Lineage

Established as 445 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 24 Jun 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 8 Jul 1952. Redesignated: 445 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 6 Sep 1957; 445 Troop Carrier Wing, Assault on 25 Sep 1958. Ordered to Active Service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from Active Duty on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated: 445 Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on 1 Oct 1965; 445 Air Transport Wing, Heavy on 1 Dec 1965; 445 Military Airlift Wing on 1 Jan 1966. Ordered to Active Service on 26 Jan 1968. Relieved from Active Duty on 1 Jun 1969. Inactivated on 29 Jun 1971. Redesignated 445 Military Airlift Wing (Associate) on 29 Jan 1973. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jul 1973. Redesignated: 445 Airlift Wing (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 445 Airlift Wing on 1 Apr 1993. Inactivated on 1 May 1994. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments

First Air Force, 8 Jul 1952; Fourteenth Air Force, 16 Nov 1957; Third Air Force Reserve Region, 15 Jul 1960; Ninth Air Force, 28 Oct 1962; Third Air Force Reserve Region, 28 Nov 1962; Twenty-First Air Force, 26 Jan 1968; Third Air Force Reserve Region, 2 Jun 1969; Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969-29 Jun 1971. Western Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Jul 1973; Fourth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976-1 May 1994. Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Oct 1994; Fourth Air Force, 1 Apr 1997-.

Components

Groups.. 445 Fighter-Bomber (later, 445 Troop Carrier; 445 Operations): 8 Jul 1952-25 Sep 1958; 1 Aug 1992-1 May 1994; 1 Oct 1994-. 904: 26 Jan 1968-1 Jun 1969. 915: 1 Dec 1965-26 Jan 1968;1 Sep 1969-21 Apr 1971 (detached 1-21 Apr 1971). 918: 11 Feb 1963-21 Apr 1971 (detached 1-21 Apr 1971). 919: 11 Feb 1963-15 Dec 1965. 920: 11 Feb 1963-15 Dec 1965. 943: 1 Feb 1992-30 Jun 1993.

Squadrons. 76: 1 Oct 1961-27 Aug 1962. 336: attached 15 Aug 1968-1 Jun 1969. 700: attached 16 Nov 1957-24 Sep 1958, assigned 25 Sep 1958-11 Feb 1963; attached 15 Aug 1968-1 Jun 1969. 701: 25 Sep 1958-11 Feb 1963 (detached). 702: 25 Sep 1958-11 Feb 1963 (detached). 728: 1 Jul 1973-1 Jan 1992. 729: 1 Jul 1973-1 Aug 1992. 730: 1 Jul 1973-1 Aug 1992.

Stations

Buffalo, NY, 8 Jul 1952; Niagara Falls Muni Aprt, NY, 15 Jun 1955; Dobbins AFB, GA, 16 Nov 1957-29 Jun 1971. Norton AFB, CA, 1 Jul 1973; March AFB, CA, 1 Jul 1993-1 May 1994. Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Oct 1994-.

Commanders

Col Carlton C. Proctor, 8 Jul 1952; Lt Col Talmon R. Mager, 11 Aug 1952-unkn; Col William G. Blum, c. 1955; Col Harry A. Staley, 1955; Brig Gen George H. Wilson, 16 Nov 1957; Col Carl F. Rudder, 1 Jan 1970-29 Jun 1971. Col Ronald R. Blalack, 1 Jul 1973; Col Leonard F. Deist, 14 Oct 1973; Lt Col Rollin L. Ratchen, 30 Apr 1976; Col Alan G. Sharp, 1 Jul 1976; Col William M. Conley, 15 Jul 1977; Col Robert E. Dotson, 15 Sep 1977; Col Donald C. Hart, 1 May 1983; Col Eugene T. Fortson, 6 Jul 1984; Col Michael R. Lee, 29 Aug 1989; Col Claude G. Jackson, 25 Mar 1991; Col Warren D. Snyder, 28 Apr 1991; Col James Sanders, 4 Jan-1 Apr 1994; none (apparently not manned), 1 Apr-1 May 1994. Brig Gen Robert E. Duignan, 1 Oct 1994-.

Aircraft

Primarily T-6, 1952-1955; F-51, 1953-1954; F-80, 1953-1956; F-84, 1955-1957; C-119, 1957, 1957-1959, 1961-1962, 1965-1966; C-123, 1958-1965; and C-124, 1965-1971; but also included C-46, 1952-1956, 1957-1958; TF-51, 1953-1954; TF-80, 1953-1956; T-33, 1953-1957; T-28, 1954-1956; C-45, 1955-1957, 1957-1960; TC-47, 1956-1957, 1957-1958; F-86, 1957-1958; C-47, 1959-1968, 1969-1971; U-3, 1961-1965, 1970-1971; VC-117, 1966-1968; C-117, 1969-1970; VC-47, 1969-1970; HU-16, 1969-1971, and T/VT-29, C-1970-1971. C-41, 1973-1994; C-130, 1992-1993. C-141, 1994-.

Operations

Trained as an Air Force Reserve organization to maintain operational proficiency as a fighter-bomber unit, 1952-1956, and as a troop carrier (later military airlift) unit, 1956-1971. On active duty during the Cuban missile crisis in 1962 and during the period of international tension following the Pueblo incident, 1968-1969. Components of the wing were collocated in New York until Nov 1957. From Nov 1957 to Jun 1971 the wing operated primarily from a base in northern Georgia, but with many of its tactical and support components based in other states. Not operational, 1 Apr-29 Jun 1971. In Jul 1973, replaced the 944th Military Airlift Group at Norton AFB. Until 1993, associated with the 63d Military Airlift Wing of the regular establishment, whose C-141s were flown and maintained in part by Reserve personnel. Participated in airlift missions worldwide, including many humanitarian airlift missions. Airlifted troops and equipment to Panama, Dec 1989-Jan 1990. Participated in the redeployment from Panama of the 82d Airborne Division, airdropping the paratroops at Ft Bragg, NC. Deployed aircrews and support personnel to support Desert Shield/Desert Storm, from Aug 1990 to mid-1991. On 1 Apr 1993, began to gain the C-141s of the 63d Wing, which was in the process of phasing down for inactivation. On 1 Jul 1993, the 445th officially moved to March AFB, although the wing's C-141s and aircrews moved on 14 Aug. Apparently on 1 Apr 1994 the wing's personnel and aircraft were absorbed by the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March AFB prior to inactivation. From 1 Oct 1994, the wing trained for and flew strategic airlift missions worldwide. It supported contingency and humanitarian operations and training exercises, and helped test and calibrate the laser detection and ranging system (LADAR).

Service Streamers

None.

Campaign Streamers

None.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

Panama, 1989-1990.

Decorations

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 26 Jan 1968-31 Mar 1969; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1983; 1 Sep 1985-31 Aug 1987. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-29 Jun 1971.

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 445th Operations Group prior to 8 Jul 1952. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Gotha, Germany, 24 Feb 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 20 Aug 2001.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998.

Emblem

Approved on 10 Jan 1964.