452d Air Mobility Wing

452d Air Mobility Wing
A 452d AMW C-17 Globemaster III from March ARB A March Air Reserve Base KC-135 extends its refueling boom for display during the March Field AirFest 2012, held May 19–20, 2012.
Active	1949–1952; 1952–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Wing
Role	Airlift/Air Refueling
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	March Air Reserve Base, California
Motto(s)	Labor ad Futurum Latin Work for the Future
Tail Code	Gold/Red tail stripe "March" in white
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Korean War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Brigadier General Russell A. Muncy
Insignia
452d Air Mobility Wing emblem (approved 10 February 1960)
452d Bombardment Wing emblem (approved 8 March 1956)
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-17 Globemaster III
Tanker	KC-135R Stratotanker

The 452d Air Mobility 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 March Air Reserve Base, California. If mobilized, the Wing is gained by the Air Mobility Command.

During World War II, its predecessor unit, the 452d Bombardment Group (Heavy) was an Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress unit in England, stationed at RAF Deopham Green. 1st Lieutenant Donald J. Gott and 2nd Lieutenant William E. Metzger, Jr were both awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroic actions.

The 452d Air Mobility Wing’s mission is to organize, train and equip aircrews to provide air refueling and strategic airlift any time, any place. The wing’s aircraft operate under widely varying situations ranging from small movements in battle to large movements over long distances.

The 452d Air Mobility Wing consists of the following major units:

The wing was first activated as a reserve organization at Long Beach Army Air Field California in June 1949 as the 452d Bombardment Wing, when Continental Air Command (ConAC) converted its reserve flying organizations under the wing base organization, which combined them with their support organizations under a single wing. It trained under the supervision of the 2347th Air Force Reserve Training Center. President Truman’s reduced 1949 defense budget also required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force, and the wing drew its cadre from the 304th Air Division, which was simultaneously inactivated, and the 459th Bombardment Group, which moved on paper to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. The wing trained for light bomber with the Douglas B-26 Invader, but also operated trainer aircraft. The wing was manned at 25% of normal strength but its combat group was authorized four squadrons rather than the three of active duty units.