 29 June 1971, the Wing was inactivated for a second time.
On 29 January 1973 the wing was redesignated the 512th Military Airlift Wing (Associate) and activated in the Reserve on 1 July 1973 at Dover AFB, Delaware flying the C-5A Galaxy aircraft. Upon activation at Dover AFB, the 512 AW absorbed the personnel of the 912th Military Airlift Group (Associate) stationed at Dover AFB.The 912th Military Airlift Group (Associate) previously assigned to the 514th Military Airlift Wing, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, for administrative support, but stationed and operated at Willow Grove ARS, PA. The 912th Military Airlift group moved from Willow Grove ARS to Dover AFB, in September 1968. Equipped with C-141 Starlifter
aircraft, the 912th became the third associate group in the Air Force Reserve to fly the C-141. The wing was redesignated the 512th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994.
Many missions have been flown by the Citizen Airman of the 512th Airlift Wing. Over 1,300 members of the 512th were recalled to active duty during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Fliers, Maintenance Specialists, Aerial Porters, Medical Personnel, and Security Police were deployed around the world as well as stateside for more than a year. In 2007, the Wing began a new era in airlift when the 326th Airlift Squadron began flying the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft when it received their first C-17 on 31 May 2007.
Col Randal L. Bright serves as the 512th Airlift Wing's commander.
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
Air Force Reserve
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....
unit is located at Dover AFB, Delaware
Delaware
Delaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
. The 512 AW helps maintain, repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts. Members of the 512 AW work side-by-side with members of the 436th Airlift Wing
436th Airlift Wing
The 436th Airlift Wing is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, and is based at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware....
(436 AW) in fulfilling the mission, maintaining and flying the C-5, and working together to form the "Dover Team".
As one of only two Air Force Reserve
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....
Associate units flying the C-5, the 512 AW has a unique role in the Air Force. The first C-5 all-reserve aircrew flew out of Dover AFB November 1973.
Mission
Recruit, train, equip and retain a qualified force to augment major commands with people and units to support strategic aircraft during peace and war.History
The 512th Airlift Wing traces its origins to the 512th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, 4 August 1949. Reading Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, housed the Wing just short of a year before it was transferred to New Castle County Airport, Delaware, in April 1950. In March of the following year the Wing mobilized for the first time for the Korean War, but was inactivated two weeks later 1 April 1951.In June 1952, the 512th Troop Carrier Wing was again activated in the Reserve and stationed at New Castle County Airport. 512th aircrews flew C-46 Commando
C-46 Commando
The 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...
s throughout the periods of reserve and active status. In 1957, the Wing converted to 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...
s. After that transition, the Wing was transferred to Willow Grove Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in July 1958. While at NAS Willow Grove, the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
thrust the Wing into active service for one month, beginning 28 October 1962.
The 512th Troop Carrier Wing, (Medium), was redesignated the 512th Troop Carrier Wing in January 1965. That same month the Wing was transferred without personnel or equipment to Carswell Air Force Base
Carswell Air Force Base
Carswell Air Force Base, was a United States Air Force Strategic Air Command base located about northwest central of Fort Worth, Texas, United States; the air force base is mostly within the Fort Worth city limits and has portions within Westworth and White Settlement...
, Texas. Aircrews conducted training and airlift operations in C-124 Globemasters. While stationed at Carswell AFB, two more name changes occurred: 1 December 1965, the Wing was redesignated the 512th Transportation Wing, (Heavy), and on 1 January 1966, was redesignated the 512th Military Airlift Wing. On 29 June 1971, the Wing was inactivated for a second time.
On 29 January 1973 the wing was redesignated the 512th Military Airlift Wing (Associate) and activated in the Reserve on 1 July 1973 at Dover AFB, Delaware flying the C-5A Galaxy aircraft. Upon activation at Dover AFB, the 512 AW absorbed the personnel of the 912th Military Airlift Group (Associate) stationed at Dover AFB.The 912th Military Airlift Group (Associate) previously assigned to the 514th Military Airlift Wing, McGuire AFB, New Jersey, for administrative support, but stationed and operated at Willow Grove ARS, PA. The 912th Military Airlift group moved from Willow Grove ARS to Dover AFB, in September 1968. Equipped with 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...
aircraft, the 912th became the third associate group in the Air Force Reserve to fly the C-141. The wing was redesignated the 512th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994.
Many missions have been flown by the Citizen Airman of the 512th Airlift Wing. Over 1,300 members of the 512th were recalled to active duty during Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm. Fliers, Maintenance Specialists, Aerial Porters, Medical Personnel, and Security Police were deployed around the world as well as stateside for more than a year. In 2007, the Wing began a new era in airlift when the 326th Airlift Squadron began flying the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft when it received their first C-17 on 31 May 2007.
Col Randal L. Bright serves as the 512th Airlift Wing's commander.
Lineage
- Established as 512th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 4 Aug 1949
- Activated in the Reserve on 2 Sep 1949
- Ordered to active service on 15 Mar 1951
- Inactivated on 1 Apr 1951
- Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952
- Ordered to active service on 28 Oct 1962
- Relieved from active duty on 28 Nov 1962
- Redesignated: 512th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 8 Jan 1965
- Redesignated: 512th Air Transport Wing, Heavy on 1 Dec 1965
- Redesignated: 512th Military Airlift Wing on 1 Jan 1966
- Inactivated on 29 Jun 1971
- Redesignated 512th Military Airlift Wing (Associate) on 29 Jan 1973
- Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jul 1973
- Redesignated: 512th Airlift Wing (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992
- Redesignated: 512th Airlift Wing on 1 Oct 1994.
Assignments
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 2 Sep 1949 - First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 1 Aug 1950 – 1 Apr 1951 - 1 Air Reserve District, 14 Jun 1952
- First Air ForceFirst Air ForceThe First Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida....
, 14 Jan 1954 - Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 25 Mar 1958 - Second Air Force Reserve Region, 15 Aug 1960
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 28 Oct 1962 - Second Air Force Reserve Region, 28 Nov 1962
- Fourth Air Force Reserve Region, 8 Jan 1965
- Central Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969 – 29 Jun 1971
- Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Jul 1973
- Fourteenth Air ForceFourteenth Air ForceThe Fourteenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Space Command . It is headquartered at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California....
, 8 Oct 1976 - Twenty-Second Air ForceTwenty-Second Air ForceTwenty-Second Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of Air Force Reserve Command . It was activated on 1 July 1993 and is headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia....
, 1 Jul 1993 – present
Components
- 512th Troop Carrier (later, 512 Operations) Group: 2 Sep 1949 – 1 Apr 1951; 14 Jun 1952-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992 – present
- 912th Troop Carrier Group: 11 Feb 1963 – 8 Jan 1965
- 913th Troop Carrier Group: 11 Feb 1963 – 8 Jan 1965
- 914th Troop Carrier Group: 11 Feb 1963 – 1 Jan 1964
- 916th Military Airlift Group: 8 Jan 1965 – 21 Apr 1971 (detached 1–21 Apr 1971)
- 917th Military Airlift Group: 5 Feb 1965 – 21 Apr 1971 (detached 1–21 Apr 1971)
- 937th Military Airlift Group: 5 Feb 1965 – 21 Apr 1971 (detached 1–21 Apr 1971).
- 326th Military Airlift Squadron: 14 Apr 1959 – 11 Feb 1963; 1 Jul 1973-1 Aug 1992
- 327th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 Apr 1959 – 11 Feb 1963
- 328th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 Apr 1959 – 11 Feb 1963
- 709th Military Airlift Squadron: 1 Oct 1973 – 1 Aug 1992.
Stations
- Reading Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 2 Sep 1949
- New Castle County Airport, Delaware, 12 Apr 1950 – 1 Apr 1951; 14 Jun 1952
- U.S. Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, 20 Jul 1958
- Carswell AFB, Texas, 8 Jan 1965 – 29 Jun 1971
- Dover AFB, Delaware, 1 Jul 1973 – present
Aircraft
- AT-7, AT-11, and 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 - 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...
, 1952–1957 - C-119 Flying BoxcarC-119 Flying BoxcarThe 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...
, 1957–1965 - 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....
, 1965–1971 - 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...
, 1973 - C-5 GalaxyC-5 GalaxyThe Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
, 1973 – present