464th Tactical Airlift Wing

464th Tactical Airlift Wing
464th Wing C-123B Provider[note 1]
Active	1953–1971
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Tactical Airlift
Part of	Tactical Air Command
Motto(s)	Certissimus in Incertis Latin Most Certain in Uncertainties
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[note 2]
Insignia
464th Troop Carrier Wing emblem (Approved 15 April 1954)[1]

The 464th Tactical Airlift Wing was a theater airlift unit of the United States Air Force during the Cold War. It served in the United States under Tactical Air Command between 1953 and 1971. Its predecessor was the United States Army Air Forces 464th Bombardment Group of World War II.

History

The wing was constituted as the 464th Troop Carrier Wing and activated at Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia on 1 February 1953 and was assigned to Eighteenth Air Force. The wing replaced the 434th Troop Carrier Wing, a reserve unit that had been called to active duty for the Korean War. It took over the personnel and Curtiss C-46 Commando and Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft of the 434th.^[1]

The unit (redesignated 464th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 March 1966) provided tactical airlift of troops and cargo, participated in joint airborne training with Army forces, and took part in tactical exercises in the United States and overseas. The wing provided aeromedical airlift and flew humanitarian missions as required.^[1]

From 1954 until it was inactivated, the 464th usually had two or more tactical squadrons deployed overseas at any one time, supporting airlift operations in Central America, Europe, the Middle East, the Far East, and Southeast Asia.^[1]

At Pope, the 464th received the Mackay Trophy for humanitarian operations in the Congo in 1964. It participated in contingency airlift operations in the Dominican Republic, from April 1965 until September 1966.^[1]

During its time at Pope, a major period of facility expansion occurred. The main runway, the taxiways, and the ramp were all expanded to support the 464th’s Fairchild C-119 "Flying Boxcar"s operations. During the 1950s and 1960s, aircraft upgrade was the primary trend at the North Carolina installation. The Fairchild C-123 Provider started replacing the C-119 in 1958, and in 1963, the first C-130 Hercules arrived, appropriately named “The North Carolina.” The 778th Tactical Airlift Squadron was tail coded "PG" and its C-130Es had a green tail stripe.

The Wing was inactivated on 31 August 1971, when it was replaced by the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing.^[1]

Lineage

• Established as the 464th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 16 December 1952

Activated on 1 February 1953

Redesignated as 464th Troop Carrier Wing, Assault on 16 December 1958

Redesignated as 464th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 8 January 1964

Redesignated as 464th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 March 1966

Redesignated as 464th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 May 1967

Inactivated on 31 August 1971^[1]

Assignments

• Eighteenth Air Force, 1 February 1953
• Ninth Air Force, 1 September 1957
• 838th Air Division, 1 July 1963
• 839th Air Division, 9 November 1964 – 31 August 1971^[1]

Components

Group

• 464th Troop Carrier Group: 1 February 1953 - 11 November 1957^[1]

Squadrons

• 310th Troop Carrier Squadron: (attached 8 February 1955 - 7 September 1956)
• 346th Troop Carrier Squadron: (attached 1 July 1958 - 1 April 1963)
• 347th Troop Carrier Squadron: (attached 8 October 1955 - 1 April 1963)
• 775th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 April - 1 July 1964 (detached after 15 April 1964)
• 776th Troop Carrier Squadron: 11 November 1957 – 1 July 1963; 8 July 1963 - 26 December 1965
• 777th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 777th Tactical Airlift) Squadron)]: 11 November 1957 – 1 July 1963 (detached 6 June — unknown 1962 and 5 April – 1 July 1963), 8 July 1963 – 31 August 1971 (not operational until 30 September 1963) (detached 10 April - 1 August 1968, 10 May - 10 August 1969, 5 January - 19 March 1970, 30 September - 8 November 1970 and 3 March - 17 May 1971)
• 778th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 778th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 11 November 1957 – 31 August 1971 (detached 1 – 23 August 1968, 13 January - 15 April 1969, 13 October - 31 December 1969 and 5 July - 16 September 1970)
• 779th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 779th Tactical Airlift Squadron): 1 July 1963 – 31 August 1971 (detached 4 February — c. 10 April 1968, 25 September - 22 November 1968, 3 August - 22 October 1969, 5 April – 19 June 1970 and 15 December 1970 – 17 February 1971)
• 4419th Flying Training Squadron (attached 1 May 1953 - 1 August 1953, but not operational)^[1]

Stations

• Lawson Air Force Base, Georgia, 1 February 1953 – 21 September 1954
• Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina, 21 September 1954 – 31 August 1971^[1]

Aircraft

• Curtiss C-46 Commando 1953–1954
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar 1953–1958
• Fairchild C-123 Provider 1955–1964
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules 1963–1971^[1]

See also

• List of inactive AFCON wings of the United States Air Force
• List of C-130 Hercules operators

References

Notes

1. The aircraft is Fairchild C-123B serial 56-64367. The photograph is identified as being taken in Vietnam in 1966. However, the wing units' deployments to Vietnam were earlier. By 1966, C-123s in Vietnam were assigned to the 315th Air Commando Wing and were camouflaged.
2. The wing is also entitled to display the Distinguished Unit Citation earned by the 464th Bombardment Group during World War II, by temporary bestowal of the group's history and awards.

Citations

1. Ravenstein, pp. 258-260

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• 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.