436th Airlift Wing

Units

The 436th Airlift Wing is organized into a quad-group structure:

436th Operations Group

• 3d Airlift Squadron; operates C-17 aircraft
• 9th Airlift Squadron; operates C-5M aircraft
• 436th Operations Support Squadron

436th Maintenance Group

• 436th Maintenance Squadron
• 436th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; maintains C-5M aircraft
• 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron; maintains C-17 aircraft
• 436th Maintenance Operations Squadron
• 436th Aerial Port Squadron

436th Mission Support Group

• 436th Contracting Squadron
• 436th Security Forces Squadron
• 436th Force Support Squadron
• 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron
• 436th Communications Squadron
• 436th Civil Engineer Squadron;

436th Medical Group

• 436th Medical Operations Squadron
• 436th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
• 436th Medical Support Squadron

Additionally, the 436th Comptroller Squadron reports directly to the wing.

History

1940s–1970s

The 436th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium) was established on 10 May 1949, and was activated as a reserve unit in June 1949 at Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky. The wing was relocated to Standiford Municipal Airport, Kentucky in October 1950, and flew cargo and trainer aircraft under the supervision of the 2236th Air Force Reserve Training Center. From 1–16 April 1951, the wing was briefly ordered to active service, with personnel serving as fillers for other United States Air Force (USAF) units during the Korean War. On 18 May 1955, the wing was reactivated as a reserve unit at Floyd Bennett Field, New York under supervision of the 2230th Air Reserve Flying Center. The wing resumed its training mission in cargo and trainer aircraft until its next deactivation in May 1958.

On 27 December 1965, the wing was reactivated and redesignated as the 436th Military Airlift Wing (436 MAW).

In August 1973, the 436 MAW exchanged their remaining C-141s for the 437th Military Airlift Wing's C-5s at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, making the 436 MAW the USAF's only C-5 exclusive wing, with 38 airlifters assigned. This allowed the wing to handle heavy, outsized cargo loads, which the C-141 could not. In October 1973, the 436 MAW was chosen to take part in Operation Nickel Grass, an effort to transport supplies to Israel during the Yom Kippur War. The wing flew 71 missions over a 32-day airlift, delivering Patton tanks, helicopters, howitzers, tractors, and radar systems, totaling more than 22,000 tons of cargo. Aircrews conducted the airlift without in-flight refueling capabilities, and the mission was considered to be the first operational test of the C-5.

Augmented by attached reserve aircrews from the 512th Airlift Wing, the 436 MAW continued to provide critical support throughout the 1970s, including the dropping and test-firing of a LGM-30 Minuteman missile, the delivery of a 40-ton superconducting magnet from O'Hare International Airport, Illinois to Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow, In December 1978, members of the 436 MAW assisted in the evacuation of North American military dependents from Iran to Dover Air Force Base.

1980s–1990s

In October 1983, the 436 MAW flew 24 airlift missions in support of Operation Urgent Fury in Grenada. In March 1989, 436 MAW C-5s delivered cleanup equipment to the Exxon Valdez oil spill site in Prince William Sound, Alaska, including oil booms and skimmers. While attending the June 1989 Airlift Rodeo, a 436 MAW C-5 set a National Aeronautic Association world record when it airdropped 95 tons of equipment and personnel. In August 1989, the wing airlifted troops and supplies to Panama over 16 missions during Operation Just Cause. Due to its heavy airlift capability, the wing played a crucial role in Operation Desert Shield in August 1990. It delivered over 130,000 tons of cargo and spare parts to Saudi Arabia as part of the Mobility Air Forces' Desert Express. Dover Air Force Base became a major airlift hub and intermediate repair facility for C-5 aircraft participating in the operation.

From January–February 1991, the 436 MAW provided airlift support to Operation Desert Storm until the liberation of Kuwait on 28 February 1991. Dover personnel processed and hauled nearly 140,000 tons of cargo for Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Operation Provide Comfort after the end of the Gulf War. For the remainder of 1991, the 436 MAW airlifted 580 tons of fire-fighting equipment to help extinguish oil field fires set by Iraqi forces as they retreated to Iraq. Following the Gulf War, the USAF underwent reorganization, and Air Mobility Command (AMC) replaced MAC as the manager of the United States' airlift fleet. In conjunction with the reorganization, AMC leaders redesignated the 436 MAW as the 436th Airlift Wing (436 AW) on 1 December 1991.

Throughout the 1990s, the 436 AW continued to provide humanitarian and military support around the globe. In September 1992, the wing assisted in disaster relief efforts after Hurricane Andrew destroyed much of Homestead Air Force Base, Florida. In 1996, the wing supported Operations Provide Promise and Joint Endeavor, delivering food and medical supplies to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

21st century

Following the September 11 attacks in 2001, 436 AW C-5s completed 850 airlift missions in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Personnel assigned to the 436th Aerial Port Squadron prepared over 450,000 tons of equipment–including daily rations, blankets and other necessities–for the 436 AW to transport in support of the global war on terrorism. On 1 October 2002, the 436 AW reorganized at the direction of the USAF Chief of Staff, General John P. Jumper. Major changes consisted of the establishment of the 436th Maintenance Group, the merging of the 436th Supply and Transportation Squadrons to form the 436th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and the redesignation of the 436th Support Group to the 436th Mission Support Group. In addition, the 436th Aircraft Generation, Component Repair, and Logistics Support Squadrons were redesignated as the 436th Aircraft Maintenance, Maintenance Operations, and Component Maintenance Squadrons.

In December 2003, the 436 AW provided assistance in transporting equipment from Urban Search and Rescue Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1) to Bam, Iran following an earthquake in Kerman province. On 26 April 2015, the wing dispatched the first USAF aircraft, a C-17, carrying cargo and personnel for humanitarian aid following the earthquake in Nepal. The plane carried a United States Agency for International Development Disaster Assistance Response Team, the Fairfax County, Virginia Urban Search and Rescue Team and 45 tons of cargo.

Lineage

• Established as the 436th Troop Carrier Wing (Medium) on 10 May 1949 : Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949 : Ordered to active service on 1 April 1951 : Inactivated on 16 April 1951
• Activated in the reserve on 18 May 1955 : Inactivated on 15 May 1958
• Redesignated 436th Military Airlift Wing and activated on 27 December 1965 (not organized) : Organized on 8 January 1966 : Redesignated 436th Airlift Wing on 1 December 1991

Assignments

• Ninth Air Force, 27 June 1949
• First Air Force, 1 August 1950 – 16 April 1951; 18 May 1955
• First Air Force, 18 May 1955
• Fourteenth Air Force, 25 March – 15 May 1958
• Twenty-First Air Force, 8 January 1966
• Eighteenth Air Force, 1 October 2003 – present

Components

Groups

• 436th Troop Carrier Group (later, 436th Operations Group): 27 June 1949 – 16 April 1951; 18 May 1955 – 15 May 1958; 1 December 1991 – present

Squadrons

• 1st Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 30 June 1971
• 3d Military Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1973 – 1 December 1991
• 9th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 8 September 1968; 1 April 1971 – 1 December 1991
• 20th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 1 August 1973
• 31st Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 8 April 1969; 1 October 1989 – 1 December 1991
• 39th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966 – 31 March 1971
• 52d Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1967 – 8 February 1969 (detached)
• 58th Military Airlift Squadron: 1 July 1966 – 15 August 1971

Stations

• Godman Air Force Base, Kentucky, 27 June 1949
• Standiford Municipal Airport (later, Standiford Field), Kentucky, 20 October 1950 – 16 April 1951
• Floyd Bennett Field (later, Naval Air Station New York), New York, 18 May 1955 – 15 May 1958
• Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 8 January 1966 – present

Aircraft

• Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor, 1949; 1955–1957
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1949–1951
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1955–1957
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1957
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, 1966–1969
• Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, 1966–1971
• Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, 1966–1973
• Lockheed C-5 Galaxy, 1971–present
• Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, 2007–present

References

Notes

; Explanatory notes

; Citations

Bibliography

References

1. Balik, Roland. (2025-05-30). "Musa takes command of the 436th AW". 436 AW Public Affairs.
2. Maguire, Brian. (2009-01-13). "Eagle Wing welcomes new commander". 436 AW Public Affairs.
3. Murphy, John. (2011-12-18). "HISTORY OF THE 436th AIRLIFT WING". 436th Office of History.
4. Maurer, pp, 308-09
5. Robertson, Patsy. (22 June 2017). "436 Airlift Wing (AMC)". [[Air Force Historical Research Agency]].
6. "436th Airlift Wing (436th AW)".
7. (September 2015). "DOVER AIR FORCE BASE & THE DELMARVA PENINSULA". 436 AW Public Affairs.
8. Brown, Jeff. (2015-12-16). "436th Airlift Wing commanders look back on a half-century of history at Dover AFB".
9. (May 2003). "The Chronological History of the C-5 GALAXY". 375th Office of History.
10. Stilwell, Kathryn. (2013-01-28). "AMC Museum receives historic missile". 436 AW Public Affairs.
11. Biden, Joseph. (2001-12-11). "The 60th Anniversary of the Dover Air Force Base". [[United States Government Publishing Office.
12. Haulman, Daniel. "Exxon Valdez Oil Spill". [[Air Mobility Command Museum]].
13. Cirafici, John. (March 2001). "Airhead Operations in Kuwait: The 436th ALCE". Air Force Historical Foundation.
14. (March 1996). "The Air Force in the Balkans". [[Air & Space Forces Association]].
15. "DOVER AFB HISTORY". 436 AW Public Affairs.
16. (10 February 2009). "Spirit of Global Reach lands at Dover".
17. (26 April 2015). "AF sends aircraft to support disaster-assistance operations in Nepal". Air Force News Service.