189th Airlift Wing
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| 189th Airlift Wing | |
|---|---|
 189th Airlift Wing emblem |
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| Active | 1940-1945 1950-1962 1968 1976-Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Airlift |
| Part of | Arkansas National Guard/Air Education and Training Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Little Rock AFB, Arkansas |
| Motto | Ducimus "We Lead" |
| Decorations |  |
The United States Air Force's 189th Airlift Wing is an airlift unit located at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. It is a part of the Arkansas National Guard and currently runs the Air National Guard Basic Academic School, providing flight engineer and loadmaster entry-level training for all branches of the service.[1]
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[edit] Mission
The 189th provides aircrew training for the C-130 for all branches of the military and for 23 foreign countries [1]. The unit operates the C-130 Tactical Airlift Instructor School, where aircrew instructors are trained to they can return to their units and keep members combat ready [2]. The wing also operates the Air National Guard Enlisted Aircrew Academic School, which provides entry-level training for C-130 loadmasters before they are sent to the 314th Airlift Wing for mission qualification training [2]. The school also provides entry-level flight engineer training [2][1].
[edit] History
The 189th is a direct descendant of the 154th Observation Squadron constituted in October 1925 at Little Rock Municipal Airport, AR. The squadron was activated in 1940, participating in various World War II battles in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and England. The squadron was inactivated following the war, and redesignated the 154th Fighter Squadron.
The squadron was activated again in October 1950 to fly combat missions during the Korean War. As part of the 136th Fighter Group, the squadron flew missions out of Itazuke Air Base, Japan, and Taegu, Korea. The squadron was inactivated in 1952 and redesignated the 154th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. The squadron was then reloacted to Little Rock Air Force Base, AR, and reorganized as the 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, absorbing elements of the 123rd Air Base Group.
The Group was the first Air National Guard unit to be equipped with the RF-101 Voodoo in 1965. Soon after, the Group was activated to respond to the Pueblo Crisis in January 1968. In July, the 154th deployed to Itazuke, Japan, but was inactivated that December. Upon inactivation, the group returned to Little Rock AFB and assumed the RF-101 Replacement Training Unit mission from the active air force [1].
On 1 January 1976, the unit converted to KC-135 and was redesignated the 189th Air Refueling Group. It was then assigned to the Strategic Air Command, one of the first Air National Guard units to be assigned as such. The unit maintained a 24-hour alert and supported worldwide tanker task forces by performing in-flight refueling of all types of aircraft.
The unit received its first C-130 on 1 July 1986 and began training C-130 aircrews. By 1 October, the unit had fully converted to the C-130, and was redesignated the 189th Tactical Airlift Group. Student training began on 25 September. The unit was redesignated the 189th Airlift Group on 16 April 1992, and then the 189th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995. Since 1998, the wing has been the exclusive provider for instructor training [1]. The school instructs courses for all crew positions onboard the C-130, and has taught students from all branches of the military.
Members of the 189th flew in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and Noble Eagle[2]. These operations did not affect the wing's training mission.
[edit] Lineage
- Constituted 24 October 1925 as the 154th Observation Squadron.
- Activated in 1940.
- Redesignated 154th Fighter Squadron and inactivated in 1945.
- Activated October 1950.
- Inactivated September 1962.
- Reorganized as 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in October 1962.
- Activated January 1968.
- Inactivated December 1968.
- Redesignated 189th Air Refueling Group on 1 January 1976 and Activated.
- Redesignated 189th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 October 1986.
- Redesignated 189th Airlift Group on 16 April 1992.
- Redesignated 189th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995.
[edit] Assignments
[edit] Major Command
- Air National Guard/Air Education and Training Command (1992-Present)
- Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1986-1992)
- Air National Guard/Strategic Air Command (1976-1986)
- Air National Guard/Tactical Air Command (1962-1976)
- Air National Guard/Air Defense Command (1950-1962)
[edit] Previous designations
- 189th Airlift Wing (1995 - present)[2]
- 189th Airlift Group (1992 - 1995)
- 189th Tactical Airlift Group (1986 - 1992)
- 189th Air Refueling Group (1976 - 1986)
- 189th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (1962 - 1976)
[edit] Subordinate Units
- 189th Operations Group
- 154th Training Squadron
- 189th Maintenance Squadron
- 189th Aircraft Generation Squadron
- 189th Logistics Group
- 189th Logistics Squadron
- 189th Support Group
- 189th Security Forces Squadron
- 189th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 189th Medical Group
- 189th Medical Squadron
[edit] Bases stationed
- Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas (???-Present)
[edit] Aircraft operated
- C-130 Hercules (1986-present)
- KC-135 Stratotanker (1976-1986)
- RF-101 Voodoo (1965-1976)
[edit] Decorations
- Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
- 31 July 1998 - 30 June 2000[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e 189th Airlift Wing [189th AW]. GlobalSecurity.org. [1] Accessed: 4 November 2007.
- ^ a b c d e Fact Sheet: 189th Airlift Wing. Little Rock Air Force Base. [2] Accessed: 4 November 2007.
- ^ Air Force Personnel Center Awards Search (Post-1991)
[edit] External links
- http://www.arguard.org/189/index.htm
- http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/usaf/189aw.htm
- http://www.littlerock.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5373
- http://www.goang.com/office/default.aspx?office=302f78bd-46cf-4696-87f3-4714d1c8295e
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