| 85th Military Airlift Squadron | |
|---|---|
 Emblem of the 85th Military Airlift Squadron | |
| Active | 1952-1967 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Airlift |
A Douglas C-124C Globemaster II 53-035 in MATS liverly
Emblem of the 85th Air Transport Squadron
The 85th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 60th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 8 July 1967.
History[]
Established in 1952 and assuming the assets of the provisional Military Air Transport Service 1287th ATS, it was initially equipped with C-54s flying the transport route to Alaska. Re-equipped with C-124 Globemaster II intercontinental strategic transports in 1953, the squadron's primary mission was the routing and scheduling of flights throughout the Pacific Ocean region and in support of allied forces in the Korean War. During the 1950s it flew routine flights to Japan, Hawaii, Alaska and other points in Asia, including transport flights to Indochina and Karachi in Pakistan.
During the 1960s, resources were almost solely devoted to the transport of equipment and personnel to South Vietnam. It was inactivated in 1967 with the phaseout of the C-124.
Lineage[]
- Established as the 85th Air Transport Squadron, on 1 July 1952
- Organized on 20 July 1952, assuming personnel and equipment of 1287th Air Transport Squadron
- Redesignated the 85th Military Airlift Squadron: 8 January 1966
- Inactivated on 8 July 1967
Assignments[]
- 1701st Air Transport Wing, 20 July 1952
- 1501st Air Transport Wing, 20 Nov 1953
- 60th Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1966 – 8 July 1967
Stations[]
- Great Falls AFB, Montana, 20 July 1952
- Travis AFB, California, 20 Nov 1953 – 8 July 1967
Aircraft[]
- C-54 Skymaster, 1952-1953
- C-124 Globemaster II, 1953-1967
References[]
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
The original article can be found at 85th Military Airlift Squadron and the edit history here.