445th Airlift Wing

445th Airlift Wing
445th Airlift Wing - C-17A Globemaster III serial 97-0044
Active	1952–1971; 1973–1994; 1994–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Airlift
Size	1950 reservists
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
Nickname(s)	The Bison Wing (1955-1964)
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Col. Adam Willis
Insignia
445th Airlift Wing emblem (approved 10 January 1964)
445th Fighter-Bomber Wing emblem (approved 7 September 1955)
Tail stripe	White, "Wright-Patterson" in red
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-17 Globemaster III

The 445th Airlift Wing is an Air Reserve Component of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the Fourth Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. If mobilized, the wing is gained by the Air Mobility Command.

The 445th Airlift Wing flies the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. the C-17 is capable of delivering troops and all types of cargo to main operating bases or directly to forward bases in the deployment area.

Led by Colonel Adam Willis, the mission of the 445th Airlift Wing is to provide strategic transport of personnel and equipment worldwide and to provide aeromedical evacuation. The wing accomplishes this task by recruiting and training personnel to attain and maintain operational readiness. The wing is composed of nearly 2000 airmen, approximately separated into 250 officers and 1700 enlisted personnel. To facilitate day-to-day operations the wing employs approximately 350 Air Reserve Technicians who work full-time for the unit.

The 445th Airlift Wing consists of the following major units:

The wing was first activated on 24 June 1952 at Buffalo, New York as the 445th Fighter-Bomber Wing. Its initial equipment was the North American T-6 Texan, which remained its primary aircraft until 1955. It began to receive North American F-51 Mustangs and Lockheed F-80 Shooting Stars the following year. The wing and its components moved to nearby Niagara Falls Municipal Airport, where it received Republic F-84 Thunderjets, in 1955. Despite the wing's "Fighter-Bomber" designation, reserve fighter bomber wings had an air defense role if mobilized.

In 1956, The Joint Chiefs of Staff were pressuring the Air Force to provide more wartime airlift. At the same time, about 150 Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars became available from the active force. Consequently, in November 1956 the Air Force directed Continental Air Command (ConAC) to convert three fighter bomber wings to the troop carrier mission by September 1957. In addition, within the Air Staff was a recommendation that the reserve fighter mission given to the Air National Guard and replaced by the troop carrier mission. Cuts in the budget in 1957 led to a reduction in the number of reserve wings from 24 to 15. As a result of these reductions, the 445th's fighter operations at Niagara Falls ceased, and it began to train with the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar. In November, the wing was replaced by a single squadron, the 64th Troop Carrier Squadron.