322d Airlift Division

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 322d Airlift Division


caption= 322d Airlift Division emblem
dates= 4 December 1944–15 February 1946;
12 June 1947–27 June 1949;
1 March 1954–24 December 1968;
13 June 1978–1 April 1992
country= United States
allegiance=
branch= Air Force
type=
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size=
command_structure= see "Assignments" section below
garrison= see "Stations" section below
garrison_label=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
colors_label=
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equipment= see "Major Aircraft Operated" section below
equipment_label=
battles=
anniversaries=
decorations=
see "Lineage and honors" section below
battle_honours= The 322d Airlift Division (322d AD) 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. It was inactivated on 1 Apr 1992.

History

Lineage

* Established as 322d Troop Carrier Wing on 4 Dec 1944. : Activated on 30 Dec 1944. : Inactivated on 15 Feb 1946.
* Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jun 1947. : Redesignated 322d Air Division, Troop Carrier on 16 Apr 1948. : Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949.
* Redesignated 322d Air Division (Combat Cargo), and activated, on 1 Mar 1954. : Redesignated 322d Air Division on 8 Jan 1966. : Inactivated on 24 Dec 1968.
* Redesignated 322d Airlift Division on 13 Jun 1978. Activated on 23 Jun 1978. : Inactivated on 1 Apr 1992.

Assignments

* Far East Air Forces, 30 Dec 1944: Far East Air Service Command, 3 Jan 1945 - 15 Feb 1946
* Air Defense Command: Second Air Force, 12 Jun 1947: Tenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1948 - 27 Jun 1949
* United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 Mar 1954 - 1 Apr 1964
* Military Air Transport Service: Eastern Air Force, 1 Apr 1964 - 31 Dec 1965
* Military Airlift Command: Twenty-First Air Force, 1 Jan 1966 - 24 Dec 1968; 23 Jun 1978 - 1 Apr 1992

Stations

* Hollandia, New Guinea, 30 Dec 1944 - 22 Jul 1945
* Manila, Luzon, Philippines, 22 Jul 1945 - 15 Feb 1946.
* Lowry Field (later, AFB), Colorado, 12 Jun 1947 - 27 Jun 1949.
* Wiesbaden, West Germany, 1 Mar 1954 - 22 Mar 1954
* Ramstein AB, West Germany, 22 Mar 1954 - 12 Aug 1955
* Évreux-Fauville Air Base, France, 12 Aug 1955 - 1 Apr 1964
* Châteauroux-Déols Air Base, France, 1 Apr 1964 - 5 Aug 1966
* RAF High Wycombe, England, 5 Aug 1966-24 Dec 1968.
* Ramstein AB, West Germany (later Germany), 23 Jun 1978-1 Apr 1992.

Major Components

Wings
* Air Transport Provisional (Europe): attached 18 Jul-27 Aug 1960
* 60 Troop Carrier: Attached 1 Apr 1954-31 Jul 1955: Assigned 1 Aug 1955-25 Sep 1958
* 317 Troop Carrier: Attached 1 Apr 1954-31 Jul 1955; 1 Apr-20 Jun 1964: Assigned 1 Aug 1955-25 Sep 1958; 15 Apr 1963-1 Apr 1964
* 435 Tactical Airlift: 23 Jun 1978-1 Apr 1992
* 465 Troop Carrier: Attached 1 Apr 1954-31 Jul 1955: Assigned 1 Aug 1955-8 Jul 1957
* 513 Troop Carrier (later, 513 Tactical Airlift): Attached 15 Apr 1966 - 24 Dec 1968.

Groups
* 309 Troop Carrier: 2 Jun-8 Aug 1956 (detached entire period)
* 313 Tactical Airlift: 15 Sep 1978-1 Apr 1992
* 374 Troop Carrier: 30 Dec 1944-26 Jan 1946 (detached 30 Dec 1944-3 Jan 1945)
* 403 Troop Carrier: 1-26 Jan 1946
* 435 Tactical Airlift: 23 Jun-15 Sep 1978
* 439 Military Airlift: 8 Jan 1966-24 Dec 1968
* 440 Troop Carrier: 3 Sep 1947-27 Jun 1949
* 608 Military Airlift: 1 Aug 1983-1 Apr 1992
* 1602 Air Transport: 1 Jul 1964-8 Jan 1966.

Squadrons
* Too Numerous. See [http://www.afhra.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=10138 AFHRA Website] for complete listing.

Major Aircraft Operated

* C-46 Commando, 1944–1946, 1947-1949
* C-47 Skytrain, 1944–1946.
* T-6 Texan, 1947–1949;
* T-7 Navigator, 1947–1949;
* T-11 Kansan, 1947–1949.
* C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1954–1958;
* C-123 Provider, 1956–1958;
* C-124 Globemaster II, 1957–1968;
* C-130 Hercules, 1957–1968.
* C-9 Nightingale, 1978–c. 1992;
* C-12 Huron, 1978–c. 1992;
* CT-39 Sabreliner, 1978–1984;
* C-135 Stratolifter, 1978–c. 1992;
* C-140 Jetstar, 1982–c. 1992;
* C-23 Sherpa, 1984–c. 1992;
* C-20, 1987–c. 1992;
* C-21, 1987–c. 1992;
* UH-1 Iroquois, 1987–c. 1992.

Operational 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 Jun 1947-Jun 1949, it supervised subordinate unit training.

From Mar 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 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 Jun 1978, the 322d AD 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.

References

External links

* [http://www.maxwell.af.mil/au/afhra/rso/airdivision_pages/0322ad.asp Air Force Historical Research Agency: 322d Airlift Division]