▁M AT S ▁replaced ▁Air ▁Transport ▁Command ▁and ▁Naval ▁Air ▁Transport ▁Service ▁and ▁re organ ized ▁its ▁units ▁under ▁the ▁wing ▁base ▁organization . ▁ ▁The ▁wing ▁trained ▁M AT S ▁air cre ws , ▁most ▁not ably ▁for ▁the ▁Berlin ▁Airl ift . ▁ ▁M AT S ▁training ▁operations ▁moved ▁to ▁Pal m ▁Beach ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 5 0 s ▁and ▁the ▁wing ▁was ▁dis cont in ued ▁when ▁Great ▁F alls ▁was ▁turned ▁over ▁to ▁M AT S ' ▁Air ▁Res upp ly ▁and ▁Communic ations ▁Service . ▁ ▁History ▁The ▁ 5 1 7 th ▁Air ▁Transport ▁Wing ▁was ▁organized ▁at ▁Great ▁F alls ▁Air ▁Force ▁Base ▁in ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 8 , ▁when ▁Military ▁Air ▁Transport ▁Service ▁( M AT S ) ▁replaced ▁Air ▁Transport ▁Command ▁( AT C ) ▁and ▁Naval ▁Air ▁Transport ▁Service ▁and ▁re organ ized ▁its ▁Air ▁Force ▁elements ▁under ▁the ▁wing - base ▁organization ▁system . ▁ ▁The ▁new ▁wing ▁assumed ▁the ▁personnel ▁and ▁equipment ▁of ▁the ▁ 1 4 5 5 th ▁AF ▁Base ▁Unit ▁( A ir ▁Transport ) ▁of ▁A TC ▁and ▁continued ▁its ▁mission ▁of ▁training ▁air cre ws ▁for ▁air l ift ▁units . ▁ ▁On ▁ 2 5 ▁June ▁ 1 9 4 8 ▁Operation ▁Vitt les , ▁the ▁strateg ic ▁air l ift ▁of ▁supplies ▁to ▁Berlin ' s ▁ 2 , 0 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁inhabitants , ▁was ▁initi ated . ▁The ▁ 5 1