Forty and fabulous: Reflecting on the past, looking to the future

Published Aug. 10, 2009
By Senior Airman Dani Pacheco
315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- Military members, family and friends associated with the 315th Airlift Wing, both past and present, gathered together August 7 - 8 to celebrate the 40th anniversary and remember the rich history of Charleston's reserve wing.

"This was a great way for the wing to, not only commemorate those who came before us," said Captain Wayne Capps, 315th AW Public Affairs, "but it was a great way to reconnect with our past."

The weekend was peppered with events that allowed today's service members the opportunity to mingle amongst wing alums who played a major part in building the proud heritage associated with the 315th AW.

"Friday we had golf tournament sponsored by the 315 AW Alumni Association, followed by a dinner at the Charleston Club," said Master Sgt. Chris Currie, 315 AW Process Plans non-commissioned officer in charge and co-chair of the 40th Anniversary Committee. "And Saturday's big events included a Civic Leader Flight on a C-17 and a gala at the North Charleston Convention Center."

The gala included a POW/MIA ceremony, a sit down dinner with dinner music; followed by comments from guest speaker Major General (retired) James A. Bankers, former Commander of the 22nd Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command. After dinner entertainment included music from party and dance band Fresh Air.

Another special treat for the gala attendants was Lt. Col. (retired) Dick Ford, a World War II C-47 pilot and an alum of the 315th when it was known as a Troop Carrier Group, who shared some of his memories and past experiences with the crowd.

"Getting to hear from Lt. Col. Ford about what he went through and the state of America when he was in the military was a very humbling experience for me," said Sergeant Currie. "I learned so much by being a part of the 40th Anniversary process."

The rich and heroic history of this wing dates back to World War II as a troop carrier group seeing action in North Africa, the invasion of Sicily and Italy, along with the invasion of France in Normandy. Members of the 315th continued to lead the way with tactical airlift at the Battle of the Bulge, the air attack on Holland.

The unit also served in the Korean conflict and Vietnam with cargo airlift and airdrop operations, leaflet drops, spray missions, air evacuation, search and rescue, and other aerial missions in theater as part of Far East Air Forces 315th Air Division.

As the unit evolved, the Air Force Reserve model began to change and took on an even bigger role in the military as a primary part of everyday defense. Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm changed how the reserve components were used by the Department of Defense. Citizen Airmen transitioned from a reserve force into an operational partner to their active duty counterparts.

The 315th became an associate of its active duty partners sharing the same airplanes and taking part in real world contingencies as "Team Charleston."

In September 2001, the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center once again shifted the paradigm as the Air Force Reserve became a major command and the 315th Airlift Wing once again stepped up to the task of defending the nation's freedom.

Today men and women of the 315th AW are on duty around the world. The past present and future men and women of the 315th AW are truly a part of military and aviation history; always ready when the nation calls with rapid global mobility.

Due to its global impact on today's flying force, it is often said, "The sun never sets on the 315th."

40th anniversary celebration