Twenty-Second Air Force

Twenty-Second Air Force
A member of the 94th Airlift Control Flight marshals Lockheed C-130H-LM Hercules 81-0629 after a training mission at Dobbins Air Reserve Base
Active	28 December 1941 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia
Engagements	World War II - American Theater
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (7x)
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Stayce D Harris
Insignia
Emblem of Twenty-Second Air Force

Twenty-Second Air Force (22 AF) is a Numbered Air Force component of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC). It was activated on 1 July 1993 and is headquartered at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia.

In the event of mobilization, some of the Twenty-Second Air Force subordinate units would come under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command's (AMC) 21st Expeditionary Mobility Task Force, headquartered at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.

Mission

22 AF is responsible for recruiting and training reservists and for maintaining subordinate units at the highest level of combat readiness. A by-product of training is to coordinate daily support of the active duty air force.

22 AF's wartime mission is to provide combat-ready airlift and support units and augments personnel requirements to Air Mobility Command in the United States.

Twenty-Second Air Force manages more than 25,000 Reservists and has 149 unit-equipped aircraft. Reserve crews in 22 AF fly the C-130 Hercules, including the WC-130 "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft, which are located at nine different Air Force Reserve wings. The wings, flying squadrons and support units are spread throughout nine states – from New York to Mississippi, Ohio and Minnesota, with its western most wing in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Units

• 94th Airlift Wing

Dobbins ARB, Georgia

• 302d Airlift Wing

Peterson AFB, Colorado

• 403d Wing

Keesler AFB, Mississippi

• 440th Airlift Wing

Pope Army Air Field, North Carolina

• 908th Airlift Wing

Maxwell AFB, Alabama

• 910th Airlift Wing

Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio

• 911th Airlift Wing

Pittsburgh IAP Air Reserve Station, Pennsylvania

• 914th Airlift Wing

Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, New York

• 934th Airlift Wing

Minneapolis St Paul ARS, Minnesota

History

Established as the Domestic Division, Air Corps Ferrying Command in the early days of World War II, the organization's mission was the transport of newly produced aircraft from points within the United States to Ports of Embarkation for shipment to Britain and other overseas Allies. In 1946, the organization was transferred to Air Transport Command and became, in essence, a military airline its Continental Division, managing transport routes within the United States.

When the USAF was created as a separate service in 1947, Military Air Transport Service was established to support the new Department of Defense, with responsibility for its support falling to the Department of the Air Force. Redesignated Western Transport Air Force (WESTAF), the organization managed all MATS operations from the Mississippi River west to the east coast of Africa until MATS was replaced by the Military Airlift Command in 1966. When MATS became MAC, WESTAF was redesignated 22d AF, with headquarters at Travis AFB, CA.

During the 1960s, Twenty-Second Air Force transports flew missions worldwide, supporting the efforts of the United States in Southeast Asia, Europe and other places around the world. In December 1974, the Twenty-Second Air Force absorbed Tactical Air Command's Twelfth Air Force C-130 Hercules tactical airlift operations.

On 29 March 1979, the Twenty-Second Air Force assumed responsibility for managing Military Airlift Command resources in the Pacific. For this mission, the unit provided a single commander for MAC airlift units in the Pacific theater; command and control of theater-assigned airlift forces for Pacific Air Forces; theater tactical airlift war planning and Pacific exercise planning; and aerial ports in the Pacific area to support the air movement of personnel, cargo, equipment, patients, and mail. The division participated in tactical exercises such as Team Spirit, Ulchi Focus Lens, and Capstan Dragon.

The unit was relieved from assignment to Military Airlift Command and assigned to Air Mobility Command on 1 June 1992. Activated the same day at Dobbins ARB, GA, with a change in assignment to the Air Force Reserve. It is under the peacetime command of Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, GA.

Lineage

Route map of the Western Transport Air Force, 1964

• Established as Domestic Division, ACFC, and activated, on 28 December 1941

Redesignated: Domestic Wing, ACFC, on 26 February 1942

Redesignated: Ferrying Division, ATC, 20 June 1942

Redesignated: Continental Division, ATC, 28 February 1946

Discontinued on 31 October 1946

• Established as Continental Division, MATS, 1 July 1948

Redesignated: Western Transport Air Force, 1 July 1958

Redesignated: Twenty-Second Air Force, 8 January 1966

Inactivated 1 July 1993

Activated 1 July 1993

Assignments

• Air Corps Ferrying Command, 28 December 1941
• Army Air Forces Ferry Command, 9 March 1942
• Army Air Forces Ferrying Command, 31 March 1942
• Air Transport Command, 20 June 1942
• Military Air Transport Service, 1 July 1948
• Military Airlift Command, 1 January 1966
• Air Mobility Command, 1 June 1992
• Air Force Reserve, 1 July 1993
• Air Force Reserve Command, 17 February 1997

Components

World War II

Sectors

• Northeast Sector, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb 1942

New Castle Army Air Field, Delaware

Re-designated: 2d Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942

Re-designated: 552d AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 31 Dec 1945

• Detroit Sector, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb 1942

Wayne County Airport, Michigan

Re-designated: 3d Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942

Re-designated: 553d AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 15 Jan 1946

• Nashville Sector, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb 1942

Nashville Municipal Airport, Tennessee

Re-designated: 4th Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942

Re-designated: 554th AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944-c. Dec 1945

• Midwest Sector, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb 1942

Hensley Field, Texas

Re-designated: 5th Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942

Re-designated: 555th AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 9 Aug 1946

• California Sector, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb 1942

Long Beach Municipal Airport, California

Re-designated: 6th Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942

Re-designated: 556th AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 1 Dec 1946

• Northwest Sector, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb 1942

Boeing Field, Washington

Re-designated: 7th Ferrying Group, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942

Re-designated: 557th AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 14 Dec 1945

• Central Sector, Air Transport Command, 25 – 31 Mar 1944
• Western Sector, Air Transport Command, 25 – 31 Mar 1944
• Eastern Sector, Air Transport Command, 25 – 31 Mar 1944.

Wings

• 23d AAF Ferrying Wing, Ferrying Command, 20 Jun 1942

Presque Isle Army Airfield, Maine

Re-designated: North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942 – 1 Sep 1943

• 24th AAF Ferrying Wing, Ferrying Command, 27 Jun 1942

Atkinson Field, Georgetown, British Guiana

Re-designated: South Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942 – 9 Oct 1943

• 25th AAF Ferrying Wing, Ferrying Command, 27 Jun 1942

Hamilton Field, California

Re-designated: South Pacific Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942 – 30 Sep 1943

• 26th AAF Ferrying Wing, Ferrying Command, 27 Jun 1942

Payne Airfield, Cairo, Egypt

Re-designated: Africa Middle East Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942 – 30 Sep 1943

• 27th AAF Ferrying Wing, Ferrying Command, 19 Jun 1942

Morrison Field, Florida

Re-designated: Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1942 – 16 Oct 1943

• Foreign Wing, Ferrying Command, 28 Feb – 19 Jun 1942
• Domestic Transportation Wing, Air Transport Command, 27 Nov 1944 – 15 Jan 1945
• Central Ferrying Wing, Air Transport Command, 22 Oct 1944 – 10 Mar 1945
• Western Ferrying Wing, Air Transport Command, 22 Oct 1944 – 10 Mar 1945
• Eastern Ferrying Wing, Air Transport Command, 22 Oct 1944 – 10 Mar 1945

Groups/Base Units

• 20th Ferrying Group, 3 Feb 1943 – 27 Jun 1944

Nashville Municipal Airport, Tennessee

Re-designated: 558 AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 9 Apr 1946

• 21st Ferrying Group, 17 Nov 1943 – 27 Jun 1944

Palm Springs Army Airfield, California

Re-designated: 560 AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 20 May 1946

• 33d Ferrying Group, 4 Mar 1943 – 31 Mar 1944

Fairfax Field, Kansas

Re-designated: 569 AAF Base Unit, 31 Mar 1944 – 15 Apr 1945

United States Air Force

Divisions

• 323d Air Division, 1 Jul 1958 – 8 May 1960
• 834th Air (later Airlift) Division, 1 – 31 Dec 1974, 1 Oct 1978 – 1 Apr 1992

Wings

• 60th Military Airlift (later, 60 Airlift) Wing, 8 Jan 1966 – 15 Feb 1979; 21 Jul 1980 – 1 Jul 1993
• 61st Military Airlift (later, 61 Military Airlift Support) Wing, 8 Jan 1966 – 1 Oct 1978
• 62d Troop Carrier, Heavy (later 62 Air Transport Wing, Heavy; 62 Military Airlift Wing; 62 Airlift Wing) Wing, 1 Jul 1957 – 1 Jul 1993
• 63d Troop Carrier, Heavy (later 63 Military Airlift Wing, 63 Airlift Wing) Wing, 1 Jul 1957 – 1 Jul 1993
• 94th Airlift Wing, 1 Jul 1993 – 1 Oct 1994; 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 97th Air Mobility Wing, 1 Oct 1992 – 1 Jul 1993
• 302d Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 314th Tactical Airlift (later 314 Airlift) Wing, 31 Dec 1974 – 1 Jul 1993
• 315th Airlift Wing (Associate) (later 315 Airlift Wing), 1 Jul 1993 – 2011
• 375th Military Airlift (later 375 Airlift) Wing, 1 Feb 1990 – 1 Jul 1993
• 403d Airlift Wing (later 403 Wing), 1 Jul 1993 – 1 Oct 1994; 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 434th Air Refueling Wing, 1 Oct 1993 – 1 Apr 1997
• 439th Airlift Wing, 1 Jul 1993 – 2011
• 440th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 443d Military Airlift Wing, Training (later 443 Airlift Wing), 1 Apr 1973 – 1 Oct 1992
• 445th Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1994 – 1 Apr 1997
• 459th Airlift Wing, 1 Jul 1993 – 1 Apr 2003
• 463d Tactical Airlift (later 463 Airlift) Wing, 31 Dec 1974 – 1 Jul 1993

• 512th Airlift Wing (Associate) (later 512 Airlift Wing), 1 Jul 1993 – 2011
• 514th Airlift Wing (Associate) (later 514 Air Mobility Wing), 1 Jul 1993 – 2011
• 908th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 910th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 911th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 913th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – 1 Oct 2007
• 914th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997 – present
• 916th Air Refueling Wing, 1 Oct 1994 – 1 Apr 1997
• 927th Air Refueling Wing, 1 Oct 1994 – 1 Apr 1997
• 934th Airlift Wing, 1 Apr 1997-Wing
• 1550th Combat Crew Training (later 542 Crew Training) Wing, 21 May 1990 – 1 Jul 1993
• 1501st Air Transport Wing (later 1501 Air Transport Wing, Heavy), 25 Jun – 1 Jul 1958; 8 May 1960 – 8 Jan 1966.
• 1502d Air Transport Wing, Heavy, 24 Jun 1958 – 8 Jan 1966
• 1503d Air Transport Wing, Heavy, 24 Jun 1958 – 22 Jan 1966
• 1608th Air Transport Wing, Medium, 1 Jul 1957 – 1 May 1958
• 1701st Air Transport Wing, 1 Oct 1948 – 1 May 1953
• 1705th Air Transport Wing (later 1705 Air Transport Group), 24 Aug 1950 – 1 Oct 1951
• 1707th Air Transport Wing (Training) (later, 1707 Air Transport Wing, Heavy [Training]), 1 May 1954 – 1 Nov 1958
• Navy Air Transport Wing (later Navy Air Transport Wing, Pacific), 1 Jul 1957 – 30 Jun 1967

Groups

• 1501st Air Transport Group (later 1704 Air Transport Group), 1 Jan 1950 – 1 Jul 1952
• 1601st Air Transport Group (later 1703 Air Transport Group, 1703 Air Transport Group, Heavy), 20 Oct 1949 – 18 Jun 1957
• 1700th Air Transport Group (later 1700 Air Transport Group, Medium), 1 Oct 1948 – 18 Dec 1957
• 1701st Air Transport Group, 1 May–Jun 1953
• 1702d Air Transport Group, 1 Oct 1948 – 17 Jul 1950
• 1705th Air Transport Group (later Air Transport Group, Heavy), 24 Jan 1953 – 1 Jul 1957, 24 Jun 1958 – 18 Jun 1960.

• 1st Aeromedical Transport Group Light, 8 Nov 1956 – 6 Jun 1964
• 1706th Air Transport Group (Air Evac) (later 1706 Air Transport Group, Medium [Air Evac]; 1706 Air Transport Group, Light [Air Evac]), 1 Feb 1953 – 8 Nov 1956.
• 1708th Ferrying Group (later 1708 Wing), 16 Jul 1951 – 1 Mar 1958.
• 413th Flight Test Group, 1 Oct 2003 – present
• 622d Flight Test Group, 24 Sep 2001 – 1 Oct 2003
• 616th Military Airlift Group, 1 Nov 1975 – 9 Aug 1990, 1 Apr 1992 – 1 Jun 1992

Squadrons

• 16th Air Transport (later 1254 Air Transport) Squadron, 1 Sep 1948 – 12 Mar 1951
• 1726th Air Transport Squadron (Special), 1 Oct 1948 – 23 Apr 1949
• 1737th Ferrying Squadron, 24 Sep 1950 – 16 Jul 1951
• Air Transport Squadron (VR-3), USN, 1 Oct 1948-c. Dec 1948, 1 Dec 1949 – 1 Jul 1957.

Stations

• Bolling Airfield, Washington D.C., 28 December 1941
• Lunken Airport, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1 February 1943
• Kelly Air Force Base, Texas, 1 July 1948
• Travis Air Force Base, California, 25 June 1958
• Dobbins ARB, Georgia, 1 July 1993

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.