452nd AMW History

Question 1

What are the current units under the 452nd Air Mobility Wing?

Answer 1

1) 452nd Operations Group
a) 336 Air Refueling Sq (KC-135)
b) 912th Air Refueling Sq (KC-135)
c) 729th Airlift Sq (C-17)
d) 730th Air Mobility Training Sq (C-17, KC-135)
e) 452nd Aeromedical Evacuation Sq
2) 452nd Maintenance Group
3) 452nd Mission Support Group
4) 452nd Medical Group

Question 2

Where does the 452nd Air Mobility Wing trace its lineage?

Answer 2

The 452nd Bombardment Wing established in 1944 flying B-17s out of England during WWII. This group was a unit of 8th Air Force which flew its missions from the East Anglia Base of Deopham Green in 1944 and 1945. The wing consisted of the 728th, 729th, 730th and 731st Bombardment Squadrons. Although the bomb group was deactivated in 1945, the present day 452d works to maintain a special relationship with the 452d Bomb Group Memorial Association to keep its proud heritage alive.

Question 3

What happened during the Korean War?

Answer 3

During the Korean Conflict, the 452d Bomb Wing was mobilized and ordered to active duty August 10, 1950. Flying B-26s from bases in Japan, the 452d flew its first Korean combat mission October 27th. It was the first Air Force Reserve wing to fly combat missions in Korea. The unit returned to reserve status May 10, 1952, and returned to Long Beach, Calif.

Question 4

What happened on June 13, 1952?

Answer 4

The unit, still equipped with B-26s was redesignated the 452d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing.

Question 5

What happened on May 22, 1955?

Answer 5

The unit was redesignated the 452d Tactical Bombardment Wing.

Question 6

What happened on 1 July, 1957?

Answer 6

The 452d converted to C-46 “Commandos” July 1, 1957, and was redesignated the 452d Troop Carrier Wing (Medium).

Question 7

What happened on 8 April 1958?

Answer 7

The 452d converted to the C-119 “Flying Boxcar” April 8, 1958, and moved from Long Beach to March AFB, Calif., November 1, 1960.

Question 8

What happened on 1 April, 1965?

Answer 8

The 452d’s 942d Troop Carrier Group converted to C-124 “Globemasters” April 1, 1965, while the 943d and 944th Troop Carrier Groups continued to fly the C-119.

Question 9

What happened on 1 July, 1966?

Answer 9

The 452d Troop Carrier Wing was redesignated the 452d Military Airlift Wing July 1, 1966.

Question 10

What do 1968 and Associate Reserve Program have in common?

Answer 10

In 1968, the former 944th became the 445th Airlift Wing and the first unit in the Associate Reserve Program. Under the Associate Program, the mission of the 445th was to provide necessary augmentation to the active duty in the form of aircrew, maintenance and aerial port operations to achieve full use of military airlift aircraft under various conditions of heightened tension, up to and including total mobilization of reserve forces.

Question 11

What happened on January 1, 1972?

Answer 11

The 452d MAW moved to Hamilton AFB, Calif., January 1, 1972, converted to C-130B “Hercules” April 1, and was redesignated the 452d Tactical Airlift Wing.

Question 12

What happened on October 1, 1973?

Answer 12

Hamilton AFB became an Air Force Reserve base and the 452d its host unit October 1, 1973.

Question 13

What happened on January 12, 1976?

Answer 13

The 452d returned to March AFB January 12, 1976 and converted to KC-135E “Stratotanker” aircraft, and was redesignated the 452d Air Refueling Wing October 1, 1976.

Question 14

Upon its return to March AFB what was the 452nd responsible for?

Answer 14

The 452d ARW became the single manager of all Air Force Reserve refueling organizations flying the KC-135E. It was responsible for the 336th Air Refueling Squadron at March AFB, 940th Air Refueling Group at Mather AFB, located in Sacramento, Calif., and the 931st Air Refueling Group at Grissom AFB, Ind.

Question 15

In October 1977 what happened?

Answer 15

In October 1977, the wing became the first reserve unit to stand alert alongside a then Strategic Air Command (SAC) active duty wing. The action solidified the “Total Force” concept by placing the Air Force Reserve on the front lines of this nation’s military deterrence posture.

Question 16

What happened on November 1, 1981?

Answer 16

The 452d entered the Associate program again when it formed the 78th Air Refueling Squadron (Associate) November 1, 1981, at Barksdale AFB, LA. This squadron became the first reserve unit to fly the Air Force’s new KC-10A “Extender” tanker/cargo aircraft.

Question 17

What were the two sisters squadrons formed and what were their names?

Answer 17

Two sister squadrons, the 79th ARS and 77th ARS were formed and activated at March AFB, Calif., and Seymour-Johnson, N.C., September 1, 1981 and October 1, 1985, respectively.

Question 18

What happened on this date - April 1, 1993?

Answer 18

On April 1, 1993, the 445th Military Airlift Wing located at Norton AFB, Calif., became the first Associate Wing to transition to a “unit-equipped” wing by taking ownership of its own aircraft and resources. The wing’s two flying squadrons, 729th Airlift Squadron and 730th Airlift Squadron trace their lineage directly to the 729th and 730th Bombardment Squadrons under the 452d Bombardment Wing during World War II.

Question 19

What happened in 1993?

Answer 19

In 1993, March AFB was selected for realignment. The 445th MAW was transferred from Norton AFB, to March AFB. As part of the Air Force’s realignment, March’s two reserve units, the 445th MAW and 452nd ARW were deactivated and their personnel and equipment joined under the 452nd Air Mobility Wing on April 1, 1994.

Question 20

What happened on April 1, 1996?

Answer 20

On April 1, 1996, March officially became March Air Reserve Base. In 2005, the wing retired its C-141 fleet. A year later, the wing began to receive its eight C-17s.

Question 21

What units currently comprise the 452nd Air Mobility Wing?

Answer 21

The wing consists of the operations group which includes a C-17 “Globemaster III” flying squadron and a KC-135 R “Stratotanker” flying squadron as well as an aeromedical evacuation squadron; the maintenance group includes two aircraft maintenance squadrons, a maintenance operations squadron and a maintenance squadron; the mission support group includes the civil engineering squadron, communications squadron, mission support squadron, security forces squadron, two aerial port squadrons, logistic readiness squadron and a services squadron; the medical group includes an aerospace medicine squadron, aeromedical staging squadron and a medical squadron. In addition, the commander has a personal staff which consists of the following offices: inspector general, legal, chaplain, financial management, public affairs, recruiting, safety plans, historian and equal opportunity.

Question 22

What happen on Dec. 3, 2010?

Answer 22

On Dec. 3, 2010, the 912th Air Refueling Squadron reactivated and joined the March team as an active duty associate unit.

Question 23

Lineage?

Answer 23

Established as 452d Bombardment Wing, Light on 10 May 1949
Activated in the Reserve on 27 June 1949
452d Bombardment Group, Light assigned as subordinate unit
Ordered to Active Service on 10 August 1950
Inactivated on 10 May 1952
Re-designated: 452d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing on 6 June 1952
Activated in the Reserve on 13 June 1952
Re-designated: 452d Bombardment Wing, Tactical on 22 May 1955
Re-designated: 452d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 1 July 1957
Group element inactivated 14 April 1959
Re-designated: 452d Military Airlift Wing on 1 July 1966
Re-designated: 452d Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 April 1972
Re-designated: 452d Air Refueling Wing on 1 October 1976
Re-designated: 452d Air Refueling Wing, Heavy on 8 March 1978
Group element re-designated 452d Air Refueling Group, Heavy on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
Re-designated: 452d Air Refueling Wing on 1 February 1992
Group element re-designated 452d Operations Group and re-activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1992
Re-designated: 452d Air Mobility Wing on 1 May 1994.

Question 24

Assignments?

Answer 24

Fourth Air Force, 27 June 1949
Tactical Air Command, 10 August 1950
Fifth Air Force, 15 November 1950 – 10 May 1952
Attached to: 8th Fighter-Bomber Wing, 15–30 November 1950
Attached to: 314th Air Division, 1 December 1950 – 25 May 1951
Forth Air Reserve District, 13 June 1952
Fourth Air Force, 1 December 1952
Sixth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 September 1960
Western Air Force Reserve Region, 31 December 1969
Tenth Air Force, 8 October 1976
Fourth Air Force, since 1 October 1993

Question 25

Components - Groups?

Answer 25

98th Air Refueling Group: 1 August 1992 – 1 October 1993
452d Bombardment (later, 452 Tactical Reconnaissance; 452 Bombardment; 452 Troop Carrier; 452 Operations) Group: 27 June 1949 – 10 May 1952; 13 June 1952 – 14 April 1959; 1 August 1992–. 507: 1–15 April 1994. 904: 31 December 1969 – 1 September 1975. 916: 1 October 1986 – 1 July 1987. 931: 1 July 1978 – 1 July 1987
916th Air Refueling Group, 1 October 1986 – 1 July 1987
931st Air Refueling Group, 1 July 1978 – 1 July 1987
939th Tactical (later, 939 Military) Airlift Group: 26 January 1968 – 15 June 1969 (detached entire period)
940th Air Refueling Group: 26 January 1968 – 1 October 1994
942d Troop Carrier (later, 942 Air Transport; 942 Military Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 1 January 1972
943d Troop Carrier (later, 943 Tactical Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 25 April 1969
944th Troop Carrier (later, 944 Tactical Airlift; 944 Military Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 25 July 1969 (detached 25 March 1968 – 25 July 1969)
945th Troop Carrier (later Military Airlift) Group: 17 January 1963 – 1 July 1972 (detached 15 February – 1 July 1972)

Question 26

Components - Squadrons?

Answer 26

77th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 October 1985 – 1 October 1986
78th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 November 1981 – 1 October 1987
79th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1982 – 1 August 1992
336th Air Refueling Squadron: 1 September 1975 – 1 August 1992
728th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963
729th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963
730th Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 17 January 1963
733d Troop Carrier Squadron: 14 April 1959 – 28 October 1962; 28 November 1962 – 17 January 1963
Reserve Air Refueling Squadron, Provisional, 9500: attached 1 November 1980 – 1 November 1981.

Question 27

Stations?

Answer 27

Long Beach AAF (later, Long Beach Muni Aprt), California, 27 June 1949
George AFB, California, 10 August – October 1950
Itazuke AB, Japan, 26 October 1950
Miho AB, Japan, c. 10 December 1950
Pusan East (K-9) Air Base, South Korea, 23 May 1951 – 10 May 1952

Question 28

Aircraft?

Answer 28

B-26 Invader, 1949–1952; 1953–1957, FB-26, 1953–1954, TB-26, 1954–1957
C-46 Commando, 1952–1954, 1957–1958
F/TF-51, 1953–1954
C-45 Expeditor, 1953–1955, 1957–1958
F/TF-80 Shooting Star, 1954–1955
TB-25 Mitchell, 1954–1955
C-47 Skytrain, 1957–1958