903d Military Airlift Group

The 903d Military Airlift Group was a United States Air Force Reserve unit responsible for organizing, training, and supporting personnel assigned to tactical and strategic airlift missions. It was created at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, during a broad reorganization of Air Force Reserve troop-carrier units in the early 1960s. The reorganization responded to difficulties exposed by the detached-squadron system, under which flying squadrons were distributed among numerous bases while their parent wings and support organizations remained elsewhere. Although this arrangement improved recruiting and community access, it made partial mobilization difficult, as demonstrated during the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The group was established as the 903d Troop Carrier Group, Medium. It was formally organized in the Reserve at McGuire on 17 January 1963, with the 335th Troop Carrier Squadron as its flying component. A combat support squadron, materiel squadron, and tactical infirmary were also organized to provide the administrative, logistical, and medical capabilities required for a separately managed reserve group. The 903d was assigned to the 514th Troop Carrier Wing, later redesignated the 514th Tactical Airlift Wing and then the 514th Military Airlift Wing. During its first period of service, the group operated Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Its mission involved the tactical airlift of airborne troops, equipment, and supplies, with delivery by airdrop, landing, or cargo-extraction systems. The 903d formed part of a three-group C-119 structure under the 514th wing, alongside the 904th Troop Carrier Group at Stewart Air Force Base, New York, and the 905th Troop Carrier Group at Bradley Field, Connecticut. The unit underwent several redesignations as United States airlift organization evolved. It became the 903d Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967 and the 903d Military Airlift Group (Associate) on 25 September 1968. In 1970, it transferred into the Military Airlift Command structure and transitioned from the C-119 to the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. Its flying component changed from the 335th Military Airlift Squadron to the 732d Military Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1970. The group performed reserve-associated heavy airlift functions with the C-141 until it was inactivated at McGuire Air Force Base on 1 July 1973, during the post-Vietnam War reduction of United States military forces.

The 903d Military Airlift Group originated in the Air Force Reserve reorganization of the early 1960s. Beginning in 1955, the Air Force had increasingly separated reserve flying squadrons from their parent wings and placed them at independent locations. Known as the Detached Squadron Concept, the arrangement was intended to improve recruitment and make reserve units more acceptable to smaller communities. By 1959, reserve wing headquarters and some flying squadrons generally remained at one installation, while other squadrons operated from Air Force, Navy, or civilian airfields elsewhere. The system worked reasonably well when a complete wing was mobilized, but it created serious practical problems when only one squadron and its supporting elements had to be activated. The partial mobilization associated with the Berlin Crisis in 1961 highlighted those weaknesses. In early 1962, Continental Air Command developed a plan to establish a separate group headquarters and support structure for each reserve troop-carrier squadron. The objective was to make it possible to mobilize individual squadrons or combinations of units without reconstructing their support arrangements at the time of activation. Implementation was affected by the Cuban Missile Crisis; reserve units involved in that crisis were released on 22 November 1962, and the organization of their replacement groups was delayed until February 1963. The 903d Troop Carrier Group, Medium, was established on 28 December 1962, initially without organization. It was organized in the Reserve at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, on 17 January 1963. Its principal flying component was the 335th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been based at McGuire since March 1961. The group also received a combat support squadron, materiel squadron, and tactical infirmary. Together these elements supplied the personnel, maintenance, logistics, medical, and administrative structure needed to operate as a functional reserve group. The group's mission was to recruit, organize, and train Air Force Reserve personnel for tactical airlift. Its crews and support personnel were prepared to transport airborne forces, equipment, and supplies, delivering them by airdrop, landing, or cargo-extraction methods. The group initially operated the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar and served under the 514th Troop Carrier Wing. It was one of three C-119 groups assigned to that wing, the others being the 904th Troop Carrier Group at Stewart Air Force Base and the 905th Troop Carrier Group at Bradley Field. As Air Force terminology and command structures changed, the unit was redesignated the 903d Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967. On 25 September 1968, it became the 903d Military Airlift Group (Associate), reflecting the growing emphasis on military airlift and its relationship to the active-duty airlift force. In 1970, the group was aligned with Military Airlift Command and transitioned to the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, a larger jet transport capable of intercontinental heavy airlift. The 335th Military Airlift Squadron was replaced as the group's flying component by the 732d Military Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1970. The 903d continued operating from McGuire as a reserve-associated C-141 organization until its inactivation on 1 July 1973. Its closure took place during the reduction and reorganization of United States forces following the Vietnam War. The unit did not become an active commercial or civilian organization; it remains an inactive Air Force Reserve lineage entry.

• 1973

  Inactivated

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 903d Military Airlift Group was inactivated at McGuire Air Force Base on 1 July 1973 during the post-Vietnam War force drawdown.

• 1970

  Transitions to C-141 heavy airlift

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group entered the Military Airlift Command structure and transitioned from C-119 Flying Boxcars to Lockheed C-141 Starlifters.

• 1968

  Redesignated as a military airlift associate group

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 25 September 1968, the unit became the 903d Military Airlift Group (Associate).

• 1967

  Redesignated as a tactical airlift group

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The unit became the 903d Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967.

• 1963

  Group organized at McGuire Air Force Base

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 903d Troop Carrier Group was organized in the Air Force Reserve on 17 January 1963 at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey.

• 1961

  Berlin Crisis exposes mobilization difficulties

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The partial mobilization associated with the Berlin Crisis demonstrated the difficulty of activating dispersed squadrons and their support elements independently.

• 1955

  Detached-squadron reorganization begins

  [1]903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The Air Force began distributing Reserve flying squadrons among separate locations to improve recruiting and community access, while retaining wing headquarters and support elements elsewhere.

A reserve component airlift organization designed to improve the readiness, support, and mobilization of dispersed Air Force troop-carrier squadrons.

• Tactical transport aircraft · 1963

  Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

  The C-119 was the group's principal aircraft from its organization in 1963 until 1970. It supported tactical transport missions involving airborne troops, equipment, and supplies, including delivery by airdrop, landing, and cargo-extraction techniques.

• Strategic heavy transport aircraft · 1970

  Lockheed C-141 Starlifter

  The C-141 replaced the C-119 when the group entered the Military Airlift Command structure in 1970. This jet transport provided intercontinental heavy-airlift capacity for the group's reserve-associated mission until the unit was inactivated in 1973.

• 1970

  Conversion from C-119 to C-141 aircraftGeneration change

  Background

  The group was aligned with Military Airlift Command as the Air Force expanded and modernized its long-range airlift capability.

  Action taken

  The group transitioned from Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars to Lockheed C-141 Starlifters and changed its flying component to the 732d Military Airlift Squadron.

  Aftermath

  The unit shifted from primarily tactical propeller-driven transport to reserve-associated intercontinental jet airlift until its inactivation.

  Source

• 1967

  Adoption of the tactical airlift designationOther

  Background

  Air Force airlift terminology and organizational responsibilities were being revised during the unit's Reserve service.

  Action taken

  The group was redesignated the 903d Tactical Airlift Group on 1 July 1967.

  Aftermath

  The new designation reflected its tactical transport and airborne-delivery role.

  Source

• 1963

  Creation of a separately supported reserve airlift groupStrategy

  Background

  The detached-squadron system made partial mobilization difficult because flying units and their support organizations were distributed among different installations.

  Action taken

  The Air Force Reserve organized the 903d Troop Carrier Group at McGuire Air Force Base with dedicated combat-support, materiel, and medical elements.

  Aftermath

  The structure gave the 335th Troop Carrier Squadron a dedicated group headquarters and support framework for training and possible mobilization.

  Source

1. 1903d Military Airlift Groupen.wikipedia.org