Country United States | Type Base Support | |
 | ||
Active 1966—1973; 1985-1991; 1993-present Branch United States Air Force Size 2,500 military, civilian and contractor Part of Air Force Global Strike Command | ||
The 377th Air Base Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The wing has been the host unit at Kirtland since January 1993. It was activated on 1 January 1993, when Air Force Materiel Command assumed responsibility for operating the base from Air Mobility Command.
Contents
- Units
- Vietnam War
- Ramstein Air Base
- Kirtland Air Force Base
- Mission today
- Lineage
- Assignments
- Components
- Stations
- References
The wing was first organized in 1966 as the 377th Combat Support Group at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Republic of Vietnam. In 1972, it was expanded to wing level and gained a tactical flying mission. It began phasing down in early 1973 and transferred most of its remaining assets to the Vietnamese Air Force before inactivating.
The wing was activated in 1985 as the host organization at Ramstein Air Base and served in that capacity until it was inactivated in 1991 when United States Air Forces Europe implemented the Objective Wing organization, combining all functions at Ramstein under the 86th Wing.
Units
The wing is made up of approximately 1,200 active-duty military, 591 federal civilians and 720 contractors assigned. Its subordinate units are:
Vietnam War
The wing was first activated at Tan Son Nhut Airport, South Vietnam in April 1966, as US Air Forces in Vietnam expanded during the Vietnam War. The 377th replaced the 6250th Combat Support Group, which had acted as host for Tan Son Nhut since the 33d Tactical Group was inactivated the previous year. It became responsible for operation and maintenance of USAF portion of Tan Son Nhut until it was inactivated in March 1973.
In Vietnam, the group's responsibilities included housing numerous tenant organizations including Seventh Air Force, base defense, and liaison with South Vietnamese Air Force. While serving in this capacity the 377th underwent numerous enemy attacks. It was also responsible for Binh Thuy Air Base, South Vietnam between 12 May and 1 July 1970. The group provided support for Seventh Air Force flying operations with from June to December 1966, and again after September 1971. From this date it also supported Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft deployed to the control of the 834th Air Division.
In January 1972, the 377th expanded to become the 377th Air Base Wing and for the first time gainedcombat units, when the 8th and 9th Special Operations Squadrons and the 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron were assigned or attached to it. These units had all been assigned to the 315th Tactical Airlift Wing, which was preparing for inactivation. The wing operated the Southeast Asia Central Instructor Pilots School, in which the 360th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron used C/EC-47s, from 15 February until about November 1972. The wing also operated a combat crew training school for de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou at Phù Cát Air Base, South Vietnam, from the time the 315th Wing was inactivated on 15 March until October 1972. It resumed base flight operations at Tan Son Nhut in January 1972, operating and maintaining C-47, C-118, and T-39 aircraft. With the 8th Special Operations Squadron (A-37s), the 377th performed strike missions from January through October 1972; the 9th Special Operations Squadron (O-2s and C-47s) conducted psychological warfare operations, January until –February 1972; the 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light) conducted air liaison and forward air control operations from March 1972 until 28 January 1973; the 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C/UC-123s, January–June 1972 and C-7s, March–October 1972) performed airlift and airdrop missions untilOctober 1972; the 360th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (C/EC-47s) conducted airborne radio-direction finding operations, February–November 1972, and psychological warfare operations, February–August 1972. The wing established an operating location of the wing headquarters at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, on 14 April 1972 to provide turn-around service for McDonnell F-4 Phantom IIs of other organizations. It was replaced on 20 June 1972 by Detachment 1 of the wing headquarters, which continued the F-4 turn-around service and added LTV A-7 Corsair IIturn-around service on 30 October 1972. The detachment continued operations through 11 February 1973.
As the wing phased down for inactivation from February 1973, it transferred many assets to South Vietnamese Air Force.
Ramstein Air Base
In June 1985 the wing was redesignated the 377th Combat Support Wing and reactivated at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, where it replaced the 86th Combat Support Group. It provided support services for Ramstein and other locations in the Kaiserslautern military community and elsewhere in Germany until May 1991, when United States Air Forces Europe implemented the Objective Wing organization and its functions were transferred to elements of the 86th Wing.
Kirtland Air Force Base
The wing once again became the 377th Air Base Wing and was activated as the host wing at Kirtland Air Force Base on 1 January 1993, when Kirtland transferred from Air Mobility Command to Air Force Materiel Command. The 377th Air Base Wing has since provided support to base operations to more than 100 associate units in more than 2000 buildings. To support this mission, the 377th Air Base Wing has the largest security forces squadron in the command. Additionally, members of the 377th are continually deployed to numerous locations, where they previously helped fight the Iraq War, and are still involved in the War in Afghanistan, and other requirements worldwide.
In November 2009 the wing, commanded by Colonel Michael S. Duvall, failed its nuclear surety inspection. Duvall was kept on as commander to fix the problem and the wing subsequently passed its re-inspection less than 90 days later.
On 1 October 2015 the wing began reporting to Twentieth Air Force and Air Force Global Strike Command instead of Air Force Material Command.
Mission today
The 377th Air Base Wing carries out nuclear, readiness, and support operations. It operates the airfield for Air Force operations, prepares personnel to deploy worldwide and keeps the base secure. it supports the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, the 58th Special Operations Wing, the 150th Special Operations Wing of the New Mexico Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force Pararescue School.
As Kirtland's host organization, the 377th Air Base Wing supports base operations. It ensures the people living and working on Kirtland have the necessary support to conduct their jobs and carry out missions. This includes facility maintenance, personnel support, security, utilities and medical care. The wing also supports nearly 14,000 military retirees who live in central and northern New Mexico.