316th Wing | |
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316th Wing emblem
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Active |
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Country | United States |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Air Base Management and Rotary-Wing Airlift |
Part of | Air Force District of Washington |
Garrison/HQ | Andrews Air Force Base |
Motto(s) | Vigilance ... Strength ... Pride |
Decorations |
DUC AFOUA |
The 316th Wing (316 WG) is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was the host wing at Joint Base Andrews Naval Air Facility, Maryland. As host wing, the 316 WG operated, administered and maintained the base.
The wing's Operations Group was a highly decorated C-47 Skytrain unit that served with Ninth Air Force and Twelfth Air Force in the European Theater of Operations and the Mediterranean theaters during World War II.
The wing's officially stated mission was to provide contingency response capability critical to national security to include emergency reaction rotary-wing airlift for the National Capital Region, combat-ready Airmen to Air and Space Expeditionary Forces, and a secure installation and robust infrastructure to support Andrews Air Force Base organizations.
The wing was originally established as the 316th Troop Carrier Wing in 1947 at the former Greeneville AFB, SC, primarily operating the C-47 and C-82. It was subsequently inactivated in 1949. In 1966, the unit was reactivated at Langley AFB, VA as the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing (316 TAW) of the Tactical Air Command (TAC). The 316 TAW conducted C-130 replacement training from January 1966 to November 1967 and C-130 maintenance training from February to December 1966. In late 1967, the 316 TAW relinquished its training mission and became a typical operational tactical airlift wing with the C-130E Hercules. As an operational wing, the organization operated three tactical airlift squadrons in addition to its various maintenance and support squadrons.