Lineage. Established as 440 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 4 May 1951. Redesignated 440 Fighter-Bomber Wing on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952. Redesignated 440 Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 8 Sep 1957. Ordered to Active Service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from Active Duty on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated: 440 Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 Jul 1967; 440 Airlift Wing on 1 Feb 1992.
Assignments. Tenth Air Force, 27 Jun 1949-4 May 1951. Tenth Air Force, 15 Jun 1952; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 1 Sep 1960; Twelfth Air Force, 28 Oct 1962; Fifth Air Force Reserve Region, 28 Nov 1962; Central Air Force Reserve Region, 31 Dec 1969; Fourth Air Force, 8 Oct 1976; Tenth Air Force, 1 Jul 1994; Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 Apr 1997-.
Components. Groups. 440 Troop Carrier (later, 440 Fighter-Bomber; 440 Troop Carrier; 440 Operations) Group, 27 Jun 1949-4 May 1951; 15 Jun 1952-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992-. 910: 1 Aug 1992-1 Oct 1994. 914: 1 Sep 1969-21 Apr 1971. 927 Tactical Airlift (later, 927 Airlift; 927 Air Refueling), 1 Jul 1981-1 Aug 1992. 928: 17 Sep 1970-1 Oct 1994. 933: 11 Feb 1963-1 Sep 1975. 934: 11 Feb 1963-1 Apr 1978.
Squadrons. 95: attached 16 Nov 1957-13 Apr 1959, assigned 14 Apr 1959-11 Feb 1963; assigned 1 Sep 1975-1 Aug 1992. 96: 14 Apr 1959-11 Feb 1963.
Stations. Wold-Chamberlain Muni Aprt (later, Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl Aprt), MN, 27 Jun 1949-4 May 1951. Ft Snelling, MN, 15 Jun 1952; Minneapolis-St. Paul Intl Aprt, MN, 15 Aug 1952; General Mitchell Field (later, General Mitchell IAP; General Mitchell IAP-ARS), WI, 16 Nov 1957-.
Commanders. Col Carl A. Hustad, 27 Jun 1949-4 May 1951. Unkn, 15 Jun 1952-unkn; Col E. Esco Obermann, by Aug 1952; Col Russell F. Gustke, c. 23 Jan 1953; Brig Gen Joseph J. Lingle, 16 Nov 1957; Col Earl W. Steinke, 13 Aug 1972; Brig Gen Charles E. Corcilius, 7 Jan 1973; Brig Gen Donald H. Balch, 16 Apr 1979; Col James E. Sherrard III, 20 Aug 1986; Col Terry G. Whitnell, 31 Jan 1988; Col Michael R. Lee, 25 Mar 1991; Col Paul R. Cooper, 5 Aug 1995; Col George W. Kohn, 14 Jun 1996 (temporary); Brig Gen Paul R. Cooper, 28 Oct 1996; Col Michael L. Smith, 1 Aug 1999-.
Aircraft. T-6, 1949-1950; C-46, 1949-1951; T-7, 1950; T-11, 1949-1951. T-6, 1952-1955; C-46, 1952-1957; F-51, 1953-1954; TF-51, 1954; T-33, 1954-1957; F-80, 1954-1957; C-47, 1955; TC-47, 1955-1957; C-119, 1957-1971; C-130, 1970-.
Operations. Trained as a Reserve troop carrier wing, Jun 1949-May 1951, as a Reserve fighter-bomber wing, Jun 1952-Jun 1957, and as a Reserve troop carrier wing, Jun 1957-Dec 1958, all under supervision of the 2465 Air Force Reserve Training (later, Air Reserve Flying) Center until Nov 1957 and the 2473 Air Reserve Flying Center, Nov 1957-Dec 1958. In 1958, began flying tactical airlift missions and participated in tactical exercises in the United States and overseas. Served a month on active duty during the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Routinely trained for airlift and airborne operations by participating in exercises both within the United States and overseas. Wing personnel and aircraft deployed frequently for rotational duty to Panama and occasionally to Europe. The wing at times airlifted deploying members of other units and services for training. In addition, the wing's crews and aircraft supported contingency operations and humanitarian airlifts worldwide.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. None.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1985-30 Sep 1987; 2 Oct 1992-2 Oct 1993; 1 Jun 1997-30 Sep 1998. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb-11 Mar 1968.
Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display honors earned by the 440 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, Components, Stations, and Honors through 18 Jul 2001.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Sep 1999.
Supersedes published information contained in Charles A. Ravenstein, Air Force Combat Wings: Lineage and Honors Histories, 1947-1977 (Washington: USGPO, 1984).
Emblem. Approved on 14 Nov 1958.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.
Approved by Judy G. Endicott.