322d Tactical Airlift Wing

History

The unit was activated as the 322d Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 January 1970 at Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany, replacing the 7310th Tactical Airlift Wing.

The 322d Wing used rotational Lockheed C-130 Hercules squadrons for tactical airlift in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. In addition, the wing used Douglas C-118 Liftmasters and Convair C-131 Samaritans for aeromedical airlift until late 1972, then shifted to Douglas C-9A Nightingales for this work, continuing aeromedical airlift operations through March 1975.

The wing utilized Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers (VIP-equipped) to provide transportation for the Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force (CINCUSAF) until early 1973, followed by KC-135B until early 1974 and by Boeing C-135 Stratolifter thereafter. It used VT-29 aircraft to support Air Force North, a North Atlantic Treaty Organization component.

In March 1973, the wing gained the 7th Special Operations Squadron, equipped with Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Bell UH-1H Huey, and C-130E aircraft, which was reassigned from the 26th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Ramstein Air Base when the 26th moved to Zweibrücken Air Base. All but the C-130s were transferred a few months later to conduct unconventional warfare operations in Europe.

The wing was inactivated in June 1975 when it was replaced by the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 322d Tactical Airlift Wing on 21 November 1969
• Activated on 1 January 1970 : Inactivated on 30 June 1975

Assignments

• Seventeenth Air Force, 1 January 1970 – 30 June 1975

Components

; Assigned

• 7th Special Operations Squadron: 15 March 1973 – 30 June 1976
• 55th Aeromedical Airlift Squadron: 1 January 1970 – 31 March 1975
• 7406th Support Squadron (later 7406th Operations Squadron: 15 November 1971 – 30 June 1974
• 7411 Support Flight (later 7411th Operations Flight: 1 February 1972 – 1 February 1975

; Attached C-130 rotation squadrons

• 32d Tactical Airlift Squadron, 15 February – 15 April 1975
• 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 1 January – 2 February 1970; 10 August – 21 October 1970; 29 September – 29 October 1971; 16 August – 16 October 1974
• 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 4 October – 1 November 1970; 8 February – 10 April 1971; 1 September – 5 October 1972; 16 April – 25 June 1974; 15 April – 15 June 1975
• 38th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 16 December 1974 – 15 February 1975
• 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 15 December 1973 – 12 February 1974
• 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 1 September – 5 October 1971; 11 April – 5 June 1973
• 41st Tactical Airlift Squadron, 12 June – 11 August 1972; 11 February – 13 April 1973; 11 August – 12 October 1973
• 47th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 18 February – 18 March 1970, 16 June – 10 August 1970, 8 December 1971 – 14 February 1972, 11 August – 20 October 1972, and 16 December 1972 – 11 February 1973
• 48th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 12 April – 11 June 1972 and 20 October – 16 December 1972
• 50th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 1 June – 15 August 1974
• 61st Tactical Airlift Squadron, 21 October – 19 December 1970, 5 June – 11 August 1973, 16 October – 16 December 1974, 15–30 June 1975
• 62d Tactical Airlift Squadron, 10 April – 12 June 1971
• 347th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 2 February – 13 April 1970, 12 June – 12 August 1971, and 14 February – 17 April 1972
• 348th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 5 October – 8 December 1971
• 772d Tactical Airlift Squadron, 12 February – 16 April 1974
• 774th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 12 October – 15 December 1973
• 778th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 12 August – 1 September 1971
• 779th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 13 April – 16 June 1970 and 19 December 1970 – 7 February 1971

Stations

• Rhein-Main Air Base, West Germany 1 January 1970 – 30 June 1975

Aircraft

• C-130 (1970–1975)
• VC-131 (1973–1974)
• UH-1 (1973)
• Douglas C-9 (1972–1975)
• C-135 (1972–1974)
• VC-118 (1971–1972)
• C-131 (1970–1975)
• Convair VT-29 (1970–1975)
• Douglas VC-54 Skymaster (1970)
• C-47 Skytrain (1970–1972)
• KC-135 (1970–1974)
• C-118 (1970–1972)

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

1. Ravensein, pp. 123–24