The 63d Air Expeditionary Wing is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate as needed. No publicly available information indicates it has been active as an expeditionary unit.

Redesignated as: 63 Military Airlift Wing on 8 Jan 1966; 63 Airlift Wing on 1 Jan 1992. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1994. Redesignated as 63 Air Expeditionary Wing, and converted to provisional status, on 12 Jun 2002. Assignments. First Air Force, 27 Jun 1949-9 May 1951.

Modern era During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, C-141s from the 63d MAW flew American Army and Air Force units and equipment into Saudi Arabia, transporting more than 41,400 passengers and 139,600 tons (125,690 metric tons) of cargo. Shortly after the end of hostilities in Iraq, the wing was redesignated as the 63d Airlift Wing (AW).

During the Vietnam War, the wing flew around-the-clock missions in support of the US and allied forces engaged in Southeast Asia. Within the next few years, the 63rd MAW expanded its mission by providing airlift support for the astronauts assigned to the NASA Apollo program.

In 1966, Norton AFB became the home for the 63rd Military Airlift Wing (MAW), providing airlift and food services to air and ground combat units worldwide. Headquarters for the Aerospace Audiovisual Services (AAVS) was also established at Norton AFB in 1966 to provide audiovisual services to the Air Force and all Department of Defense agencies.

The 63rd MAW served as the prime carrier for the famous Bob Hope Christmas tours, transported the triumphant Apollo 11 astronauts after their historic lunar landing mission, and provided the first U.S. aircraft to land at Hanoi, picking up the first American POW’s.

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63rd MILITARY AIRLIFT WING - HISTORY (In tribute to our fellow Aircrews & Support Organizations of the 63 MAW, Norton AFB, CA) First established as the

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Force on April 4 with eight hours on the clock. It was initially assigned to the 63rd MAW at Norton AFB, Calif., and unlike most other C-141s which saw service at numerous active duty and reserve bases over their lifespans, 0177 remained assigned to Norton until it was finally transferred