535th Airlift Squadron

535th Airlift Squadron

535th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III at Hickam AFB
Active 1943–1944; 1949–1951; 1952–1953; 1967–1972; 2005–Present
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Role Airlift
Part of Pacific Air Forces
15th Wing
15th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Nickname(s) The Tiger Line (Viet Nam era)
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current
commander		 Lt Col Gregg S. Johnson[1]
Insignia
535th Airlift Squadron Emblem (approved 6 April 2007)[2]
Viet Nam squadron tail code KH

The 535th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlift in the Pacific theater.

The squadron was first established during World War II as the 535th Fighter Squadron. It served as a Replacement Training Unit for Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilots until it was disbanded in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces in 1944 designed to streamline training organizations. In 1949, the squadron was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve and served as a corollary unit of the active duty 27th Fighter Group and later, as the 535th Fighter-Escort Squadron of the 12th Fighter-Escort Group until it was ordered to active service in 1951. Its personnel were used to man active duty units and the squadron was inactivated. The squadron was redesignated in 1952 as the 535th Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated at Atterbury Air Force Base to replace elements of the 923d Reserve Training Wing. The following year the squadron was inactivated and replaced at Atterbury by the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron.

The unit was activated again in Viet Nam as a C-7 Caribou squadron assigned to the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing and the squadron was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations for its actions during the war. The unit was designated the 535th Airlift Squadron and activated in its current role in 2005.

Mission

The 535th operates eight McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The squadron executes airlift and airdrop missions to support United States Pacific Command and United States Transportation Command. The 204th Airlift Squadron of the Hawaii Air National Guard is an associate unit of the 535th, flying the same planes.[3]

History

World War II

P-47 Thunderbolt as used by the 535th Fighter Squadron for training

The squadron was first established as the 535th Fighter Squadron and was activated in November 1943 at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia.[4] as one of the four original squadrons of the 87th Fighter Group.[5] The squadron began operations with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). RTUs were oversized units which trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters and assignment to an operational group.[6] In January 1944, group headquarters and the squadron moved to Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland[4][5] and the group's remaining squadrons transferred to Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey.[7]

However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.[8] while the groups and squadrons acting as RTUs were disbanded or inactivated.[9] This resulted in the squadron being disbanded in the spring of 1944[4] and being replaced by the 112th AAF Base Unit (Fighter), which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment.[10]

Air Force Reserves

F-84E Thunderjets of the 12th Fighter-Escort Group

The squadron was reactivated in 1949 in the Air Force Reserve at Bergstrom Air Force Base as a corollary unit to Strategic Air Command's 27th Fighter Group.[4][11] With no aircraft assigned, reservists of the unit flew the North American F-82 Twin Mustangs, and later, the Republic F-84 Thunderjets[2] of the 27th. When most of the 27th group deployed to Korea for the Korean War, the group became affiliated with the 12th Fighter-Escort Group. The group was called to active service in May 1951. After its personnel were used to man other units, the group was inactivated in June.[4]

Main article: 87th Air Base Wing

In 1952 the squadron was redesignated as the 535th Troop Carrier Squadron, became part of the newly constituted 87th Troop Carrier Wing under the wing base organization system, and was activated at Atterbury Air Force Base. The 87th wing replaced the 923d Reserve Training Wing at Atterbury when reserve flying operations resumed there.[12] The squadron operated Curtiss C-46 Commandos to train reservists. In February 1953 the 434th Troop Carrier Group was released from active duty and activated in the reserves, and its 71st Troop Carrier Squadron assumed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 535th.[13]

Vietnam War

DeHavilland C-7A of the 535th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Cam Rahn Bay in 1971
535th Tactical Airlift Squadron Emblem (approved 11 June 1968)[14]

The squadron was activated in 1967, and took over the DeHavilland Canada C-7A Caribou aircraft operated by the 57th Aviation Company (U.S. Army) and its tactical airlift mission in South Vietnam. It operated from several locations in addition to its primary base at Vung Tau Airfield. The 535th airlifted routine cargo and passengers, provided support for Army special forces and radio relay for ground units, airdropped troops and cargo, performed emergency resupply and medical evacuation, and flew other combat airlift missions. It earned a Navy Presidential Unit Citation, as well as an Air Force Presidential Unit Citation for airlift support of Khe Sanh and other forward bases from January to May 1968. It earned a second Air Force Presidential Unit Citation for action between April and June 1970 when it participated in the aerial resupply of Dak Seang Special Forces Camp, evacuation of over 2000 refugees from Cambodia, and transportation of the Presidential Southeast Asia Investigation Team to various remote locations in South Vietnam. The squadron flew its last combat mission the day it was inactivated.[2]

Modern era

The squadron was reactivated in 2005 as the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base to provide strategic and tactical airlift in the Pacific.[2] It became the first unit located outside the Continental United States to fly the C-17 conducting strategic and tactical airlift. It conducts night vision goggle, low-level, air refueling and austere-airfield operations from within the world's largest area of responsibility. The squadron has provided support for and operated in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn. Additionally, the squadron has provided emergency humanitarian relief to Haiti, Pakistan, Samoa, Kwajalein, Indonesia[14] and Japan.

Lineage

Activated on 1 November 1943
Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949
Ordered into active service on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 25 June 1951
Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952
Inactivated on 1 February 1953
Organized on 1 January 1967
Inactivated on 24 January 1972
Activated on 18 April 2005[15]

Commanders

Capt George G. Dewey, 6 Oct 1943; Maj George V. Williams, 3–10 Apr 1944; Lt Col Leo J. Ehmann, 1 Jan 1967; Lt Col Edwin B. Owens, 4 Jan 1967; Lt Col Joseph Faulkner, 15 Dec 1967; Lt Col Harry F. Hunter, 21 Jun 1968; Lt Col Richard D. Kimball, 12 Apr 1969; Lt Col Clem B. Myers, 1 Nov 1969; Lt Col John J. Hanley, 13 Nov 1969; Lt Col John D. Pennekamp, 18 Jul 1970; Lt Col Thomas D. Moyle, 3 Oct 1970; Lt Col Rupert S. Richardson, 31 Dec 1970; Lt Col Dean S. Downing, 12 Sep 1971; Lt Col James S. Knox, 8 Dec 1971-24 Jan 1972; Lt Col Chris Davis 2005–2006; Lt Col Scott Shapiro 2006–2008; Lt Col Casey Eaton 2008–2009; Lt Col Andy Leshikar 2009–2011; Lt Col Pat Winstead 2011–2013; Lt Col Gregg Johnson 2013–2015; Lt Col Scott Raleigh 2015–Present[15][16]

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Award streamer Award Dates Notes
Presidential Unit Citation21 January 1968 – 12 May 1968535th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Viet Nam[2]
Presidential Unit Citation1 April 1970 – 30 June 1970535th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Viet Nam[2]
Navy Presidential Unit Citation20 January 1968 – 31 March 1968535th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Viet Nam[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device1 January 1967 – 30 April 1967535th Troop Carrier Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device1 May 1967 – 30 April 1968535th Troop Carrier Squadron (later Tactical Airlift Squadron)[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device1 July 1970 – 31 December 1971535th Tactical Airlift Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 November 2006 – 31 October 2007535th Airlift Squadron[17]
Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm1 January 1967 – 24 January 1972535th Troop Carrier Squadron (later Tactical Airlift Squadron)[2]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Vietnam Air Offensive1 January 1967 – 8 March 1967535th Troop Carrier Squadron[2]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968535th Troop Carrier Squadron (later Tactical Airlift Squadron)[2]
Vietnam Air/Ground22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Tet 1969/Counteroffensive23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Vietnam Summer-Fall 19699 June 1969 – 31 October 1969535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Vietnam Winter-Spring 19703 November 1969 – 30 April 1970535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Sanctuary Counteroffensive1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Southwest Monsoon1 July 1970 – 30 November 1970535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Commando Hunt V1 December 1970 – 14 May 1971535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Commando Hunt VI15 May 1971 – 31 July 1971535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]
Commando Hunt VII1 November 1971 – 29 March 1972535th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[2]

References

Notes

  1. ↑ 15th Wing Press Release 535th Airlift Squadron change of command 3/10/2013 Retrieved December 19, 2013
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Robertson, Patsy, AFHRA 535 Airlift Squadron Fact Sheet 12/19/2007
  3. ↑ Hawaii Air National Guard:Units Retrieved December 19, 2013
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 642–643
  5. 1 2 Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 153–154
  6. ↑ Craven, Wesley F & Cate, James L, ed. (1955). "Introduction". The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. p. xxxvi. LCCN 48-3657.
  7. ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 643–644
  8. ↑ Craven & Cate, The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2: The AAF p. 75
  9. ↑ Maurer, Combat Units, p. 7
  10. ↑ See Mueller, p. 8
  11. ↑ Mueller, pp. 29–34
  12. ↑ The 923d had been activated in 1951 when the reserve 434th Troop Carrier Wing was called to active duty for the Korean War.
  13. ↑ Ravenstein, p. 122
  14. 1 2 Hites, Jackie, 15th Wing 535th Airlift Squadron Fact Sheet Retrieved December 19, 2013
  15. 1 2 3 4 Lineage, including stations, assignments, aircraft, and commanders in AFHRA Factsheet, 535 Airlift Squadron
  16. ↑ Unknown 27 June 1949-25 June 1951 and 15 June 1952-1 February 1953
  17. ↑ Air Force Recognition Programs (Search December 19, 2013)

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Further reading

External links

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