As the only active duty C-130 wing in the western Pacific after the end of the Vietnam war, the 374 TAW and its units saw service throughout the Pacific. This site is a collection of photographs and personal stories of the people that were apart of this niche in history.

After the Vietnam war peace treaty was signed on January 27, 1973, the United States began to redeploy its forces. Tactical airlift forces at that time consisted of four C130 squadrons based at Ching Chuan Kang (CCK) Air Base Taiwan under the control of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF)

As a result of President Nixon’s trip to China, CCK was scheduled to be closed.The 50th TAS left for reassignment to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas in August 1973. The remaining three C130 squadrons went to either Clark AB, Philippines (21 TAS & 776TAS) or Kadena AB, Okinawa (345 TAS) by the end of 1973.

In March 1975, the 374 TAW and its units were transferred from PACAF to the Military Airlift Command (MAC).  After the fall of Saigon the 345 TAS moved from Kadena to Yokota AB, Japan in September 1975. The 776 TAS was disbanded in October 1975 and its personnel and aircraft were reassigned throughout the USAF, with some being absorbed into the 21 TAS or 345 TAS. That left the two squadrons, 21 TAS and 345 TAS, to fulfill the tactical airlift requirements of the Pacific theater.

In 1989, the 374 TAW and 21 TAS were moved again and joined the 345 TAS at Yokota AB, Japan, consolidateing all tactical airlift forces.

In 1992, during the McPeak massacre of USAF units after the cold war ended, all airlift squadrons had an adjective removed and became Airlift Squadrons, noting that all airlift aircraft could be either tactical or strategic, depending on their mission. The 21st  Airlift Squadron – (in name only) – left their C130s at Yokota AB and proceeded to Travis AFB where they took over the C5s of the 75th AS. The 345 AS was inactivated in 1993 and people and aircraft was reassigned. The 36 Airlift Squadron (in name and people), from McChord AFB, Washington was moved to Yokota AB in 1993 and assumed the mission of the 374TAW C130 squadrons.

The purpose of this website is to tell the history of airlift in the Pacific, from the end of the Vietnam war up until 1993, when the military began to change its focus and reorganize from their Vietnam era organizations. 

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374 Tactical Airlift Wing

 

 

The Flying Squadrons 

21st Tactical Airlift Squadron

 

345th Tactical Airlift Squadron

 

776nd Tactical Airlift Squadron

 

 

374 TAW Air Bases – 1973 to 1993

CCK Air Base

Clark Air Base

Kadena Air Base

Yokota Air Base

 

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Check out Paul Hooper’s history of flying in the 1970s with the 345th TAS out of Kadena and Yokota. Click on the link below.

https://www.givesendgo.com/AccidentalSoldierOfFortune?fbclid=IwAR0rvnWfAt3R22hAzcvN_pcBv1VpqJM2orLWnRYNurPNRP-z-DWDocVoLbY

 

Test flight of South Korean MC130 in Korea, 2018 (Hooper video)

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AIRCRAFT OF THE 374 TAW

 

   C130s of the 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron

   C130s of the 345th Tactical Airlift Squadron

    C130s of the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron

 

     And, not to forget, the “Tactical” C9s of the                 9th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron

 

 

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CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE                 374TH TACTICAL AIRLIFT WING

 

 

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SSgt Miguel (Mike) Lechuga’s story –

 

This picture is among over a 100 others published by SSgt Lechuga, who was a part of the ground handling team there. They were from the 604th MASS at Clark and had arrived on 7 April 1975. . Click on the link below to see the other historical pictures and read SSgt Lechuga’s account of the last days of Saigon, April 1975.

SSgt Miguel (Mike) Lechuga’s story –

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If you are a veteran or family member who has memories, artifacts, or pictures to share of this time, I encourage you to contribute to this preservation of unique Air Force history.

If you have a story, a photo, video or artifact to share, please Email me at sailor50g@gmail.com. Every memory is important to telling the story of tactical airlift during this time that we all shared common goals and experiences. No experience, memory, artifact, or photograph is too muldane. Remember, those were the “good old days”.