516th Aeronautical Systems Wing

Airlift Operations

Assigned to the reserves in the 1949 conversion to the Wing Base reorganization as the 516th Troop Carrier Wing, the wing performed reserve troop carrier training under the supervision of the 2584th Air Force Reserve Training Center at Memphis Municipal Airport (MAP), Tennessee until April 1951. Upon entering active duty in place that month the wing assumed responsibility for operating and maintaining the USAF portion of Memphis MAP and participated in tactical exercises and worldwide airlift. The wing converted from Curtiss C-46 Commando to Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft in 1952. It was replaced by 463d Troop Carrier Wing in January 1953.^[1]

The wing replaced the 64th Troop Carrier Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas in January 1963. Until it was replaced by 463d Tactical Airlift Wing in June 1972, it performed worldwide tactical airlift and participated in a constant stream of tactical exercises and operations. The wing frequently deployed squadrons overseas to Europe, the Far East, and the Canal Zone. It conducted de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou combat crew training in addition to other missions from August 1969 to May 1972 for USAF personnel and for three months in 1971 for South Vietnamese crews.^[1] It was inactivated on 1 June 1972.^[1]

Systems Development Operations

Three of the wing's groups focused on specific airlift aircraft. The 516th Aeronautical Systems Group directed the modernization, development, test, production, deployment and sustainment of C-17 aircraft, F117 engine, support, and training systems. This Department of Defense airlift program provides vital airlift capability in support of U.S. national interests. Its 716th Aeronautical Systems Group directed the modernization, development, test, production, deployment and plans for sustainment of C-5 aircraft, support and training systems. This Department of Defense airlift modernization program provides strategic airlift capability in support of U.S. national interests. And its 866th Aeronautical Systems Group directed the modernization, development, test, production, deployment and plans for sustainment of the C-130 aircraft, support, and training systems. This Department of Defense airlift program provides tactical airlift capability in support of U.S. national interests.

Its other group, the 836th Aeronautical Systems Group directed the development, test, production, deployment and sustainment of KC-10 Aircraft Modernization and KC-135 Replacement Tanker aircraft, support, and training systems programs. These programs provide strategic mobility and force enabling capability to Air Mobility Command in support of U.S. national interests and worldwide readiness support. Prior to June 2008, this mission was performed by the Tanker Systems Modernization Systems Squadron (later 653d Aeronautical Systems Squadron).

Two systems squadrons were also assigned directly to the group. The 654th Aeronautical Systems Squadron directed the development, test, production, deployment and plans for sustainment of the Large Aircraft Infrared Counter Measures system for both transport and tanker aircraft. This Department of Defense program develops advanced missile warning systems and countermeasures. Its 655th Aeronautical Systems Squadron directed the acquisition, modernization, deployment and sustainment of a fleet of leased and purchased aircraft for the operational support airlift/very important person special air mission (OSA/VIPSAM) that included the C-32A, C-37A/B, C-40B/C, and E-10. The program supports Air Mobility Command, Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve missions providing support airlift and communications capability to our nation’s leaders.

Assignments

• Fourteenth Air Force, 26 June 1949

Tactical Air Command, 17 April 1951

• Tactical Air Command, 19 July 1962

Twelfth Air Force, 1 January 1963

839th Air Division, 1 July 1963

838th Air Division, 9 November 1964

Twelfth Air Force, 24 December 1969

834th Air Division, 15 March 1972 – 1 June 1972.

• Aeronautical Systems Center, 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010

Stations

• Memphis Municipal Airport, Tennessee, 26 June 1949 – 16 January 1953
• Dyess AFB, Texas, 1 January 1963 – 1 June 1972.
• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010

Components

Groups

• 516th Troop Carrier Group: 26 June 1949 – 16 January 1953 (consolidated with C-17 Systems Group on 23 June 2006)
• 836th Aeronautical Systems Group, 30 June 2008 – 30 June 2010
• C-5 Systems Group (later 716th Aeronautical Systems Group): 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010
• C-17 Systems Group (later 516th Aeronautical Systems Group): 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010
• C-130 Systems Group (later 866th Aeronautical Systems Group): 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010

Squadrons

• 17th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 January 1963 – 15 June 1964.
• 18th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 18th Tactical Airlift Training Squadron): 1 January – 1 June 1963; 15 October 1969 – 1 June 1972
• 345th Troop Carrier Squadron: 8 January 1963 – 27 November 1965
• 346th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 346th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 1 April 1963 – 15 March 1969 (detached 1 July – c. 1 September 1964, 5 February – 30 May 1968)
• 347th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 347th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 1 July 1963 – 1 June 1972 (detached 18 May—c. 20 July 1964, 22 June – 27 September 1967, 27 – 11 January March 1968, 15 June – 15 October 1968, 25 February – 28 May 1969, 13 June – 3 September 1969, 3 February – 10 April 1970, 7 September – 11 November 1970, 4 June – 10 August 1971, 4 February – 17 April 1972)
• 348th Tactical Airlift Squadron: 5 July 1968 – 1 June 1972 (detached 15 October 1968 – 10 January 1969, 1 September – 13 November 1969, 5 May – 7 July 1970, 5 January – 10 March 1971, 5 October – 17 December 1971, 8 May—1 June 1972)
• 4449th Combat Crew Training Squadron: 27 August – 15 October 1969.
• Commercial Derivatives Systems Squadron (later 655th Aeronautical Systems Squadron): 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010
• Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures Systems Squadron (later 654th Aeronautical Systems Squadron): 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2010
• Tanker Systems Modernization Systems Squadron (later 653d Aeronautical Systems Squadron): 18 January 2005 – 30 June 2008

Aircraft

• T-7, 1949–1951
• T-11, 1949–1951
• C-46, 1949–1953
• C-119, 1952–1953
• C-130, 1963–1972
• C-7, 1969–1972

Notes

Bibliography

• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.