Route map of the Western Transport Air Force, 1964. The 1502d ATW operated primarily within this AOR.Douglas C-54 SkymasterC-97 StratofreighterC-124 Globemaster II
The wing was organized in mid-1955 with five C-97 squadrons established; squadrons again redesignated as part of the Wing realignment. In 1955 two squadrons were upgraded to very heavy lift C-124 Globemaster II which gave the wing a worldwide airlift capability. Also beginning in 1955, the wing operated VC-97s for VIP/Special Air Mission flights supporting HQ Far East Air Force (Rear). later HQ Pacific Air Forces, 1957–1966.
The 1502nd Air Transport Wing Rodeo team under the command of Major Joe Lodrige win the 1962 Military Air Transport Service Rodeo at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. The C-124 team from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, devised a new airdrop system to use in that first active-duty Rodeo, which helped them claim the title of the "best of the best. Several members of the 1502nd including Major Lodrige, went on to very distinguished service flying in the elite 89th Airlift Wing stationed at Andrews Air Force Base flying our nation's most senior civilian and military leaders to locations around the globe.[1]
The wing assumed responsibility for aircraft and personnel of 1503d Air Transport Group at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan in 1964 when 1503d reduced from Wing to Group level. The 1503d was a support organization and had no flying units assigned despite its name. The wing remained flying worldwide transport missions with the Globemasters until 1966 when MATS was inactivated and the wing assets were transferred to the Military Airlift Command61st Military Airlift Wing.
MATS supported nuclear weapons testing at the Eniwetok Proving Ground by airlifting more than 14,000 tons of cargo and 13,000 personnel, as well as providing 1,100 of its own technical personnel.
In February 1961, MATS participated in Long Pass, the first strategic deployment airlift exercise of its size to the Pacific. It used 132 aircraft to move a battle group of the Strategic Army Corps (STRAC) and equipment for a Tactical Air Command Composite Strike Force (CASF) to Clark Air Base, the Philippines, and back again.
In February 1962, MATS used 120 airlift aircraft of all types in a similar exercise, Great Shelf, to Clark Air Base. This time it moved 2,300 Army paratroops of STRAC and 1,100 tons of their equipment over the 7,600-statute-mile (12,200 km) route.
In 1962, Devastating 175 miles per hour (282 km/h) winds of Typhoon Karen had barely subsided when the first of 50 MATS jet and prop-driven aircraft began landing on the rain-soaked runways of Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, with relief supplies and equipment. MATS airlifted more than 970 tons of material – from huge electric generators to blankets and clothing. Returning aircraft evacuated more than 760 dependents and servicemen whose homes had been shattered by the island's most severe storm in recorded history.
Lineageedit
1502d Air Transport Groupedit
Designated as the 531st Air Transport Group, 14 May 1948
Organized 1 June 1948
Redesignated as 1500th Air Transport Group, 1 October 1948
Redesignated as 1502d Air Transport Group, 1 July 1955
Discontinued 15 May 1958
1502d Air Transport Wingedit
Designated and organized as the 1502d Air Transport Wing, 1 July 1955
1453d Medical (later Aeromedical) Air Evacuation Squadron, 1956–1965
Referencesedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982(PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-53-6.
Air Force History Index.org, Individual squadron lookups in AFHRA archives
Ulanoff, Stanley M. (1964). MATS: The Story of the Military Air Transport Service. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, Inc. ISBN9781199087683.
^. Archived from the original on 14 March 2014. Retrieved 14 March 2014.
April 12, 2024
1502d, transport, wing, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2012, learn, when, remove, this, template, m. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message The 1502d Air Transport Wing is a discontinued United States Air Force unit last assigned to Western Transport Air Force in January 1966 The 1502d ATW was a heavy cargo transport wing of the Military Air Transport Service MATS formed at Hickam AFB on 1 July 1955 1502d Air Transport WingEmblem of the 1501st Air Transport WingActive1955 1966CountryUnited StatesBranchUnited States Air ForceTypeAirliftPart ofMilitary Air Transport ServiceGarrison HQHickam AFB Hawaii Route map of the Western Transport Air Force 1964 The 1502d ATW operated primarily within this AOR Douglas C 54 SkymasterC 97 StratofreighterC 124 Globemaster II Contents 1 History 1 1 Major airlifts 2 Lineage 2 1 1502d Air Transport Group 2 2 1502d Air Transport Wing 2 3 Assignments 2 4 Components 2 5 Stations 2 6 Aircraft 3 ReferencesHistory editThe wing was organized in mid 1955 with five C 97 squadrons established squadrons again redesignated as part of the Wing realignment In 1955 two squadrons were upgraded to very heavy lift C 124 Globemaster II which gave the wing a worldwide airlift capability Also beginning in 1955 the wing operated VC 97s for VIP Special Air Mission flights supporting HQ Far East Air Force Rear later HQ Pacific Air Forces 1957 1966 The 1502nd Air Transport Wing Rodeo team under the command of Major Joe Lodrige win the 1962 Military Air Transport Service Rodeo at Scott Air Force Base Ill The C 124 team from Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii devised a new airdrop system to use in that first active duty Rodeo which helped them claim the title of the best of the best Several members of the 1502nd including Major Lodrige went on to very distinguished service flying in the elite 89th Airlift Wing stationed at Andrews Air Force Base flying our nation s most senior civilian and military leaders to locations around the globe 1 The wing assumed responsibility for aircraft and personnel of 1503d Air Transport Group at Tachikawa Air Base Japan in 1964 when 1503d reduced from Wing to Group level The 1503d was a support organization and had no flying units assigned despite its name The wing remained flying worldwide transport missions with the Globemasters until 1966 when MATS was inactivated and the wing assets were transferred to the Military Airlift Command 61st Military Airlift Wing Major airlifts edit During the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1958 MATS flew 144 airlift trips to the Far East when the crisis arose in the Formosa Straits supporting the move of a Tactical Air Command Composite Air Strike Force and airlifting a squadron of F 104 Starfighters to Taiwan MATS supported nuclear weapons testing at the Eniwetok Proving Ground by airlifting more than 14 000 tons of cargo and 13 000 personnel as well as providing 1 100 of its own technical personnel In February 1961 MATS participated in Long Pass the first strategic deployment airlift exercise of its size to the Pacific It used 132 aircraft to move a battle group of the Strategic Army Corps STRAC and equipment for a Tactical Air Command Composite Strike Force CASF to Clark Air Base the Philippines and back again In February 1962 MATS used 120 airlift aircraft of all types in a similar exercise Great Shelf to Clark Air Base This time it moved 2 300 Army paratroops of STRAC and 1 100 tons of their equipment over the 7 600 statute mile 12 200 km route In 1962 Devastating 175 miles per hour 282 km h winds of Typhoon Karen had barely subsided when the first of 50 MATS jet and prop driven aircraft began landing on the rain soaked runways of Anderson Air Force Base Guam with relief supplies and equipment MATS airlifted more than 970 tons of material from huge electric generators to blankets and clothing Returning aircraft evacuated more than 760 dependents and servicemen whose homes had been shattered by the island s most severe storm in recorded history Lineage edit1502d Air Transport Group edit Designated as the 531st Air Transport Group 14 May 1948Organized 1 June 1948 Redesignated as 1500th Air Transport Group 1 October 1948 Redesignated as 1502d Air Transport Group 1 July 1955 Discontinued 15 May 19581502d Air Transport Wing edit Designated and organized as the 1502d Air Transport Wing 1 July 1955Discontinued on 8 January 1966 personnel and equipment assigned to 61st Military Airlift WingAssignments edit Pacific Division MATS 1 July 1955 Western Transport Air Force WESTAF 1 July 1958 Headquarters Military Air Transport Service 1 8 Jan 1966Components edit Groups 1502d Air Transport Group 1 July 1955 15 May 19581st Air Transport Squadron later 1263d Air Transport Squadron 1 June 1948 17 June 1949 2d Air Transport Squadron later 1264th Air Transport Squadron 1 June 1948 1 June 1949 4th Air Transport Squadron later 1265th Air Transport Squadron 1 June 1948 23 April 1949 47th Air Transport Squadron Medium 20 Jul 1952 15 May 1958 48th Air Transport Squadron Heavy 20 July 1952 15 May 1958 49th Air Transport Squadron Heavy 20 July 1952 1 July 1955 50th Air Transport Squadron Heavy 20 July 1952 15 May 1958 51st Air Transport Squadron 20 July 1952 1 July 1955 1263d Air Transport Squadron 30 June 1949 20 July 1952Elements deployed to Tachikawa Airfield Japan during 1951 1952 flying combat resupply missions during Korean War dd 1264th Air Transport Squadron 13 October 1949 20 July 1952 1266th Air Transport Squadron 30 June 1949 20 July 1952 1267th Air Transport Squadron 13 October 1949 24 May 1950 1268th Air Transport Squadron 30 June 1949 20 July 1952 1283d Air Transport Squadron 24 Oct 1951 1 Jun 1952 1284th Air Transport Squadron 24 Oct 1951 1 Jun 1952 dd 1503d Air Transport Group 22 June 1964 8 January 19661503d Support Squadron Transport 22 June 1964 8 January 1966 At Tachikawa Air Base Japan dd Squadrons 6th Troop Carrier Squadron 23 Jun 1965 8 Jan 1966 48th Air Transport Squadron 15 May 1958 25 June 1965 50th Air Transport Squadron 15 May 1958 8 January 1966 1453d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Sep 1956 1 November 1965 1505th Support Squadron Transport 22 June 1964 8 January 1966at Kadena AB Okinawa dd 1506th Support Squadron Transport 22 June 1964 8 January 1966at Clark AB Philippines dd 1507th Support Squadron Transport 22 June 1964 8 January 1966at Andersen AFB Guam dd 1508th Support Squadron Transport 21 December 1965 8 January 1966at Cam Rahn Bay Viet Nam dd Naval Air Transport Squadron 8 VR 8 attached 1 July 1955 5 September 1957 Naval Air Transport Squadron 7 VR 7 attached 1 Jul 1955 15 Aug 1957Stations edit Hickam Air Force Base Hawaii 1 July 1955 8 January 1966Aircraft edit C 97 Stratofreighter47th 48th 49th 50th 51st Air Transport Squadrons 1955Note 50th ATS operated a VC 97 version of Stratofreighter 1951 1966 for VIP Special Air Missions dd C 118 Liftmaster48th Air Transport Squadron 195 1965C 124 Globemaster II50th Air Transport Squadron 1955 1966 6th Troop Carrier Squadron 1965 1966C 131 Samaritan1453d Medical later Aeromedical Air Evacuation Squadron 1956 1965References edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 Mueller Robert 1989 Air Force Bases Vol I Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 PDF Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 53 6 Air Force History Index org Individual squadron lookups in AFHRA archives Ulanoff Stanley M 1964 MATS The Story of the Military Air Transport Service New York NY Franklin Watts Inc ISBN 9781199087683 Air Force Print News Today Rodeo 1962 winner comes back to witness evolution of airdrop Archived from the original on 14 March 2014 Retrieved 14 March 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 1502d Air Transport Wing amp oldid 1163764481, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
