314th AW reopens remodeled HQ

  • Published
  • By Arlo Taylor
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  The 314th Airlift Wing hosted a dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly remodeled headquarters building April 9.

The building was dedicated in honor of Maj. Gen. Clayton Stiles, the World War II commander of the 314th Troop Carrier Group, from which the 314th Airlift Wing traces its heritage. General Stiles assumed command of the 314th TCG on April 9, 1943.

In World War II, then-Colonel Stiles flew the lead plane during every major campaign from Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily, in 1943, to Operation Varsity, the allied assault across the Rhine River, in 1945. In the D-Day assault, then-Colonel Stiles made a critical decision to go under, rather than through the wall of clouds that separated and disoriented so many Troop Carrier units. That decision kept his formation together, and resulted in an accurate drop for the 82nd Airborne troops entrusted to his group - the best drop of any American paratroops.

Under General Stiles' leadership, the 314th TCG transferred from a stateside training mission to an active wartime mission overseas, was stationed in six different locations, participated in seven major campaigns, and received two Distinguished Unit Citations. General Stiles set a precedent of courageous performance under fire that is still admired and recounted by the 314th Airlift Wing today.

"Today, the 314th Airlift Wing remains the foundation of America's combat airlift capability," said Col. C.K. Hyde, 314th AW commander. "We impart the skills and ethos that have been the trademark of combat airlifters throughout history, and that our commitment that there is no soldier, sailor, Airman or Marine who is ever alone while we are on duty, starts with the 314th and the example of Colonel Stiles in the perilous, uncertain years of World war II.

General Stiles' son, retired Army Colonel Howard Stiles, presented Colonel Hyde with some mementos from his father's career for the wing's history room. He gave the 314th AW his father's aviation cadet ring, his two-star flag and a number of photos, military orders and personal letters.

"My dad would be very proud today to be remembered and honored by the 314th, I thank you and my family thanks you," Howard Stiles said.

The Stiles Building is located at the corner of Chief Williams Drive and Cannon Drive on base and houses the 314th Airlift Wing command staff and 314th Operations Group command staff. The $1.6 million revamp project included new indoor walls, paint, carpet, windows and roofing.