512th Airlift Wing The 512th Airlift Wing , an associate C - 5 Galaxy Air Force Reserve unit is located at Dover AFB , Delaware . The 512 AW helps maintain , repair and flies the same aircraft as its active duty counterparts . Members of the 512 AW work side - by - side with members of the 436th Airlift Wing ( 436 AW ) in fulfilling the mission , maintaining and flying the C - 5 , and working together to form the " Dover Team " . As one of only two Air Force Reserve Associate units flying the C - 5 , the 512 AW has a unique role in the Air Force . The first C - 5 all - reserve aircrew flew out of Dover AFB November 1973 . Mission . Recruit , train , equip and retain a qualified force to augment major commands with people and units to support strategic aircraft during peace and war . History . The 512th Airlift Wing traces its origins to the 512th Troop Carrier Wing , Medium , 4 August 1949 . Reading Municipal Airport , Pennsylvania , housed the Wing just short of a year before it was transferred to New Castle County Airport , Delaware , in April 1950 . In March of the following year the Wing mobilized for the first time for the Korean War , but was inactivated two weeks later 1 April 1951 . In June 1952 , the 512th Troop Carrier Wing was again activated in the Reserve and stationed at New Castle County Airport . 512th aircrews flew C - 46 Commando s throughout the periods of reserve and active status . In 1957 , the Wing converted to C - 119 Flying Boxcar s . After that transition , the Wing was transferred to Willow Grove Air Reserve Station , Pennsylvania , in July 1958 . While at NAS Willow Grove , the Cuban Missile Crisis thrust the Wing into active service for one month , beginning 28 October 1962 . The 512th Troop Carrier Wing , ( Medium ) , was redesignated the 512th Troop Carrier Wing in January 1965 . That same month the Wing was transferred without personnel or equipment to Carswell Air Force Base , Texas . Aircrews conducted training and airlift operations in C - 124 Globemasters . While stationed at Carswell AFB , two more name changes occurred : 1 December 1965 , the Wing was redesignated the 512th Transportation Wing , ( Heavy ) , and on 1 January 1966 , was redesignated the 512th Military Airlift Wing . On 29 June 1971 , the Wing was inactivated for a second time . On 29 January 1973 the wing was redesignated the 512th Military Airlift Wing ( Associate ) and activated in the Reserve on 1 July 1973 at Dover AFB , Delaware flying the C - 5A Galaxy aircraft . Upon activation at Dover AFB , the 512 AW absorbed the personnel of the 912th Military Airlift Group ( Associate ) stationed at Dover AFB . The 912th Military Airlift Group ( Associate ) previously assigned to the 514th Military Airlift Wing , McGuire AFB , New Jersey , for administrative support , but stationed and operated at Willow Grove ARS , PA . The 912th Military Airlift group moved from Willow Grove ARS to Dover AFB , in September 1968 . Equipped with C - 141 Starlifter aircraft , the 912th became the third associate group in the Air Force Reserve to fly the C - 141 . The wing was redesignated the 512th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1994 . Many missions have been flown by the Citizen Airman of the 512th Airlift Wing . Over 1 , 300 members of the 512th were recalled to active duty during Operations Desert Shield / Desert Storm . Fliers , Maintenance Specialists , Aerial Porters , Medical Personnel , and Security Police were deployed around the world as well as stateside for more than a year . In 2007 , the Wing began a new era in airlift when the 326th Airlift Squadron began flying the C - 17 Globemaster III aircraft when it received their first C - 17 on 31 May 2007 . Col Raymond A . Kozak serves as the 512th Airlift Wing ' s commander .