America's First Choice:
A Brief History of the 60th Air Mobility Wing
and
Travis Air Force Base
America's First Choice:
A Brief History of the 60th Air Mobility Wing
and
Travis Air Force Base
JOHN M. LACOMIA
Office of History
60 Air Mobility Wing
Travis Air Force Base, California
2008
Preface
This booklet provides a brief survey on the history of the 60th Air Mobility Wing and Travis Air Force Base. A monograph such as this plays an integral role in telling the story of where we have come from, where we have been and the part that we play in future events. Travis, its personnel and the units assigned to it are "America's First Choice" whenever our country calls. This installation has been a key player in every major contingency from World War II to the present.
I would like to thank Dr. Gary Leiser, the curator from the Travis Air Museum for his detailed account on the history of Travis Air Force Base and the units that have been assigned to it since its inception. Without his detailed research, the history of this installation would have disappeared a long time ago.
This compilation of 60th Air Mobility Wing and Travis Air Force Base facts were gathered from numerous sources including the units' archives, its collection of books, base newspapers, and previous heritage pamphlets.
Mr. John M. Lacomia
60th Air Mobility Wing Historian
Table of Contents
Preface i
Table of Contents ii
List of Illustrations iii
Brief History of the 60th Air Mobility Wing 1
Brief History of Travis Air Force Base 10
Appendix 1 60th Air Mobility Wing Lineage and Honors Data 16
Appendix 2 60th Troop Carrier Group & Wing Commanders 19
Appendix 3 60th Military Airlift, Airlift & Air Mobility Wing Commanders 20
Appendix 4 Wing Senior Enlisted Advisors & Command Chief Master Sergeants 21
Appendix 5 Group/Wing Assignments 22
Appendix 6 Installation Names 23
Appendix 7 Commanding Officers of Fairfield-Suisun/Travis Air Force Base 24
Appendix 8 Travis Weapons Systems 26
Appendix 9 Major Units Assigned to Travis 27
Appendix 10 Glossary of Recent Operations 28
List of Illustrations
Lt Col. Charles A. Gibson with Children in Greece 1
A C-119 "Flying Boxcar" on a mission over Europe 2
Original 60th Troop Carrier Wing Emblem 1955 3
A former POW greets his wife during Operation HOMECOMING 4
The First C-141 "Starlifter" lands at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica 4
Commanders welcome first C-17 "Globemaster III" to Travis 9
The start of Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base in 1942 10
Brigadier General Robert F. Travis 10
First Base HQ at Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base 11
C-54 "Skymaster" under repair at Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base 12
History of the 60th Air Mobility Wing
The origins of the unit began when the 60th Transport Group was activated on December 1, 1940 at Olmstead Field, PA. Prior to America's entry in the Second World War, the 60th received training for operations in the Mediterranean theater in anticipation of being shipped overseas. Once America entered the war, the 60th was well on its way of completing training with the C-47 "Skytrain" aircraft. On June 12, 1942, the 60th deployed to Chelveston, England where it was assigned to 12th Air Force. On July 7, 1942, the unit was re-designated as a Troop Carrier Group. Within two months of their arrival, the unit was re-assigned to Aldermaston. The unit flew its first mission on November 8, 1942 transporting paratroopers from England and dropping them at Oran, Algeria during the early hours of the invasion of North Africa.
While stationed in North Africa, the 60th also participated in the battle for Tunisia, dropping paratroopers near the combat area on two occasions. The unit also trained with gliders and in June 1943, it towed gliders to Syracuse and dropped paratroopers behind enemy lines at Catania when the allies invaded Sicily in July 1943. When not engaged in airborne operations, the group transported men and supplies and evacuated wounded personnel. The 60th flew to northern Italy in October 1943 to drop supplies to men who had escaped from prisoner-of-war camps and dropped paratroopers at Megara during the airborne invasion of Greece in October 1944. During World War II, the 60th operated from bases in Algeria, Tunisia, Sicily, and Italy until after V-E Day. The unit's C-47 "Skytrain" aircraft played an integral role in transporting troops, supplies and equipment during the Allied Invasion of Europe. On July 31, 1945 the 60 TCG was formally inactivated as the war in Europe ended.
With the start of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the 60 TCG was re-activated on September 30, 1946, at Munich Air Force Base Germany. The unit was re-assigned again to Kaufbeuren Air Base, Germany on May 14, 1948.
In June 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded West Berlin, which cut off the city from the rest of Europe. On June 24, 1948, Operation VITTLES (known as the Berlin Airlift) started, providing airlift support and bringing relief to the citizens of West Berlin. In support of this new operation, the 60th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) was activated on July 7, 1948 at Kaufbeuren Air Base Germany flying the C-54 "Skymaster". Initially flying the C-47, the 60th converted to the C-54 "Skymaster" and the unit was re-designated as the 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy on November 5, 1948. At the time that the 60th became a subordinate unit assigned to the wing, it managed three flying squadrons: the 10th, 11th, and 12th Troop Carrier Squadrons.
On January 29, 1949, the wing's headquarters element moved to Fasberg Royal Air Force Station, West Germany, and fell under operational control of the 1st Airlift Task Force. With its own aircraft and support units detached to other locations, the 60th gained operational control of the 313rd Troop Carrier Group, the 513th Air Base Group, the 513th Maintenance and Supply Group, and the 513th Medical Group. Aircraft assigned to the wing primarily carried coal into West Berlin. When the Berlin Airlift ended on September 26, 1949, the 60th began moving without its personnel and equipment to Wiesbaden Air Base, West Germany, where it assumed the resources of the inactivated 7150th Air Force Composite Wing. The 60th Troop Carrier Wing became operational at Wiesbaden on October 1, 1949, and United States Air Forces Europe re-designated the wing again as the 60 TCW, Medium, on November 16, 1949. On January 21, 1951, Twelfth Air Force became the 60th's new higher headquarters. At this time, the wing had no tactical mission.
On June 2, 1951, the wing replaced the 61st Troop Carrier Wing at Rhein-Main Air Base, where the 60th had been stationed on detached service. At this time, the 60 TCW resumed a tactical role and assumed responsibility for controlling all US tactical airlift resources in Europe. The 60 TCW provided logistic airlift services to US and Allied forces in Europe while maintaining host unit responsibilities at Rhein-Main. Operating the C-82 "Packet", C-119 "Flying Boxcar", and C-47 "Skytrain" aircraft, the wing participated in countless exercises and provided air transportability training to US Army units.
On August 1, 1955 the wing was assigned to the 322rd Air Division and moved to Dreux Air Base in France. Later that month, the 62nd Troop Carrier Squadron, a Tactical Air Command rotational unit from Stewart Air Force Base, Tennessee, arrived and entered attached status with the 60th. From March 22 thru June 2, 1956, the 309th Troop Carrier Group, Assault (Fixed Wing), from Ardmore Air Force Base, Oklahoma deployed to Dreux. Initially, attached to the 60th for logistical support and operational control, the 309th was officially assigned to the wing on August 8, 1956. The 309th introduced the C-123 "Provider" to the European theater. (It is noteworthy to mention, the unit emblem used today was created from its time while assigned at Dreux AB)
In a major reorganization, the 322nd reduced the headquarters elements of the 60th, 309th, and the 60th Mission and Support Group to one officer and one airman each on November 15, 1956. In conjunction with this, the 60th's chief of operations gained control of the flying squadrons. All three groups inactivated on March 12, 1957. In mid-1958, the 376th, 377th, and 378th Troop Carrier Squadrons, formerly assigned to the 309th, transitioned from the C-123 to the C-119 aircraft. Then on September 25, 1958, the 60th Troop Carrier Wing was inactivated, ending its first period of service. With the exception of the 10th, 11th, and 12th Troop Carrier Squadrons (which now reported directly to the 322nd Air Division) all other units that were assigned to the 60th were also inactivated.
Headquarters Military Airlift Command (MAC) re-designated the 60th Troop Carrier Wing as the 60th Military Airlift Wing and activated the unit on December 27, 1965. The 60th organized on January 8, 1966, and assumed the mission, personnel, and equipment of the 1501st Air Transport Wing at Travis Air Force Base and became the new host unit at the base. The newly activated 22nd Air Force (successor to the Western Transport Air Force of the Military Air Transport Service) at Travis became the new parent organization for the 60th.
Flying the C-124 "Globemaster," the C-130 "Hercules," the C-141A "Starlifter," and the C-133 "Cargomaster," the 60th entered service while the US was beginning a major buildup of its military forces in Southeast Asia. The 60th quickly established a strategic aerial pipeline to the region. Support of US forces in Vietnam earned the unit three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards. In 1966, the wing became the first recipient of the Air Force Logistic Systems Award. Assigned to the wing on January 8, 1966, the C-141-equipped 75th Military Airlift Squadron transitioned to the C-5 "Galaxy," becoming the Military Air Command's first operational squadron to fly the new transport aircraft. On February 6, 1972, the wing added a second C-5 squadron, when the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron activated at Travis.
In the spring of 1973, the 60th Military Airlift Wing became a major participant in Operation HOMECOMING, the repatriation of American prisoners of war from North Vietnam. As the C-141s arrived with the former POWs, the David Grant Medical Center at Travis became a major processing facility for the returnees. HOMECOMING marked the official termination of US involvement in the Vietnam War.
During the fall of 1973, the 60th supported Operation NICKEL GRASS, the support of Israel during the Yom Kippur War in the Middle East. As the Military Air Command's prime representative in this operation, the 60th flew 36 C-5 and C-141 missions and delivered over 22,000 tons of supplies and equipment.
With the Communist takeover of Cambodia and South Vietnam imminent, MAC diverted a C-5, flown by the 22nd Military Airlift Squadron, from Clark Air Base in the Philippines to Tan Son Nhut Air Base near Saigon to fly the first Operation BABYLIFT mission. Both BABYLIFT and Operation NEW LIFE missions transported thousands of refugees to the United States during April-May of 1975. By the end of Operation BABYLIFT, MAC carriers airlifted 1,794 Southeast Asian orphans to their new American families. Military Air Command C-141s carried 949 of those babies.
In October 1974, the 60th began supporting Operation DEEP FREEZE missions, the annual resupply of scientific research teams in the Antarctic. Flying from Christchurch, New Zealand, the wing had logged a near perfect record for reliability. On October 4, 1989, a 60th Military Airlift Wing C-5 became the first "Galaxy" to land on the Antarctic continent. For airlift achievements during the 1970s, the wing earned two more Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards.
To upgrade cargo carrying capacity, MAC initiated a major upgrade program for its C-141A fleet beginning in 1979. The project added an in-flight refueling system and 23 feet in length to the fuselage. The stretched "Starlifter" was designated the C-141B. The 60th sent its first C-141A to the Lockheed-Georgia Company on August 13, 1979. The wing received its last "B" model on May 10, 1982.
A highly visible instrument of US foreign policy, the 60th played an important role in maintaining the balance of power in the world during the 1980s. Supporting US naval forces in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Arabia, the wing flew frequent missions to Diego Garcia and other installations in the region. When underwater mines, suspected to have been placed by Iran, threatened the Red Sea shipping lanes in 1984, the 60th airlifted minesweeping helicopters from Naval Air Station Norfolk, VA, to Rota, Spain, where the Navy assembled and carried them into action via surface vessel. In 1987, a similar situation in the Arabian Gulf resulted in the deployment of the same helicopter minesweepers.
Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, the wing supported several important troop deployments to Central America. The deployments demonstrated US resolve to oppose corrupt dictatorships and Soviet-backed governments. Operation URGENT FURY in 1983 took the Caribbean island-nation of Grenada out of the hands of Soviet-backed Cubans. Operation GOLDEN PHEASENT in 1988 projected US strength to counter Nicaraguan incursions into Honduras; Operation NIMROD DANCER in May 1989 showed US opposition to Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega; and Operation JUST CAUSE in December 1989 and January 1990 toppled Noriega from power and led to his arrest and trial in the US. For its participation in JUST CAUSE, the 60th earned another AFOUA.
Members of the 60th have participated in countless humanitarian airlift missions over the years. When earthquakes devastated Mexico City in 1985, a 60th Military Airlift Wing C-5 was one of MAC's first aircraft to deliver relief equipment. In December 1988 and early 1989, personnel assigned to the 60th Aerial Port Squadron helped load Soviet IL-62 aircraft with medical supplies and relief equipment for shipment to earthquake victims in Armenia. In 1989, the wing carried relief supplies to Charleston, South Carolina and the US Virgin Islands to assist victims of Hurricane Hugo. Later that year, crews also flew relief equipment and personnel to San Francisco's south bay area to assist victims of the October 13th Loma Prieta earthquake. The 60th played a key role in Operation FIERY VIGIL. During June and July 1991, repeated eruptions of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines, buried Clark Air Base with tons of volcanic ash, thus forcing an emergency evacuation of US military dependents and non-essential military personnel.
Driven by economic factors and a smaller perceived threat to its security, the US completely reorganized the Department of Defense and significantly reduced its military forces, beginning in 1989. During 1991 and 1992, the Air Force underwent the most massive restructuring since its establishment as a separate service in 1947. With the restructuring, MAC became the Air Mobility Command (AMC) and absorbed the tanker airlift resources of the former Strategic Air Command. As the "objective" wing became the hallmark of the new Air Force, AMC re-designated the 60th as the 60th Airlift Wing on November 1, 1991.
On August 2, 1990, the armies of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded the tiny, oil-rich nation of Kuwait. Responding to a request for assistance from King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia, US President George Bush ordered troops to the region as part of Operation DESERT SHIELD. A coalition of 27 allied nations supported the efforts with troops, money, medical teams, supplies, and equipment. Operation DESERT STORM, the coalition move to remove the Iraqi troops from Kuwait, began on January 17, 1991. The 60th played a vital role throughout the course of Operation DESERT SHIELD/STORM, by flying 1,280 C-5 and 954 C-141 missions from Travis Air Force Base. The airlift portion of the operation was nicknamed Operation VOLANT WIND.
Relief efforts kept the 60th busy throughout 1992. By September of that year, the wing simultaneously supported eight humanitarian operations. These included Operations PROVIDE COMFORT, airlift aid to Kurdish refugees in northwestern Iraq; PROVIDE HOPE, airlift of medical supplies and food to impoverished areas of the former Soviet Union; PROVIDE PROMISE, relief of noncombatants in Sarajevo, Bosnia; PROVIDE RELIEF, airlift of medical supplies and food to drought, famine, and anarchy-stricken Somalia; and PHOENIX UFFO, airlift support of Haitian refugees awaiting transport to their homeland from a camp at Guantanamo Naval Base, Cuba. Operations also included relief missions to victims of three major storms: Hurricane Andrew in FL; Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii; and Typhoon Omar in Guam. Beginning in May 1994, the 60th Airlift Wing joined an AMC rotation of C-141 squadrons at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, to assist more directly in Operation PROVIDE PROMISE. Still on-going throughout 1994, the airlift of supplies into Sarajevo far surpassed the Berlin Airlift in terms of time and tonnage flown into the besieged capital of Bosnia.
On December 3, 1992, the United Nations Security Council unanimously authorized a US-led force to safeguard relief work in Somalia. Operation RESTORE HOPE began that same day when a 60th Airlift Wing C-5 flew additional crews and airlift control personnel to March Air Force Base, California. Operation RESTORE HOPE continued into the early months of 1994. For its service during DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, and its heavy humanitarian schedule of 1991 and 1992, the 60th received yet another Air Force Outstanding Unit Award.
Force restructuring continued during late 1993 and into 1994. In an effort to maintain the operational squadrons with the longest, most honored heritage, the Air Force moved or inactivated several flying squadrons. The 7th and 75th Airlift Squadrons transferred to other locations, while the 86th Airlift Squadron was inactivated. In their place, the wing received the 19th, 20th, and 21st Airlift Squadrons.
When civil war broke out in the African nation of Rwanda in the spring of 1994, the 60th Airlift Wing again responded with troops and airlift support. Using Entebbe, Uganda as their hub of operations, Travis airlifters joined other AMC units as part of Operation SUPPORT HOPE. The joint American and United Nations effort eventually moved nearly 25,000 tons of relief equipment and supplies into Central African region.
Mission changes continued within the wing during the last half of 1994. On September 1, 1994, the wing received its first KC-10 "Extender" squadron, when the 9th Air Refueling Squadron (ARS) transferred from March Air Force Base California, thus giving the wing five operational squadrons. A month later, the 60th Medical Group (MDG) activated four new squadrons: the 60th Aerospace Medicine Squadron, the 60th Dental Squadron, the 60th Medical Operations Squadron, and the 60th Medical Support Squadron. With its combined mission of airlift and tanker operations, Air Mobility Command re-designated the 60th Airlift Wing as the 60th Air Mobility Wing (AMW) on October 1, 1994.
Before the wing could even catch its breath from Operation SUPPORT HOPE, personnel and aircraft responded to two other crisis locations before the close of 1994. In an effort to restore the democratically elected leadership to the Caribbean nation of Haiti, the 60th flew some of the first missions into Haiti, carrying combat troops and equipment. While assisting with the build-up during Operation PHOENIX SHARK, the wing also received a tasking to move troops and equipment into Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and other Middle Eastern nations in response to an apparent offensive military move by Iraq. Operation PHOENIX JAKAL provided the needed deterrent to turn Saddam Hussein's attention away from the Kuwaiti border.
A full range of activities during 1995 kept every facet of the 60 AMW busy. From February until early August, nearly 150 members of the 60th Medical Group operated the United Nations hospital in Zagreb, Croatia. Twenty members of the 60th Services Squadron deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in March and provided support to all five American services and to refugees from Cuba and Haiti. During its three-month tour of duty, the services team served a daily average of 3,500 meals while working 12-hour shifts, six days a week. In response to a terrorist bombing of the Alfred Murrow Federal building in Oklahoma City, a C-141 aircraft transported a 63-member team from the Sacramento Urban Search and Rescue Unit, five dogs, and 16.5 tons of equipment to the capital of Oklahoma.
In June, a KC-10 and a crew from Travis Air Force Base assisted in the around-the-world flight by two B-1 "Lancers" from the 7th Bomb Wing, Dyess AFB, TX. The Travis tanker provided aerial refueling during the fourth track of the trip, east of Singapore, Thailand. The 36-hour, 13 minute CORONET BAT mission set several flight records, including fastest time around the world non-stop.
During the last two weeks in July 1995, the 60th Air Mobility Wing participated in the first-ever joint Operational Readiness Inspection between Air Mobility Command and the Air Combat Command. For its effort, the 60th earned an overall "Outstanding" rating. The wing also earned its eighth AFOUA for the period of November 1, 1993 to July 31, 1995.
From June 22-29, 1996, the 60th competed with the American Air Force Reserve, Army, Marine Corps, Air National Guard, and air mobility forces from several nations in the 15th Annual International Rodeo Air Mobility Competition at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. At the end of the event, the wing won six trophies for Best Air-land Wing, Best C-5 Engine Running On/Off load, Best C-141 Maintenance Team, Best C-141 Preflight team, and Best C-141 Post-flight Team.
On August 1, 1996, the 19th Airlift Squadron was inactivated and in December 1997, the C-141 was retired from service at Travis. Some aircraft were sent to McChord Air Force Base, Washington and McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. The retired "Starlifters" went to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. It would be another decade before the 60th would have a third airframe on station.
From November 15-19, 1999 members of the 6th and 9th Air Refueling Squadrons became the first KC-10 crews in Air Mobility Command to do an aerial refueling of an F-22 Raptor. The squadrons worked closely with the 452nd Flight Test Squadron at Edwards, AFB to test the compatibility issues between the F-22 and the KC-10.
On August 8, 2006, the 60th Air Mobility Wing received the first of thirteen C-17 "Globemaster III" aircraft. The aircraft was named, "The Spirit of Solano." With a third airframe on station, the 60 AMW and tenant units can provide airlift and refueling globally in any environment.
As missions in Air Mobility Command continue to evolve, the 60th leads the way to embody the mentality of adapting and overcoming any obstacle. In 2006 & 2007 the unit flew more than 86,000 hours, transported more than 63,000 passengers and moved over 86,000 tons of cargo. For its' continued innovation and dedication to the mission, the 60th Air Mobility Wing was given the Meritorious Unit Award for the period of July 1, 2005 thru June 31, 2007.
In February 2008, the 21st Airlift Squadron with C-17A Globemaster IIIs deployed as a squadron in support of the Operations ENDURING AND IRAQI FREEDOM. The 60th Air Mobility Wing continues to answer the call to action whenever it is needed. Whether it is home or abroad, the 60th AMW shows that world that "There Are No Bounds" to what this unit can do.
History of Travis Air Force Base
The establishment of an Army airfield near Fairfield and Suisun City was first recommended in December 1941, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Representatives from Fourth Air Force and the Army Corps of Engineers investigated the area and approved the idea in early 1942.
On April 22, 1942, the Office of the Chief of Engineers, Washington DC, authorized spending $998,000 for construction of two runways and a few temporary buildings on 945 acres. The project received a top wartime priority, and construction began in the summer of 1942. On May 17, 1943, the Air Transport Command officially activated Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base, named after the two cities that the base was located between.
Travis Air Force Base is named in honor of Brigadier General Robert F. Travis who was killed when his B-29 crashed on the installation August 5, 1950. At the time of his death, General Travis was the commander of the 5th Strategic Reconnaissance, and 9th Bombardment Wings.
General Travis' popularity and the shock of his death led base officials and the local community to sponsor renaming the base in his honor. The proposal was favored in Washington DC, and on April 21, 1951 the base was re-named Travis Air Force Base.
Although today Travis is home of the largest airlift organization in the Air Force, it began as an isolated airstrip with a few tar paper shacks set in the middle of a wind-swept prairie during World War II. The field was named Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base, after the two closest, mostly agricultural towns. The base was first planned shortly after the December 7, 1941 attack on Pear Harbor, the base served as home for medium bombers and fighters assigned to defend the West Coast. The first runway and temporary buildings were constructed by the Army Corps of Engineers in the summer of 1942. They were used initially by Army and Navy fighter planes for takeoff and landing practice. For a few months, the outline of an aircraft carrier's deck was painted on the runway to help newly-commissioned Navy pilots practice maneuvers. The strong local prevailing winds nearly duplicated those at sea.
Shortly after construction began, however, the base's potential as a major aerial port and supply transfer point for the Pacific theater led the Army Air Corps to assign it to the newly-designated Air Transport Command. The base officially opened on June 1, 1943, with a primary mission of preparing various military aircraft, mainly bombers and transports, for the Pacific war zone and ferrying them to that region. Consairway, a division of the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, airlifted some of the cargo and personnel to the Pacific. The first host unit for the base was the 23rd Ferrying Group. At the end of WWII, the primary mission became the airlift of troops and supplies to occupied Japan and Korea, and the processing of war-weary returning GIs. On June 1, 1948, the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) assumed jurisdiction. In July, two of the base's air transport squadrons left for Europe to assist in the Berlin Airlift.
On May 1, 1949, the Strategic Air Command became the parent major command for the base, turning it into a major long-range reconnaissance and intercontinental bombing installation. For the next nine years, airlift operations became secondary while the base served as home for SAC bombers such as the B-29 "Super Fortress", B-36 "Peacemaker", and eventually, the B-52 "Strato Fortress". During this period, new hangars appeared, runways were added and widened, and permanent barracks and family living quarters were built. The base grew to its present size which encompasses 6,258 acres.
The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) resumed command of Travis on July 1, 1958, after SAC's new dispersal policy led to the transfer of the 14th Air Division to Beale Air Force Base, California. The base became headquarters to the 1501st Air Transport Wing in 1955; for MATS' Western Transport Air Force (later the 22nd Air Force) in 1958; and the 60th Military Airlift Wing in 1966 (later to be re-designated to the present 60th Air Mobility Wing). The 349th Military Airlift Wing (United State Air Force Reserve) moved to Travis from Hamilton Air Force Base, California, in 1969. Travis became part of the Air Mobility Command on June 1, 1992, when assets from Military Airlift Command and the Strategic Air Command were fused into a single team.
From 1969 to the present, the 60th and 349th Air Mobility Wings have worked closely to make Travis one of the best and most versatile bases in the United States Air Force. The base would provide continuous airlift support in the face of world-wide contingencies for another 25 years, when the base added air refueling to its mission in September 1994.
In the wake of the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and New York City's World Trade Center, Travis Air Force Base has demonstrated its excellence and versatility in performing the missions they do best -- providing rapid global airlift and aerial refueling crucial to combating the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT).
Travis Air Force Base has been called upon to provide airlift of specialized personnel and equipment to assist in the rescue and recovery efforts in Washington DC and at ground zero in New York City. In all, Travis transported 240 passengers and 120 tons of equipment vital to the search, rescue, and recovery efforts. Additionally, Travis' 60th Aerial Port Squadron loaded and unloaded hundreds of passengers and tons of equipment from both military and civilian aircraft transiting through Travis on their way to the east coast to help in the disaster relief effort.
On October 7, 2001, the US military response to the terrorist attacks against Al Qaeda and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan commenced, dubbed Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF). Travis was instrumental in rapidly deploying US forces into the theater. Travis KC-10s were there to refuel the first combat aircraft to strike the Taliban. Travis' aerial refuelers passed over 22 million gallons of fuel in support of thousands of combat sorties over the Afghan theater.
By mid-March 2002, the Taliban had been removed from power and the Al Qaeda network in Afghanistan had been destroyed. Travis continued their support of operations in the GWOT airlifting supplies and personnel into Afghanistan and with air refueling missions to Combat Air Patrols throughout the U.S. in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE, the homeland security mission. In July 2002, Travis C-5 crews made history while forward deployed and assigned to the 782nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron the crews participated in the first deployment of the C-5 Galaxy into a combat environment. The crew flew into Kandahar International Airport, Afghanistan where their mission was to extract a regiment of Canadian soldiers.
Travis has also played a role in humanitarian missions, delivering over 687 tons of food from depots in California, along with a shipment of approximately 12,000 blankets in advance of the Afghan winter. By the end of 2002, Travis C-5s flew approximately 32,880 flying hours and over 5,700 sorties; KC-10 crews flew approximately 34,439 hours and over 5,200 sorties.
On March 19, 2003 U.S. and British forces began a new phase of military operations against Iraq, dubbed Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF). The operation was designed to disarm Iraq of its weapons of mass destruction and to remove the Iraqi Baathist regime from power. Travis has provided airlift and aerial refueling support, along with medical support as part of Air Expeditionary Forces 7 and 8. Travis KC-10 crews deployed to the 463rd Air Expeditionary Wing and provided in-flight refueling to coalition aircraft, while C-5 crews airlifted personnel, vital equipment and supplies into the Persian Gulf region and straight into Baghdad International Airport. On May 1, 2003, President Bush declared major combat operations over in Iraq.
Travis aircrews continued to support airlift and refueling combat support missions in Afghanistan and Iraq throughout the remainder of 2003. In the early morning of January 8, 2004, a C-5 from the 22nd Airlift Squadron transporting 52 Army passengers, including members of the 101st Airborne Division, and 131,606 pounds of cargo, made a tactical departure from Baghdad International. At 0620 Baghdad time, four minutes into the flight at 6,000 feet and three miles west of the runway, the crew felt the entire plane shudder violently and heard a loud explosion as enemy ground fire hit and exploded in the No. 4 engine. An in-flight emergency was immediately declared as the crew conducted an emergency shutdown of the engine to prevent further damage. The aircraft commander, Capt Zeiner, executed emergency landing procedures back into Baghdad International, and landed safely with no injuries to the crew or further damage to the plane. On March 5, 2004, General John W. Handy, Commander Air Mobility Command, in a commander's call held at the Travis base theater, presented the 22nd Airlift Squadron aircrew with air and commendation medals for their outstanding performance in safely landing their C-5 after taking hostile fire to their No. 4 engine.
From September 2001 to the summer 2004, Travis aircrews flew over 98,000 hours, hauled more than 392 million pounds of cargo, and moved over 114,000 passengers all over the world -- a 100 percent increase to 2001 statistics. Airlift operations into Afghanistan and Iraq are the third largest effort of its kind, ranking only behind the Berlin Airlift and Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. Travis C-5 aircrews have flown more than 35,000 hours and 6,200 sorties. Travis KC-10 aircrews have flown more than 26,000 hours and 2,500 sorties. Since September 11, 2001 through the summer of 2004, Travis aircrews have flown over 2,100 combat sorties in support of Operations ENDURING AND IRAQI FREEDOM.
The terrorist attacks also resulted in the 2002 Combat re-organization that streamlined units so that they became more versatile to the needs of the Air Force. With the addition of the 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force (EMTF) and 615th Contingency Response Wing (CRW) in 2005, Travis Air Force Base has truly become "America's First Choice" for airlift, air refueling and humanitarian operations. This versatility was put to the test in January 2005, when the 15 EMTF and the 60 AMW were deployed to seven different locations in Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka to aid in Tsunami relief operations. Travis Air Force Base transported more than 2,000 passengers and moved more than 2,000 tons of cargo for the relief effort.
On August 29, 2005, the personnel of Travis AFB were called upon again to provide assistance after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast states. C-5 aircraft from the 21st and 22nd Airlift Squadrons transported rescue vehicles, swift boats, and other relief equipment to the north and west of the coastal areas of New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi. During this period, the 60th Aerial Port Squadron originated and transited missions that totaled to 332 tons of equipment.
On September 22, 2005 personnel from Travis once again deployed in response to a national emergency, Hurricane Rita. The Travis team deployed with more than 310 short tons of equipment in response to the emergency. The versatility of Travis Air Force Base made it possible to successfully respond to more than three relief efforts with a very short lead time.
Travis has continued to demonstrate why it is "America's First Choice" in 2006 and 2007. The base handled more than 87,000 passengers and over 100,000 tons of cargo. In 2007 more than 3,300 missions were flown by Travis transporting more than 30,000 passengers and moving more than 41,000 tons of cargo to their destination. Once, a major hub for transporting passengers and cargo in the Pacific, Travis has become an integral part of the total force. The base is now called upon to perform its mission anywhere in the world at a moments notice.
Appendix 1
60 AMW Lineage and Honors
Shield: On a shield azure, a pale of seven variegrated pallets proper, black, yellow, red, white, blue, orange, and green, the pale fimbriated and surmounted by three symbols of flight or, in bend, all within a narrow border of the last.
Significance: The blue and gold are for the Air Force. The shield depicts the tactical and combat aspect of the troop carrier mission. The rainbow colored pale represents the national colors of the NATO nations. The sky blue field of the shield is for peace and hope that inspire NATO. The three symbols of flight symbolize the wing's primary mission -- rapid airlift. The motto expresses the concept basic to airlift -- geographical boundaries constitute no limit to the accomplishment of the Wing's mission.
The Motto: TERMINI NON EXISTENT (Latin for "There Are No Bounds").
Emblem approved for the 60th Troop Carrier Wing on September 7, 1955.
Awards
The 60th Air Mobility Wing has undergone various designations as a Troop Carrier Wing in July 1948, a Military Airlift Wing on December 1965, an Airlift Wing in November 1991, and now as an Air Mobility Wing in October 1994.
Bestowed Honors
The 60th Air Mobility Wing is authorized to display honors earned by the 60th Operations Group prior to 1 July 1, 1948.
Decorations
Distinguished Unit Citation:
Mediterranean Theater of Operations March 28 - September 15, 1944.
Campaign Streamers
World War II:
Algeria-French Morocco November 8-11, 1942
Tunisia; Sicily November 12, 1942 - May 13, 1943
Naples-Foggia May 14 - August 17, 1943
Rome-Arno August 18, 1943 - January 21, 1944
Southern France August 15 - 14 September 14, 1944
North Apennienes September 10, 1944 - April 4, 1945
Po Valley April 5 - May 8, 1945
Air Combat December 7, 1941 - September 4, 1945
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamer
Grenada 1983
Panama 1989 - 1990
Berlin Airlift Streamer
June 26, 1948 - September 30, 1949
Air Force Meritorious Unit Award
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 2005 - June 30, 2007
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
60th Military Airlift Wing January 8, 1966 - June 30, 1966
60th Military Airlift Wing July 1, 1966 - June 30, 1967
60th Military Airlift Wing July 1, 1967 - 30 June 30, 1968
60th Military Airlift Wing July 1, 1974 - 30 June 30, 1975
60th Military Airlift Wing July 1, 1975 - 30 June 30, 1977
60th Military Airlift Wing December 16, 1989 - January 31, 1990
60th Airlift Wing July 1, 1990 - June 30, 1992
60th Air Mobility Wing November 1, 1993 - July 31, 1995
60th Air Mobility Wing August 1, 1995 - July 30, 1997
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 1997 - June 30, 1999
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 1999 - June 30, 2000
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 2000 - June 30, 2001
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 2001 - June 30, 2003
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 2003 - June 30, 2004
60th Air Mobility Wing July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005
Lineage
Group
Activated as 60th Transport Group December 1, 1940
Re-designated 60th Troop Carrier Group July 7, 1942
Inactivated July 31, 1945
Re-activated September 30, 1946
Re-designated Troop Carrier Group, Medium July 1,1948
Re-designated Troop Carrier Group, Heavy November 5, 1948
Re-designated Troop Carrier Group, Medium November 16, 1949
Inactivated March 12, 1957
Re-activated as 60th Military Airlift Group March 6, 1978
Inactivated February 15, 1979
Re-activated as 60th Operations Group November 1, 1991
Wing
Activated as 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium July 1, 1948
Re-designated 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Heavy November 5, 1948
Re-designated 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium November 16, 1949
Inactivated September 25, 1958
Re-activated as 60th Military Airlift Wing December 27, 1965
Re-designated as 60th Airlift Wing November 1, 1991
Re-designated 60th Air Mobility Wing October 1, 1994
Appendix 2
60th Troop Carrier Group/Wing Commanders
Group Dates
Lt Col. Samuel C. Eaton Jr. December 1, 1940
Capt. Arthur L. Logan May 16, 1941
Lt Col. Russell L. Maughan. July 28, 1941
Capt. Willard B. Atwell April 6, 1942
Lt Col. A.J. Kerwin Malone April 15, 1942
Lt Col. T.J. Schofield October 11, 1942
Lt Col. Julius A. Kolb December 2, 1942
Lt Col. Frederick H. Sherwood March 29,1943
Col. Clarence J. Galligan July 26, 1943
Lt Col. Kenneth W. Holbert December 8, 1944
Lt Col. Charles A. Gibson Jr. January 11, 1945
Col. Casper P. West September 30, 1946
Col. Bertram C. Harrison September 1947
Wing
Col. Bertram C. Harrison July 1, 1948
Col. Henry W. Dorr August 27, 1948
Lt Col. Benjamin A. Karsokas November 16, 1948
Col. Robert C. Paul December 22, 1948
Col. Theron Coulter January 20, 1949
Col. James J. Roberts Jr. October 1, 1949
Col. Hilbert J. Wittkop October 8, 1949
Col. James J. Roberts Jr. April 3, 1950
Col. Auby C. Strickland June 2,1951
Col. Laurence B. Kelley July 13, 1952
Col. Harry S. Bishop November 1, 1953
Col. Clyde Box August 1, 1955
Col. Randolph E. Churchill May 19, 1956
Col. James W. Ingram July 1958
Unit Inactive September 25, 1958
Appendix 3
60th Military Airlift/Airlift/Air Mobility Wing Commanders
Wing
Dates
None (not manned) December 27, 1965
Brig Gen. Maurice J. Casey January 8, 1966
Brig Gen. James A. Hill July 8, 1968
Brig Gen. John H. Germeraad March 1, 1970
Brig Gen. Ralph S. Saunders May 14, 1971
Col. Charles E. Shannon May 16, 1973
Brig Gen. Harry A. Morris October 15, 1973
Col. Donald W. Bennett May 2, 1975
Col. Allen L. Trott Jr. September 1, 1977
Col. Richard J. Trzaskoma February 15, 1979
Col. Howard D. Jumper May 7, 1980
Col. Anthony J. Burshnick July 21, 1980
Col. Robert W. Sample March 8, 1982
Col. Robert V. Woods February 27, 1984
Col. Thomas D. Pilsch May 29, 1986
Col. John C. Tait April 6, 1988
Col. Bobby O. Floyd June 2, 1989
Col. William J. Begert June 18, 1990
Brig Gen. John B. Sams Jr. July 11, 1991
Brig Gen. Howard J. Ingersoll July 9, 1993
Brig Gen. George N. Williams December 8, 1995
Brig Gen. Steven A. Roser July 1, 1998
Brig Gen. Thomas P. Kane October 15, 1999
Col. David R. Lefforge September 21, 2001
Brig Gen. Bradley S. Baker September 20, 2002
Col. Lyn D. Sherlock April 8, 2004
Col. Steven J. Arquiette May 8, 2006
Appendix 4
Wing Senior Enlisted Advisors and Command Chief Master Sergeants
(Known as Senior Enlisted Advisors before November 1, 1998)
Dates
CMSgt Gladstone Grigsby June 1969 - July 1970
CMSgt William Lawson August 1970 - August 1971
CMSgt Gladstone Grigsby August 1971 - circa October 1973
CMSgt John Harbin, Jr. c. October 1973 - June 1977
CMSgt James A. Blaker June 1977 - July 1979
vacant July 1979 - October 1979
CMSgt George R. Tucker October 1979 - July 1980
CMSgt Robert Hoskins, Jr. July 1980 - August 1981
CMSgt George R. Tucker August 1981 - October 1984
CMSgt Donald M. Krolak October 1984 - August 1986
CMSgt John H. Fuller August 1986 - July 1988
CMSgt Leon E. Archie July 1988 - September 1990
CMSgt Robert A. Mayer, Jr. September 1990 - August 1993
CMSgt Jose A. Tavarez August 1993 - August 1995
CMSgt Raymond E. Kirkland August 1995 - June 1996
CMSgt Edward E. Olesnevich June 1996 - September 1998
CMSgt Dan C. Johnson September 1998 - 26 October 2002
CMSgt Kirk P. Whitman October 26, 2002 - June 2, 2005
CMSgt Brye McMillion June 2, 2005 - March 12, 2006
vacant March 12, 2006 - July 7, 2006
CMSgt Michael M. Williams July 7, 2006 - Present
Appendix 5
Group/Wing Assignments
Group
Dates
Olmstead Field, PA December 1, 1940
Westover Field, MA May 20, 1942 - June 12, 1942
Chelveston, England June 12, 1942 - August 7, 1942
Aldermaston, England August 7, 1942 - November 7, 1942
Talfaraoui, Algeria November 8, 1942 - November 27, 1942
Relizane, Algeria November 27, 1942 - May 11, 1943
Thiersville, Algeria May 11, 1943 - June 1943
El Djem, Tunisia June 1943 - August 30, 1943
Gela, Sicily August 30, 1943 - October 29, 1943
Gerbini, Sicily October 29, 1943 - March 26, 1944
Brindisi, Italy March 26, 1944 - October 8,1944
Pomigliano, Italy October 8, 1944 - May 1955
Waller Field, Trinidad June 4, 1945 - July 31, 1945
Inactive July 31, 1945 - September 30, 1946
Munich Air Force Base, Germany September 30, 1946 - May 14, 1948
Kaufbeuren Air Base, Germany May 14, 1948 - December 15, 1948
Wing
Kaufbeuren Air Base, Germany July 1 ,1948 - January 20, 1949
Fassberg Royal Air Force Station, Germany January 20, 1949 - October 1, 1949
Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany October 1, 1949 - June 2, 1951
Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany June 2, 1951 - October 15, 1955
Dreux Air Base, France October 15, 1955 - September 25, 1958
Inactive September 25, 1958 - January 8, 1966
Travis Air Force Base, California January 8, 1966 - Present
Appendix 6
Installation Names
Installation Name
Dates
Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base February 8, 1943 - September 11, 1947
Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Field
September 11, 1947 - January 13, 1948
Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base
January 13, 1948 - April 21, 1951
Travis Air Force Base
April 21, 1951 - Present
Appendix 7
Commanding Officers of Fairfield-Suisun/Travis Air Force Base
Assigned to Air Transport Command (ATC) February 8, 1943 - June 1, 1948
Lt Col. Henry J. Weltmer April 14, 1943
Lt Col. Arthur W. Stephenson May 29, 1943
Lt Col. Meade L. Cunningham April 5, 1945
Col. Adam K. Breckenridge April 23, 1945
Col. Curtis A. Keen June 13, 1945
Col. Horace D. Aynesworth September 1, 1945
Col. Russell D. Keillor January 17, 1947
Assigned to Military Air Transport Service (MATS) June 1, 1948 - May 1, 1949
Brig Gen. Archie J. Old Jr. April 23, 1947
Col. John J. Hutchinson July 6, 1948
Brig Gen. Harold Q. Huglin July 19, 1948
Assigned to Strategic Air Command (SAC) May 1, 1949 - July 1, 1958
Col. Raymond L. Winn May 1, 1949
Brig Gen. Robert F. Travis June 17, 1949
Col. Carlos J. Cochrane August 6, 1950
Brig Gen. Joe W. Kelly August 10, 1950
Col. Julian M. Bleyer February 10, 1951
Col. Ervin Wursten January 10, 1952
Col. Cove C. Celio Jr. February 18, 1952
Col. George W. Zethren December 20, 1954
Col. Frank R. Amend September 17,1956
Lt Col. Kenneth Kehrer May 24,1958
Assigned to Military Air Transport Service (MATS) July 1, 1958 - January 8, 1966
Col. Charles W. Stark July 1, 1958
Lt Col. Edward J. Kaminski February 12, 1960
Col. Donald J. French May 8, 1960
Col. Karl H. Kalberer March 27, 1961
Col. Thomas L. Wiper April 24, 1961
Col. Edwin A. Bland Jr. July 22, 1961
Col. Thomas L. Wiper September 8, 1961
Col. Horace A. Stevenson Jr. August 20, 1962
Col. Earl R. Leaser August 9, 1964
Col. James P. Stewart May 24, 1965
Col. Royal S. Thompson July 13, 1965
Col. Harold A. Peddrazini October 18, 1965
Assigned to Military Airlift Command (MAC) January 8, 1966 - June 1, 1992
Col. Harold A. Peddrazini January 8, 1966
Col. Roger C. Benton August 3,1967
Col. Grover K. Coe November 1, 1967
Col. Julius C. Adleman September 16,1968
Col. Grover K. Coe November 1, 1968
Col. Vernon L. Chandler February 12,1969
Col. John E. Blake November 17,1970
Col. Franklin E. Schneider July 18, 1972
Col. James T. Rock February 4, 1974
Col. Harley S. Black July 23, 1976
Col. William R. Rawlinson Jr. June 9, 1978
Col. Dale L. Brakebill June 7, 1979
Col. Jerry W. Angell March 7, 1981
Col. John P. O'Neill April 15, 1981
Col. Donald L. Wolfswinkel July 13,1983
Col. Sammy F. Betsill May 20, 1985
Col. Michael H. Wieland March 5, 1987
Col. Wayne T. Fisher September 8, 1988
Col. Veneble L. Hammonds Jr. June 15,1990
Col. John B. Sams Jr. July 11, 1991
On November 14, 1991, the Air Force adopted the "objective wing" organization structure of "one wing, one base, one boss." Under this new structure, command of the wing, base, and all local resources resided in one person.
Appendix 8
Travis Weapons Systems
Travis's Aircraft
Model Popular Name Manufacturer Dates:
A - 20 Havoc Douglas 1943 - 1945
A - 26 Invader Douglas 1943 - 1945
B - 17 Flying Fortress Boeing 1943 - 1945
B - 24 Liberator Consolidated 1943 - 1945
B - 25 Mitchell North American 1943 - 1945
B - 26 Marauder Martin 1943 - 1945
B - 29 Super Fortress Boeing 1943 - 1945
B - 52 Strato Fortress Boeing 1959 - 1968
C - 5A/B Galaxy Lockheed 1970 - Present
C - 17A Globemaster III Boeing 2006 - Present
C - 46 Commando Curtis 1943
C - 47 Skytrain Douglas 1943 - 1953
C - 54 Skymaster Douglas 1943 - 1954
C - 87 Liberator Express Consolidated 1943 - 1945
C - 97 Stratofreighter Boeing 1953 - 1960
C - 124 Globemaster II Douglas 1953 - 1967
C - 130E Hercules Lockheed 1963 - 1966
C - 131 Samaritan Convair 1954 - 1975
C - 133 Cargomaster Douglas 1958 - 1971
C - 135B Stratolifter Boeing 1962 - 1965
C - 141A/B Starlifter Lockheed 1965 - 1997
F - 86D Sabre North American 1954 - 1957
F - 102 Delta Dagger Convair 1957 - 1966
KC - 10 Extender McDonnell-Douglas 1994 - Present
KC - 135A Stratotanker Boeing 1959 - 1983
LB - 30 Liberator Consolidated 1943 - 1945
RB - 29 Super Fortress Boeing 1949 - 1952
RB - 36 Peacemaker Convair 1951 - 1958
T - 11 Kansan Beechcraft 1952
VT/T - 29 Seastar Convair 1966 - 1970
T - 33 Shooting Star Lockheed 1955 - 1957?
VC - 47 Skytrain Douglas 1952? - 1969
VC/C - 54 Skymaster Douglas 1966
YC - 97 Stratofreighter Boeing 1947 - 1949
Appendix 9
Major Units Assigned to Travis
Unit Dates
23rd Transport Group May 29, 1943 - October 31, 1943
Eastern Pacific/Second Air Transport Wing (re-designated 530th Air Transport Wing on 3 June 1948) November 16, 1946 - June 3, 1948
530th Air Transport Wing (re-designated 1501st Air Transport Wing on 1 October 1948) June 3, 1948 - May 23, 1949
9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (re-designated 9th Bombardment Wing 1 April 1950) May 1, 1949 - May 1, 1953
5th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (re-designated 5th Bombardment Wing on 1 October 1955) April 1, 1950 - July 25, 1968
West Coast Airlift Task Force (Provisional) August 24, 1950 - November 16, 1951
14th Air Division February 1, 1951 - January 25, 1960
David Grant Medical Center (re-designated 60th Medical Group 1 October 1994) February 15, 1954 - Present
1501st Air Transport Wing (Heavy) July 1, 1955 - January 8, 1966
The Western Transport Air Force (re-designated 22nd Air Force on 8 January 1966) July 1, 1958 - July 2, 1993
323rd Air Division July 1, 1958 - May 8, 1960
60th Military Airlift Wing (re-designated 60th Airlift Wing on 1 November 1991; re-designated 60th Air Mobility Wing on 1 October 1994) January 8, 1966 - Present
349th Military Airlift Wing (re-designated 349th Airlift Wing (Associate) on 1 February 1992; re-designated 349th Air Mobility Wing on 1 October 1994) July 25, 1969 - Present
Headquarters Military Airlift, Travis February 15, 1979 - July 21, 1979
15th Air Force (re-designated 15th Expeditionary Mobility Task Force on 1 October 2003) July 1, 1993 - Present
615th Contingency Response Wing April 11, 2005 - Present
Appendix 10
Glossary of Recent Operations
Operation VITTLES (1948-1949) - Airlift of food and supplies to the citizens of West Berlin due to a Soviet imposed blockade.
Operation HOMECOMING (1973) - Return of American POWs from North Vietnam.
Operation URGENT FURY (1983) - Invasion of Grenade by US forces to restore the government from a Communist coup.
Operations DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM (1990-1991) - Massing of coalition forces in Saudi Arabia in response to Iraqi aggression/ Campaign of coalition forces to expel Iraqi forces from Kuwait.
Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (2001-Present)
Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (2003-Present) - Objective to end the regime of Saddam Hussein and to allow self rule by the Iraqi people.