375th Airlift Wing

375th Airlift Wing
Unit name	375th Airlift Wing
Dates	1948–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Garrison	Scott Air Force Base
Aircraft transport	C-21 Learjet, C-40 Clipper, C-9 Nightingale, C-131 Samaritan

375th Airlift Wing is a United States Air Force unit stationed at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. The Wing provides global airlift support, medical evacuation, aeromedical evacuation, and distinguished visitor transport in support of United States Transportation Command, Air Mobility Command, and allied operations. Its lineage traces through Cold War airlift missions, contingency deployments, and peacetime support for national leadership and humanitarian relief.

History

The Wing originated in the post‑World War II era, aligned with strategic logistics initiatives linked to Berlin Airlift planning, the consolidation of the Military Air Transport Service, and early Cold War mobility requirements. During the Korean War period and the Vietnam War era the unit adapted to changing requirements, participating in aeromedical evacuations similar to missions flown during Operation Homecoming and Operation Babylift. In the late 20th century the Wing modernized alongside initiatives such as Base Realignment and Closure adjustments and the restructuring driven by Goldwater–Nichols Act implications for joint logistics. Following the September 11 attacks the Wing supported Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom taskings, providing VIP airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and logistics coordination during multinational operations and humanitarian responses such as those following Hurricane Katrina and international disaster relief efforts coordinated with United States Agency for International Development.

Mission and Operations

The Wing’s mission integrates strategic airlift, aeromedical evacuation, and distinguished visitor transport for senior leaders from organizations including Department of Defense, Department of State, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and allied commands. Operational tasks mirror joint mobility doctrine codified by DOD Directive 5100.01 and interoperability frameworks used by NATO and United Nations partners. Routine operations include contingency response, aeromedical staging in coordination with TRICARE, and global airlift under tasking from United States Northern Command and United States European Command. The Wing maintains readiness cycles consistent with Air Expeditionary Force deployment models and trains for aeromedical evacuation procedures developed from cases like Operation Urgent Fury and multinational medical support lessons from Operation Unified Response.

Organization and Units

The Wing is organized into operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical groups that provide command and control, logistics, and personnel services. Subordinate elements collaborate with units such as 18th Air Force and tenant organizations at Scott AFB including Air Mobility Command headquarters and the United States Transportation Command component staffs. Liaison functions interface with other services and agencies like United States Army Medical Command and Federal Emergency Management Agency for joint contingency planning. The Wing’s organizational structure reflects Air Force organizational concepts described in Air Force Instruction 38-101.

Aircraft and Equipment

Historically the Wing operated transport and aeromedical platforms including the C-9 Nightingale, C-21 Learjet, C-40 Clipper, and earlier types such as the C-131 Samaritan. These aircraft supported aeromedical evacuation doctrine evolved from Vietnam War casualty evacuation and post‑Cold War humanitarian airlift techniques. Maintenance and avionics upgrades incorporated standards from Federal Aviation Administration certification practices when operating in civil airspace and adopted secure communications suites compatible with Secure Terminal Equipment and Link 16-equivalent systems used for command and control interoperability with North American Aerospace Defense Command and allied airlift operators.

Bases and Facilities

The Wing is based at Scott Air Force Base, home to multiple mobility and command organizations including Air Mobility Command and United States Transportation Command headquarters. Facilities at Scott include aeromedical staging facilities compatible with Medical Treatment Facility standards, aircraft maintenance hangars, and contingency operations centers. Scott AFB’s location near St. Louis and transportation nodes fosters coordination with civilian airports such as St. Louis Lambert International Airport and regional logistics hubs, while interagency coordination occurs with state emergency management agencies including Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

Decorations and Notable Deployments

The Wing and its personnel have received unit awards and campaign streamers for operations supporting national defense and humanitarian missions, reflecting participation in operations such as Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom. Notable deployments include aeromedical evacuations during international crises, distinguished visitor airlift for high‑level delegations, and disaster response operations supporting Hurricane Katrina and other relief efforts coordinated with United States Northern Command and United States Agency for International Development.

Category:United States Air Force wings Category:Military units and formations established in 1948