914th Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The 914th Airlift Wing is a wing
of the United States Air Force
based out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
, New York
. The 914th Airlift Wing trains and equips reservists
to perform the combat
mission of aerial re-supply.
, equipment and supplies with delivery by airdrop
, extraction, and airlanding, as well as air evacuation within a theater
of operations
since its creation in 1963. It provided airlift to Southeast Asia
during the Vietnam War
and for other contingency operations, as well as numerous humanitarian
missions. Beginning in 1978 the 914th supported the U.S. Southern Command by periodically fulfilling airlift requirements throughout Latin America
. Between September 1990 and April 1991 the group deployed all aircraft and numerous aircrews and support personnel to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
, to provide airlift in support of the war
in Southwest Asia
, including a tactical
resupply airdrop to troops of the XVIII Airborne Corps. A 314th crew provided the first medevac
mission of the war. Other personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia
and backfilled positions in the U.S. and Europe
. Since the early 1990s the wing has frequently deployed personnel in support of contingency operations in Southwest Asia and the Balkans
.
Following recommendations out the Base Realignment and Closure
progamm, the wing's Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft are pooled with the 107th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard
, also stationed at Niagara Falls, since 2008.
914th Maintenance Group (914 MXG)
914th Mission Support Group (914 MSG)
Wing (air force unit)
Wing is a term used by different military aviation forces for a unit of command. The terms wing, group or Staffel are used for different-sized units from one country or service to another....
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...
based out of the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station
Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Niagara Falls International Airport, New York. It is located east-northeast of Niagara Falls, New York.-Overview:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The 914th Airlift Wing trains and equips reservists
Military reserve force
A military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
to perform the combat
Combat
Combat, or fighting, is a purposeful violent conflict meant to establish dominance over the opposition, or to terminate the opposition forever, or drive the opposition away from a location where it is not wanted or needed....
mission of aerial re-supply.
History
The 914th has trained for and participated in air transport of airborne forcesAirborne forces
Airborne forces are military units, usually light infantry, set up to be moved by aircraft and 'dropped' into battle. Thus they can be placed behind enemy lines, and have an ability to deploy almost anywhere with little warning...
, equipment and supplies with delivery by airdrop
Airdrop
An airdrop is a type of airlift, developed during World War II to resupply otherwise inaccessible troops, who themselves may have been airborne forces. In some cases, it is used to refer to the airborne assault itself. Early airdrops were conducted by dropping or pushing padded bundles from...
, extraction, and airlanding, as well as air evacuation within a theater
Theater (warfare)
In warfare, a theater, is defined as an area or place within which important military events occur or are progressing. The entirety of the air, land, and sea area that is or that may potentially become involved in war operations....
of operations
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
since its creation in 1963. It provided airlift to Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
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...
and for other contingency operations, as well as numerous humanitarian
Humanitarian aid
Humanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
missions. Beginning in 1978 the 914th supported the U.S. Southern Command by periodically fulfilling airlift requirements throughout Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. Between September 1990 and April 1991 the group deployed all aircraft and numerous aircrews and support personnel to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, to provide airlift in support of the war
War
War is a state of organized, armed, and often prolonged conflict carried on between states, nations, or other parties typified by extreme aggression, social disruption, and usually high mortality. War should be understood as an actual, intentional and widespread armed conflict between political...
in Southwest Asia
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
, including a tactical
Military tactics
Military tactics, the science and art of organizing an army or an air force, are the techniques for using weapons or military units in combination for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. Changes in philosophy and technology over time have been reflected in changes to military tactics. In...
resupply airdrop to troops of the XVIII Airborne Corps. A 314th crew provided the first medevac
MEDEVAC
Medical evacuation, often termed Medevac or Medivac, is the timely and efficient movement and en route care provided by medical personnel to the wounded being evacuated from the battlefield or to injured patients being evacuated from the scene of an accident to receiving medical facilities using...
mission of the war. Other personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
and backfilled positions in the U.S. and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Since the early 1990s the wing has frequently deployed personnel in support of contingency operations in Southwest Asia and the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
.
Following recommendations out the Base Realignment and Closure
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...
progamm, the wing's Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft are pooled with the 107th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard
New York Air National Guard
The New York Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of New York. It is, along with the New York Army National Guard, an element of the New York National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as its state mission...
, also stationed at Niagara Falls, since 2008.
Operations
- Vietnam WarVietnam WarThe 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...
- Operation Desert Shield
- Operation Desert Storm
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
Previous designations
- 914th Troop Carrier Group (1963–1967)
- 914th Tactical Airlift Group (1967–1992)
- 914th Airlift Group (1992–1994)
- 914th Airlift Wing (1994 – Present)
Major command
- Continental Air CommandContinental Air CommandContinental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...
(1963) - Air Force Reserve CommandAir Force Reserve CommandThe 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....
(1994 – Present)
Wing
- 512th Troop Carrier Wing512th Airlift WingThe 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...
(1963–1964) - 94th Troop Carrier Wing94th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 94th Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command Twenty-Second Air Force organization stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia....
(1964–1966) - 302d Tactical Airlift Wing302d Airlift WingThe 302nd Airlift Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve based out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado.-Mission:...
(1966–1969) - 440th Tactical Airlift Wing440th Airlift WingThe 440th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to Twenty-Second Air Force. It is stationed at Pope Field, part of Fort Bragg in North Carolina....
(1969–1971) - 403d Tactical Airlift Wing403d Wing403d Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command. It is located at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, and employs a military manning authorization of more than 1,400 reservists, including some 250 full-time air reserve technicians.403d Wing performs...
(1971–1976) - 349th Airlift Wing349th Air Mobility WingThe 349th Air Mobility Wing is the largest associate reserve wing in the United States Air Force. In partnership with its active duty host wing, the 60th Air Mobility Wing the 349 AMW flies, maintains and supports the C-5 Galaxy, KC-10 Extender, C-17 Globemaster III...
(1976–1992) - 94th Airlift Wing94th Airlift WingThe United States Air Force's 94th Airlift Wing is an Air Force Reserve Command Twenty-Second Air Force organization stationed at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia....
(1992–1994)
Subordinate organizations
914th Operations Group (914 OG)- 328th Airlift Squadron328th Airlift SquadronThe 328th Airlift Squadron is part of the 914th Airlift Wing at Niagara Falls International Airport, New York. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.-History:...
(328 AS) - 914 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (914 AES)
914th Maintenance Group (914 MXG)
914th Mission Support Group (914 MSG)
- 30th Aerial Port Squadron (30 APS)
- 914 Aeromedical Staging Squadron (914 ASTS)
- 914th Civil Engineering Squadron (914 CES)
- 914th Communications Squadron (914 CS)
- 914th Contracting Flight (914 CONF)
- 914th Mission Support Flight (914 MSF)
- 914th Security Forces Squadron (914 SFS)
- 914th Services Squadron (914 SVS)
- 914th Logistics Readiness Squadron (914 LRS)