From 2001 to 2014, coalition personnel and aircraft from 10 countries operated out of the Transit Center at Manas to support operations in Afghanistan, including the United States, Australia, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and South Korea. At the height of operations, approximately 1,500 U.S. military personnel were assigned to the wing, along with approximately 900 U.S. and host-nation contractor personnel that provided daily support to various base missions. Aircraft assigned to the Transit Center included the KC-135 Stratotanker and C-17 Globemaster III.

During its 12-and-a-half years as a key regional transportation hub, the Transit Center served as a thoroughfare for 5.3 million coalition personnel, which accounts for approximately 98 percent of all coalition forces who moved into and out of Afghanistan during this period.

At the same time, more than 33,000 air refueling missions were flown from the Transit Center, providing 1.8 million pounds of fuel to 136,000 coalition aircraft. This translates into 625,000 gallons of fuel - equivalent to 9,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Airmen assigned to the Transit Center loaded and flew 42,000 airlift missions, hauling 1.4 billion pounds of cargo - roughly the weight of 3,500 C-17 Globemaster aircraft.

In addition to its role supporting military operations in Afghanistan, the Transit Center had important impacts within the Kyrgyz Republic. Airmen at Manas conducted 37 humanitarian-assistance missions for a period of almost four years, as well as another 188 social-cultural events such as rebuilding parks and renovating local schools. In all $4.7 million were invested to help communities throughout the region, aiding more than 7,000 people.

Additionally, military personnel at the Transit Center participated in 110 military-to-military exchanges where U.S. and Kyrgyz forces conducted training exercises to build cohesion.

The total local economic impact of the Transit Center in the Kyrgyz Republic since 2001 totals an estimated $809 million.

Past Aircraft:
Australian B-707 air-to-air refueling aircraft
Danish F-16 Ground Attack aircraft
Dutch F-16 Ground Attack aircraft and KDC-10 air-to-air refueling aircraft
French C-135FR air-to-air refueling aircraft and Mirage 2000D attack aircraft
Norwegian C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft and F-16 ground attack aircraft
Spanish C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft
U.S. Marine Corps F-18 Hornets; U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle


History of the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing

The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing was designated to stand up and sustain operations at the Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic, on Dec. 21, 2001. The unit traces its roots to the 376th Bombardment Group, which led bombing raids against Nazi Germany in 1942. After several years and many transitions, the group grew into a wing that began its most sustained period of continuous existence when it was reactivated at Kadena Air Base, Japan, as the 376th Strategic Wing on Jan. 23, 1970.

The 376th Strategic Wing maintained an overseas presence in the Pacific for two decades, supporting bombing operations during the Vietnam conflict and again during Operation DESERT STORM before its third deactivation on Oct. 1, 1991--the unit's last appearance before the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

Updated July 2014