86th Military Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 86th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 60th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
, stationed at Travis Air Force Base
, California. It was inactivated on 1 November 1991.
in West Germany
, 1952. Provided air transport between USAF bases in USAFE, 1952-194. Reassigned to Charleston AFB, South Carolina
in 1955, provided air transport between bases within the east and southeast United States. Inactivated in 1955.
Reactivated as a C-124 strategic airlift squadron at Travis AFB, California
. Flew very long distance flights from Travis to Hawaii
, Guam
, Japan and the Philippines. Upgraded to C-141 Starlifter
jet transports in 1967 and commonly flew cargo and personnel to and from Travis to aerial ports in South Vietnam
during Vietnam War
.
After US withdrawal from Indochina in 1975, flew C-141s on a worldwide basis. Inactivated in 1978 during post-Vietnam USAF drawdown, however reactivated in 1979 continuing C-141 airlift missions. In late 1993 the unit was redesignated the 20th Airlift Squadron (formerly assigned to Charleston AFB, SC). The Air Force retired its last Starlifters from this squadron in 1998 after the end of the Cold War
.
Note: an 86th Air Transport Squadron (Air Transport Command) was activated on 15 April 1943 in England, however it's linage, assignments, stations or history are presently undetermined.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last was assigned to the 60th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, stationed at Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base
Travis Air Force Base is a United States Air Force air base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command , located three miles east of the central business district of Fairfield, in Solano County, California, United States. The base is named for Brigadier General Robert F...
, California. It was inactivated on 1 November 1991.
History
Activated my Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
in West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, 1952. Provided air transport between USAF bases in USAFE, 1952-194. Reassigned to Charleston AFB, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
in 1955, provided air transport between bases within the east and southeast United States. Inactivated in 1955.
Reactivated as a C-124 strategic airlift squadron at Travis AFB, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Flew very long distance flights from Travis to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
, Guam
Guam
Guam is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States located in the western Pacific Ocean. It is one of five U.S. territories with an established civilian government. Guam is listed as one of 16 Non-Self-Governing Territories by the Special Committee on Decolonization of the United...
, Japan and the Philippines. Upgraded to C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
jet transports in 1967 and commonly flew cargo and personnel to and from Travis to aerial ports in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
during Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
.
After US withdrawal from Indochina in 1975, flew C-141s on a worldwide basis. Inactivated in 1978 during post-Vietnam USAF drawdown, however reactivated in 1979 continuing C-141 airlift missions. In late 1993 the unit was redesignated the 20th Airlift Squadron (formerly assigned to Charleston AFB, SC). The Air Force retired its last Starlifters from this squadron in 1998 after the end of the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
Lineage
- Established as 86th Air Transport Squadron on 1 July 1952
- Activated on 20 July 1952
- Inactivated on 1 July 1955
- Redesignated: 86th Air Transport Squadron, (Heavy) and activated on 8 January 1963
- Redesignated: 86th Military Airlift Squadron, (Heavy) on 8 January 1966
- Inactivated on 6 March 1978
- Redesignated: 86th Military Airlift Squadron and activated on 15 February 1979
- Inactivated on 1 November 1993
Note: an 86th Air Transport Squadron (Air Transport Command) was activated on 15 April 1943 in England, however it's linage, assignments, stations or history are presently undetermined.
Assignments
- 1602d Air Transport Wing, 20 Jul 1952-19 May 1954
- 1608th Air Transport Wing1608th Air Transport WingThe 1608th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina...
, 20 May 1954-1 Jul 1955 - 1501st Air Transport Wing1501st Air Transport WingThe 1501st Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit, being inactivated on 8 January 1966.The 1501st ATW was a heavy cargo transport wing of the Military Air Transport Service , formed on 1 June 1948...
, 8 Jan 1963-8 Jan 1966 - 60th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan 1966–6 Mar 1978; 15 Feb 1979 – 1 Nov 1993
Stations
- Rhein-Main AB, West Germany, 20 Jul 1952-19 May 1954
- Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 20 May 1954-1 Jul 1955
- Travis AFB, California, 8 Jan 1963-6 Mar 1978; 15 Feb 1979–1 Nov 1993
Aircraft
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1952–1955 - C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
, 1963–1967 - C-141 StarlifterC-141 StarlifterThe Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
, 1967–1978, 1979–1993