172nd Airlift Wing

172nd Airlift Wing
Allen C. Thompson ANGB Field, Jackson, Mississippi
Nickname(s)	Wings of the Deep South
Motto(s)	By Faith and Courage
Tail Code	Blue tail stripe, "Mississippi" in yellow letters
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Tommy Tillman
Insignia
172nd Airlift Wing emblem
Tail Stripe

The 172nd Airlift Wing is a unit of the

.

Mission

Media related to 172d Airlift Wing (Mississippi Air National Guard) at Wikimedia Commons

The 172nd Airlift Wing operates the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, and has participated in an all-volunteer partial activation since 2005, flying weekly missions to return wounded patients of the military safely back to the United States. Also, the 172nd Airlift Wing provides the State of Mississippi support in the event of national emergency, maintains peace and order, and supports civil defense and pre-attack planning.

Units

The 172nd Airlift Wing consists of the following units:

• 172nd Operations Group

183rd Airlift Squadron

183rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

• 172nd Maintenance Group
• 172nd Mission Support Group
• 172nd Medical Group

History

In December 1963, the Mississippi

aircraft in 1966 which meant supplies and equipment could be carried around the world along with the personnel the Constellations could carry.

The C-124 was being retired in the early 1970s and the 172nd airlift mission was changed to theater support, as it equipped with

to be released from active-duty Air Force control was assigned. With a total of eight aircraft, the unit began its new mission.

In March 1988 the 172nd took part in the airlift of approximately 3200 troops and almost 1000 tons of cargo on an exercise to

, leaving the island crippled. The 172nd flew eleven emergency relief missions, hauling 465 tons of cargo and 472 passengers.

From 20 December 1989 to 12 January 1990 the 172nd flew 21 sorties in support of

members flew these missions before 24 August 1990, when the 183rd Military Airlift Squadron was activated. The 183rd was one of the first two reserve and guard units to be activated. By May 1991 the 148 members of the 183rd had flown 2,880 sorties which transported 15,837 passengers and 25,949.2 tons of cargo.

In 2000, the C-141C with electronic "glass cockpit" was phased into service with the group. In October 2000 after the

.

On 17 December 2003, Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, Director, Air National Guard, handed off the "keys" to the first Globemaster III to Maj. Gen. James H. Lipscomb III, adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard. The plane was the first Globemaster III assigned to the Air National Guard and was named the "Spirit of the Minutemen".

Lineage

• Established as the 172nd Air Transport Group, Heavy and allotted to the Air National Guard on 16 December 1963

Activated in December 1963 and extended federal recognition

Redesignated 172nd Military Airlift Group on 1 January 1966

Redesignated 172nd Tactical Airlift Group on 30 June 1972

Redesignated 172nd Military Airlift Group on 1 July 1986

Redesignated 172nd Airlift Group on 16 March 1992

Redesignated 172nd Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995

Assignments

• Mississippi Air National Guard, 1 July 1965 – Present

Gaining commands

Military Air Transport Service, December 1963

Military Airlift Command, 1 January 1966

Air Mobility Command, 1 June 1992 - present

Components

• 172nd Operations Group, 1 October 1995 – present
• 183rd Air Transport Squadron (later 183rd Military Airlift Squadron, 183rd Tactical Airlift Squadron, 183rd Military Airlift Squadron, 183rd Airlift Squadron), December 1963 – 1 October 1995

Stations

• Hawkins Field, December 1963
• Allen C, Thompson Field (later
  Allen C. Thompson Field Air National Guard Base
  ), Mississippi, 1 July 1965

Elements operated from: Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, 24 August 1990 – 30 May 1991

Aircraft

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• 172nd Airlift Wing history page
• 172nd Airlift [email protected]
• Rogers, B. (2006). United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978.
  ISBN 1-85780-197-0

External links

• Official website
• 172nd Airlift Wing at globalsecurity.org