The 315th Airlift Wing (315 AW) is a wing of the United States Air Force Reserve. It is stationed at Joint Base Charleston, in the City of North Charleston, South Carolina. If mobilzed, the unit would come under the claimancy of the Air Mobility Command.
The mission of the 315th Airlift Wing is to provide trained personnel to be a source of augmentation for the active forces in any emergency expansion of the Air Force strategic and aeromedical airlift capability. Additionally, the Wing performs peacetime missions and integrates with the active-duty 437th Airlift Wing and the 628th Air Base Wing in their normal Air Mobility Command operations and logistics missions. Both of these units are assigned to Joint Base Charleston, S.C.
315th Operations Group (315 OG)
300th Airlift Squadron (300 AS)
317th Airlift Squadron (317 AS)
701st Airlift Squadron (701 AS)
315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (315 AES)
315th Airlift Control Flight (315 ACF)
315th Maintenance Group (315 MXG)
315th Maintenance Squadron (315 MXS)
315th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (315 AMXS)
315th Maintenance Operations Squadron (315 MOS)
315th Mission Support Group (315 MSG)
38th Aerial Port Squadron (38 APS)
53d Aerial Port Squadron (53 APS)
81st Aerial Port Squadron (81 APS)
84th Aerial Port Squadron (84 APS)
315th Mission Support Squadron (315 MSS)
315th Security Forces Squadron (315 SFS)
315th Services Flight (315 SVF)
315th Logistics Readiness Flight (315 LRF)
For additional lineage and history, see: 315th Operations Group
Established in 1953 under Far East Air Force in Japan. During the Korean War, the wing flew troop and cargo airlift and airdrop, leaflet drops, spray missions, air evacuation, search and rescue, and other aerial missions in theater as part of Far East Air Forces 315th Air Division. It remained in the Far East after the war to fly transport missions and paratroop training flights in Japan, Korea, French Indo-China, and other points until December 1954, after which it was again inactivated.
Reactivated in 1966 under Pacific Air Forces, assigned to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam. Engaged in special operations directly under Seventh Air Force in Saigon, C-123 aircraft with Air Commando squadrons engaging in unconventional warfare. Moved to Phan Rang AB in 1967. Also operated UC-123 aerial spraying aircraft for Operation Ranch Hand defoliation missions over South Vietnam. Phased out special operations missions in 1970 and engaged in theater transport missions within South Vietnam. In 1971, became a training organization for South Vietnamese Air Force C-123 aircrews. Inactivated in March 1972.
Reactivated in 1973 as a heavy transport wing in the Air Force Reserve, being stationed with and used airframes of the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It has since trained Air Force Reserve aircrews for strategic airlift, including channel, special assignment, and combat airlift missions. In the 1980s and 1990s, personnel participated in contingency and humanitarian airlift operations and exercises worldwide. In 1994, the wing conducted the first C-17 Globemaster III flight with an all-Air Force Reserve crew. It also took part in the first joint U.S. – Russian exercise that year. Last C-141 retired in 2001; flying exclusively C-17s afterward.
Established as 315th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 23 May 1952
Activated on 10 June 1952
Inactivated on 18 January 1955
Redesignated 315th Air Commando Wing, Troop Carrier, and activated, on 21 February 1966
Organized on 8 March 1966
Redesignated:
315th Air Commando Wing on 1 August 1967
Redesignated:
315th Special Operations Wing on 1 August 1968
Redesignated:
315th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 January 1970
Inactivated on 31 March 1972
Redesignated 315th Military Airlift Wing (Associate) on 29 January 1973
Activated in the Reserve on 1 July 1973
Redesignated:
315th Airlift Wing (Associate) on 1 February 1992
Redesignated:
315th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994
315th Air Division (Combat Cargo), 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
Pacific Air Forces, 21 February 1966
315th Air Division (Combat Cargo), 8 March 1966
Attached to 2d Air Division, 8–31 March 1966
Attached to Seventh Air Force, 1 April-15 October 1966
834th Air Division, 15 October 1966
Seventh Air Force, 1 December 1971 – 31 March 1972
Eastern Air Force Reserve Region, 1 July 1973
Fourteenth Air Force, 8 October 1976
Twenty-Second Air Force, 1 July 1993–September 2011
Fourth Air Force, September 2011 – Present
Groups
315th Troop Carrier (later, 315 Operations): 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955; 1 August 1992–present
Squadrons
8th Special Operations Squadron: 31 July 1971 – 15 January 1972 (detached 5–15 January 1972).
9th Special Operations Squadron: 30 September 1971 – 29 February 1972 (detached 9 January-29 February 1972)
12th Air Commando (later, 12 Special Operations) Squadron: 15 October 1966 – 30 September 1970
19th Air Commando (later 19 Special Operations) Squadron: 8 March 1966 – 10 June 1971
309th Air Commando (later, 309 Special Operations, 309 Tactical Airlift) Squadron: 8 March 1966 – 31 July 1970
310th Air Commando (later, 310 Special Operations, 310 Tactical Airlift) Squadron: 8 March 1966 – 15 January 1972, attached 16–26 January 1972
311th Air Commando (later, 311 Special Operations, 311 Tactical Airlift) Squadron: 8 March 1966 – 5 October 1971
300th Military Airlift (later, 300th Airlift) Squadron: 1 July 1973 – 1 August 1992
701st Military Airlift (later, 701st Airlift) Squadron: 1 July 1973 – 1 August 1992
707th Military Airlift (later, 707th Airlift) Squadron: 1 July 1973 – 1 August 1992
317th Airlift Squadron: 1 April-1 August 1992
Brady AB, Japan, 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, 8 March 1966
Phan Rang AB, South Vietnam, 15 June 1967 – 31 March 1972
Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 1 July 1973 – 7 January 2010
Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, 8 January 2010 – Present
World War II
Korean War
Vietnam War
Operation Urgent Fury
Operation Just Cause
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Operation New Dawn
