The 349th Air Mobility Wing is the Air Force Reserve partner of the 60th AMW at Travis Air Force Base, California. The 349th AMW's 2,700 Citizen Airmen work side-by side with their active-duty counterparts in almost every air mobility mission and role, including operations of the C-5M Super Galaxy, KC-10A Extender and the C-17A Globemaster III, command and control, and aeromedical evacuation.
The 349 AMW traces its legacy to World War II, when the 349th Troop Carrier Group, was established at Sedalia Army Air Field, Mo. In March 1944, the 349th deployed to the European Theater of Operations and began flying combat cargo missions. Equipped with the C-46 Commando, the 349th was the first unit to drop paratroopers from both doors. At one point, the 349th participated in the largest mass formation of C-46's ever flown in the European theater.
After the war in Europe ended, the 349th returned to the United States where it was inactivated and later reactivated as a reserve unit at Hamilton Air Force Base, in Marin County, north of San Francisco. It was there that the 349th began its tradition as a modern reserve unit, with Citizen Airmen supporting real-world operations with its cargo C-119 Flying Boxcar and later C-123 Globemaster II aircraft. The unit was called to active duty for both the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Vietnam War.
In 1969 the unit retired its piston-engine transports and moved to Travis AFB in Solano County to partner with the active duty 60th Military Airlift Wing, flying new C-141 Starlifter jet transport. Since then, the 349 AMW has participated in every major Air Force operation and contingency action.
The 349th AMW is the largest associate Reserve wing in the Air Force, with 2,700 personnel assigned. About 89 percent of the wing's members are Traditional Reservists who serve at least 42 days per year -- the balance are full-time Air Reserve Technicians, and civilian civil servants.
Air Force Reservists meet all the same standards for training and skills qualification as their active-duty counterparts, yet also maintain civilian careers. The key to success for Reservists and the 349 AMW has been strong support from civilian employers, families and active-duty partners. A large percentage of 349 AMW members currently serving have deployed one or more times to Iraq, Afghanistan or Southwest Asia since 9/11.
The Wing is organized into four groups and a wing staff element:
349th Operations Group
- 70th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-10A Extender)
- 79th Air Refueling Squadron (KC-10A Extender)
- 301st Airlift Squadron (C-17A Globemaster III)
- 312th Airlift Squadron (C-5 Galaxy)
- 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
- 349th Operations Support Squadron
- 349th Air Mobility Operations Squadron
349th Maintenance Group
- 349th Maintenance Operations Flight
- 349th Maintenance Squadron
- 349th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 749th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
The 349th Mission Support Group
- 45th Aerial Port Squadron
- 55th Aerial Port Squadron
- 82nd Aerial Port Squadron
- 349th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 349th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 349th Force Support Squadron
- 349th Security Forces Squadron
349th Medical Group
- 349th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
- 349th Aeromedical Staging Squadron
- 349th Medical Squadron
The 349th AMW's active-duty partner is the 60th Air Mobility Wing, the largest air mobility organization in Air Force. Team Travis processes more cargo and passengers than any other military air terminal in the United States and is the West Coast terminal for aeromedical evacuation aircraft returning sick or injured patients from the Pacific area. Travis AFB is also home to the David Grant USAF Medical Center, the largest medical facility in the Air Force Medical Service.
An abbreviated list of significant operations supported by Team Travis Reservists includes: the Vietnam War, Operations Reforger, Just Cause, Desert Fox, Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern and Northern Watch, Deny Flight, Allied Force, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Enduring Freedom, Noble Eagle and Inherent Resolve. Significant scientific and humanitarian relief operations include for Hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, Iniki, Mitch, Georges and Katrina; Typhoons Omar and Paka; the Los Angeles riots; Loma Prieta and Northridge earthquakes; South Asia Tsunami and Japan Earthquake and Tsunami relief, and Deep Freeze missions in support of
the United States Antarctic Program.
The wing has been awarded many awards, including Gallantry Cross with Palm (Vietnam), 17 Outstanding Unit Awards, once with the "Valor" device.
Contact Information
349th AIR MOBILITY WING (AFRC)
Office of Public Affairs,
Travis Air Force Base, Calif. 94535
(707) 424-3936
(Current as of September 2020)