Since the wing was established in 1947 it conducted troop carrier operations, tactical exercises, and humanitarian missions.
 The wing trained at McChord Air Force Base, Washington until late 1951 when it moved to Larson Air Force Base.
 From Larson the wing routinely performed troop carrier, air transport, and humanitarian missions on a global scale: fling mail to Japan for U.S. troops in Korea in 1952; bringing medical supplies to the flooded areas of Pakistan in 1954; and transporting French troops and equipment from France to Indochina as part of Operation Bali-Hai from April–May 1954.
 The wing airlifted radar equipment and supplies for the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line in northern Alaska and Canada from, 1955–1956, and thereafter periodically resupplied DEW stations.
 During the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958, and subsequently through 1962 the wing supported scientific stations in the Arctic Ocean by airlanding and airdropping supplies on the drifting ice.
 It helped transport United Nations troops and supplies to the Congo in 1960 ("Operation New Tape").
 In 1963 the wing assumed responsibility for worldwide airlift of nuclear weapons and associated equipment, continuing this mission through early 1971.
 It also assumed airlift of Minuteman missiles from depots to operating sites in April 1971.
 In 1972 it supported Presidential trips to China and the Soviet Union.
 From 12 February to 1 April 1973 the wing transported former prisoners of war from North Vietnam to the Philippines and the United States.
 That same year it transported United Nations troops from Indonesia to Israel and Egypt as part of a peacekeeping effort.

In the summer of 1975, the wing assumed control of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS) and their C-130E aircraft, which transferred from Langley AFB, Virginia following the transfer of all Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Military Airlift Command (MAC), and the disestablishment of the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing at Langley to make way for the arrival of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing (1 TFW) and their F-15A and F-15B aircraft.
From October 1975 to October 1977, the 62 MAW maintained a detachment of C-130Es in the Panama Canal Zone to support USAF needs in Central and South America.
 The 62nd airlifted troops and supplies during invasion of Grenada and airlifted university students to safety from, October–November 1983.
 During 1988 62 AW aircraft were used to transport inspectors to the Soviet Union under terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
 62 AW aircraft were also used that year to transport firefighters and supplies to Wyoming to fight major forest fires in Yellowstone National Park.
 It participated in the airdrop of heavy equipment and personnel during military action in Panama, 20 December 1989.
 During Operation Desert Shield the 62nd airlifted personnel and equipment to Southwest Asia and operated airlift control elements at Zaragoza, Spain, to direct cargo and personnel destined for Southwest Asia from, August 1990-March 1991.
Additionally, during 1991, 62 AW personnel and aircraft facilitated the evacuation of Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Station following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines.

In addition, some activities of the 62nd Military Airlift Wing did not take place at McChord AFB.
 For instance, one unit that belonged to the 62nd MAW—the 602 Military Airlift Support Squadron (MASS) -- was assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base during the rapid buildup of forces in Vietnam.
The 602 MASS supported the flights of C-141 and C-130 aircraft from bases in the continental USA along the great circle route to Japan and Southeast Asia (SEA) by providing refueling services and basic mechanical maintenance for aircraft while en route to and from SEA.
The 602 MASS was in operation at Elmendorf around the mid-1960s to about the end of America's involvement in Vietnam.
Since the wing was established in 1947 it conducted troop carrier operations, tactical exercises, and humanitarian missions.  The wing trained at McChord Air Force Base, Washington until late 1951 when it moved to Larson Air Force Base.  From Larson the wing routinely performed troop carrier, air transport, and humanitarian missions on a global scale: fling mail to Japan for U.S. troops in Korea in 1952; bringing medical supplies to the flooded areas of Pakistan in 1954; and transporting French troops and equipment from France to Indochina as part of Operation Bali-Hai from April–May 1954.  The wing airlifted radar equipment and supplies for the construction of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line in northern Alaska and Canada from, 1955–1956, and thereafter periodically resupplied DEW stations.  During the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958, and subsequently through 1962 the wing supported scientific stations in the Arctic Ocean by airlanding and airdropping supplies on the drifting ice.  It helped transport United Nations troops and supplies to the Congo in 1960 ("Operation New Tape").  In 1963 the wing assumed responsibility for worldwide airlift of nuclear weapons and associated equipment, continuing this mission through early 1971.  It also assumed airlift of Minuteman missiles from depots to operating sites in April 1971.  In 1972 it supported Presidential trips to China and the Soviet Union.  From 12 February to 1 April 1973 the wing transported former prisoners of war from North Vietnam to the Philippines and the United States.  That same year it transported United Nations troops from Indonesia to Israel and Egypt as part of a peacekeeping effort.
In the summer of 1975, the wing assumed control of the 36th Tactical Airlift Squadron (36 TAS) and their C-130E aircraft, which transferred from Langley AFB, Virginia following the transfer of all Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft from Tactical Air Command (TAC) to Military Airlift Command (MAC), and the disestablishment of the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing at Langley to make way for the arrival of the 1st Tactical Fighter Wing (1 TFW) and their F-15A and F-15B aircraft. From October 1975 to October 1977, the 62 MAW maintained a detachment of C-130Es in the Panama Canal Zone to support USAF needs in Central and South America.  The 62nd airlifted troops and supplies during invasion of Grenada and airlifted university students to safety from, October–November 1983.  During 1988 62 AW aircraft were used to transport inspectors to the Soviet Union under terms of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.  62 AW aircraft were also used that year to transport firefighters and supplies to Wyoming to fight major forest fires in Yellowstone National Park.  It participated in the airdrop of heavy equipment and personnel during military action in Panama, 20 December 1989.  During Operation Desert Shield the 62nd airlifted personnel and equipment to Southwest Asia and operated airlift control elements at Zaragoza, Spain, to direct cargo and personnel destined for Southwest Asia from, August 1990-March 1991. Additionally, during 1991, 62 AW personnel and aircraft facilitated the evacuation of Clark Air Base and Subic Bay Naval Station following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in the Philippines.
In addition, some activities of the 62nd Military Airlift Wing did not take place at McChord AFB.  For instance, one unit that belonged to the 62nd MAW—the 602 Military Airlift Support Squadron (MASS) -- was assigned to Elmendorf Air Force Base during the rapid buildup of forces in Vietnam. The 602 MASS supported the flights of C-141 and C-130 aircraft from bases in the continental USA along the great circle route to Japan and Southeast Asia (SEA) by providing refueling services and basic mechanical maintenance for aircraft while en route to and from SEA. The 602 MASS was in operation at Elmendorf around the mid-1960s to about the end of America's involvement in Vietnam.
62nd Airlift Wing