Need for reserve troop carrier groups

After May 1959, the reserve flying force consisted of 45 troop carrier squadrons assigned to 15 troop carrier wings.^{[note 1]} The squadrons were not all located with their parent wings, but were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy and civilian airfields under what was called the Detached Squadron Concept. The concept offered several advantages. Communities were more likely to accept the smaller squadrons than the large wings and the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning.^[2] However, under this concept, all support organizations were located with the wing headquarters.^[3] Although this was not a problem when the entire wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron and elements to support it proved difficult. This weakness was demonstrated in the partial mobilization of reserve units during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. To resolve this, at the start of 1962, Continental Air Command, (ConAC) determined to reorganize its reserve wings by establishing groups with support elements for each of its troop carrier squadrons. This reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed.^[4]

Activation of the 932nd Troop Carrier Group

As a result, the 932nd Troop Carrier Group was activated at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois on 11 February 1963 as the headquarters for the 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been stationed there since November 1957.^[5] Along with group headquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron and a Tactical Infirmary were organized to support the 73rd.

If mobilized, the group was gained by Tactical Air Command (TAC), which was also responsible for its training. Its mission was to organize, recruit and train Air Force reservists with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars in the tactical airlift of airborne forces, their equipment and supplies and delivery of these forces and materials by airdrop, landing or cargo extraction systems.

The 932nd performed routine tactical reserve airlift operations until 1 April 1967 when it was upgraded to the long-range Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. It flew overseas missions, particularly to the Far East and Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. In 1969 it was reassigned to the 514th Military Airlift Wing and re-equipped with the Douglas C-9A Nightingale aeromedical airlifter. It began performing worldwide humanitarian airlift and casualty evacuation from South Vietnam. Today it still provides worldwide medical services to the warfighter from the front line to Continental United States fixed medical treatment facilities.

Upgraded to a wing level in 1994, it equipped with the VC-9 in 2005 and received the Boeing C-40 Clipper in 2007. The unit provides first-class, worldwide, safe, and reliable airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs. The wing maintains aircraft for special assignment missions. In addition, the 932nd equips, trains and organizes a ready force of citizen airmen to support and maintain all facets of air base operations involving infrastructure and security.

Assignments

• Continental Air Command, 15 January 1963 (not organized)
• 434th Troop Carrier Wing, 11 February 1963
• 442nd Military Airlift Wing, 1 October 1966
• 514th Military Airlift Wing, 1 April 1969
• Central Air Force Reserve Region, 1 January 1972
• Fourteenth Air Force, 8 October 1976
• 446th Airlift Wing, 1 August 1992
• Fourth Air Force, 1 October 1994
• Twenty-Second Air Force, 10 December 2015^[1]

Components

• 932nd Operations Group: 1 August 1992 – present
• 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron (later 73rd Military Airlift Squadron, 73rd Aeromedical Airlift Squadron, 73 Airlift Squadron): 11 February 1963 – 1 Aug 1992^[1]

Stations

• Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, 11 February 1963 – present^[1]

Aircraft

• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1963–1967)
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II (1967–1969)
• Douglas C-9A Nightingale (1969–2005)
• McDonnell Douglas VC-9C (2005-2011)^[1]
• Boeing C-40C Clipper (2007–present) Four aircraft stationed at Scott Air Force Base.

Bibliography

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

• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.