97th Bombardment Wing
97th Air Mobility Wing
 |
|
|---|---|
| Active | 1947–1992; 1992–present |
| Country |
 United States
|
| Branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Part of | Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. |
| Engagements |
|
| Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
Colonel Todd A. Hohn |
| Notable commanders |
John Dale Ryan Jacob E. Smart Carlton D. Everhart II |
| Insignia | |
| 97th Air Mobility Wing emblem (approved 2 May 1957) |  |
The 97th Air Mobility Wing (97 AMW) is a United States Air Force (USAF) unit assigned to Nineteenth Air Force of Air Education and Training Command. It is stationed at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The wing is also the host unit at Altus. It plans and executes McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker pilot and aircrew training, providing formal school initial and advanced specialty training programs for up to 3,000 students annually. The training is done in a three-phase approach: Academic Phase, Simulator Phase, and Flying Phase.
Active for over 60 years, the 97th Bombardment Wing was a component organization of Strategic Air Command's deterrent force during the Cold War, as a strategic bombardment wing.
The wing's 97th Operations Group, at that time the 97th Bombardment Group, earned two Distinguished Unit Citations during combat missions in World War II. Through the USAF's bestowed history program, the 97th wing is temporarily entitled to display these and other honors earned by the group while the group is assigned to the wing.
The 97th was organized in 1947 during the test of the Wing Base Organization, composed of the 97th Bombardment Group and support elements transferred from the 519th Air Service Group. This organization gave the wing commander the authority to direct activities rather than merely request support from the base support group commander. This organization became permanent in 1948.
The 97th Air Mobility Wing is commanded by Colonel Todd A. Hohn. Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant James M. Powell III. The wing's operational mission is, in conjunction with its training mission, to have its instructor force maintain operational currency so that they, as highly qualified combat-ready aircrew members, can deploy to augment worldwide contingencies. The 97th maintains approximately 500 mobility personnel ready to deploy all over the world in a moment's notice in support of national interests.
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Wikipedia