99th Airlift Squadron

99th Airlift Squadron
99th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	25 May 1943 - 27 March 1946 27 June 1949 - 14 March 1951 27 December 1965 - 12 September 1977 1 October 1988 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force 89th Airlift Wing 89th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Andrews Air Force Base
Motto	Sam Fox
Engagements	Operation Overlord Operation Dragoon Operation Market Garden Battle of Bastogne
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

C-37A Gulfstream V

99th Troop Carrier squadron C-47s in formation during Operation Varsity, March 1945

The 99th Airlift Squadron (99 AS) is part of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. It operates C-37 Gulfstream V and C-20 aircraft providing executive airlift.

Mission

The mission of the 99th Airlift Squadron is to "Provide unsurpassed safe, comfortable, and reliable DV airlift for our nation's leaders and foreign dignitaries; anytime, anywhere".

The squadron operates specially configured aircraft on Special Air Missions (SAM) directed by HQ USAF supporting the President, Vice President, and other US and foreign senior diplomats. Selectively manned aircrews are responsible for the detailed planning and execution of sensitive missions of national and international consequence. The crew establishes direct coordination with numerous agencies to include Headquarters United States Air Force, embassies, and Congressional offices. Crews conduct these global missions isolated from normal supply and command and control structures. The aircrews accomplish Special Air Missions (SAM) into unfamiliar airfields, in all weather conditions, with 99.5% reliability and often while the world is literally watching. The crews obtain diplomatic clearances and coordinate all en route support requirements essential to mission accomplishment.

Typical missions include supporting Congressional delegations sent to monitor election results in Haiti, shuttle diplomacy missions in the Balkans, missions flown in support of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, and the V-E and V-J Day celebrations. The 99th Airlift Squadron routinely conducts First Lady and Air Force Two missions and provides aircrew members to augment Air Force One missions.

History

Activated in August 1943 at Sedalia AAF, Missouri as an I Troop Carrier Command C-47 Squadron. After training in Missouri and later North Carolina, was sent to Baer Field, Indiana for final equipping with aircraft, personnel and other equipment. Deployed to Ninth Air Force in England, assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in March 1944 during the build-up prior to the Invasion of France.

The squadron participated in the D-Day operation, dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg, then carried out re-supply and glider delivery missions the following day.

The squadron's aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to England. On 17 July the air echelon flew to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to England on 24 August.

Squadron moved to France in September 1944 and for the balance of the Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany was engaged in combat resupply of ground forces, operating from Advanced Landing Grounds in northern France. Delivered supplies to rough Resupply and Evacuation airfields near the front lines, returning combat casualties to field hospitals in rear areas.

Demobilized in Germany after the end of the European War, was inactivated at Bolling Field, DC in early 1946 as an administrative organization.

Reactivated as a C-46 Commando reserve transport squadron in 1949, activated as part of the Korean War mobilization in 1951. Unit personnel and aircraft were assigned as fillers to active-duty units and the squadron was quickly inactivated afterwards.

Reactivated by the new Military Airlift Command in 1966, replacing the inactivating Military Air Transport Service 1299th Air Transport Squadron. Provided Special Air Mission VIP transport for national leadership, including Presidential transport and foreign dignitaries as required on a worldwide basis.

Operations and Decorations

Combat Operations. During World War II, participated in the airborne assaults on Normandy, Southern France, the Netherlands, and Germany; the relief of Bastogne; and the aerial transportation of troops and supplies in the European and Mediterranean Theaters of Operation. From 1966 to 1977 and since 1988, participated in training exercises and humanitarian airlift missions at home and abroad and provided airlift support for the President and other high-ranking dignitaries of the US and foreign governments. Transported personnel and supplies to and from Southwest Asia, 1990-1991.

Campaigns. World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1966-30 Jun 1968; 1 Jul 1968-30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1970-30 Jun 1972; 1 Jul 1972-30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1974-31 Dec 1975; 1 Jan 1976-31 Jan 1977; [1 Oct 1988]-30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989-30 Jun 1991; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1992; 1 Jul 1992-30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jul 1998-30 Jun 2000; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2002; 1 Jul 2002-30 Jun 2004; 1 Jul 2004-30 Jun 2005; 1 Jul 2005-30 Jun 2006; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008; 1 Jul 2008-30 Jun 2009.

Lineage

Constituted as 99th Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943

Activated on 1 Aug 1943

Inactivated on 27 Mar 1946

Re-designated as 99th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 10 May 1949

Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949

Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951

Inactivated on 14 Mar 1951

Re-designated as 99th Military Airlift Squadron, Special Mission, and activated on 27 Dec 1965

Organized on 8 Jan 1966, assuming personnel and equipment of 1299th Air Transport Squadron (Inactivated)

Inactivated on 12 Sep 1977

Re-designated as 99th Military Airlift Squadron on 13 Sep 1988

Activated on 1 Oct 1988

Re-designated as 99th Airlift Squadron on 12 Jul 1991.

Assignments

441st Troop Carrier Group, 1 Aug 1943
27th Air Transport Group, 27 Aug 1945
United States Air Forces in Europe, 25 Sep 1945
Continental Air Forces (later, Strategic Air Command), 15 Feb-27 Mar 1946
441st Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951
Military Air Transport Service, 27 Dec 1965
89th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan 1966-12 Sep 1977
89th Military Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1988
89th Operations Group, 12 Jul 1991–Present

Stations

Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, 1 Aug 1943
Camp Mackall North Carolina, 18 Jan 1944
Baer Field, Indiana, 22 Feb-2 Mar 1944
RAF Langar (AAF-490), England, 17 Mar 1944
RAF Merryfield (AAF-464), England, 25 Apr 1944

Portion of air echelon operated from Grosseto Airfield, Italy, 18 Jul-24 Aug 1944

Villeneuve-Vertus Airfield (A-63), France, 8 Sep 1944

Operated from RAF Langar (AAF-490), England, 11-24 Sep 1944

Saint Marceau Airfield (A-43), France, 1 Oct 1944

Dreux/Vernouillet Airfield (A-41), France, 4 Nov 1944

Operated from Chartres Airfield (A-40), France, 14-24 Mar 1945

Operated from Toul-Croix De Metz Airfield (A-90), France, 29 Apr-16 May 1945

Villacoublay Airfield (A-42), France, c. 2 Sep 1945
AAF Station Wiesbaden, Germany, c. 1 Oct 1945-15 Feb 1946
Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb-27 Mar 1946
Chicago-Orchard (later, O'Hare International) Airport, Illinois, 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951
Andrews AFB, Maryland, 8 Jan 1966-12 Sep 1977; 1 Oct 1988–Present

Aircraft

C-47 Skytrain (1943–1945)
CG-4 Waco (1943–1945)
C-109 Liberator Express (1945–1946)
C-46 Commando (1945, 1949–1951)
C-53 Skytrooper (1945–1946)
AT-6 Harvard II (1945–1946)
B-25 Mitchell (1945–1946)
B-29 Superfortress (1945–1946)
C-45 Expeditor (1945–1946)

C-61 Argus (1945–1946)
C-78 (1945–1946)
L-1 Vigilant (1945–1946)
L-4 Grasshopper (1945–1946)
L-5 Sentinel (1945–1946)
P-47 Thunderbolt (1945–1946)
P-51 Mustang (1945–1946)
C-140 (1966–1971)

VC-140 (1966–1977)
U-4 (1966–1969)
C-12 (1966–1977)
VC-131 (1968–1975)
VC-9 (1988–2005)
C-20B (1988 – Present)
C-37A (1994 – Present)
C-37B (2009 – Present)

References

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

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Official USAF 99th Airlift Squadron History

External links

United States Air Force

Leadership

Structure

Commands	Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations

Direct Reporting Units	District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy

Major Commands	Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe & Africa Pacific

Numbered Air Forces	First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth Twenty-Fifth

Wings (ANG) Groups (ANG) Squadrons (ANG) Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
training

Uniforms and
equipment

History and
traditions

Category
Portal

Air Mobility Command (AMC)

Numbered Air Forces

Eighteenth Air Force

Command
Organizations

Bases

Groups

Wings

Air Base	87th 628th 319th

Air Mobility	6th 60th 305th 375th

Air Refueling (Tanker)	22d 92d

Airlift	19th 62d 89th 436th 437th

Air Mobility Operations	515th 521st

Contingency Response	621st

USAAF Ninth Air Force in World War II

Stations

Palestine (Mand)	Lydda Muqueibile Ramat David St Jean

Egypt	Abu Sueir Ismailia El Amiriya Daba Deversoir Fayid Kabrit * Landing Ground 174 Payne Sidi Haneish

Libya	Baheira Belandah Benina Castel Benito Berca Darragh El Adem El Assa Gambut Hamraiet Lete Martuba Tmed El Chel Tobruk Tripoli Sidi Azeiz

Tunisia	Ben Gardane Bou Grara Chekira Hani Hazbub Hergla El Djem El Haouaria Kairouan Medenine Menzel Heurr Sfax Soltane

United Kingdom	Aldermaston Andover Andrews Field Ashford Balderton Barkston Heath Beaulieu Birch Bisterne Boreham Bottesford Boxted Charmy Down Chalgrove Chilbolton Chipping Ongar Christchurch Cottesmore Earls Colne Exeter Folkingham Fulbeck Gosfield Great Dunmow Greenham Common Grove High Halden Headcorn Holmsley South Hurn Ibsley Kingsnorth Langar Lashenden Little Walden Lymington Matching Membury Merryfield Middle Wallop North Witham Ramsbury Raydon Rivenhall Saltby Scorton Staplehurst Spanhoe Stansted Stoney Cross Thruxton Upottery Warmwell Welford Weston Zoyland Wethersfield Winkton Woodchurch Wormingford

Europe	Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany too numerous.

Units

Commands

Wings

Bombardment	97th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 99th Bombardment

Fighter	8th Fighter 9th Fighter 70th Fighter 71st Fighter 84th Fighter 100th Fighter 303d Fighter

Troop carrier	50th Troop Carrier 52d Troop Carrier 53d Troop Carrier

Groups

Bombardment	12th Bombardment 98th Bombardment 322d Bombardment 323d Bombardment 340th Bombardment 344th Bombardment 376th Bombardment 386th Bombardment 387th Bombardment 391st Bombardment 394th Bombardment 397th Bombardment 409th Bombardment 410th Bombardment 416th Bombardment

Fighter	36th Fighter 48th Fighter 50th Fighter 57th Fighter 79th Fighter 324th Fighter 354th Fighter 358th Fighter 365th Fighter 362d Fighter 363d Fighter 366th Fighter 367th Fighter 368th Fighter 370th Fighter 371st Fighter 373d Fighter 404th Fighter 405th Fighter 406th Fighter 474th Fighter

Troop carrier	61st Troop Carrier 64th Troop Carrier 313th Troop Carrier 314th Troop Carrier 315th Troop Carrier 316th Troop Carrier 349th Troop Carrier 434th Troop Carrier 435th Troop Carrier 436th Troop Carrier 437th Troop Carrier 438th Troop Carrier 439th Troop Carrier 440th Troop Carrier 441st Troop Carrier 442d Troop Carrier IX Troop Carrier Pathfinder (Provisional)

Reconnaissance	10th Reconnaissance 67th Reconnaissance 69th Reconnaissance

Squadrons

Liaison	14th Liaison 47th Liaison

Night fighter	422d Night Fighter 425th Night Fighter

United States Army Air Forces

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