The first of eight C-17 Globemaster IIIs was delivered from McChord on June 11, 2007 to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The newly named "Spirit of Denali," was stationed at McChord since it was delivered from the factory in 2000. The C-17 will be flown by the active duty 517th Airlift Squadron and the 249th Airlift Squadron from the Alaskan Air National Guard .

The C-17 Globemaster III "Spirit of Denali" touches down for the first time June 11 at its new home at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. "Spirit of Denali" is the first C-17 of eight aircraft formally based at McChord to be reassigned to the 3d Wing.

Lineage

Established as 3 Bombardment Wing, Light on 10 Aug 1948. Activated on 18 Aug 1948. Redesignated: 3 Bombardment Wing, Tactical on 1 Oct 1955; 3 Tactical Fighter Wing on 8 Jan 1964; 3 Wing on 19 Dec 1991.

Assignments

314 Air Division, 18 Aug 1948; Fifth Air Force, 1 Mar 1950; 41 Air Division, 1 Mar 1955; Fifth Air Force, 1 Feb 1957; 41 Air Division, 10 Nov 1958; Twelfth Air Force, 8 Jan 1964 (attached to 4481 Air Division, Provisional, 8 Jan-30 Jun 1964); 834 Air Division, 1 Jul 1964; 2 Air Division, 8 Nov 1965; Seventh Air Force, 1 Apr 1966; Fifth Air Force, 15 Mar 1971; 314 Air Division, 15 Mar 1971; Thirteenth Air Force, 16 Sep 1974; Eleventh Air Force, 19 Dec 1991-.

Components

Groups. 3 Bombardment (later, 3 Operations): 18 Aug 1948-25 Oct 1957 (detached 20 Jul-30 Nov 1950); 19 Dec 1991-.

Squadrons. 1 Air Commando (later, 1 Special Operations): attached 21 Nov 1965-8 Mar 1966; assigned 15 Jan 1981-1 Mar 1983. 1 Test: 16 Sep 1974-1 Jan 1980 (detached 15 Mar 1979-1 Jan 1980). 3 Tactical Electronic Warfare Training: 15 May 1976-1 Jan 1980. 3 Tactical Fighter: 15 Dec 1975-19 Dec 1991 (detached 15-16 Dec 1975). 7 Airborne Command and Control: 31 Mar-14 Aug 1975 (detached). 8 Bombardment (later, 8 Attack): attached 13 Aug 1956-24 Oct 1957, assigned 25 Oct 1957-8 Jan 1964 (detached 1 Sep 1963-8 Jan 1964); assigned 15 Nov 1969-30 Sep 1970. 8 Tactical Reconnaissance: attached 18 Apr 1949-1 Apr 1950. 10 Fighter: 8 Apr 1966-17 Apr 1967. 13 Bombardment: attached 13 Aug 1956-24 Oct 1957, assigned 25 Oct 1957-8 Jan 1964 (detached 1 Sep 1963-8 Jan 1964). 20 Operations: 16 Sep 1974-31 Mar 1975. 25 Tactical Fighter: 18-19 Dec 1975. 26 Tactical Fighter (later, 26 Tactical Fighter Training; 26 Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor; 26 Aggressor): 16 Sep 1974-1 Oct 1988. 35 Tactical Fighter: 15 Mar 1971-16 Sep 1974 (detached 1 Apr-12 Oct 1972). 36 Tactical Fighter: 15 May 1971-16 Sep 1974. 40 Fighter-Interceptor: attached 1 Dec 1961-31 May 1962. 44 Tactical Fighter: attached 3 Apr-2 Jun 1972 and 28 Jul-8 Sep 1972. 67 Tactical Fighter: attached 2 Jun-28 Jul 1972 and 8 Sep-16 Oct 1972. 68 Tactical Fighter: 16 Sep 1974-30 Sep 1975. 80 Tactical Fighter: 15 Mar 1971-16 Sep 1974. 90 Bombardment (later, 90 Tactical Fighter; 90 Attack; 90 Tactical Fighter): attached 13 Aug 1956-24 Oct 1957, assigned 25 Oct 1957-8 Jan 1964 (detached 1 Sep 1963-8 Jan 1964); assigned 9 Jun 1964-19 Nov 1965 (detached 3 Feb-10 May 1965 and 3 Aug-19 Nov 1965); assigned 3 Feb 1966-31 Oct 1970; assigned 16 Sep 1974-29 May 1991. 307 Tactical Fighter: attached 21 Nov-6 Dec 1965. 308 Tactical Fighter: 2 Dec 1965-25 Dec 1966 (detached 15 Nov-25 Dec 1966). 310 Attack: 15-30 Nov 1969. 311 Attack: 15 Nov-15 Dec 1969. 416 Tactical Fighter: 16 Jun 1964-8 Nov 1965 (detached 14 Mar-21 Jul 1965); 16 Nov 1965-15 Apr 1967 (detached 16 Nov 1965-15 Jun 1966). 421 Air Refueling: attached 21 Nov 1960-1 Jun 1962. 429 Tactical Fighter: attached c. 21 Nov-14 Dec 1965. 510 Tactical Fighter: 16 Mar 1964-15 Nov 1969 (detached 5 May-c. 20 Aug 1965). 531 Tactical Fighter: 16 Jun 1964-19 Nov 1965 (detached 2 Nov 1964-18 Mar 1965); 7 Dec 1965-31 Jul 1970. 602 Fighter: attached 21 Nov 1965-8 Mar 1966. 604 Air Commando (later, 604 Special Operations): attached 15 Nov 1967-1 Mar 1970, assigned 1 Mar-30 Sep 1970. 731 Bombardment: attached 1 Dec 1950-25 Jun 1951. 6091 Reconnaissance: attached 21 Nov 1960-c. 5 Jun 1962.

Stations

Yokota AB, Japan, 18 Aug 1948; Johnson AB, Japan, 1 Apr 1950; Yokota AB, Japan, 14 Aug 1950; Iwakuni AB, Japan, 1 Dec 1950; Kunsan AB, South Korea, 22 Aug 1951; Johnson AB, Japan, 1 Oct 1954; Yokota AB, Japan, 18 Nov 1960-8 Jan 1964; England AFB, LA, 8 Jan 1964-Nov 1965; Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, 8 Nov 1965; Kunsan AB, South Korea, 15 Mar 1971; Clark AB, Philippines, 16 Sep 1974-19 Dec 1991; Elmendorf AFB, AK, 19 Dec 1991-.

Aircraft

B-26, 1948-1950, 1950-1956; F-15 (modified P-61), 1949; RF-80, 1949-1950; C-47, 1951; B-57, 1956-1963; RB-50, 1960-1961; KB-50, 1960-1962; C-130, 1961-1962; F-102, 1961-1962; F-100, 1964-1970; F-5, 1965-1967; A-1, 1965-1966; U-10, 1965-1966; C/AC/HC-47, 1965-1966; A-37, 1967-1970; F-4, 1971-1974, 1974-1991; T-33, 1974-1987; C-9, 1974-1975; CH-3, 1974-1975; T-38, 1976-1980; F-5, 1977-1988; MC-130, 1980-1983; UH-1, 1991; F-15C/D, 1991-; F-15E, 1991-2007; C-12, 1992-; C-130, 1992-2007; E-3, 1993-. C-17 2007- ; F-22, 2007- .

Operations

Trained as a bombardment and reconnaissance wing prior to Korean War. Performed reconnaissance and interdiction combat missions from Iwakuni AB, Japan, at the beginning of the Korean War, 1-19 Jul 1950. From 20 Jul to 1 Dec 1950 the tactical group and its squadrons served under operational control of another organization. The wing assumed a supporting role, initially from Johnson AB, Japan, but later from Yokota AB, Japan. The Wing returned to Iwakuni AB on 1 Dec 1950, regained control of its combat units and performed night intruder combat missions. Moved to South Korea in Aug 1951 and interdicted main supply routes in western North Korea for the remainder of the war. After the Korean War, the wing participated successively in bombardment, air defense, reconnaissance, and air refueling training. Its headquarters was non-operational 1 Sep 1963 to 8 Jan 1964. Moved to the United States without personnel or equipment in Jan 1964, then trained and rotated its squadrons in detached status to Southeast Asia for combat duty. Moved in Nov 1965 to Bien Hoa AB, South Vietnam, a forward operating base, which frequently came under enemy mortar and rocket fire. Missions included close air support, counterinsurgency, forward air control, interdiction, and radar-controlled bombing. Supported numerous ground operations with strike missions against enemy fortifications, supply areas, lines of communication and personnel, in addition to suppressing fire in landing areas. During this time, wing also participated in combat evaluation of F-5 and A-37 aircraft. Unmanned and unequipped on 31 Oct 1970, the wing remained active in a "paper" status until it moved to South Korea on 15 Mar 1971, to be manned and equipped with F-4 aircraft. In Sep 1974, moved without personnel or equipment to Clark AB, Philippines, replacing the 405 Fighter Wing. Participated in frequent operational exercises and evaluations. Between 5 Apr and 31 May 1975, wing used its facilities as a staging area for Operations Baby Lift (evacuation of Vietnamese orphans from South Vietnam to the United States) and New Life (evacuation of Vietnamese adults to the United States for resettlement). Performed fighter aggressor training operations using T-38 and later F-5E aircraft from 1976 to 1988; deployed throughout Pacific Air Forces to provide dissimilar aircraft combat training to US and allied fighter units. Deployed aircraft from the Philippines to Korea annually to participate in multinational joint-service combined forces exercises, 1978-1991. With addition of the F-4G "Wild Weasel" aircraft in 1979, the wing acquired dual role capabilities of air-to-air/air-to-ground and defense suppression/electronic countermeasures. Assignment of the 1 Special Operations Squadron, equipped with MC-130 aircraft, provided the wing with an unconventional warfare capability, Jan 1981-Mar 1983. Operated UH-1N helicopters, 1988-1991, for drone recovery, VIP airlift, range support, Philippine air defense site support, and medical evacuation. At the end of May 1991, the last F-4 aircraft departed the wing, shortly before the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in Jun 1991. Wing was not operational from Jun 1991 until it moved on paper to Elmendorf AFB on 19 Dec 1991, replacing the 21 Tactical Fighter Wing. Expanded the air defense mission of Alaska with the F-15E aircraft to include deep interdiction and air-to-air capabilities. Added an airlift mission in Apr 1992, and a long-range airborne surveillance, detection, identification, and command and control mission in 1993. Since 1993, deployed and employed assigned aircraft worldwide to accomplish air superiority, air interdiction, tactical airlift, airborne air surveillance, theater resupply, passenger service and served as host unit for all Elmemdorf AFB organizations. During 2004, fulfilled Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) taskings in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. Korea: UN Defensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer, 1953. Vietnam: Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 7 Apr 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan 1965-1 Jun 1966; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1969; 4 Apr-3 Sep 1975; 25 Feb-25 Mar 1986; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1991; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Oct 1993-30 Sep 1995; 1 Oct 1995-1 Aug 1997; 2 Aug 1997-1 Aug 1999; 29 Nov 1999-30 Nov 2001.

 

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citations (Vietnam): 8 Jun 1966-16 Apr 1967; 6 Mar 1968-31 Jul 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 31 Jan-5 Mar 1968; 1 Aug 1969-20 Jan 1970; 21 Jan-31 Oct 1970. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jun 1958-30 Jun 1960; 1 Jul 1960-31 Mar 1962; 1 May 1964-16 Jul 1965; 1 Jul 1972-31 Dec 1973; 1 May 1980-30 Apr 1982; 22 Mar-1 Apr 1986; 1 Jan 1989-1 Jun 1990; 1 Jan 1994-31 Dec 1995; 1 Jan 1996-30 Sep 1998; 1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2001; 1 Jan 2002-30 Sep 2003; 1 Oct 2003-30 Sep 2005. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 27 Jun-31 Jul 1950. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Crosses with Palm: 25 Nov 1965-19 May 1969; 1 Apr 1966-31 Oct 1970; 1 May-30 Sep 1970.

Emblem

Approved on 14 Feb 1924; modified on 23 Feb 1999.