The 76 Airlift Division was a division

Division (military)

A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...

 of the 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...

, activated on 1 March 1976, inactivated on 30 September 1977, reactivated on 15 December 1980, and then inactivated again on 1 October 1985.

Its principal component was the 89th Military Airlift Wing

89th Airlift Wing

The 89th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force is based at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility and has an operational force of over 1,000 personnel...

, from 1 July 1976–30 September 1977; 15 December 1980–1 October 1985.

Operations

The division was formed as a restructuring of Headquarters Command, U.S. Air Force.

From 1976

1976 in aviation

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1976:-January:*January 1 - Middle East Airlines Flight 438, a Boeing 720, aircraft over Saudi Arabia when bomb exploded in the forward baggage compartment, aircraft destroyed killing 81.-March:...

 through 1977

1977 in aviation

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1977:-January:* January 15 – Linjeflyg Flight 618, a Vickers Viscount 838. crashes in Kälvesta, Sweden just outside Stockholm killing all 22 on board....

, and after 1980

1980 in aviation

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1980:-Events:* Summer 1980 – The British Aerospace Sea Harrier enters operational service with the Fleet Air Arm, providing the British Royal Navy with its first high-performance fixed-wing aircraft capability since the retirement of the aircraft...

, the 76th provided airlift support for the President, Vice President, cabinet members, and other high ranking civilian and military dignitaries of the United States and other governments. Subordinate units also operated, administered and maintained Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, and provided logistical support for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post (NEACP), and other flying units. One subordinate component, the 1st Helicopter Squadron, provided support for the Department of Defense (DOD)

United States Department of Defense

The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

, and the Defense Preparedness Agency plan for emergency evacuation

Emergency evacuation

Emergency evacuation is the immediate and rapid movement of people away from the threat or actual occurrence of a hazard. Examples range from the small scale evacuation of a building due to a bomb threat or fire to the large scale evacuation of a district because of a flood, bombardment or...

 of key government officials and to support the national search and rescue plan.

Emblem

Azure, a globe with axis bendwise celeste gridlined light green, surmounted in pale by a silhouetted aircraft ascending silver gray, overall coinciding with the edge of the globe in base, the US Capitol argent garnished of the first, all within a diminished bordure or. (approved c. July 1976)

Assignments

Twenty-First Air Force

Twenty-First Air Force

The 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...

, 1 March 1976–30 September 1977.

Twenty-First Air Force, 15 December 1980–1 October 1985.

Stations

Andrews Air Force Base

Andrews Air Force Base

Joint Base Andrews is a United States military facility located in Prince George's County, Maryland. The facility is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force 11th Wing, Air Force District of Washington ....

, Maryland

Maryland

Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...

, 1 March 1976–30 September 1977.

Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 15 December 1980–1 October 1985.

Aerospace vehicles

The "V" prefix of these aircraft designate VIP transport and/or substitute/replacement/back-up Air Force One

Air Force One

Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...

 presidential transport aircraft.

C-12 Huron

C-12 Huron

The C-12 Huron is the military designation for a series of twin-engine turboprop aircraft based on the Beechcraft Super King Air and Beechcraft 1900. C-12 variants are used by the United States Air Force, United States Army, United States Navy and United States Marine Corps...

, 1976–1977;
C-135 Stratolifter

C-135 Stratolifter

|-See also:-External links:* at Globalsecurity.org...

, 1976–1977;
CH-3 "Jolly Green Giant"

Sikorsky S-61R

The Sikorsky S-61R is a twin-engine helicopter used in transport or search and rescue roles. A developed version of the S-61/SH-3 Sea King, the S-61R was also built under license by Agusta as the AS-61R...

, 1976–1977;
T-39 Sabreliner, 1976–1977;
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey"

UH-1 Iroquois

The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...

, 1976–1977;
VC-6 Ute

Beechcraft King Air

The Beechcraft King Air family is part of a line of twin-turboprop aircraft produced by the Beech Aircraft Corporation...

, 1976–1977;
VC-9 Nightingale, 1976–1977;
VC-131 Samaritan

C-131 Samaritan

The Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.-Design and development:...

, 1976–1977;
VC-135 Stratolifter

C-135 Stratolifter

|-See also:-External links:* at Globalsecurity.org...

, 1976–1977;
VC-137 Stratoliner, 1976–1977;
VC-140 JetStar

Lockheed JetStar

The Lockheed JetStar is a business jet produced from the early 1960s through the 1970s. The JetStar was the first dedicated business jet to enter service. It was also one of the largest aircraft in the class for many years, seating ten plus two crew...

, 1976–1977.

C-12 Huron, 1980–1985;
C-135 Stratolifter, 1980–1985;
CH-3 "Jolly Green Giant", 1980–1985;
UH-1 Iroquois "Huey", 1980–1985;
VC-6 Ute, 1980–1985;
VC-9 Nightingale, 1980–1985;
VC-135 Stratolifter, 1980–1985;
VC-137 Stratoliner, 1980–1985;
VC-140 JetStar, 1980–1985;
C-20 Gulfstream III, 1983–1985.

Commanders

None (not manned), 1 March 1976–30 June 1976;
Major General William C. Norris, 1 July 1976;
Major General Benjamin F. Starr Jr., 26 July 1977–30 September 1977.

Brigadier General Archer L. Durham, c.15 December 1980;
Brigadier General Albert C. Guidotti, 1 February 1982;
Brigadier General Paul A. Harvey, 22 August 1984–c.1 October 1985.

External links

• Air Force Historical Research Agency: 76th Airlift Division