 377th Combat Support Group Lineage
Lineage: Assignments: Component Squadrons Stations: Commanders: Aircraft: Operations:The 377th Air Base Wing was first activated as the 377th Combat Support Group (CSG) on April 8, 1966, and assigned to Seventh Air Force, the air arm of Military Assistance Command-Vietnam (MACV). The 377 CSG replaced the 6250th Combat Support Group that same month and was responsible for operations and maintenance of the USAF portion of Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam, from April 8, 1966 - March 28, 1973. Responsibility included housing, maintenance, base defense, and liaison with the South Vietnamese Air Force and support to numerous associate organizations including Seventh Air Force. Tan Son Nhut AB underwent numerous enemy attacks during the group's tenure. The group was further responsible for Binh Thuy Air Base, South Vietnam, from May 12 - July 1, 1970. It supported 7th Air Force flying operations with C-47, C-54 and C-123 aircraft from June to December 1966. In 1971, the group again became responsible for supporting flight operations of T-39, C-54, C-118, and C-130 aircraft of the 834th Air Division. Elevated to air base wing status in January 1972, it gained a tactical mission and other combat units. The wing operated the Southeast Asia Central Instructor Pilots School via the 360th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (TEWS), using C/EC-47s, from February to November 1972. They also operated a Combat Crew Training School at Phu Cat, South Vietnam, with C-7 aircraft from March to October 1972. When the group resumed base flight operations at Tan Son Nhut in January 1972, they operated and maintained C-47, C-118 and T-39 aircraft. The 8th Special Operations Squadron (A-37) performed the strike missions from January to October 1972. The 9th Special Operations Squadron (O-2s and C-47s) conducted psychological warfare operations from January to February 1972. The 21st Tactical Air Support Squadron (Light) conducted air liaison and 0-2A Forward Air Controller (FAC) operations from March 1972 to January 1973. The 310th Tactical Airlift Squadron (C/UC-123s from January to June 1972 and C-7s from March to October 1972) performed airlift and airdrop missions from January to October 1972. The 360th Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (C/EC-47s) conducted airborne radio directional finding operations from February-November 1972, and psychological warfare operations from February to August 1972. The 377 ABW then established an operating location of the wing headquarters at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, on April 14, 1972, to provide turn-around service for F-4s of other organizations. It was replaced on June 20, 1972, by Detachment 1 of the wing headquarters that continued the F-4 turn-around service and added A-7 services on October 30, 1972. The detachment continued operations through February 11, 1973. The 377 ABW phased down from February to March 1973, transferring many assets to the South Vietnamese Air Force, and inactivated on March 28, 1973. The wing was later designated and activated as the 377th Combat Support Wing (377 CSW), replacing the 86th Combat Support Group at Ramstein Air Base, Federal Republic of Germany, on June 14, 1985. The 377 CSW provided support services for Ramstein and other locations in the Kaiserslautern Military Community and other European locations from 1985 to 1991. The 377 CSW supported mobility and airlift operations during Operations DESERT SHIELD/STORM from August 1990 to April 1991. The 377 CSW inactivated on May 1, 1991. The 377th Combat Support Wing was designated and activated as the 377th Air Base Wing (377 ABW) as host unit for Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, on January 1, 1993. The wing's mission is to - provide world-class nuclear surety, expeditionary forces and support to base operations. Commensurate with its most recent activation, the 377 ABW was assigned to Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) through its parent organization, Space and Missile Systems Center, headquartered at Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. On October 1, 1998, the 377 ABW along with the 46 TW, 96 ABW, AFDTC and DET 5, ASC, realigned under the Air Armament Center (AAC) headquartered at Eglin AFB, Florida. The 377 ABW was relieved from its assignment under AAC on May 3, 2004 and assigned as a direct reporting unit (DRU) to HQ AFMC. This reflects the position of the 377th Air Base Wing as the Air Force's premier munitions storage and maintenance unit. Service Streamers: None Campaign Streamers: Air Force Expeditionary Streamers: None Decorations: Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat - V Device: April 8, 1966 - May 31, 1967; January 31, - March 31, 1968; April 1, 1969 - March 31, 1971; January 17, 1972 - March 28, 1973. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: June 14, 1985 - June 13, 1987; May 1, 1989 - April 30, 1991. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: April 8, 1966 - January 28, 1973. Significance: Ultramarine blue and Air Force yellow are the Air Force's official colors. Blue alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. Yellow refers to the sun and excellence required of Air Force personnel. The tricolor bend suggests the colors of the flag of the United States and reflects the patriotism of the wing's personnel. The flight symbol issuing from the globe denotes the worldwide capabilities of the unit in support of combat engagements. The tiger's face symbolizes the wing's aggressive spirit and reflects its heritage and honorable service in Vietnam. |
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