60th Air Mobility Wing

The 60th Air Mobility Wing (60 AMW) is the largest air mobility organization in the United States Air Force and is responsible for strategic airlift and aerial refueling missions around the world. It is the host unit at Travis Air Force Base in California. Wing activity is primarily focused on support in the Middle East region, however it also maintains operations in areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Its mission is to provide rapid, reliable airlift of U.S. armed forces personnel and equipment anywhere on earth, and to extend the reach of American and allied air power through mid-air refueling.

Units


60th Operations Group (60 OG)
 * 6th Air Refueling Squadron (6 ARS)
 * 9th Air Refueling Squadron (9 ARS)
 * 21st Airlift Squadron (21 AS)
 * 22d Airlift Squadron (22 AS)
 * 60th Operations Support Squadron (60 OSS)

60th Maintenance Group (60 MXG)
 * 60th Component Maintenance Squadron (60 CMS)- inactivated 1 July 2008
 * 60th Equipment Maintenance Squadron (60 EMS)- inactivated 1 July 2008
 * 60th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (60 AMXS)
 * 60th Maintenance Operations Squadron (60 MOS)
 * 60th Maintenance Squadron (60 MXS)- activated 1 July 2008 from the 60 CMS & 60 EMS
 * 660th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (660 AMXS)
 * 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (860 AMXS)
 * 60th Aerial Port Squadron (60 APS)

60th Mission Support Group (60 MSG)
 * 60th Civil Engineering Squadron (60 CES)
 * 60th Communications Squadron (60 CS)
 * 60th Contracting Squadron (60 CONS)
 * 60th Force Support Squadron (60 FSS)- activated 1 July 2008 from the 60 MSS & 60 SVS
 * 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron (60 LRS)
 * 60th Mission Support Squadron (60 MSS)- inactivated 1 July 2008
 * 60th Security Forces Squadron (60 SFS)
 * 60th Services Squadron (60 SVS)- inactivated 1 July 2008

60th Medical Group (60 MDG)
 * 60th Aerospace Medical Squadron (60 AMDS)
 * 60th Dental Squadron (60 DS)
 * 60th Inpatient Operations Squadron (60 IPTS)
 * 60th Medical Operations Squadron (60 MDOS)
 * 60th Medical Support Squadron (60 MDSS)
 * 60th Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron (60 MDTS)
 * 60th Medical Surgical Operations Squadron (60 MSGS)

Additionally, the 60th Comptroller Squadron (60 CPTS) reports directly to the wing staff.

History

 * For additional history and lineage, see 60th Operations Group

Cold War
When the 60th Troop Carrier Wing was activated on 1 July 1948, its tactical units were detached, supporting the Berlin Airlift from other bases. The wing operated under control of the provisional airlift task force from 29 July 1948 but was not directly involved in airlift operations until it moved to RAF Fassberg, Germany in January 1949. From 20 to 26 January September 1949, the wing flew Berlin airlift missions, primarily with C-54s. The wing then moved to Wiesbaden, Germany replacing the 7150th Air Force Composite Wing. Without a tactical mission until June 1951, the wing operated a variety of aircraft in support of USAFE and other units. Upon moving to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in June 1951 (where it replaced the 61st Troop Carrier Wing), the 60th resumed a tactical role. Operating from Rhein-Main Air Base until October 1955, the 60th provided airlift for troops and cargo throughout Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. It also provided training to the 433d Troop Carrier Wing, August 1951 – July 1952, and the 312th Troop Carrier Wing, July 1952 – March 1953. The wing moved to France in 1955 with no change in the basic airlift mission and continued operations from that area until inactivated on 25 September 1958.

The 60th Military Airlift Wing was re-activated on 27 December 1965 and replaced the 1501st Air Transport Wing, Heavy, as the "host-wing" at Travis Air Force Base, California, on 8 January 1966. It flew global airlift and humanitarian missions from that time, initially with C-124, C-130, C-133, and C-141 aircraft. The wing lost its C-130s in 1966, C-124s in 1967, and C-133s in 1971 but gained first operational C-5s in October 1970. Airlift of cargo and troops to Southeast Asia was a major responsibility of the wing, 1966–1975, but missions flown worldwide as required. In 14 November 1966, a C-141 of the 60th Wing became the first jet aircraft to land in Antarctica. The 60th also played a major role in the airlift of repatriated prisoners of war to the United States after the Vietnamese ceasefire agreement in 1973, and in the airlift of Vietnamese children and other refugees to the United States in 1975. After the war in Southeast Asia, the 60th continued to support worldwide airlift commitments, including scheduled and contingency logistics operations, humanitarian relief and evacuation efforts, and international scientific research programs. It provided logistic support to the President of the United States during state visits to foreign nations and conducted airlift missions annually in the Antarctic, including the first C-5 ice cap landing. The wing exchanged its C-141A aircraft for "stretched" C-141B version in 1980–1982; transferred re-winged C-5A aircraft to Air Force Reserve and replaced them with more capable C-5B, 1986–1989. The wing performed combat airlift and logistic support missions during the rescue of US nationals on Grenada in October 1983 and the restoration of democracy in Panama, December 1989 – January 1990.

Modern era
Beginning in August 1990, the wing provided airlift and logistic support to US and coalition forces in Southwest Asia, while continuing to perform worldwide airlift operations, including humanitarian missions to nations to Latin America and the former Soviet Union. In 1992–1993, commenced airlift in support of U.S. relief operations in Somalia during Operations PROVIDE RELIEF and RESTORE HOPE. It continued to support on-going operations in Southwest Asia during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH. The wing's elements also supported Operation PROVIDE COMFORT for Kurdish refugees, supported the evacuation of military personnel and their dependents from the Philippines through Operation FIERY VIGIL in 1991, and provided airlift support to Balkans peacekeeping missions beginning in 1995 with Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR, and continuing under Operations JOINT GUARD and JOINT FORGE. It deployed tanker and support elements to the European theater during Operation ALLIED FORCE from March–June 1999, as well as providing airlift support to other air expeditionary forces deploying to the operation.

After the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the 60th began airlift and refueling operations in support of Operations NOBEL EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM. In March 2003, the United States as part of the Global War on Terrorism, initiated Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.

One 8 August 2006, the 60th received its first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft "The Spirit of Solano". The next day, that aircraft was made operational and flew its first mission. The wing won top honors as the best Air Mobility Wing during the 2007 Air Mobility Rodeo. On 5 November 2008, the 60th received its 13th and final C-17 aircraft, "The Spirit of Travis." Fifteen members of the Travis family were on hand to witness the aircraft's arrival.

Lineage

 * Established as 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, and activated, on 1 July 1948
 * Redesignated: 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy, on 5 November 1948
 * Redesignated: 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 16 November 1949
 * Inactivated on 25 September 1958


 * Redesignated 60th Military Airlift Wing, and activated, on 27 December 1965
 * Organized on 8 January 1966, assuming personnel and equipment of 1501st Air Transport Wing (MATS) which was discontinued.
 * Redesignated: 60th Airlift Wing on 1 November 1991
 * Redesignated: 60th Air Mobility Wing on 1 October 1994


 * Designated 60th Air Expeditionary Wing in September 2001 when wing elements deployed to combat areas.

Assignments

 * United States Air Forces in Europe, 1 July 1948
 * Attached to: Airlift Task Force [Provisional], 29 July – 3 November 1948
 * Attached to: 1 Air Lift Task Force, 4 November 1948 – 19 January 1949


 * 1 Air Lift Task Force, 20 January 1949
 * United States Air Forces in Europe, 26 September 1949
 * Twelfth Air Force, 21 January 1951
 * Attached to 322d Air Division [Combat Cargo], 1 April 1954 – 31 July 1955


 * 322d Air Division (Combat Cargo), 1 August 1955 – 25 September 1958
 * Military Air Transport Service, 27 December 1965
 * Twenty-Second Air Force, 8 January 1966
 * Military Airlift, Travis, 15 February 1979
 * Twenty-Second Air Force, 21 July 1980
 * Fifteenth Air Force, 1 July 1993
 * Eighteenth Air Force, since 1 October 2003
 * Air Mobility Command when wing elements deployed to combat areas any time after 11 September 2001.

Components
Groups
 * 60 Troop Carrier (later, 60 Military Airlift; 60 Operations) Group: 1 July 1948 – 12 March 1957 (detached 1 July 1948 – 1 June 1951); 6 March 1978 – 15 February 1979; since 1 November 1991
 * 309th Troop Carrier Group: attached 22 March – 7 August 1956, assigned 8 August 1956 – 12 March 1957
 * 313th Troop Carrier Group: attached 20 January – 18 September 1949

Squadrons
 * 7206 Air Transport Squadron: attached – 1 March November 1957.


 * 10th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 15 November 1956 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958
 * 11th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 18–26 September 1949; attached 15 November 1956 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958
 * 12th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 15 November 1956 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958
 * 62d Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 6 October 1955 – 23 April 1956
 * 376th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 15 November 1956 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958
 * 377th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 15 November 1956 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958
 * 378th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 15 November 1956 – 11 March 1957, assigned 12 March 1957 – 25 September 1958
 * 776th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 28 October 1954 – 1 May 1955
 * 778th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 28 April – c. 1 November 1955


 * 7th Military Airlift Squadron: 13 March 1971 – 6 March 1978; 15 February 1979 – 1 November 1991
 * 22d Military Airlift Squadron: 8 February 1972 – 6 March 1978; 15 February 1979 – 1 November 1991
 * 28th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 8 July 1967 (detached 1–8 July 1967)
 * 44th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 1 March 1972
 * 75th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 6 March 1978; 15 February 1979 – 1 November 1991
 * 84th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 1 July 1971
 * 85th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 8 July 1967
 * 86th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 6 March 1978; 15 February 1979 – 1 November 1991

Stations

 * Kaufbeuren AB, Germany, 1 July 1948
 * Fassberg RAF Station, Germany, 20 January 1949
 * Wiesbaden AB, Germany (later West Germany), 1 October 1949
 * Rhein-Main AB, West Germany, 2 June 1951
 * Dreux AB, France, 15 October 1955 – 25 September 1958
 * Travis AFB, California, since 8 January 1966

Aircraft

 * Primarily C-54, 1949; C-47, 1949; C-82, 1951–1953; C-119, 1951, 1953–1958; and C-123, 1956–1958
 * Also operated, in fewer numbers, C-45, 1948; C-74, 1948; B-17, 1949–1951; B-26, 1949–1951; C-47, 1949–1951, 1951–1955; C-54, 1949–1951, 1951–1952; C-82, 1949–1951; L-5, 1949–1951; L-20, 1955
 * Primarily C-124, 1966–1967; C-130, 1966; C-133, 1966–1971; C-141, 1966–1997; C-5, 1970–; C-17, 2006–; and KC-10, since 1994
 * Also operated, in fewer numbers, VC/C-54, 1966–1969; VT/T-29, 1966–1973; U-3, 1966–1968; C-47, 1968–1969; C-131, 1969–1975; T-39, 1969–1975; WC-135, 1993.