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Largest US Air Force expeditionary wing supports global missions

Largest US Air Force expeditionary wing supports global missions
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The United States Air Force's 379th Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW) is recognized as the largest and most diverse expeditionary wing within the Air Combat Command. This provisional unit supports global operations with over 100 modern aircraft for combat missions, intelligence sorties, aeromedical evacuation, and humanitarian efforts.

"The 379th was a unit equipped with the B-17 Flying Fortress, the instrument of making daylight precision bombing against our nation’s enemies a reality," states the Air Force. The wing plays a significant role in supporting operations such as INHERENT RESOLVE, SPARTAN SHIELD, and ENDURING SENTINEL by generating over 5,000 combat sorties and more than 20,000 flight hours annually.

The 379 AEW offloads 80 million pounds of fuel to over 8,000 receivers while transporting 28,000 passengers and delivering 66 million pounds of cargo. It also handles over 1,000 aeromedical evacuation patients for both combat and humanitarian missions. "Our airfield... consists of two runways and contingency parking for well over 100 aircraft supporting over 57,000 events annually," says the Air Force.

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Spanning an area of 9,600 acres with more than 650 facilities, the wing supports nearly 8,000 personnel from various forces. The organizational structure includes an A-Staff that advises on programs related to manpower and intelligence. It also features specialized teams such as intelligence groups that prepare for threat environments.

According to the Air Force: "The A6 Directorate is comprised of three divisions: Operations, Planning, and Knowledge Management." The Special Staff consists of teams handling chaplaincy services, equal opportunity issues, financial management, public affairs among others.

Several squadrons operate under the wing including Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron (ECES), which supports facilities across its expansive base; Expeditionary Communications Squadron (ECS), providing cyber capabilities; and Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron (ELRS), managing supply chains.

The Mission Generation Force Elements currently deployed include KC-135 MGFE (EARS), RC-135 MGFE (ERS), Aero-medical Evacuation MGFE (EAES), alongside a host-tenant relationship with C-17 MGFE (EAS).

Organizations Included in this History
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