322d Airlift Division

322d Airlift Division
C-130E Hercules of the 435th Wing[a]
Active	1944–1946; 1947–1949; 1954–1968; 1978–1992
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Command of airlift forces
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater[1]
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
322d Airlift Division emblem[b][1]

The 322d Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-First Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where it was inactivated on 1 April 1992.

History

During World War II, the 322d Troop Carrier Wing primarily carried high priority cargo destined for Air Corps organizations in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA). Besides carrying passengers and cargo, it evacuated wounded personnel and flew courier routes in SWPA.

Active in the reserve from June 1947 to June 1949, it supervised subordinate unit training.

From March 1954, the 322d Air Division was responsible for airlifting personnel, cargo, and mail in Europe. Almost immediately after it commenced operations in Europe, the 322d became involved in a major airlift of French troops (Project Bali Hai) from bases in France to Indochina. Initially concerned only with operations in West Germany and France, it soon began operating throughout the entire United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) area of responsibility. In addition to its routine duties, the division supported numerous humanitarian missions to Turkey, Iran, Morocco, and Pakistan, among other states.

It also provided airlift support in the following crises: the nationalization of the Suez Canal in 1956; the Hungarian Revolution of 1956; the 1958 Lebanon crisis; support for UN forces in the Congo in 1960–1961; the invasion of India by Communist Chinese forces in 1962–1963; airlift of peacekeeping forces to Cyprus in 1964; and the Middle East crisis of 1967.

Between 1954 and 1968, the division supported numerous USAFE and NATO exercises.

From June 1978, the 322d managed tactical airlift forces stationed and operating in the European theater and coordinated strategic airlift from the United States and other origins. It also assumed responsibility for all aeromedical operations and administrative airlift in the theater, including highly positioned military and civilian U.S. and foreign government officials. In addition, the division supported military exercises such as Ardent Ground, Dawn Patrol, Flintlock, and Cold Fire/Reforger.

In 1985 the 322d acquired peacetime responsibility for airlift management in Africa.

Lineage

• Established as the 322d Troop Carrier Wing on 4 December 1944

Activated on 30 December 1944

Inactivated on 15 February 1946

• Activated in the reserve on 12 June 1947

Redesignated 322d Air Division, Troop Carrier on 16 April 1948.

Inactivated on 27 June 1949

• Redesignated 322d Air Division (Combat Cargo) and activated on 1 March 1954

Redesignated 322d Air Division on 8 January 1966

Inactivated on 24 December 1968

• Redesignated 322d Airlift Division on 13 June 1978

Activated on 23 June 1978

Inactivated on 1 April 1992^[1]

Assignments

• Far East Air Forces, 30 December 1944
• Far East Air Service Command, 3 January 1945 – 15 February 1946
• Second Air Force, 12 June 1947
• Tenth Air Force, 1 July 1948 – 27 June 1949
• United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 March 1954
• Eastern Transport Air Force (later Twenty-First Air Force), 1 April 1964 – 24 December 1968
• Twenty-First Air Force, 23 June 1978 – 1 April 1992^[1]

Stations

• Hollandia, New Guinea, 30 December 1944
• Manila, Luzon, Philippines, 22 July 1945 – 15 February 1946
• Lowry Field (later Lowry Air Force Base), Colorado, 12 June 1947 – 27 June 1949
• Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany, 1 March 1954
• Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 22 March 1954 – 12 August 1955
• Évreux-Fauville Air Base, France, 12 August 1955 – 1 April 1964
• Châteauroux-Déols Air Base, France, 1 April 1964 – 5 August 1966
• RAF High Wycombe, England, 5 August 1966 – 24 December 1968
• Ramstein Air Base, Germany, 23 June 1978 – 1 April 1992^[1]

Operational components

Wings

• Air Transport Wing, Provisional (Europe): attached 18 July-27 August 1960
• 60th Troop Carrier Wing: Attached 1 April 1954 – 31 July 1955, assigned 1 August 1955 – 25 September 1958
• 317th Troop Carrier Wing: Attached 1 April 1954 – 31 July 1955; 1 April – 20 June 1964; assigned 1 August 1955 – 25 September 1958; 15 April 1963 – 1 April 1964
• 435th Tactical Airlift Wing: 23 June 1978 – 1 April 1992
• 465th Troop Carrier Wing: Attached 1 April 1954 – 31 July 1955, assigned 1 August 1955 – 8 July 1957
• 513th Troop Carrier Wing (later 513 Tactical Airlift Wing): Attached 15 April 1966 – 24 December 1968^[1]

Groups

• 309th Troop Carrier Group: 2 June-8 August 1956 (detached entire period)
• 313th Tactical Airlift Group: 15 September 1978 – 1 April 1992
• 374th Troop Carrier Group: 30 December 1944 – 26 January 1946 (detached until 3 January 1945)
• 403d Troop Carrier Group: 1–26 January 1946
• 435th Tactical Airlift Group: 23 June-15 September 1978
• 439th Military Airlift Support Group: 8 January 1966 – 24 December 1968
• 440th Troop Carrier Group: 3 September 1947 – 27 June 1949
• 608th Military Airlift Group: 1 August 1983 – 1 April 1992
• 1602d Air Transport Group: 1 July 1964 – 8 January 1966^[1]

Squadrons

Other

• Military Airlift Center, Europe: 23 June 1978 – 15 January 1981
• Airlift Task Force, Provisional: attached 18–29 May 1958

Aircraft

See also

• List of United States Air Force air divisions

References

Notes

Explanatory notes

Citations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.

External links

• The short film Big Picture: United States Strike Command is available for free viewing and download at the Internet Archive.

This page was last edited on 6 September 2023, at 21:18