305th Air Mobility Wing

305th Air Mobility Wing
Unit name	305th Air Mobility Wing
Caption	Emblem of the 305th Air Mobility Wing
Dates	1947–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force Reserve Command
Type	Air mobility
Role	Airlift and aerial refueling
Garrison	Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst
Nickname	Air Mobility Wing
Motto	United We Stand
Equipment	C-17 Globemaster III; KC-46 Pegasus

305th Air Mobility Wing The 305th Air Mobility Wing is a United States Air Force Reserve unit assigned to Air Force Reserve Command and stationed at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst. It provides strategic airlift, air refueling, aeromedical evacuation, and contingency response supporting combatant commanders, interagency partners, and humanitarian organizations. The wing integrates with active duty, National Guard, and allied forces to sustain global operations, training, and readiness.

Overview

The wing operates strategic airlift and tanker aircraft to support operations across theaters such as Europe, Pacific Ocean, Middle East, and Africa. It supports missions for commands including United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, United States Northern Command, and United States Central Command. The unit coordinates with organizations like Federal Emergency Management Agency, United Nations, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Department of Defense, and U.S. Southern Command for humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and contingency operations. Personnel include reservists, active-duty associates, and civilians drawn from communities in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and New York.

History

Origins trace to post-World War II reorganizations influenced by leaders such as Henry H. Arnold and policies like the National Security Act of 1947. Early Cold War realignments placed the wing within strategic airlift frameworks supporting operations during the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War, and contingency deployments during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the Vietnam era the wing contributed airlift and aeromedical support for operations such as Operation Homecoming and resupply to bases in Southeast Asia. In the post–Cold War era the wing supported Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. More recent missions included disaster relief after Hurricane Katrina, humanitarian response for the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and support for Operation Unified Response. The wing transitioned aircraft and capabilities through programs managed by Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Reserve Command, and Air Mobility Command modernization initiatives.

Lineage and Assignments

Constituted and activated amid organizational changes formulated under the Hobson Plan and subsequent Air Force Reserve structuring. Assigned to numbered air forces and major commands including Eighteenth Air Force, Fourteenth Air Force, and reserve elements aligned under Twenty-Second Air Force. The wing experienced redesignations tied to force structure reforms led by officials linked to Secretary of the Air Force initiatives and Congressional legislation affecting reserve component roles. Throughout its lineage the wing has been associated with airlift-centric wings and air refueling units integrated through Total Force policies negotiated with the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

Stations and Deployments

Headquartered at Joint Base McGuire–Dix–Lakehurst, the wing has deployed forces to installations including RAF Mildenhall, Ramstein Air Base, Andersen Air Force Base, Bagram Airfield, Al Udeid Air Base, Camp Lemonnier, Kadena Air Base, and Lajes Field. The unit has participated in exercises at ranges and bases such as Nellis Air Force Base, Dover Air Force Base, Travis Air Force Base, and Scott Air Force Base. Humanitarian sorties operated through hubs like Anchorage, Honolulu, Manila, Djibouti, Sigonella, Souda Bay, and Incirlik Air Base.

Components and Subordinate Units

The wing comprises groups and squadrons aligned with mobility functions, including operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical groups. Subordinate units have included airlift squadrons, air refueling squadrons, aeromedical evacuation squadrons, and contingency response elements that integrate with organizations such as Civil Air Patrol and reserve associate units from Active-duty Air Force. Collaborative units have trained with partner organizations including U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and allied air forces from United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Japan.

Aircraft and Equipment

Historically the wing operated airframes transitioning through eras: legacy transports like the C-119 Flying Boxcar and C-124 Globemaster II, tactical airlifters such as the C-130 Hercules, strategic lifters including the C-141 Starlifter and C-5 Galaxy, and modern platforms like the C-17 Globemaster III and tanker conversions represented by the KC-46 Pegasus. Rotary-wing and aeromedical platforms have coordinated with assets such as HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and aeromedical configurations derived from hospital ship and aeromedical evacuation doctrine. Support equipment included aerial refueling drogues and booms standardized under Air Refueling Doctrine and logistics systems managed by Defense Logistics Agency.

Operations and Notable Missions

The wing executed large-scale strategic airlift operations during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, provided aeromedical evacuation for Operation Enduring Freedom casualties, and sustained theater mobility for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Notable humanitarian missions included rapid response during Hurricane Katrina and international relief after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Typhoon Yolanda. The wing has supported strategic deterrence and alliance commitments through NATO exercises such as Operation Atlantic Resolve and Exercise Red Flag. Interagency and multinational training has included collaborations with U.S. Southern Command for humanitarian assistance exercises and with European Command for contingency airlift interoperability.

Category:United States Air Force wings Category:Military units and formations established in 1947