Lineage

Established as 403 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active duty on 1 Apr 1951. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1953. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jan 1953. Ordered to active duty on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from active duty on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated: 403 Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 Jul 1967; 403 Composite Wing on 31 Dec 1969; 403 Tactical Airlift Wing on 29 Jul 1971; 403 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Wing on 15 Mar 1976; 403 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance Wing on 1 Jan 1977; 403 Tactical Airlift Wing on 31 Dec 1987; 403 Airlift Wing on 1 Feb 1992; 403 Wing on 1 Jul 1994.

Assignments

Fourth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949; Tactical Air Command, 2 Apr 1951; Eighteenth Air Force, 1 Jun 1951-1 Jan 1953 (attached to 315 Air Division, 14 Apr 1952-1 Jan 1953). Fourth Air Force, 1 Jan 1953; Tenth Air Force, 16 Nov 1957; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Sep 1960; Twelfth Air Force, 28 Oct 1962; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 28 Nov 1962; Central Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Apr 1971; Western Air Force Reserve Region, 15 Mar 1976; Fourth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976; Fourteenth Air Force, 1 Aug 1992; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1993; Tenth Air Force, 1 Oct 1994; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Apr 1997-.

Components

Groups. . 314: attached 14 Apr-31 Dec 1952. 403 Troop Carrier (later, 403 Operations): 27 Jun 1949-1 Jan 1953; 1 Jan 1953-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992-. 908: 1 Aug 1992-1 Oct 1994. 913 Tactical Airlift (later, 913 Airlift): 21 Apr 1971-8 Jan 1976; 1 Aug 1992-1 Oct 1994. 914: 21 Apr 1971-8 Jan 1976. 920 Weather Reconnaissance: 1 Jan 1977-1 Jul 1981; 1 Mar 1983-1 Nov 1983. 927 Troop Carrier (later, 927 Tactical Airlift; 927 Tactical Air Support; >927 Tactical Airlift): 11 Feb 1963-31 Dec 1969; 1 Jun 1970-15 Mar 1976. 928: 11 Feb 1963-1 Dec 1969. 929: 11 Feb 1963-1 Jan 1964. 930 Special Operations: 1 Jun 1970-15 Jan 1971. 931 Tactical Air Support: 1 Jun 1970-15 Jan 1971. 934: 31 Dec 1987-1 Aug 1992. 939 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery: 1 Apr 1985-1 Oct 1987.

Squadrons. 21: attached 14 Apr-1 Dec 1952. 53: attached 14 Apr-c. 12 Sep 1952. 301 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery: 15 Mar 1976-1 Oct 1987. 303 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery: 15 Mar 1976-1 Apr 1985. 304 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery: 15 Mar 1976-8 Apr 1985. 305 Aerospace Rescue and Recovery: 15 Mar 1976-1 Oct 1987. 815 Weather Reconnaissance (later, 815 Tactical Airlift; 815 Airlift): 1 Nov 1983-1 Aug 1992. 6461: attached 1-31 Dec 1952.

Stations

Portland Arpt (later, IAP), OR, 27 Jun 1949-25 Mar 1952; Ashiya AB, Japan, 14 Apr 1952-1 Jan 1953. Portland IAP, WA, 1 Jan 1953; Selfridge AFB (later, AGB), MI, 16 Nov 1957; Keesler AFB, MS, 1 Nov 1983-.

Commanders

Brig Gen Chester E. McCarty, 27 Jun 1949; Col Sidney S. Murphy, c. Jul 1951; Brig Gen Chester E. McCarty, Aug 1951; Lt Col Robert E. Harrington, 6 Dec 1951; Brig Gen Chester E. McCarty, 8 Feb 1952; Col Philip H. Best, 14 Apr 1952; Col Maurice F. Casey Jr., 15 May 1952-1 Jan 1953. Unkn, 1 Jan 1953-unkn; Col Robert W. Sheets, by Jan 1954; Col James H. McPartlin, 15 Nov 1957; Col Gari F. King, 1 Aug 1961; Col George L. Kittle, 1 Dec 1970; Brig Gen George H. Wilson, 22 Mar 1971; Brig Gen Roy M. Marshall, 25 Jun 1973; Col James S. Brown, 22 Jul 1976; Lt Col Elmer C. Apel, 17 Aug 1976; Col James C. Wahleithner, 18 Jan 1977; Brig Gen Richard L. Hall, 9 Apr 1979; Brig Gen Joe L. Campbell, 24 May 1989; Brig Gen Ernest R. Webster, 2 Mar 1994-.

Aircraft

T-7, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1951; C/TC-46, 1949-1952; C-46, 1952; C/VC-47, 1952; C-54, 1952; C-119, 1952. C-46, 1953-1957; TC-47, 1957-unkn; C-119, 1957-1969, 1970; U-3, 1969, 1970-1971; O-2, 1970-1971; A-37, 1970-1971; C-130, 1971-1976, 1977, 1987-; HH-1, 1976-1987; HH-3, 1976-1987; CH-3, 1976-1977; HC-130, 1976-1987; WC-130, 1977-1981, 1983-; UH-1, 1979-1987.

Operations

Trained in the US for airlift operations, 1949-1952. During 1952, from a base in Japan, managed troop carrier resources in support of the Far East Command and the United Nations in the Korean War. Performed airborne assault, airdrop, air-landed resupply, medical air evacuation, and other transport missions. Routine airlift training in the Reserve, 1953-1962. Also supported Army airdrop training, ferried aircraft to various parts of the country and the world, took part in training exercises, and performed humanitarian missions. Served on active duty during Cuban Missile Crisis, Oct-Nov 1962. In 1963, it moved US troops to the Dominican Republic and airlifted Christmas gifts destined for US servicemen in Vietnam. From 1969 to 1971, the 403d served as a composite wing with a variety of missions and aircraft before returning to tactical airlift missions. It took part in several tactical exercises and humanitarian airlift operations, 1971-1976 and ferried aircraft, supplies, and equipment to US forces in Vietnam and other points in the Far East. In 1976-1977, the wing performed search and rescue, aeromedical evacuation, and weather reconnaissance missions. Its crews and aircraft flew into hurricanes to determine their intensities and movements. In 1978, after a mass suicide at Jonestown in Guyana, the wing helped recover the bodies of US citizens. After the eruption of Mount St. Helens (Washington) in 1980, the wing participated in search and rescue efforts. In the 1980s it supported deployments and the first shuttle launches, flying precautionary search and rescue missions. Occasionally provided weather reconnaissance data to supplement that provided by satellites. In 1987, the wing gave up its search and rescue functions and returned to tactical airlift missions, but retained its weather reconnaissance capability. Supported rotations to Panama during the 1990s. The wing continued to fly tactical airlift missions worldwide, including contingency and humanitarian airlift operations.

Service Streamers

Korean Theater.

Campaign Streamers

None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

Panama, 1989-1990.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1977-31 Dec 1978; 1 Jul 1984-30 Jun 1986; 1 May 1992-30 Apr 1994; 1 May 1994-30 Apr 1996; 1 May 1996-31 Aug 1997. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [1952]. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb-11 Mar 1968.

Bestowed Honors.Authorized to display honors earned by the 403 Troop Carrier Group prior to 15 Aug 1947. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Philippine Islands, 17 Apr-30 Jun 1945. Navy Unit Commendation: [Sep 1943]-15 Jul 1944. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 24 Jan 2001

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998

Emblem

Approved on 19 Dec 1995.