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314th Airlift Wing | |
|---|---|
 C-130 with theThunderbirds overLittle Rock | |
| Active | 1948–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Airlift training |
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Little Rock Air Force Base |
| Motto(s) | “Herk Nation Starts Here!”[1] |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat V Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Col. Denny R. Davies |
| Vice commander | Col. Joshua J. Imme |
| Command Chief | CCM Matthew A. Pease |
| Notable commanders | Alfred G. Hansen Thomas S. Power Adriel N. Williams |
| Insignia | |
| 314th Airlift Wing emblem(Approved 12 February 1995)[2] | |
| 314th Troop Carrier Wing emblem (Approved 17 June 1954)[3] |  |
The314th Airlift Wing (314 AW) is awing of theUnited States Air Force based atLittle Rock Air Force Base inLittle Rock,Arkansas. Its mission is to carry outLockheed C-130 Hercules combat airlift training.
The wing was activated in November 1948 as the314th Troop Carrier Wing atSmyrna Air Force Base,Tennessee, but traces earlier history to the creation of the314th Troop Carrier Group in 1942.
The 314th Troop Carrier Group arrived in the Mediterranean in May 1943, taking part with Twelfth Air Force units in two airborne operations. It flew two major night missions in July 1943 during the Sicily invasion, dropping paratroops of 82d Airborne Division near Gela on 9 July and reinforcements to the area on the 11 July. Later in the year, the group transported paratroops and supplies to Salerno, 14 and 15 September, during the invasion of Italy. Squadrons from the 314th flew additional missions in the Mediterranean before it transferred, in February 1944, to England for further training. From there, it took part with the Ninth Air Force in the Normandy invasion, flying numerous supply and reinforcement missions in the ensuing period. The 314th dropped paratroops over Holland in September and carried munitions and supplies to the same area. After moving to France in late February 1945, it participated in the airborne crossings of the Rhine River near Wesel on 24 March. The group then brought supplies and equipment to combat units and airlifted wounded U.S. and Allied personnel to rear-area hospitals.
After the war ended, it evacuated prisoners of war from German camps and flew regular personnel and freight service. Transferring without personnel or equipment (WOPE) to U.S. in February 1946, and in September, again transferred WOPE, to the Panama Canal Zone, where the 314th operated air terminals under Caribbean Air Command. It moved back to the U.S. in October 1948 for further training.
The wing was activated in November 1948 as the314th Troop Carrier Wing atSmyrna Air Force Base, Tennessee.[3]
The wing served in Japan during theKorean War, participating in two major airborne operations, atSunchon in October 1950 and atMunsan-ni in March 1951. It later transported supplies toKorea and evacuated prisoners of war.
The wing was transferred without personnel or equipment back to the U.S. in 1954. There it served as a primary troop carrier unit in the eastern U.S., participating in joint airborne training withArmy forces, developing assault airlift operations, and performing in aerial demonstrations,exercises, maneuvers, and joint operations. Between January 1966 and May 1971, it operated fromChing Chuan Kang Air BaseTaiwan as part of the315th Air Division to provide passenger and cargo airlift throughout the Far East and combat airlift in Southeast Asia during theVietnam War period.
Again returning to the U.S. in May 1971, the 314th acquired the assets of the inactivated64th Tactical Airlift Wing and incurred host organization responsibilities ofLittle Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It has since operated C-130 training schools, providing classroom instruction and flying training to all branches of theU.S. military and allied nations and served as atactical airlift wing involved in worldwide airborne training, airlift, andspecial operations including deployments in support of theCommander-in-Chief,United States Air Forces in Europe. It also provided joint airborne communications center and command post support for the United States Readiness Command. In October 1983, the wing provided Joint Airborne Communications Center/Command Post equipment in support of the rescue of U.S. nationals inGrenada. During December 1989 and January 1990, it provided airlift support during the intervention inOperation Just Cause in Panama.
The 314th conducted airlift control support in addition to airlift of troops and equipment to the Middle East in support of the liberation ofKuwait, August 1990 – March 1991.
From 1991 to present, in addition to its primary mission of aircrew training, the wing conducted numerous disaster relief andhumanitarian support missions including airdrop of U.S. Army Troops; humanitarian aid; emergency supplies; and medical evacuations in addition to airlifting passengers and equipment.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
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