Introduction

-- The 316th Troop Carrier Group took part in the fighting in North Africa, the invasions of Sicily and Italy, the D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden and the airborne crossing of the Rhine. After 1947, the 316th Wing and 316th Operations Group co-existed with separate assignments and missions until the 316th Operations Group came under the 316th Wing in 2006 at Joint Base Andrews- Naval Air Facility Washington.

316th Transport Group

-- The 316th Wing was constituted as the 316th Transport Group on 2 February 1942 and activated on 14 February1942. They were designated the 316th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. The 316th Troop Carrier Group trained with the C-47 and C-53 aircraft. In November 1942, they were assigned to the Ninth Air Force and began operations in the Mediterranean Theater. In that theater they transported, supplied, and evacuated casualties in support of the Allied drive across North Africa. In May 1943, they began training for the invasion of Sicily and dropped paratroopers over the assault area on the night of 9 July 1943. They carried reinforcements to Sicily on 11 July and received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for their endurance in the face of attacks by both ground and naval forces. They received another DUC for supporting aerial and ground operations in Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Sicily, 25 Nov 1942-25 Aug 1943. The group was heavily utilized during these campaigns for transporting reinforcements and supplies.

-- In September 1943, the 316th Troop Carrier Group was assigned to the Twelfth Air Force and moved to Sicily to take part in the invasion of Italy. They dropped paratroopers over the beachhead south of the Sele River on the night of 14 September 1943.

-- In February 1944, the group rejoined the Ninth Air Force in England and prepared for the invasion of France. They drooped paratroopers near Ste-Mere-Eglise as part of Operation Overlord or D-Day. They reinforced troops on the Normandy beached on 7 June. The 316th Troop Carrier Group received a third DUC for these operations.

-- During the air attack on Holland as part of Operation Market Garden in September 1944, they dropped paratroopers and released gliders carrying reinforcements.

-- The 316th Troop Carrier Group dropped paratroopers near Wesel on 24 March 1945, when Allies made the airborne assault across the Rhine.

-- Throughout 1944 and 1945, the group provided transport services, including ammunition, gasoline, water, and rations. They also evacuated wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals.

-- The 316th Troop Carrier Group returned to the United States in May 1945 and were assigned to Pope Field, North Carolina.

-- The Group moved to Greenville Army Air Base (AAB), South Carolina on 25 August 1947. At Greenville AAB, they trained on the C-82 and C-119 aircraft. They were designated the 316th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) in June 1948, and then again as the 316th Troop Carrier Group (Heavy) in October 1949. The 316th Troop Carrier Group (Heavy) moved to Smyrna (later Stewart) Air Force Base (AFB), Tennessee where they remained until 1954. They became the 316th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) in January 1950.

-- They were transferred without personnel or equipment to Ashiya Air Base (AB), Kyushu, Japan on 15 November 1954. At Ashiya AB, they were assigned to the Far Eastern Air Forces and equipped with C-119’s.They remained in Ashiya AB until their inactivation in 1957.

316th Tactical Airlift Group

-- The group was again activated in 1978 as the 316th Tactical Airlift Group in Yokoto AB, Japan where they remained until their deactivation in 1989. During this time the group operated the C-130, C-12, and C-21.

-- They were designated as the 316th Airlift Support Group and activated from 1992 to 1994 at Yokoto AB.

316th Operations Group

-- The group was designated the 316th Operations Group under the 316th Wing in 2006 at Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington.

316th Troop Carrier Wing

-- The 316th Troop Carrier Wing was established in 1947 at Greenville AFB in South Carolina where they operated the C-47 and C-82. They were discontinued on 25 August 1948. They were established and activated as the 316th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium on 23 August 1948. They were inactivated on 20 October 1949.

316th Tactical Airlift Wing

--They were once again activated as the 316th Troop Carrier Wing, Assault on 15 November 1965 at Langley AFB. They were designated as the 316th Troop Carrier Wing on 1 March 1966. They were then designated as the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing on 1 May 1967. While at Langley, the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing conducted C-130 replacement and maintenance training. They also participated in the repatriation of South Vietnamese and American prisoners of war from North Vietnam.

--They remained the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing until they were inactivated on 1 October 1975.

Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington

-- On 15 December 1980, the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing was consolidated with the 1776 Air Base Wing. The 316th Tactical Airlift Wing served as the host wing on Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The unit operated, administered, and maintained Andrews AFB until the unit’s deactivation on 12 July 1991. They were designated the 316th Wing on 21 June 2006, again serving as the base unit for Joint Base Andrews-Naval Air Facility Washington. The unit also supported official capital area helicopter airlift. The unit was deactivated in 2010.

-- On 11 June, 2020, the 316th Wing was reactivated at Joint Base Andrews Md.