374th Airlift Wing

374th Airlift Wing
Unit name	374th Airlift Wing
Caption	C-130J Super Hercules of the wing
Dates	1948–present
Country	United States
Allegiance	United States Air Force
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift wing
Role	Tactical airlift
Size	Wing
Command structure	Pacific Air Forces
Garrison	Yokota Air Base
Motto	“Send Me”
Notable commanders	Lt Gen George T. Babbitt Jr., Maj Gen Dale R. White
Identification symbol label	Emblem

374th Airlift Wing

The 374th Airlift Wing is an operational wing of the United States Air Force based at Yokota Air Base in Japan. It provides theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and contingency response capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region, supporting allied activities with partners such as Japan Self-Defense Forces, Republic of Korea Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, Philippine Air Force, and United Nations Command. The wing operates under Pacific Air Forces and integrates with theater commands including United States Indo-Pacific Command and bilateral taskings with host-nation authorities.

History

Activated in the late 1940s, the wing traces lineage to post‑World War II occupation duties and Cold War readiness in the Western Pacific, engaging with units from United States Air Forces in Europe and interchanging missions with Far East Air Forces. During the Korean War era and subsequent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, elements coordinated logistics with the Eighth United States Army, Seventh Fleet, and airlift partners supporting operations such as the Inchon Landing logistics surge and sustainment of forward bases. Through the Vietnam War period, the wing supported theater mobility alongside units from Pacific Air Forces, Seventh Air Force, and civilian contractors, transitioning missions in response to strategic realignments after Operation Frequent Wind and regional withdrawals. Post‑Cold War reorganization emphasized expeditionary tasking aligned with Operation Restore Hope, disaster relief following Typhoon Yolanda, and humanitarian assistance with partners like USAID and International Red Cross. More recently, the wing has participated in multinational engagements tied to RIMPAC, Cobra Gold, and bilateral exercises enhancing interoperability with Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Republic of Korea Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force.

Mission and Role

The wing’s core mission centers on rapid, intra‑theater airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and contingency response supporting commanders of United States Indo-Pacific Command, regional allies, and coalition partners. Tasks include tactical airlift of personnel and cargo, aeromedical evacuation in coordination with Defense Health Agency, airlift support for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief alongside United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and theater contingency operations including airfield assessment and mobility support for joint forces such as elements of Marine Corps Forces Pacific and United States Army Pacific.

Organization and Units

The wing comprises operational, maintenance, support, and medical groups aligned to deliver wing capabilities. Primary units include the operations group hosting tactical squadrons akin to the 36th and 374th‑affiliated airlift squadrons; maintenance squadrons performing backshop and flightline support; mission support groups responsible for logistics, communications, and security forces that liaise with units such as U.S. Army Japan; and medical groups providing aeromedical evacuation and expeditionary medical support interoperable with Japan Self-Defense Forces Central Medical Command. The wing routinely embeds liaison officers with regional commands including United States Forces Japan and participates in joint task forces led by United States Northern Command during certain contingencies.

Aircraft and Equipment

Historically equipped with piston and turboprop transports evolving through models such as the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, Lockheed C-130 Hercules, and later the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules, the wing modernized to current airframes capable of austere-field operations and short‑field tactical deliveries. Support equipment includes organic aeromedical evacuation systems interoperable with Medevac doctrine, expeditionary airfield assessment packages, and secure communications suites compatible with Link 16 and theater command and control networks. Maintenance assets mirror those used across Air Mobility Command and Pacific theater logistics nodes.

Stations and Deployments

Headquartered at Yokota Air Base, the wing has operated from multiple Pacific locations during its history, coordinating deployments to forward operating sites in Republic of the Philippines, Guam, Okinawa, and the Korean Peninsula. It supports rotational detachments to expeditionary airfields and participates in contingency postures across the Indo-Pacific maritime and littoral regions, working closely with host bases such as Misawa Air Base and cooperative locations under Status of Forces Agreements with partner nations including Japan and South Korea.

Notable Operations and Exercises

The wing has contributed airlift and aeromedical support during major regional operations and multinational exercises. Notable engagements include humanitarian assistance after earthquakes and typhoons in the Philippines and Indonesia, participation in the biennial Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), logistics and airlift sorties during Operation Tomodachi, and support for Cobra Gold and Balikatan exercises strengthening interoperability with Royal Thai Armed Forces and Armed Forces of the Philippines. The wing also executed contingency airlift during regional evacuations and supported joint exercises with coalition partners like United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand forces.

Insignia and Traditions

The wing emblem incorporates symbols reflecting airlift, readiness, and Pacific orientation, worn on flight suits and unit guidons alongside traditions such as unit coin exchanges, change of command ceremonies, and commemorations tied to historical campaigns and allied partnerships. Unit heritage links honor recipients of awards and citations shared with formations such as Pacific Air Forces and acknowledge cooperation with regional militaries including Japan Self-Defense Forces and Republic of Korea Armed Forces.

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