1st Airlift Squadron

1st Airlift Squadron
1st Airlift Squadron
Active	1944–1948; 1953–1971; 1977–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Air Mobility Command
Garrison/HQ	Andrews Air Force Base
Nickname(s)	SAM Fox
Engagements	China-Burma-India Theater
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation ; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award ; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
1st Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 16 May 1983)
Patch with 1st Air Transport Squadron emblem (approved 17 January 1956)
1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile) emblem (unofficial, World War II)

Last updated October 27, 2022

The 1st Airlift Squadron is part of the 89th Airlift Wing, 89th Operations Group, at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It conducts transport of various high-level U.S. military and government officials.

Mission

Provides global Special Air Mission (SAM) airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the President, Vice President, Combat Commanders, senior leaders and the global mobility system as tasked by the White House, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Air Mobility Command.

History

World War II

Established under Air Transport Command in 1944 to provide aerial transportation in China-Burma-India Theater from May 1944–May 1945 and in Western Pacific from c. September–December 1945. The unit was equipped first with the Curtiss C-46 Commando, and then converted to the Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express in 1944.

Heavy airlift operations

Re-established under Military Air Transport Service in November 1953, providing airlift of personnel and equipment initially flying Douglas C-54 Skymasters. Converted to long range Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs and provided long range heavy strategic transport on a global scale. In 1960 converted to the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and provided very heavy strategic airlift until the end of the C-133's service in 1971.

Special air missions

Reactivated in 1977 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland and assigned to the Special Air Mission supporting transportation for the President and other high-ranking dignitaries of US and foreign governments, and Beechcraft C-12 Huron training for personnel from all branches of the military in 1977. At Andrews, has operated a variety of aircraft including the McDonnell Douglas VC-9 Skytrain II, C-12, Boeing VC-135 Stratolifter, Lockheed VC-140 JetStar, Boeing VC-137 and Gulfstream C-20. These aircraft were used to transport VIPs throughout the United States and around the world.

It also transported personnel to Southwest Asia from August 1990–April 1991 during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

Lineage

Constituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile) on 13 March 1944

Activated on 23 March 1944

Inactivated on 25 March 1946

Disbanded on 8 October 1948

Reconstituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron, Medium on 1 September 1953

Activated on 18 November 1953

Redesignated 1st Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 8 September 1954

Redesignated 1st Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966

Inactivated on 30 June 1971

Activated on 12 September 1977

Redesignated 1st Airlift Squadron on 12 July 1991^[1]

Assignments

Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command, 23 March 1944
India-China Wing, Air Transport Command (later India-China Division, Air Transport Command), c. 2 May 1944 (attached to XX Bomber Command after 17 May 1944
XX Bomber Command, 21 November 1944 (attached to 22d Air Depot Group, November - December 1944)
United States Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (later US Army Strategic Air Forces), c. 20 June 1945
Eighth Air Force, 31 July 1945
Okinawa Air Depot, 10 September 1945
Far East Air Service Command, 9 January 1946
IV Air Service Area Command, 15 January - 25 March 1946
1607th Air Base Group, 18 November 1953
1607th Air Transport Group, 1 January 1954
1607th Air Transport Wing, 18 January 1963
436th Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1966 - 30 June 1971
89th Military Airlift Wing (later 89 Military Airlift Group, 89 Military Airlift Wing), 12 September 1977
89th Operations Group, 12 July 1991 – present^[1]

Stations

Homestead Army Air Field, Florida, 23 March - 21 April 1944
Kalaikunda Airfield, India, 3 May 1944

Air echelon operated from Kharagpur Airfield, India, 7 May - 4 August 1945

Naha Air Base, Okinawa, 20 June 1945 - 25 March 1946
Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 18 November 1953 - 30 June 1971
Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 12 Sept 1977–Present^[1]

Aircraft

Curtiss C-46 Commando (1944–1946)
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express (1944)
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1945)
Douglas C-54 Skymaster (1953–1955)
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II (1954–1960)
Douglas C-133 Cargomaster (1960–1971)
Beechcraft VC–6 King Air (1977–1985)
McDonnell Douglas VC-9 Skytrain II (1977–1988)
Beechcraft C-12 Huron (1977 – 1994)
Boeing VC-135 Stratolifter (1977–1991)
Lockheed VC-140 JetStar (1977–1987)
Gulfstream C-20 (1983–1988)
Boeing VC-137 (1990–2001)
Boeing C-32 (1998–present)
Boeing C-40 Clipper (Dec 2002–present)^[1]
C-37A (present)

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 Kane, Robert B. (22 April 2015). "Factsheet 1 Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.

Attribution

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links

Remembering an Unsung Giant The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and Its People

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Andrews Air Force Base is the airfield portion of Joint Base Andrews, which is under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force. In 2009, Andrews Air Force Base merged with Naval Air Facility Washington to form Joint Base Andrews. Andrews, located near Morningside, Maryland in suburban Washington, D.C., is the home base of two Boeing VC-25A aircraft with the call sign Air Force One when the president is on board, that serve the President of the United States, and the President is typically flown in and out of Andrews when travelling from Washington, D.C. by plane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas C-133 Cargomaster</span> US heavy lift four engine turboprop military aircraft, 1956

The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster is an American large turboprop cargo aircraft built between 1956 and 1961 by the Douglas Aircraft Company for use with the United States Air Force. The C-133 was the USAF's only production turboprop-powered strategic airlifter, entering service shortly after the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, which is designated a tactical airlifter. It provided airlift services in a wide range of applications, being replaced by the C-5 Galaxy in the early 1970s.

The 89th Airlift Wing of the United States Air Force is based at Joint Base Andrews and has an operational force of over 1,000 personnel. The 89th provides global Special Air Mission (SAM) airlift, logistics, aerial port and communications for the president, vice president, combatant commanders, senior leaders and the global mobility system as tasked by the White House, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Air Mobility Command.

The 1254th Air Transport Wing was a United States Air Force unit, existing between 1948 and 1966. It was last stationed at Andrews AFB, Maryland.

The 436th Airlift Wing is an active United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to Air Mobility Command's Eighteenth Air Force, and is based at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">76th Airlift Division</span> Military unit

The 76 Airlift Division was a division of the United States Air Force, activated on 1 March 1976, inactivated on 30 September 1977, reactivated on 15 December 1980, and then inactivated again on 1 October 1985. Its principal components were the 89th Military Airlift Wing and the 1776th Air Base Wing.

The 65th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-37 aircraft providing executive airlift in the Pacific theater.

The 517th Airlift Squadron is an active unit of the United States Air Force, Pacific Air Forces 3d Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Alaska. It operates Beechcraft C-12 Huron and Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlift in the Pacific theater.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">99th Airlift Squadron</span> Part of US Air Force 89th Airlift Wing operating executive transport

The 99th Airlift Squadron is part of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. The 99th AS directly supports the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, Congress, and other U.S. and foreign dignitaries. The squadron flies specially configured C-37 Gulfstream V aircraft on Special Air Missions directed by Headquarters United States Air Force.

The 731st Airlift Squadron is a flying unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command and part of the 302d Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operates Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft providing global airlift. The squadron also has the specialized mission of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System.

The 201st Airlift Squadron flies Boeing C-40 Clipper. It is a unit of the District of Columbia Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 113th Wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">47th Airlift Flight</span> Military unit

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The United States Air Force Special Air Mission provides air transportation for the president of the United States (POTUS), vice president of the United States (VPOTUS), first lady of the United States (FLOTUS), presidential Cabinet, U.S. congressional delegations (CODELs), and other high-ranking American and foreign dignitaries.

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[1ASfacts-1] 1 2 3 4 5 Kane, Robert B. (22 April 2015). "Factsheet 1 Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 8 May 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.

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