290th

290th is an ordinal designation that is used in several military, civil, and sporting contexts. The most frequently encountered instance is the 290th Airlift Wing, a unit of the United States Air Force. The wing is stationed at a major airbase and operates large transport aircraft capable of moving troops, equipment, and humanitarian supplies over long distances. It was initially established during the Cold War to bolster strategic airlift capability and has since participated in numerous overseas deployments, disaster relief operations, and joint training exercises with allied forces. The wing reports to the Air Mobility Command and maintains an active role in both peacetime readiness and wartime logistics.

In addition to the airlift unit, the ordinal 290th also identifies other military formations such as the 290th Infantry Regiment of the National Guard, which has a history of active service in conflict zones and ceremonial duties during state events. The 290th (U.S. Navy) Surface Warfare Officer Training School is another example; the program focuses on developing command-level naval officers with expertise in surface combat operations.

Beyond the military, the number appears in civil infrastructure, most notably 290th Street in New York City, a thoroughfare that runs alongside artery 6 and serves several residential districts. The term also surfaces in sports, for instance, the 290th annual marathon held in a major metropolitan area that attracts thousands of runners from across the nation.

Because the descriptor “290th” can refer to multiple distinct entities, context is essential for accurate identification. In encyclopedic usage, it is generally accompanied by a qualifier, such as 290th Airlift Wing or 290th Street, to disambiguate among the various applications.