The
wing was organized as the 1707th Air Base Wing in 1951 at
Palm Beach Air Force Base, Florida when
Military Air Transport Service (MATS) reopened the
base.[1] Palm Beach was a joint civil-military facility with
Palm Beach International Airport. The wing's 1707th Air Transport Group was its operational unit until the wing was redesignated the 1707th Air Transport Wing. The wing's first main activity was the rehabilitation of buildings to resume military operations.[2]
The wing moved to
Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma in June 1959[8] due to urban encroachment and local opposition to military presence at the airport. It received the first
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter aircraft in 1964 and expanded its training mission to include Starlifter operation and maintenance.[9] In addition to the training mission, the 1707th maintained a state of
readiness to airlift armed forces personnel and equipment,[5] including
medical evacuation[10] in the event of national emergencies.
In 1961 the wing earned trophies from MATS for having the best ground and flying safety programs in MATS.[11] Its safety record also earned it an
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award that year.[12] The wing was discontinued on 8 January 1966, and its equipment and personnel were reassigned to the
443d Military Airlift Wing, which was activated the same date.[13]
Lineage
Designated as the 1707th Air Base Wing and organized on 1 September 1951
Redesignated 1707th Air Transport Wing (Training) on 1 May 1954
Redesignated 1707th Air Transport Wing, Heavy (Training) on 20 September 1954
Military Air Transport Service, c. 1959 – 8 January 1966
Components
Groups
1707th Air Base Group, 21 September 1951 – c. 30 June 1959[15]
1707th Air Transport Group, 21 September 1951 – 1 September 1953[16]
1707th Maintenance & Supply Group, 24 October 1951 – 1 September 1953[17][18][16]
1707th Medical Group[19] (later 1707th USAF Hospital),[14] 21 September 1951 – c. 30 June 1959
Squadrons
1707th Maintenance Squadron[20] (later 1707th Field Maintenance Squadron), 1 September 1953 – 1 June 1959[21][22]
1707th Student Squadron[21] (later 1707th Technical Training Squadron), 1 September 1954 – c. 30 June 1957
1707th Supply Squadron, 1 September 1953 – 1 June 1959[21]
1709th Training Squadron (later 1709th Technical Training Squadron),[21] 1 September 1954 – 30 June 1959[23]
1707th Support Squadron, 21 January 1963 – 1 April 1964[22]
1740th Air Transport Squadron (Transition Training Unit), 1 September 1953 – 8 January 1966[21]
1741st Air Transport Squadron (Transition Training Unit), 1 September 1953 – 8 January 1966[21]
1742d Air Transport Squadron (Transition Training Unit), 1 March 1956 – 1 January 1960[24]
2156th Air Rescue Squadron (Transition Training Unit) (later 1707th Training Squadron (Amphibious), 1707th Flying Training Squadron (Amphibious)), 20 July 1952 – c. 31 March 1959[25]
565th Air Force Band, 1954 – 8 February 1958 (not manned after 28 January 1958)[26][27]
^Because this was a transition from a Major Command controlled (MAJCON) unit to an Air Force controlled (AFCON) unit, the 443d wing is entitled to the honors (but not the lineage) of the 1707th wing.