Burkhard Domke                                                                       www.b-domke.de

The 437th AW chose a design that contained the flag of the State of South Carolina. 

The design has been recently revised by adding "Charleston" (AFB) to the tail band. 

Lineage

Established as 437th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on 10 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 10 Aug 1950. Inactivated on 10 Jun 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 16 Nov 1957. Redesignated 437th Military Airlift Wing, and activated, on 27 Dec 1965. Organized on 8 Jan 1966. Redesignated 437th Airlift Wing on 1 Oct 1991.

Assignments

Tenth Air Force, 26 Jun 1949; Tactical Air Command, 14 Aug 1950; Fifth Air Force, 8 Nov 1950 (attached to FEAF Combat Cargo Command, Provisional, 8 Nov 1950–); 314th Air Division, 1 Dec 1950 (remained attached to FEAF Combat Cargo Command, Provisional, through 24 Jan 1951); 315th Air Division (Combat Cargo), 25 Jan 1951–10 Jun 1952. Tenth Air Force, 15 Jun 1952–16 Nov 1957. Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command), 27 Dec 1965; Twenty-First Air Force, 8 Jan 1966–.

Components

Group. 437th Troop Carrier (later, 437th Operations): 27 Jun 1949–10 Jun 1952; 15 Jun 1952–16 Nov 1957; 1 Oct 1991–.

Squadrons. 3d: 8 Jan 1966–1 Aug 1973. 14th: 1 Apr 1992– . 15th: 1 Oct 1993–. 16th:   1 Oct 1993–Oct 2000;  01 Jul 2002-  , 17th: 8 Jan 1966–8 Apr 1969; 1 Aug 1987–. 20th: 1 Aug 1973–1 Oct 1991. 41st: 8 Jan 1966– 1 Oct 1991. 76th: 8 Jan 1966–1 Oct 1991.

Stations

Chicago-Orchard AP (later, O’Hare Field Chicago IAP), IL, 27 Jun 1949; Shaw AFB, SC, 14 Aug–16 Oct 1950; Brady Field, Japan, 8 Nov 1950–10 Jun 1952. O’Hare IAP, IL, 15 Jun 1952–16 Nov 1957. Charleston AFB, SC, 8 Jan 1966–.

Aircraft

T–7, 1949–1950; T–11, 1949–1950; C–46, 1949–1952. C–46 1952–1957; C–47, 1955–1957; C–119, 1957. C–124, 1966–1969; C–130, 1966–1967; C–141, 1966–; C–5 1970–1973; C-17, 1993 - 

Operations

Trained as a Reserve troop carrier wing under supervision of the 2471st Air Force Reserve Training Center, Jun 1949–Aug 1950 and Jun 1952–Nov 1957. Served between Aug 1950 and Jun 1952 on active duty. After concentrated training in the United States, moved to Japan and flew combat airlift missions, 10 Nov 1950–10 Jun 1952. Helped evacuate personnel from threatened airfields, hauled gasoline, napalm, and other explosives, dropped cargo and paratroops, flew spraying missions to rid areas of insects, and also flew routine courier missions until replaced by another wing in Jun 1952. Replaced the 1608th Air Transport Wing, in 1966, as the MAC host wing at Charleston AFB, SC. Flew joint training missions with Army forces, aeromedical evacuation missions, mercy and humanitarian missions as needed, and airlifted personnel, cargo, and mail worldwide, primarily to Europe, the Middle East and Africa, but also to South America. Participated in numerous tactical operations and exercises, particularly those of NATO. Wing aircrews were augmented by attached Reserve aircrews. From 1966 to the early 1970s, flew numerous missions to the Far East and Southeast Asia. Added Russia as a special mission destination in 1988. Deployed support personnel and provided airlift of personnel and equipment for operations in Grenada, 24 Oct–19 Dec 1983; Panama, 18–29 Dec 1989; and Southwest Asia, Aug 1990–Dec 1991. Flew humanitarian missions to East Africa,16 Aug 1992–. Completed preparations to receive its first C–17.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. Korea: CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Grenada, 1983; Panama, 1989–1990.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 11 Jul 1966–10 Jul 1967, 11 Jul 1967– 10 Jul 1968; 11 Jul 1968–12 Jun 1969; 13 Jun 1969–12 Jun 1970; 13 Jun 1970–30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1972–30 Jun 1973; 1 Jul 1982–30 Jun 1984; 1 Jul 1984–30 Jun 1986; 1 Jul 1988–30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989–30 Jun 1990; 21 Sep–31 Oct 1989. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 1 Jul 1951–[10 Jun 1952].

Bestowed Honors. Authorized to display the streamers earned by the 437th Operations Group for the period prior to 27 June 1949.

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6–7] Jun 1944.

Emblem

Or a vol Argent surmounted by a silhouette of a minute man courant grasping a rifle at high port Azure. Approved on 24 Nov 1953 (KE 24511).