436th Airlift Wing

436th Airlift Wing
436th Airlift Wing C-5M (left) and C-17 (right)
Active1949–1951; 1955–1958; 1966–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Size6,000
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQDover Air Force Base, Delaware
Nickname(s)"Eagle Wing"[1]
Motto(s)Robustum Auxilium (Latin: "Powerful Support")[2]
DecorationsAir Force Outstanding Unit Award[3]
Commanders
CommanderCol William C. McDonald[4]
Deputy CommanderCol Justin A. Longmire
Command ChiefCMSgt Carolyn A. Russell
Notable
commanders
Gen Walter Kross
Gen William J. Begert
Insignia
436th Airlift Wing emblem (approved 14 July 1966)[5]
Aircraft flown
TransportC-5 Galaxy
C-17 Globemaster III

The 436th Airlift Wing is an active unit of the United States Air Force, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. The wing operates Lockheed C-5 Galaxy and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, and is assigned to Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force.

Known as the "Eagle Wing", the 436 AW consists of the operations, maintenance, mission support, and medical groups, in addition to 12 divisions and two detachments. The wing has over 4,000 active-duty military and civilian employees.[6] The wing's C-5 and C-17 fleet provides 25% of the nation's inter-theater airlift capability, facilitating worldwide movement of outsized cargo and personnel on scheduled, special assignment, exercise, and contingency airlift missions. The 436 AW is the only combat-ready C-5 Galaxy wing capable of employing airdrop and special operations tactics in support of worldwide airlift.[2]

The wing routinely flies airlift missions throughout the world, projecting global reach to more than 90 countries on six continents including Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Additionally, the 436 AW operates the largest and busiest aerial port in the Department of Defense, with its passenger terminal moving over 100,000 individuals in 1998.[7]

  1. ^ Maguire, Brian (13 January 2009). "Eagle Wing welcomes new commander". 436 AW Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b Murphy, John (18 December 2011). "HISTORY OF THE 436th AIRLIFT WING" (PDF). 436th Office of History. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  3. ^ Robertson, Patsy (22 June 2017). "436 Airlift Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  4. ^ Lee, Cydney (7 July 2023). "McDonald takes command of 436th Airlift Wing". 436 AW Public Affairs. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  5. ^ Ravenstein 1984, p. 233.
  6. ^ "436th Airlift Wing (436th AW)". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. ^ "DOVER AIR FORCE BASE & THE DELMARVA PENINSULA" (PDF). 436 AW Public Affairs. September 2015. Retrieved 14 March 2020.