The 349th Air Mobility Wing (Reserve), located at Travis Air Force Base, California, is the largest associate wing in the United States Air Force Reserve. 349th AMW personnel fly the C-5 Galaxy, C-17 Globemaster III and KC-10 Extender. The missions of the wing's aircrews include airlifting personnel and material worldwide as well as aerial refueling a wide variety of aircraft.
The 349th AMW is also home to the 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, responsible for treating patients during medical airlift; the 349th Airlift Control Flight, tasked to enter austere locations and prepare for USAF aircraft arrival; and the 349th Medical Squadron, capable of providing hospital services worldwide, in a contingency environment.
The mission of the 349th AMW is to "provide combat ready Airmen and expeditionary support to the war fighter." This makes the wing responsible for training almost 3,500 Reservists who, in turn, work side-by-side their active duty counterparts in the 60th AMW, also stationed at Travis.
349th AMW HISTORY
November 1943 - 349th Troop Carrier Group activated at Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri. The 349th TCG had five troop carrier squadrons assigned, including what is now the 312th Airlift Squadron, which is still assigned to the 349th.
March 1944 - 349th sent to European Theater to fly combat cargo missions in the C-46 Commandos. The 349th closed out its active duty in 1946 by training Chinese troops at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas.
June 27, 1949 - 349th activated at Hamilton Air Force Base, California, and assigned to Fourth Air Force. The "Golden Gate Wing" didn't serve during the Korean conflict as a unit - rather its members and equipment supplemented other wings that weren't up to combat strength.
May 26, 1952 - 349th reorganized as a fighter-bomber wing, and remained as such until 1957, when it was converted to a troop carrier wing.
April 1, 1958 - Daily administration of the 349th shifted from the active duty Air Force to the Air Reserve Technician Program.
Cuban Missile Crisis -- October 1962 - Golden Gate Wing called to active duty and served for one month to airlift men and supplies to and from the Florida area. Only four hours after the first call to report for duty was made, 95 percent of the wing's flying personnel had checked in and were ready to move. This, more than any other single incident, proved the value of the Air Force Reserve "Ready Now" concept and the wing's motto, "In Omnia Paratus," "In all things prepared."
June 1, 1966 - Gaining command name was change to Military Airlift Command and conversion to the C-124 "Globemaster" was started.
Jan. 26, 1968 - 349th recalled to active duty for the Vietnam War, and many hundreds of tons of cargo were carried across the Pacific. Upon deactivation in 1969, the 349th moved to Travis Air Force Base, California, and became the second "associate" Wing in MAC.
1990 - 1991 - During the Persian Gulf War, more than 1,750 people from selected units were activated for service.
Feb. 1, 1992 - 349th re-designated the 349th Airlift Wing.
September 1994 - The KC-10 "Extender" tanker mission was added to the 349th and the wing became an "Air Mobility Wing."
December 1997 - The C-141 "Starlifter" was inactivated at Travis. The 349th AMW now flies the C-5 and KC-10.
October 2002 - The wing is reorganized with the 349th Support Group name change to 349th Mission Support Group in addition to the 349th Logistics Readiness Squadron being constituted and assigned to the renamed group. The 349th also has the redefinition of the 349th Logistics Group to 349th Maintenance Group; 349th Logistics Support Squadron to 349th Maintenance Operations Flight; 349th Aircraft Generation Squadron to 349th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; 749th Aircraft Generation Squadron to 749th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; and the 349th Component Repair Squadron to the 349th Component Maintenance Squadron.
January 2004 - Then wing was rewarded for its efforts in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Noble Eagle by having earned its ninth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. It was awarded with "Valor" for the period Aug. 1, 2002 through Aug. 15, 2003.
June 25, 2006, the 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was activated to support the Globemaster III.
May 2006 - The 301st Airlift Squadron converted from the C-5 to the C-17 and on June 25, 2006, the 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was activated to support the Globemaster III.
August 2006 - The C-17 "Globemaster III" arrives at Travis. The wing and its host will be the only units in the country to fly three major weapons systems. On May 25, 2006, the 301st Airlift Squadron converted from the C-5 to the C-17 and on
June 25, 2006, the 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was activated to support the Globemaster III.
349th AMW DEPLOYMENTS & EXERCISES
~Operations~
Alaska Airlines Flight 261 Crash Support
Allied Force
Deny Flight, Southwest Asia
Desert Fox, Southwest Asia
Joint Endeavor, Bosnia
Joint Endeavor, Bosnia
Keiko Lift, Oregon to Iceland
Peace Shield, Joint U.S./Russia
Phoenix Banner, Presidential Support
Phoenix Dagger, Caribbean
Phoenix Onyx, Somalia
Phoenix Perch, Caribbean
Phoenix Sapphire, former USSR
Phoenix Scorpion - I, II, III & IV, SWA
Southern Watch, Southwest Asia
Uphold Democracy, Haiti
Vigilant Warrior, Southwest Asia
Noble Eagle (Homeland Defense)
Enduring Freedom
~Exercises~
Amalgam Warrior
Balikatan, Philippines
Battle Griffin, Norway
Bright Star, Egypt
Cobra Gold, Thailand
Combat Sentry
Commando Sling, Singapore
Cope North, Japan
Crisis Look, Travis
Crocodile
Ellipse Echo
Flintlock
Foal Eagle
Freedom Banner, Caribbean
Fuertas Defensas, Panama
Iron Cobra, Egypt
Hong Kong SAREX
JTFEX, Atlantic
New Horizon - Bolivia
Noble Piper
Northern Eagle, Hawaii - Alaska
Pacific Warrior, Hawaii
Pitch Black, Australia
Pony Express
Tandem Thrust
Tradewinds
Ulchi Focus Lens, South Korea
Abbreviated History of the
349th Air Mobility Wing
The "Golden Gate" 349th Air Mobility Wing dates back to November 1943, when it was activated at Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri. At the time of activation, it was designated the 349th Troop Carrier Group and had five troop carrier squadrons assigned. One of these squadrons, the 312th Airlift Squadron, is still assigned to the Wing.
In March 1944, the 349th was sent to the European Theater of Operations and began flying combat cargo missions. Flying C-46 "Commandos," the 349th was the first unit to drop paratroopers from both doors. At one time during the war in Europe, the 349th participated in the largest mass formation of C-46's ever flown in that theater.
C-46 "Commando"
During the last days of World War II in Europe, the 349th participated in the evacuation of wounded from France and England. After VE day, portions of the unit assisted in transporting the British First Army to Norway, in evacuating French POWs from Austria, and in shuttling passengers and equipment between the Continent and the United Kingdom. When the war in Europe ended, the 349th returned to the U.S. and began preparations to join in the Pacific war. While the Wing was still in the states, Japan surrendered and the war was over. The 349th closed out its active duty in 1946 by training Chinese troops at Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas.
The Wing was again activated on 27 June 1949, at Hamilton Air Force Base, California, and assigned to Fourth Air Force. The "Golden Gate Wing" did not serve during the Korean conflict as a unit - rather its members and equipment were used to supplement other wings that were not up to combat strength.
With the reconstruction of reserve forces on 26 May 1952, the 349th was reorganized as a fighter-bomber wing. It remained as such until 1957, when it was again converted to a troop carrier wing with the C119 "Flying Boxcar".
C-119 "Flying Boxcar"
In April 1958, the day-to-day administration of the 349th shifted from the active duty Air Force to the Air Reserve Technician Program.
During the Cuban Crisis in 1962, the "Golden Gate Wing" and each of its flying squadrons were called to active duty. This time, they served for one month to airlift men and supplies to and from the Florida area.
From 1962 to 1965, the 349th continued its training as a tactical airlift wing. Elements of the Wing were used to transport weapons to Los Angeles at the time of the Watts riots and again provided assistance, without a call-up, during the Santo Dominican crisis. In addition, the Wing, in 1964-65, was instrumental in airlifting tons of hay to starving cattle under blizzard-type weather centering in the Rocky Mountain Ranges of Montana, and at the same time provided major disaster support to the relief victims of Eureka, California and the Pacific Northwest floods.
For these domestic actions, the 349th Troop Carrier Wing received a U.S. Postal Office citation and was the first AFRes Wing to win an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
On 1 June 1966, the gaining command was changed to the Military Airlift Command and conversion to the C-124 "Globemaster" was started.
C-124 "Globemaster II"
The 349th, like the other reserve troop carrier wings, was completely equipped and ready to move with only a few hours notice as was the case during the Cuban call-up. Only four hours after the first call to report for duty was made, 95% of the wing's flying personnel had checked in and were ready to move. This, more than any other single incident, proved the value of the Air Force Reserve's "Ready Now" concept and the wing's motto "In Omnia Paratus," In all things prepared.
A recall to active duty was again initiated on 26 January 1968, for the Vietnam War, and many hundreds of tons of cargo were carried across the Pacific. Upon deactivation in 1969, the 349th moved to Travis AFB, CA, and became the second "associate" Wing in what was then the Military Airlift Command. With the base change, the 349th began to fly, maintain and support the C-141 "Starlifter."
C-141 "Starlifter"
In 1972, the 349th joined the active component in flying and maintaining the C-5 "Galaxy" making the 349th a two weapon system reserve strategic airlift wing.
During the Persian Gulf War, 1990-1991, more than 1,750 people from selected units were activated for service in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. Although some units and individuals deployed to the Persian Gulf, others deployed to Europe and other overseas locations, while some remained in the U.S. and still others remained at Travis.
On 1 February 1992, the 349th was re-designated the 349th Airlift Wing, deleting the word "military" from its name to conform with the active duty Air Force's reorganization and realignment policies.
C-5 "Galaxy"
In September 1994, the KC-10 "Extender" tanker mission was added to the Wing and became an "Air Mobility Wing," the only Air Force Reserve unit at the time to fly three types of aircraft: the C-141 "Starlifter," the C-5 "Galaxy," and the KC-10.
In December 1997, the C-141 was retired from service at Travis. Some were sent to McChord AFB, Wash. and McGuire AFB, N.J. The retired "Starlifters" went to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz.
KC-10 "Extender"
In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and New York City's World Trade Center, the 349th provided airlift, mortuary affairs personnel, and other vital support in the early stages of Operations Resolve, Noble Eagle, Infinite Justice and Enduring Freedom. That support is continuing, unswerving, determined, and total.
C-17 "Globemaster III"
With the C-17 "Globemaster III" arrival at Travis in Summer 2006, the wing and its host became the only units in the country to fly three major weapons systems. On May 25, 2006, the 301st Airlift Squadron converted from the C-5 to the C-17 and on June 25, 2006, the 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was activated to support the Globemaster III.
349th Air Mobility Wing's Emblem
Blue and yellow are the Air Force colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and the excellence required of Air Force personnel. The light blue globe on a black field denotes the Wing's day and night, round-the-clock, worldwide airlift capabilities. The mythological wyvern, a form of dragon, suggests the strength, speed, and power of the Wing in its airlift mission of long range movement and/or air evacuation of personnel, equipment, and supplies. Its extended right claw with paratrooper reflects the unit's readiness to deliver these services. The smoke and fire the wyvern breathes from its nostrils symbolizes the Wing's personnel as the internal force of the Wing.
(Current as of April 2008)
349th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
520 Waldron St
Travis AFB, CA 94535-2100
707-424-3936