Lineage

Established as 302 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 16 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 302 Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 28 Jan 1950. Ordered to active service on 1 Jun 1951. Inactivated on 8 Jun 1951. Redesignated 302 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 26 May 1952. 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: 302 Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 Jul 1967; 302 Special Operations Wing on 1 Jul 1970; 302 Tactical Airlift Wing on 2 Aug 1971. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1981. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Apr 1985. Redesignated 302 Airlift Wing on 1 Feb 1992.

Assignments

Fourth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949 (attached to: 62 Troop Carrier Wing, 27 Jun 1949-5 May 1950; 325 Fighter-All Weather Wing, 6 May 1950-); Western Air Defense Force, 1 Aug 1950-8 Jun 1951 (remained attached to 325 Fighter-All Weather [later, 325 Fighter-Interceptor] Wing to 8 Jun 1951). First Air Force, 14 Jun 1952; Fourteenth Air Force, 25 Mar 1958; Second Air Force Reserve Region, 15 Aug 1960; Ninth Air Force, 28 Oct 1962; Second Air Force Reserve Region, 28 Nov 1962; First Air Force Reserve Region, 24 Jan 1966; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969; Fourteenth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976-1 Apr 1981. Fourth Air Force, 1 Apr 1985; Tenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1994; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Apr 1997-.

Components

Groups. 302 Troop Carrier (later, 302 Operations): 27 Jun 1949-8 Jun 1951; 14 Jun 1952-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992-. 901: 1 Jul 1972-1 Apr 1974. 906: 11 Feb 1963-1 Sep 1975. 907: 11 Feb 1963-1 Sep 1975. 908: 11 Feb-18 Mar 1963; attached 1-24 Oct 1971, assigned 25 Oct 1971-1 Jul 1972. 910: 1 Jul 1966-15 Feb 1970. 911 Military (later, 911 Tactical) Airlift: 25 Feb 1972-1 Oct 1980. 912: 8 Jan 1965-1 Jul 1966. 913: 8 Jan 1965-1 Jul 1966; attached 30 Jun-16 Sep 1970, assigned 17 Sep 1970-21 Apr 1971 (detached 1-21 Apr 1971). 914: 1 Jul 1966-1 Sep 1969 (detached 31 Jul-1 Sep 1969). 930: 31 Dec 1969-1 Jun 1970. 934: 1 Apr 1985-31 Dec 1987; 1 Aug 1992-1 Oct 1994. 943: 1 Apr 1985-1 Feb 1992.

Squadrons.1 Combat Crew (later, 1 Tactical Airlift) Training: 1 Jul 1968-25 Mar 1973. 7 Space Operations: 1 Jan-1 May 1993. Combat Crew Training Squadron Provisional, 302: attached 1 Apr-1 Aug 1968 (not operational, 1 Jul-1 Aug 1968). 355: 14 Apr 1959-11 Feb 1963; 1 Sep 1975-1 Apr 1981. 356: 14 Apr 1959-11 Feb 1963; 1 Sep 1975-1 Apr 1981. 357: 8 May 1961-11 Feb 1963. 731: 1 Apr 1985-1 Aug 1992

Stations

McChord AFB, WA, 27 Jun 1949-8 Jun 1951. Clinton County AFB, OH, 14 Jun 1952; Lockbourne (later Rickenbacker) AFB, OH, 2 Aug 1971-1 Apr 1981. Peterson AFB, CO, 1 Apr 1985-.

Commanders

Col Gibbons, 27 Jun 1949-unkn. Brig Gen Donald J. Campbell, 14 Jun 1952; Brig Gen Ben J. Mangina, 15 Jun 1970; Col Clarence E. Horton, c. Nov 1973; Brig Gen Justin L. Townsley, 12 Dec 1973; Lt Col Billy R. Henderson, 10 Sep 1976; Brig Gen Donald M. Jenkins, 27 Sep 1976; Col Jack P. Ferguson, 19 Mar 1979; Col James R. Milligan, 1 May 1979-1 Apr 1981. Col Joe L. Campbell, 1 Apr 1985; Col Michael J. Quarnaccio, 24 May 1989; Col Robert J. Winner, 4 Mar 1990; Col Joe L. Campbell, 1 Apr 1985; Col Michael J. Quarnaccio, 24 May 1989; Col Robert J. Winner, 4 Mar 1990; Brig Gen Walter T. Hatcher, III, 2 Aug 1992-.

Aircraft

C-82, 1949; C-54, 1949-1950. C-46, 1952-1957; C-119, 1956-1973; U-3, 1970, 1971-1972; C-130, 1970-1971; A-37, 1970; C-123, 1971-1981; C-7, 1972; UC-123, 1973-1981. C-130, 1985-.

Operations

Reserve corollary unit of 62d Troop Carrier Wing, Jun 1949-May 1950, and of 325th Fighter-All Weather (later, 325th Fighter-Interceptor) Wing, May 1950-Jun 1951. Trained as a Reserve troop carrier wing from Jun 1952. Began flying airlift operations in the mid-1950s. Placed on active duty during Cuban missile crisis of 1962. By the mid-1960s, wing aircraft and crews performed worldwide airlift missions and participated in numerous tactical exercises. From Apr 1968 to Mar 1973, provided C-119 gunship training for pilots, navigators, flight engineers, and mechanics of USAF active units and personnel from Jordan, Morocco, Ethiopia, and South Vietnam. The wing assumed a rotational airlift task in support of USAF Southern Command from Apr 1973 through Jan 1976. Also in Apr 1973, the wing assumed a UC-123 aerial spraying mission, which frequently took wing crews to Central America, the Caribbean, the Azores, North Africa, islands of the Pacific, and to many U.S. points for insect-spraying missions. Beginning in Apr 1985, trained to airlift and airdrop troops, equipment, and supplies in a tactical theater. Took part in training and mobility exercises within the United States and to Britain and Panama. Practiced for aeromedical evacuation missions. During the late 1980s and 1990s, the wing transported fire fighters and their equipment and supplies to fight forest fires in western states, delivered relief supplies to hurricane victims, and participated in other humanitarian airlifts and various global contingency operations.

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-31 Dec 1970; 1 Jan 1990-31 Dec 1991; 1 Jan 1998-31 Aug 1999. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb 1968-28 Jan 1973.

Bestowed Honors

Authorized to display honors earned by the 302d Operations Group prior to 15 Aug 1947: Service Streamers. World War II American Theater. Campaign Streamers. None. Decorations. None.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 6 July 2000.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 1995.

Emblem

Approved on 23 Apr 1954.