60th Air Mobility Wing The 60th Air Mobility Wing ( 60 AMW ) is the largest air mobility organization in the United States Air Force and is responsible for strategic airlift and aerial refueling missions around the world . It is the host unit at Travis Air Force Base in California . Wing activity is primarily focused on support in the Middle East region , however it also maintains operations in areas of the Pacific and Indian Oceans . Its mission is to provide rapid , reliable airlift of U . S . armed forces personnel and equipment anywhere on earth , and to extend the reach of American and allied air power through mid - air refueling . Units . 60th Operations Group ( 60 OG ) 60th Maintenance Group ( 60 MXG ) 60th Mission Support Group ( 60 MSG ) 60th Medical Group ( 60 MDG ) Additionally , the 60th Comptroller Squadron ( 60 CPTS ) reports directly to the wing staff . History . Cold War . When the 60th Troop Carrier Wing was activated on 1 July 1948 , its tactical units were detached , supporting the Berlin Airlift from other bases . The wing operated under control of the provisional airlift task force from 29 July 1948 but was not directly involved in airlift operations until it moved to RAF Fassberg , Germany in January 1949 . From 20 to 26 January September 1949 , the wing flew Berlin airlift missions , primarily with C - 54s . The wing then moved to Wiesbaden , Germany replacing the 7150th Air Force Composite Wing . Without a tactical mission until June 1951 , the wing operated a variety of aircraft in support of USAFE and other units . Upon moving to Rhein - Main Air Base , Germany , in June 1951 ( where it replaced the 61st Troop Carrier Wing ) , the 60th resumed a tactical role . Operating from Rhein - Main Air Base until October 1955 , the 60th provided airlift for troops and cargo throughout Europe , North Africa , and the Middle East . It also provided training to the 433d Troop Carrier Wing , August 1951 – July 1952 , and the 312th Troop Carrier Wing , July 1952 – March 1953 . The wing moved to France in 1955 with no change in the basic airlift mission and continued operations from that area until inactivated on 25 September 1958 . The 60th Military Airlift Wing was re - activated on 27 December 1965 and replaced the 1501st Air Transport Wing , Heavy , as the " host - wing " at Travis Air Force Base , California , on 8 January 1966 . It flew global airlift and humanitarian missions from that time , initially with C - 124 , C - 130 , C - 133 , and C - 141 aircraft . The wing lost its C - 130s in 1966 , C - 124s in 1967 , and C - 133s in 1971 but gained first operational C - 5s in October 1970 . Airlift of cargo and troops to Southeast Asia was a major responsibility of the wing , 1966 – 1975 , but missions flown worldwide as required . In 14 November 1966 , a C - 141 of the 60th Wing became the first jet aircraft to land in Antarctica . The 60th also played a major role in the airlift of repatriated prisoners of war to the United States after the Vietnamese ceasefire agreement in 1973 , and in the airlift of Vietnamese children and other refugees to the United States in 1975 . After the war in Southeast Asia , the 60th continued to support worldwide airlift commitments , including scheduled and contingency logistics operations , humanitarian relief and evacuation efforts , and international scientific research programs . It provided logistic support to the President of the United States during state visits to foreign nations and conducted airlift missions annually in the Antarctic , including the first C - 5 ice cap landing . The wing exchanged its C - 141A aircraft for " stretched " C - 141B version in 1980 – 1982 ; transferred re - winged C - 5A aircraft to Air Force Reserve and replaced them with more capable C - 5B , 1986 – 1989 . The wing performed combat airlift and logistic support missions during the rescue of US nationals on Grenada in October 1983 and the restoration of democracy in Panama , December 1989 – January 1990 . Modern era . Beginning in August 1990 , the wing provided airlift and logistic support to US and coalition forces in Southwest Asia , while continuing to perform worldwide airlift operations , including humanitarian missions to nations to Latin America and the former Soviet Union . In 1992 – 1993 , commenced airlift in support of U . S . relief operations in Somalia during Operations PROVIDE RELIEF and RESTORE HOPE . It continued to support on - going operations in Southwest Asia during Operation SOUTHERN WATCH . The wing ' s elements also supported Operation PROVIDE COMFORT for Kurdish refugees , supported the evacuation of military personnel and their dependents from the Philippines through Operation FIERY VIGIL in 1991 , and provided airlift support to Balkans peacekeeping missions beginning in 1995 with Operation JOINT ENDEAVOR , and continuing under Operations JOINT GUARD and JOINT FORGE . It deployed tanker and support elements to the European theater during Operation ALLIED FORCE from March – June 1999 , as well as providing airlift support to other air expeditionary forces deploying to the operation . After the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon , the 60th began airlift and refueling operations in support of Operations NOBEL EAGLE and ENDURING FREEDOM . In March 2003 , the United States as part of the Global War on Terrorism , initiated Operation IRAQI FREEDOM . One 8 August 2006 , the 60th received its first C - 17 Globemaster III aircraft " The Spirit of Solano " . The next day , that aircraft was made operational and flew its first mission . The wing won top honors as the best Air Mobility Wing during the 2007 Air Mobility Rodeo . On 5 November 2008 , the 60th received its 13th and final C - 17 aircraft , " The Spirit of Travis . " Fifteen members of the Travis family were on hand to witness the aircraft ' s arrival . Components . Groups Squadrons