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483rd Tactical Airlift Wing

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483d Tactical Airlift Wing
483d Tactical Airlift Wing Insignia
Active1953–1960, 1966-1972
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Part ofPacific Air Forces
Motto(s)Efficient Airlift Support
EngagementsKorean Service
Vietnam Service
DecorationsPresidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Korean Presidential Unit Citation
Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)

The 483d Tactical Airlift Wing was a tactical airlift and composite wing assigned to Pacific Air Forces during the Vietnam War. It was the host organization at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base South Vietnam from 1970–1972.

The unit history includes the temporarily bestowed history of the World War II 483d Bombardment Group, which was a United States Army Air Forces combat group. It served primarily in the Mediterranean, African, and The Middle East Theatres of World War II. During the Korean War, the group was redesignated the 483d Troop Carrier Groupand assigned to the wing.

The Wing was first organized as the 483d Troop Carrier Wing during the Korean War, as an airlift organization assigned to Far East Air Forces (later Pacific Air Forces) (PACAF) for duty.

History

Korean War

C-119B 49-109 of the wing's 314th Troop Carrier Group
C-130A similar to planes assigned to wing

The wing was activated at Ashiya AB, Japan as the 483d Troop Carrier Wing on 1 January 1953 and replaced the 403d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium and absorbed the 403d's mission, personnel and equipment.[1] It was assigned to the 315th Air Division of Far East Air Forces (FEAF) for duty in the Korean War.

The wing was equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and performed troop carrier and air transport operations in the Far East, including landing of troops and cargo in forward areas of the combat zone, air transportation of airborne troops and equipment, and air evacuation of casualties.[1] In June 1953, as the Korean war neared an armistice, all wing C-119s airlifted the entire 187th Regimental Combat Team (Airborne) from Kyushu, Japan to Seoul and Chunch'on, South Korea, to preclude enemy breakthroughs.[2] This was the largest mass movement of personnel in the history of combat cargo to that time.[1] For is actions in the Korean War, the wing received the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

Between April 1953 and September 1954, the wing aided the French Air Force in Indochina by training aircrews, evacuating wounded, and maintaining aircraft.[1] For these actions, the wing became one of the first units in the Air Force to receive the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. In 1958, the wing began to reequip with Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.[3] Its transition was complete by 1959. It performed theater transport duties and participated in joint exercises with Army units[2] until inactivated in Japan on 23 June 1960. Its squadrons were transferred to the direct control of the 315th Air Division and relocated to Naha Air Base and Tachikawa Air Base, Japan as Ashiya AB closed.[4][5]

Vietnam War

Tong 725, C-7A of the 535th TAS – October 1971

The 483d Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) was again organized on 1 January 1967 at at Cam Ranh Air Base, South Vietnam when the United States Army transferred all its C-7 Caribou aircraft to the Air Force.[1] The 483d TCW was assigned the mission of providing intra-theater airlift in support of United States military civic actions, combat support and civic assistance throughout the Republic of Vietnam.[6] In addition, the wing was transferred ex-United States Army C-7A Caribou light transports.[1]

The C-7s provided the light load-short haul transport to rough landing strips in South Vietnam. The unique capabilities of the C-7 for short landing and takeoff made Caribou transports vital to the war effort. On many occasions the C-7A's flew emergency airlift missions to airstrips and combat areas that no other aircraft could reach. Most notable were those in support of special forces camps in the central highlands.

In June 1968 the wing flew a record 2,420 combat troops in three days between Dak Pek, Ben Het and Dak To. In August 1968 pinpoint night airdrops were accomplished at Duc Lap, Ha Thanh and Tonle Cham Special Forces camps. Ammunition and medical supplies were parachuted into 75-foot-square drop zones while the camps were under attack. In June 1969 during the siege of Ben Het more than 200 tons of ammunition, POL, rations, water and medical supplies were airdropped into a 100 x 200-foot zone with every load on target and 100 per cent recovered.

In March 1969, a provisional group was established at Vung Tau Airfield to exercise command and control over the wing's units located there.[7] As drawdowns from Viet Nam began, the group was discontinued in June 1970.[1]

In March 1970, when the 12th Tactical Fighter Wing was inactivated, the wing became the host wing at Cam Ranh Air Base South Vietnam. As a corrolary to assuming the support mission for the base, support organizations assigned to the wing carried out a nunber of civic actions, including construction of housing, providing support for orphanages and educational institutions and improvement of water supply systems.[8] Again in April 1970, the wing, now designated the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW) helped break the siege of Dak Seang Special Forces Camp.[8] The wing flew 100 air-drop sorties under heavy hostile fire in ten days delivering some 400,000 pounds of vital supplies. When three C-7s were shot down with the loss of all crewmen between 2 and 6 April,[8] the operation switched to low-level night drops. On 15 May 1970 the 459th Tactical Airlift Squadron (TAS) ceased operations in preparation for inactivation 1 June as part of the U.S. forces drawdown in Vietnam, and on 31 August 1971 its sister unit at Phut Cat AB, the 537th TAS, inactivated in place, followed shortly thereafter by the 536th TAS at Vung Tau. During their five years' flying for the 483d TAW, the C-7A Caribous carried more than 4.7 million passengers, averaging more than one million a year during 1967–1969. At the same time the wing averaged more than 100,000 tons of cargo each year.

On 31 August 1971, three electronic warfare squadrons from the inactivating 460th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, stationed at various bases in Viet Nam, were assigned to the 483d TAW. The following day, two special operations squadrons were transferred from the inactivating 14th Special Operations Wing. The electronic warfare squadrons were inactivated or assigned to other wings within six months.

The three remaining C-7 squadrons inactivated in early 1972 (535th TAS on 24 January, 458th on 1 March, and 457th on 30 April). Most of the C-7 Caribous were transferred to the VNAF. The mixture of reassigned squadrons from other wings were all inactivated or reassoigned by the end of May. The 483d Tactical Airlift Wing was inactivated on 31 May 1972.[1] For its service in Vietnam, the 483d TAW was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations, three Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with combat "V" (Valor) device and three Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Crosses.

Lineage

483d Tactical Airlift Wing

  • Constituted as 483d Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 15 November 1952[1]
Activated on 1 January 1953,[1]
Discontinued and inactivated, on 25 June 1960[1]
  • Redesignated 483d Troop Carrier Wing on 12 October 1966 and activated[1]
Organized on 15 October 1966[1]
Redesignated 483d Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 August 1967[1]
Inactivated on 31 May 1972.[1]

Assignments

  • Tactical Air Command (Attached to 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo)), 1 January 1953 – 30 June 1954
  • 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo), 1 July 1954 – 25 June 1960
  • Pacific Air Forces, 12 October 1966
  • 834th Air Division, 15 October 1966 (Not operational, 15 Oct 1966 - 3 Nov 1966)
  • Seventh Air Force, 1 December 1971 – 31 May 1972[1]

Components

Groups

  • 314th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jan 1953 – 15 Nov 1954 (Attached)[9]
  • 316th Troop Carrier Group, 15 Nov 1954 – 18 Jun 1957 (Attached—Not operational after 15 Mar 1956)[1]
  • 483d Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jan 1953 - 8 December 1958 (Not operational after 15 Mar 1956)[1]
  • 483d Air Base Group (later 483d Combat Support Group), 1 Jan 1953 - 25 Jun 1960, 31 Mar 1970 - 31 May 1972[10]
  • 483d Maintenance & Supply Group, 1 Jan 1953 - 8 December 1958 (Not operational after 15 Mar 1956)
  • 483d Medical Group (later 483d Tactical Hospital, 483d USAF Hospital), 1 Jan 1953 - 25 Jun 1960, 31 Mar 1970 - 31 May 1972[11][12]
  • Tactical Group, Provisional, 6483d, 15 Mar 1969 – 30 Jun 1970[1]
Located at Vung Tau Airfield, Viet Nam[8]

Operational Squadrons

Korean War

Vietnam War

Stationed at Nha Trang Air Base, Viet Nam
Stationed at Tan Son Nhut Airport, Viet Nam
Stationed at Phu Cat Air Base, Viet Nam
Stationed at Pleiku Air Base, Viet Nam
Stationed at Phu Cat Air Base, Viet Nam
Stationed at Vung Tau Airfield 1 Jan 1967 - 21 Jun 1970
  • 536th Troop Carrier (later Tactical Airlift) Squadron: 1 Jan 1967 – 15 Oct 1971[1] (C-7A Tail Code: KL; call sign Iris) (detached to Tactical Group, Provisional, 6483d, 15 Mar 1969 – 30 Jun 1970)
Stationed at Vung Tau Airfield 1 Jan 1967 - ca 1 Jul 1970
  • 537th Troop Carrier (later Tactical Airlift) Squadron: 1 Jan 1967 – 31 Aug 1971[22](C-7A Tail Code: KN; Soul)
Stationed at Phu Cat Air Base, Viet Nam
  • Royal Australian Air Force, Transport Flight Vietnam (DHC-4 Wallaby)
Stationed at Vung Tau Airfield, Viet Nam

Support Units

  • 6466th USAF Hospital: ca. 1 Jul 1954 - 25 Jun 1960[23]
  • 483d Avionics Maintenance Squadron (later 483d Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 483d Field Maintenance Squadron): 8 Mar 1958 - 25 Jun 1960, 1 Jan 1967 - 13 May 1972[10]
  • 483d Field Maintenance Squadron (later 483d Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 483d Field Maintenance Squadron): 8 Mar 1958 - 25 Jun 1960, 1 Jan 1967 - 13 May 1972[10]
  • 483d Flight Line Maintenance Squadron: 8 Mar 1958 - 18 Dec 1959[23]
  • 483d Periodic Maintenance Squadron (later 483d Organizational Maintenance Squadron): 8 Mar 1958 - 25 Jun 1960, 1 Jul 1970 - 31 May 1972[10]
  • 483d Munitions Maintenance Squadron, 1 Jul 1970 - 31 May 1972[10]
  • 6483d Flight Line Maintenance Squadron: 22 Aug 1957 - 8 Mar 1958[24]
  • 6483d Periodic Maintenance Squadron: 22 Aug 1957 - 8 Mar 1958

Stations

  • Ashiya AB, Japan, 1 January 1953 – 25 June 1960.
  • Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 15 October 1966 – 31 May 1972.

Aircraft flown

Awards

The temporary bestowal of the honors of the 483d Bombardment Group entitles the wing to display the two Distinguished Unit Citations earned by the group as appropriate in addition to these awards.

  • Presidential Unit Citation
Southeast Asia 21 Jan 1968 - 12 May 1968[25]
Southeast Asia 1 Apr 1970 - 30 Jun 1970[26]
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" Device
1 Jan 1967 - 30 Apr 1967[25]
1 May 1967 - 30 Apr 1968[25]
1 Jul 1970 - 31 Dec 1971[26]
  • Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
6 May 1953 - 10 Sep 1954[25]
  • Korean Presidential Unit Citation
1 Jan 1953 - 27 Jul 1953[25]
  • Republic of Viet Nam Gallantry Cross
15 Oct 1966 - 31 Mar 1968[26]
1 Aug 1967 - 30 Oct 1971[26]
1 May 1967 - 31 May 1972[26]
Third Korean Winter
Korea Summer-Fall 1953

Notes and References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 268–270. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
  2. ^ a b Abstract, History 483d Troop Carrier Wing, Jan-Jun 1953 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  3. ^ Abstract, History of 483d Troop Carrier Wing Jan-Jun 1958 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  4. ^ a b AFHRA Factsheet, 815th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  5. ^ a b AFHRA Factsheet, 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  6. ^ Abstract, History 483d Troop Carrier Wing Jan-Jun 1967 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  7. ^ Abstract, History of 483d Tac Airlift Wing, Oct-Dec 1969 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  8. ^ a b c d Abstract, History of 483d Tac Airlift Wing, Apr-Jun 1970 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  9. ^ AFHRA Factsheet, 314th Operations Group (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  10. ^ a b c d e Abstract, 483 Tac Airlift Wing Subordinate Unit Histories Oct-Dec 1971 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  11. ^ See Abstract, History of 403d Medical Group Dec 1952 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  12. ^ Abstract, History of 483d USAF Hospital Jul 1971-May 1972 (accessed Oct 28, 2012) History notes that Hospital became the drug abuse detoxification center for all AF personnel in Viet Nam
  13. ^ AFHRA Factsheet, 21st Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 26, 2012)
  14. ^ AFHRA Factsheet, 36th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  15. ^ AFHRA Factsheet, 37th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  16. ^ Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. pp. 766–767. ISBN 0-405-12194-6.
  17. ^ AFHRA Factsheet, 20th Special Operations Squadron (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  18. ^ AFHRA Factsheet, 90th Fighter Squadron (accessed Oct 27, 2012)
  19. ^ AFHRA Factsheet 458th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 26, 2012)
  20. ^ AFHRA Factsheet 459th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 26, 2012)
  21. ^ AFHRA Factsheet 535th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 26, 2012)
  22. ^ AFHRA Factsheet 537th Airlift Squadron (accessed Oct 26, 2012)
  23. ^ a b Abstract, History 483d Troop Carrier Wing Jul-Dec 1959 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  24. ^ Abstract, History of 483d Troop Carrier Wing, Aug-Dec 1957 (accessed Oct 28, 2012)
  25. ^ a b c d e f AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 15 Jun 71, p. 403
  26. ^ a b c d e AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits, Vol II Department of the Air Force, Washington, DC, 30 Sep 76 , p. 76

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  • Futrell, Robert Frank. The United States Air Force In Korea, 1950–1953. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History, 1983. ISBN 0-912799-71-4

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