The 910th was officially born in the Mahoning Valley in 1963.

By MASTER SGT. KENNETH E. SLOAT

The 910th was officially born in the Mahoning Valley in 1963.

VIENNA —¬†Today’s 910th Airlift Wing traces it roots back to the 757th Bombardment Squadron, activated for the first time at Alamogordo, N.M., in July 1943.¬†

Within a year, the 757th was deployed to Europe to fly combat missions in the B-24 “Liberator” bomber. After 18 months, and 242 combat missions against targets in Italy, southern France, Austria, the Balkans and Germany, the 910th returned to the United States and was deactivated.

Youngstown Municipal Airport became the 757th Troop Carrier Squadron’s home on Nov. 16, 1957 when the unit, which had been assigned to Sandston, Va., was relocated. The initial aircraft inventory consisted of 16 C-119 “Flying Boxcars”.¬†

The 910th was officially born on Jan. 17, 1963, when a reorganization of the Air Force Reserve troop carrier missions created a Troop Carrier Group at Youngstown Municipal Airport.

In July 1967, the 910th was redesignated as the 910th Tactical Airlift Group and assigned to the Continental Air Command.

The 910th aircraft inventory consisted of 16 C-119s, one C-47, and one U-3. The C-47 and U-3 aircraft were used to provide Combat Readiness Training for regular Air Force officers assigned to recruiting and ROTC duty in Northeastern Ohio and Pennsylvania.

In January 1970, the 910th Tactical Airlift Group became the 910th Tactical Air Support Group. The C-119 aircraft were transferred out and 15 U-3A aircraft were brought in.

In February 1971, the 910th would be converting to the A-37 “Dragonfly” aircraft. The A-37 was, at the time, being used in Southeast Asia as an air-to-ground operations and counter-insurgency aircraft.

A little more than a decade later, the now renamed 910th Tactical Fighter Group would release the A-37s to the Michigan Air National Guard to make room for the first C-130, which arrived at Youngstown Municipal Airport — now Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport — on March 27, 1981.¬†

This final conversion meant the 910 TFG would return to its former name, the 910th Tactical Airlift Group.

On Nov. 8, 1982, the 757th Tactical Airlift Squadron accomplished its first night drop at the Ravenna Drop Zone. 

In January 1992, the 910th assumed responsibility for the only full-time, fixed-wing aerial spray in the U.S. Department of Defense.

On Oct. 1, 1994, the 910th Airlift Group was officially changed to the 910th Airlift Wing.

After the terrorist attacks Sept. 11, 2001, members of the 910th went on active duty. By the time they were deactivated in November 2005, the squadrons of the 910th would be credited with 4,424 sorties totaling more than 8,000 flying hours encompassing the safe transport of 81,183 passengers, among them the sitting Secretary of State Colin Powell and his staff. 

As the winged sword in the 910th emblem symbolizes, the 910th continues to maintain its readiness to secure and defend the peace, which will again be validated through the wing’s Air Mobility Command Operational Readiness Inspection this year.