315 Airlift Wing (AFRC)

Lineage.  Established as 315 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 23 May 1952.  Activated on 10 Jun 1952.  Inactivated on 18 Jan 1955.  Redesignated as 315 Air Commando Wing, Troop Carrier, and activated, on 21 Feb 1966.  Organized on 8 Mar 1966.  Redesignated as: 315 Air Commando Wing on 1 Aug 1967; 315 Special Operations Wing on 1 Aug 1968; 315 Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 Jan 1970.  Inactivated on 31 Mar 1972.  Redesignated as 315 Military Airlift Wing (Associate) on 29 Jan 1973.  Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jul 1973.  Redesignated as: 315 Airlift Wing (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 315 Airlift Wing on 1 Oct 1994.  

Assignments.  315 Air Division (Combat Cargo), 10 Jun 1952-18 Jan 1955.  Pacific Air Forces, 21 Feb 1966; 315 Air Division (Combat Cargo), 8 Mar 1966 (attached to 2 Air Division, 8-31 Mar 1966; Seventh Air Force, 1 Apr-15 Oct 1966); 834 Air Division, 15 Oct 1966; Seventh Air Force, 1 Dec 1971-31 Mar 1972.  Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Jul 1973; Fourteenth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Jul 1993; Fourth Air Force; 1 Oct 2011-.  

Components.  Groups315  Troop Carrier (later, 315 Operations): 10 Jun 1952-18 Jan 1955; 1 Aug 1992-.  Squadrons8 Special Operations: 31 Jul 1971-15 Jan 1972 (detached 5-15 Jan 1972).  9 Special Operations: 30 Sep 1971-29 Feb 1972 (detached 9 Jan-29 Feb 1972).  12 Air Commando (later, 12 Special Operations): 15 Oct 1966-30 Sep 1970.  19 Air Commando (later, 19 Special Operations): 8 Mar 1966-10 Jun 1971. 

300 Military Airlift (later, 300 Airlift): 1 Jul 1973-1 Aug 1992.  309 Air Commando (later, 309 Special Operations): 8 Mar 1966-31 Jul 1970.  310 Air Commando (later, 310 Special Operations): 8 Mar 1966-15 Jan 1972, attached 16-26 Jan 1972.  311 Air Commando (later, 311 Special Operations): 8 Mar 1966-5 Oct 1971.  317 Airlift: 1 Apr-1 Aug 1992.  701 Military Airlift (later, 701 Airlift): 1 Jul 1973-1 Aug 1992.  707 Military Airlift (later, 707 Airlift): 1 Jul 1973-1 Aug 1992.  FlightRoyal Australian Air Force Air Transport Flight, Vietnam: attached 8 Mar-15 Oct 1966. 

Stations.  Brady AB, Japan, 10 Jun 1952-18 Jan 1955.  Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 Mar 1966; Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, 15 Jun 1967-31 Mar 1972.  Charleston AFB, SC, 1 Jul 1973-.  

Service Streamers.  Korea.  

Campaign Streamers.  Vietnam: Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter/Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire.  

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers.  Grenada, 1983; Panama, 1989-1990.   

Decorations.  Presidential Unit Citations (Vietnam):  21 Jan-12 May 1968; 1 Apr-30 Jun 1970.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat “V” Device:  15 Oct 1966-30 Apr 1967; 10 Jun-31 Dec 1967; 15 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1969; 1 Jan 1971-31 Mar 1972.  Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards:  1 Jan 1982-31 Dec 1983; 1 Jul 1988-30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1990; 21 Sep-31 Oct 1989; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1995; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1997; 1 Jul 1998-30 Jun 2000; 1 Sep 1998-31 Aug 2000; 11 Sep 2001-10 Sep 2003; 1 Aug 2005-31 Jul 2007; 1 Sep 2009-31 Aug 2011; 1 Jan 2017-31 Dec 2018.  Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation:  [10 Jun 1952]-27 Jul 1953.  Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm: 1 Oct 1966-30 Oct 1971; 1 Jun 1969-1 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1971-11 Mar 1972.

Bestowed Honors.  Authorized to display honors earned by the 315 Troop Carrier Group prior to 10 Jun 1952.  Service StreamersWorld War II American Theater.  Campaign StreamersWorld War II:  Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.  Decorations.  Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6] Jun 1944. 

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 19 Jan 2023.

Supersedes statement prepared on 1 Jul 2011.

Emblem.  Approved on 7 Nov 1973; latest rendering, 15 Mar 2023.

Prepared by Melissa Lahue.

Reviewed by Margaret Ream.