60th MAW

• Origins: The 60th Military Airlift Wing (60th MAW) was originally established as the 60th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium, on July 1, 1948. • Location: The unit has been based at Travis Air Force Base, California, since 1953, and is a key part of the base's identity as the "Gateway to the Pacific." • Berlin Airlift Participation: Elements of the 60th were deployed to support the Berlin Airlift (1948–1949), one of the first major crises of the Cold War. • Vietnam War Support: The 60th provided crucial airlift support during the Vietnam War, transporting troops, equipment, and supplies into and out of Southeast Asia. • Humanitarian Missions: The 60th MAW played a critical role in humanitarian relief operations, including delivering aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua (1972) and to flood victims in Bangladesh (1974). • Operation Homecoming: In 1973, the 60th MAW helped repatriate American prisoners of war from North Vietnam, flying them back to the United States. • Aircraft Operated: Over its history, the 60th has operated several iconic aircraft, including the C-124 Globemaster II, C-141 Starlifter, and later the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III. • Operation Babylift: The 60th participated in Operation Babylift in 1975, evacuating orphans from South Vietnam during the fall of Saigon. • Desert Shield/Desert Storm: During the Gulf War (1990–1991), the 60th MAW deployed personnel and aircraft to deliver vital supplies and equipment to coalition forces in Southwest Asia. • Redesignation: In 1991, the 60th MAW was redesignated as the 60th Airlift Wing (60th AW) as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization, continuing its legacy of global air mobility.