Lineage. Established as 438 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 14 Mar 1951. Redesignated 438 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 16 Nov 1957. Redesignated 438 Military Airlift Wing, and activated, on 27 Dec 1965. Organized on 8 Jan 1966. Redesignated 438 Airlift Wing on 1 Nov 1991. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1994. Redesignated 438 Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 4 Dec 2001. Activated on 1 Feb 2002. Inactivated on 26 Jul 2002. Activated on 8 Nov 2008.
Assignments. Tenth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951. Tenth Air Force, 15 Jun 1952-16 Nov 1957. Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command), 27 Dec 1965; Twenty-First Air Force, 8 Jan 1966-1 Oct 1994. 9 Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force-Southern Watch, (later, 9 Aerospace Expeditionary Task Force), 1 Feb-26 Jul 2002. 9 Air and Space Expeditionary Task Force, 8 Nov 2008-.
Operational Components. Groups. 438 Troop Carrier (later, 438 Fighter-Bomber; 438 Military Airlift; 438 Operations): 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951; 15 Jun 1952-16 Nov 1957; 15 Sep 1978-1 Jun 1980; 1 Nov 1991-1 Oct 1994. 458 Operations: 1 Apr-1 Oct 1994. Squadrons. 6: 8 Apr 1970-1 Oct 1978; 1 Jun 1980-1 Nov 1991. 18: 8 Jan-15 Jun 1966; 1 Aug 1968-1 Oct 1978; 1 Jun 1980-1 Nov 1991. 29: 8 Jan 1966-31 Aug 1968. 30: 8 Apr 1967-1 Oct 1978; 1 Jun 1980-1 Nov 1991. 40: 8 Jan 1966-4 Mar 1968. 45: 3 Jul 1967-31 Aug 1968. Military Airlift Squadron Provisional, 1645: attached 15 Mar-3 Jul 1967. Naval Air Transport Squadron VR-3: attached 1 Feb 1966-1 Jul 1967.
Stations. Offut AFB, NE, 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951. General Billy Mitchell Field, WI, 15 Jun 1952; Milwaukee, WI, 5 Jan 1953-16 Nov 1957. McGuire AFB, NJ, 8 Jan 1966-1 Oct 1994. Jacobabad, Pakistan, 1 Feb-26 Jul 2002. Kabul Airfield, Afghanistan, 8 Nov 2008-.
Commanders. Col Robert E. Flesher, 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951. Col Robert E. Haynes, 15 Jun 1952; Lt Col Joseph J. Lingle, 19 Sep 1956-c. Nov 1957. None (not manned), 27 Dec 1965-7 Jan 1966; Brig Gen Roland J. Barnick, 8 Jan 1966; Col Gilbert G. Smith, Jr., 25 Jul 1967 (acting), 1 Aug 1967 (permanent); Brig Gen John H. Herring Jr., 1 Aug 1968; Col Gilbert G. Smith Jr., 14 Jun 1969; Brig Gen John W. Harrell Jr., 11 Aug 1969; Brig Gen Keith L. Christensen, 30 Sep 1970; Brig Gen George M. Wentsch, 15 Jun 1972; Brig Gen Emil N. Block Jr., 28 Jan 1974; Col James L. Gardner Jr., 1 May 1976; Col Dwayne H. Erickson, 16 Feb 1978; Col Allen G. Myers III, 26 Feb 1979; Col. Larry D. Wright, 9 Feb 1981; Col John T. Lawell, 7 Feb 1983; Col James E. LeCleir, 22 Jun 1983; Col Jerold L. Weiss, 13 Aug 1985; Col Frank M. Pearce, 12 Jun 1987; Col William B. Morrison III, 13 Jul 1989; Col Kirby A. Woehst, 19 Jul 1990; Brig Gen Frank Cardile, 17 Sep 1991; Brig Gen George A. Gray III, 28 Aug 1992-1 Oct 1994.
Aircraft. T-6, 1949-1951; T-7, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1951; C-45, 1949-1951; C-46, 1949-1951; C-47, 1949-1951. T-6, 1952-1954; C-46, 1953; F-51, 1953-1954; T-33, 1954-1957; F-80, 1954-1957; F-86, 1957. C-130, 1966-1968; C-135, 1966-1967; C-141, 1967-1994.
Operations. Conducted troop transport training in the Reserve and flew ferry missions for National Guard and Civil Air Patrol units, Jun 1949-Mar 1951. Between Jun 1952 and Nov 1957, the wing trained in the Reserve for fighter-bomber missions. Replaced the 1611 Air Transport Wing in Jan 1966. Transported military cargo, mail, and passengers worldwide, particularly in the eastern United States, Atlantic, European, and Mediterranean areas, with frequent special missions to the Arctic, the Antarctic, South America, the Far East, and to the Southeast Asia combat area during the conflict there. Evacuated U.S. medical students, deployed and redeployed American troops during the Grenada operation, Oct-Nov 1983. Airlifted equipment to Panama for the 82d Airborne Division, flew airland and airdrop missions carrying food and supplies and also provided medical evacuation and humanitarian airlift, Dec 1989-Jan 1990. Moved 82d Airborne Division during initial operations in Southwest Asia, Aug-Dec 1990. Flew humanitarian airlift missions resupplying the Kurds in northern Iraq, Apr-Jun 1991. Between 1991 and 1994, took part in numerous humanitarian airlift and peacekeeping operations around the world. After 2008, along with coalition partners, provide training and assistance to support the development of a sustainable Afghanistan Air Force.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Afghanistan: Consolidation II; Consolidation III.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983; Panama, 1989-1990.
Decorations. Meritorious Unit Awards: 1 May 2009-30 Apr 2010; 1 May 2011-30 Apr 2012; 1 May 2012-30 Apr 2013; 1 Oct 2013-30 Sep 2014; 1 Oct 2015-31 Mar 2017; 1 Jun 2017-31 May 2018. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1966-30 Apr 1968; 1 Jul 1982-30 Jun 1984; 1 Oct 2014-30 Sep 2015. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr-31 Oct 1968.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 438 Operations Group prior to 27 Jun 1949. Service Streamers. None. Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, Operations and Honors through 5 Sep 2019.
Components, Commanders, and Aircraft through 1 Oct 1994.
Supersedes statement prepared 25 Sep 2018.
Emblem. Approved on 10 Aug 1954; reinstated on 19 Jul 1993; newest rendition approved on 6 May 2019.
Date Prepared 5 Sep 2019.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.