Misplaced Pages

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74-587: Founded in 1927, the airport is home to Richmor Aviation, Fortune Air, the 109th Airlift Wing (109 AW) of the New York Air National Guard , the Empire State Aerosciences Museum , and several private aircraft. Schenectady County Airport's military enclave is named Stratton Air National Guard Base. It has hosted the New York Air National Guard 109th Airlift Wing (in various designations) since 1949. The base

148-623: A C-124 air-dropped a seven-ton tractor to an isolated site, and during Deep Freeze 62 (October–December 1961), three C-124's made the longest flight in Antarctic history, a 3,100-mile round trip to airdrop supplies. Also during Deep Freeze 62, Lt. Gen. Joe W. Kelly became the first MATS commander to visit the operation. MATS vice commander, Maj. Gen. Raymond J. Reeves , visited Deep Freeze 63. MATS C-124 Globemasters and C-118 Liftmasters (and in November 1962, pure-jet C-135 Stratolifters ) by

222-521: A change in the group's training mission to include high-altitude interception, air-to-ground rocketry, ground strafing and tactical bombing. The 139th TFS retained their F-86H Sabres . With air transportation recognized as a critical need, the 109th was re-designated the 109th Air Transport Group (Heavy) on 2 January 1960 and was transferred from TAC to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). The 139th Air Transport Squadron

296-541: A disabled Russian vessel, allowing for a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 crew to later airdrop three parcels on an ice floe next to the ailing ship. Aircrews and maintainers from the 109th Airlift Wing took off on 18 October 2013 to begin the unit's annual support of the National Science Foundation in the Antarctic. Seven LC-130s were on the ice between October through February 2014. The wing has deployed 479 Air National Guardsmen to Antarctica since

370-541: A doctor with breast cancer symptoms and based at isolated Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica. The 109th Wing's high operational tempo increased dramatically with the surprise attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The 109th provided immediate support deploying 49 Civil Engineers, Services and Public Affairs personnel to Ground Zero within the first 24 hours. Since that time,

444-532: A mission. They seized upon testimony by former I Troop Carrier Command commander Major General Paul L. Williams that the Air Force should have a long-range troop deployment capability, and began advocating that ATC transports could be used to deploy troops. Williams had been pressing for the development of a long-range troop carrier airplane when he made his statement. The DOD believed it should have its own air transport service and decided that ATC should become

518-695: A result of the construction of the Berlin Wall and the ending of free crossing to and from their occupation zone of Berlin, more than 100 MATS =aircraft from EASTAF and WESTAF participated in deployments of American forces from the United States to West Germany and France. When the Reserve Forces were called to active duty in October 1961, MATS airlift force and technical units provided support for their movement to Europe. Operation Stair Step

592-521: A squadron of F-104 Starfighters to Taiwan . In December 1962, MATS Douglas C-124 Globemasters ended six years of seasonal flying as members of the Air Force-Navy team resupplying scientific stations in the Antarctic . During that time the aircraft, operated by the 63d Troop Carrier Wing stationed at Donaldson Air Force Base , South Carolina, air-dropped about 4,000 tons of supplies from

666-401: A taxiway, is 2,864 by 50 feet (873 x 15 m). For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2019, the airport had 48,996 aircraft operations, an average of 134 per day: 90% general aviation , 8% military , and 2% air taxi . At that time there were 81 aircraft based at this airport: 68 single- engine , 4 multi-engine, and 9 jet . 109th Airlift Wing The 109th Airlift Wing (109 AW)

740-449: A wartime necessity that was no longer needed, and expected its civilian personnel, including former airline pilots, to return to their peacetime occupations. Senior ATC officers, on the other hand, thought that ATC should be developed into a national government operated airline, an idea that was soundly opposed by the airline industry. While the war had firmly established the necessity of a troop carrier mission, most military officers believed

814-721: Is a unit of the New York Air National Guard , stationed at Stratton Air National Guard Base , Schenectady, New York. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . The wing's mission is to provide airlift support to the National Science Foundation 's South Pole research program by flying LC-130H Hercules airlifters, modified with wheel-ski gear, in support of Arctic and Antarctic operations. The 109th Airlift Wing

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888-693: Is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy 's Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) and the United States Air Force 's Air Transport Command (ATC) into a single joint command. It was inactivated and discontinued on 8 January 1966, superseded by the Air Force's Military Airlift Command (MAC) as a separate strategic airlift command, and it returned shore-based Navy cargo aircraft to Navy control as operational support airlift (OSA) aircraft. In 1966,

962-476: Is named after conservative Democratic US Representative Sam Stratton , who represented the Albany area. The wing is unique as it is the only USAF unit equipped with 10 ski-equipped LC-130 Hercules aircraft, and provides the nation's only air cargo lift capability to polar destinations. Since 1971, the 109th has played an important role in support of the National Science Foundation 's research expeditions at both

1036-472: Is the only unit in the world to fly these aircraft. Along with the NSF mission, the 109th Airlift Wing also supported Operation Enduring Freedom . In addition to its combat airlift mission, particularly when placed in a Federalized status, the wing also provides domestic-related functions commonly associated with Air National Guard units, such as disaster or hurricane relief. The 109th Airlift Wing consists of

1110-531: The Broome County Airport at Binghamton, 109th crews provided the lion's share of airlift into stricken areas, particularly Elmira, where surface transportation was cut off. On 1 December 1974, the unit was transferred back to Military Airlift Command when MAC took over the tactical airlift mission from TAC, USAFE and PACAF air force wide. The Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six had been flying scientific and military missions to Greenland and

1184-618: The Korean War and early years of the Cold War (1950–1956). MATS was established on 1 June 1948, less than a month before the commencement of the Berlin Airlift -- "OPERATION VITTLES" where at peak operations, planes were landing and departing every ninety seconds or so shuttling in thousands of tons of supplies, food, and fuel each day - but they were not MATS airplanes. The Soviet Union had blocked all surface transportation in

1258-598: The Military Air Transport Service (MATS), supported by the Air Force, even though not listed as a formal military mission. Also, as a cost-saving measure, MATS would combine the resources of Air Transport Command with those of the Naval Air Transport Service . This way the command would be sanctioned by the Department of Defense, and not by either the Air Force or the Navy. Although MATS was under

1332-570: The Ross Ice Shelf , Antarctica. Williams Field consists of two hard-packed snow runways located on approximately 8 meters (26 feet) of compacted snow, lying on top of 80 meters (260 feet) of ice, floating over 550 meters (1,800 feet) of water. Williams provides support to the United States McMurdo Station and New Zealand's Scott Base . During October 1999 the 109th AW aided in the rescue of Dr. Jerri Nielsen ,

1406-609: The World War II Air Transport Command (ATC) (1942–1948) and the Military Air Transport Service were consolidated with Military Airlift Command (MAC) (1966–1992). The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was activated under United States Air Force Major General Laurence S. Kuter , in order to harness interservice efforts more efficiently. It was an amalgamation of Navy and Army air transport commands, jointly placed by

1480-728: The 101st Airborne Division was airlifted from Fort Campbell, Kentucky to locations in Turkey. Approximately 2,000 personnel and 900 tons of equipment were airlifted (Exercise Checkmate II). During the exercise, about 300 MATS airmen and officers lived in tents for about three weeks handling maintenance and communications. Lt. Gen. Joe W. Kelly, MATS commander, was on hand to greet the first arriving aircraft, Despite "miserable" weather, no accidents or incidents occurred. Throughout 1962, tensions were high in Europe and in January, Exercise Long Thrust II

1554-583: The 109th AW will also support U.S. Antarctic research efforts by flying 1,100 researchers and support staff, and 43 tons of cargo, from McMurdo Station, Antarctica, to New Zealand. The 109th Airlift Wing provided transportation for US National Guard and Canadian Reserve troops in a joint tactical insertion exercise off the coast of Canada in 2023. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Military Air Transport Service The Military Air Transport Service ( MATS )

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1628-662: The Air Force and Navy triggered by the demands of the Vietnam War led to the services returning to separate airlift commands. In turn, MATS was disbanded and superseded in the Air Force by the Military Airlift Command , during a 1966 restructuring. With the end of World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command found itself in limbo. Senior USAAF authorities considered ATC to be

1702-548: The Air Force's needs. It returned again to New York State control on 31 August 1962. During the 1960s, the Group flew scheduled MATS transport missions to Europe, Africa the Caribbean and South America. On 8 January 1966, Military Air Transport Service became Military Airlift Command (MAC) and the units were re-designated as the 109th Military Airlift Group and 139th was re-designated as the 137th Military Airlift Squadron. With

1776-458: The Army's 4th Infantry Division in the deployment phase. The jets brought one battle group back. In West Germany, the troops participated in ground maneuvers with NATO forces. In the midst of one of the heaviest airlift schedules it has ever had (more than 17 airlifts under way or developing during October and November), MATS was called on to support the buildup of forces in the southeastern part of

1850-652: The C-130D aircraft were replaced by eight new C-130H models, of which four were ski equipped LC-130s. In 1988 the 109th had been notified that, almost overnight, one of the DEW Line radar sites that it supported in Greenland was going to be shut down. The other sites would soon follow and the 109th would be largely out of business because it main mission had ended. The last flight to radar site DYE-3 in December 1989 marked

1924-792: The Composite Air Strike Force (CASF) who flew across the Atlantic. The entire operation was accomplished in 2½ days, employing 234 missions. The C-135 Stratolifter jets made the 5,600-mile trip in 10½ hours nonstop, carrying 75 troops each. It took the C-124 Globemasters three times as long, with refueling stops in Bermuda and the Azores to carry 80 troops and cargo. Following the NATO ground manoeuvers in Europe,

1998-742: The Department of Defense under the control of the newly created United States Air Force (USAF) as a unified (joint) command. During the Second World War, the Army Air Force's aerial transportat arm was the Air Transport Command , which had a dual function of ferrying new aircraft from factories to combat theaters and transportation of troops and supplies, also organized by Tunner. The Naval Air Transport Service focused on supporting deployed Naval and Marine personnel transporting vital cargo, specialist personnel and mail to

2072-567: The Fleet and ground forces, especially in advanced areas of operation. MATS was the first Joint-Service command, and naval aircrews participated in every major MATS airlift operation. MATS would organizationally be under the Department of the Air Force, as the vast majority of its equipment and personnel of ATC had been inherited by the Air Force with the inactivation of the USAAF. During the Berlin Airlift , Naval aviators flew transport aircraft from

2146-518: The National Science Foundation. On 20 February 1998, responsibility for airlift support to the United States Antarctic Program (USAP) was passed over to the 109 AW from VXE-6 during a ceremony at Christchurch International Airport , Christchurch, New Zealand. With the assumption of the support mission from the Navy, the 109th established an operating location at Christchurch and a forward location at Williams Field , on

2220-645: The National Science Foundation. The wing expected to add approximately 235 full-time personnel to support that operation (which became Operation Deep Freeze ). The 109th assumed responsibility for the Volant Distant Early Warning Line (DEW Line) resupply missions as well to the DYE-1, 2, 3 and DYE-4 stations. The 109th assumed the mission from the Air Force's Alaskan Air Command receiving their eleven C-130s, five of which were ski-equipped for landings on packed snow runways. In October 1984,

2294-568: The Navy from MAC responsibilities became effective 1 July 1967. Most passenger transport missions except the Special Air Mission were contracted out by MAC to commercial airlines such as Pan American , TWA , United , Continental , Northwest and charter companies such as Flying Tiger , using the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF). This provided commercial airline pilots and aircrews valuable training, and during

Schenectady County Airport - Misplaced Pages Continue

2368-548: The North and South Poles. Annually, the base hosts the Civil Air Patrol's New York Wing Encampment, a one-week event that teaches and applies leadership skills. Schenectady County Airport covers an area of 680 acres (275 ha ) at an elevation of 378 feet (115 m) above mean sea level . It has two asphalt paved runways : 4/22 is 7,001 by 150 feet (2,134 x 46 m); 10/28 is 4,850 by 150 feet (1,478 x 46 m); 15/33, now

2442-798: The Pacific Coast, Naval Air Transport Wing, Pacific, consisted of Air Transport Squadron VR-7 and Maintenance Squadron VR-8, both at Naval Air Station Moffett Field , California. A detachment of VR-7 was also stationed at Tachikawa Air Base , Japan. Naval aviators flew scheduled MATS routes to Newfoundland , Iceland , Scotland , West Germany , Italy, Puerto Rico and Africa. In the Pacific, MATS naval aviators flew to all MATS stations from Hawaii to Japan to South Vietnam , Bangkok , India and to Saudi Arabia . Air Force pilots flew Navy MATS planes, just as naval aviators could be found piloting Air Force MATS transport aircraft. During World War II,

2516-525: The U.S. Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six ( VXE-6 ). The 109th continued to augment VXE-6's Antarctic flying operations for the next eight years. The 109th was not mobilized during the 1990 Gulf Crisis , however 109 AW members were called to duty in support of Operation Desert Shield / Operation Desert Storm . In March 1992, with the end of the Cold War , the 109th adopted the Air Force Objective Organization plan, and

2590-604: The U.S. Navy's air transport squadrons assigned to MATS. MATS itself was not "in charge" of the airlift, although several MATS staff officers were sent to Germany to serve in the Airlift Task Force in an administrative role. Lt. General William H. Tunner was placed in overall command of airlift operations, reporting to the commander of United States Air Forces, Europe. The airlift itself was a USAFE operation and all airplanes assigned to it were assigned to one of five troop carrier groups that were sent to Europe to operate

2664-741: The UN police force in the Suez area. In 1958, MATS airlifted 5,500 tons of cargo and 5,400 troops to the Middle East in support of the Lebanese government, also supporting the move of a TAC Composite Air Strike Force to the area. Also in 1958, MATS flew 144 airlift trips to the Far East when the crisis arose in the Formosa Straits , supporting the move of a Composite Air Strike Force, and airlifting

2738-902: The USAAF Air Transport Command provided worldwide transport service to every continent on the globe. Inheriting that legacy, MATS continued that service and organized it into three major transport divisions; When MATS was established, it also took responsibility for several other missions: The Special Air Mission was the transport of the President of the United States ; Vice-President ; Cabinet Members ; Member of Congress ; Senators , and designated other individuals, such as Foreign Heads of State . Provided rescue of downed military service members in enemy occupied areas; humanitarian relief to civilians in emergency conditions (floods, hurricanes, earthquakes) Weather forecasting for military airfields; hurricane hunters. Mapping

2812-467: The USAF component of USTRANSCOM. Note: 4-digit Military Air Transport Service units at all levels were considered Major Command (MAJCOM) provisional units by the USAF due to MATS being a Department of Defense Unified Command. Under the USAF lineage system they did not a permanent lineage or history and were discontinued upon inactivation. On 1 July 1957 a reorganization of USAF troop carrier forces included

2886-988: The United States built up its forces in Southeast Asia in the early 1960s, the number of MATS flights to the area increased. MATS C-124s and C-133 Cargomasters were common sights. After the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident , and the decision being made to escalate United States involvement in the Vietnam War, MATS performed a critical role in the air transport of personnel and equipment to the war zone. Throughout 1964 and 1965 MATS flew large numbers of United States Army and United States Marines to South Vietnam. Large MATS aerial ports were established at Da Nang , Cam Ranh Bay and Tan Son Nhut in South Vietnam, as well as at Don Muang Airport in Thailand to support

2960-535: The United States forces there. The first large-scale MATS jet transport flights of C-141A Starlifters were to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in 1965. During Vietnam, MATS was jokingly said to be an acronym for "Maybe Again, Tomorrow, Sometime." On 1 January 1966, as a result of the Navy announcing the withdrawal of its components, MATS was redesignated Military Airlift Command . The R5D Skymasters of Naval Transport Squadron Seven Alpha (VR-7A) were retired in July 1966 and

3034-515: The United States to European supply depots; in the Korean War , MATS Navy Squadrons airlifted some 17,000 battle casualties. In its original organization, a Rear Admiral commanded the MATS Pacific Division and another rear admiral served as MATS vice-commander. During the 1958 reorganization, senior Naval officers were on the staffs of the commanders of both EASTAF and WESTAF, and at MATS Headquarters. In 1965 conflicting views of

Schenectady County Airport - Misplaced Pages Continue

3108-470: The United States. On 16 October, MATS began working at its wartime activity rate. Between 16 October and the end of the month, MATS airlifted thousands of troops and thousands of tons in hundreds of sorties from bases throughout the country into Florida and Guantánamo Bay , Cuba . Included in this was the first major airlift of United States Marines and their combat gear by MATS. Also, during this buildup, MATS lost its first C-135 Stratolifter jet while it

3182-594: The airlift. MATS played a supporting role, including ferrying C-54s to and from the airlift bases and maintenance depots in the United States and the MATS C-54 training school trained pilots for temporary duty in the airlift. MATS transports delivered crucial aircraft parts to the airlift bases in Europe. This operation would continue for some 15 months until the Soviets lifted the blockade. MATS would provide numerous humanitarian airlifts of global proportions. The U.S. Navy

3256-665: The arctic Operation Deep Freeze compound's Williams Field since 1975. The 109th operated ski-equipped LC-130s had been flying National Science Foundation support missions to Antarctica since 1988. In early 1996, the United States National Guard announced that the 109th Airlift Wing at Schenectady County Airport in Scotia, New York was slated to assume that entire mission from the United States Navy in 1999. The Antarctic operation would be fully funded by

3330-401: The assigned deployment rotation. Early in 1996, it was announced that the 109th Airlift Wing was slated to assume that entire Antarctic mission from the U.S. Navy in 1999 as a result of post-Cold War Navy downsizing that would eliminate Antarctic Development Squadron Six ( VXE-6 ), along with their Navy LC-130 Hercules and UH-1 Huey aircraft. The Antarctic operation would then be fully funded by

3404-703: The end of November had chalked up more than 2,000 missions in history's longest airlift reaching 5,000 miles from Europe around Africa's West Coast to Leopoldville in the Congo . MATS entered the United Nations airlift under direction of the United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) 322d Air Division , 16 July 1960, and at the peak had 60 aircraft committed. By the end of 1962, about 49,000 troops and 11,000 tons of cargo had been airlifted to and from points as far away as New Delhi , India. As

3478-589: The end of the DEW Line mission. The 107th assumed jurisdiction of the landing strip at the DYE-2 station for pilot training for practicing Antarctic takeoffs & landings (called Ice Station Ruby); a.k.a. the Raven Ski-way Training Facility. After the closure of the Greenland stations, the experience gained by the wing was transferred to its new mission: airlift support to the National Science Foundation 's South Pole research program and

3552-559: The following major units Established by the USAF and allotted to New York ANG in 1956. Received federal recognition by the National Guard Bureau and activated on 1 May 1956 as the 109th Fighter Group (Air Defense) . The group was assigned to the NY ANG 107th Air Defense Wing and stationed at Schenectady County Airport , Schenectady, New York. The primary mission was the air defense of eastern and northern New York. It

3626-602: The main Antarctic base at McMurdo Sound to remote stations near and at the South Pole. Beginning in 1963, Lockheed C-130E Hercules , newer, faster, and longer range, picked up the MATS portion of the mission. The performance of the C-124s in the Antarctic cold strengthened the concept of airlift flexibility by doing in a few weeks (each year) a job that would have taken surface transportation several months. During Deep Freeze III,

3700-464: The men and women of the 109th AW have continued to voluntarily deploy in support of military operations in Southwest Asia and around the world. In its 2005 BRAC Recommendations, DoD recommended to realign the 109th Airlift Wing by transferring four C-130H aircraft to the 189th Airlift Wing, Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. The LC-130 aircraft (ski-equipped) would remain at Schenectady. This decision

3774-456: The mission took about a month to complete. Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s military aid was shipped to the South Vietnamese government by MATS airlift flights into Tan Son Nhut. In addition, military flights were made to Don Muang Airport in Bangkok which were designated for the Thai Militarily to protect their border along the Mekong River , or clandestinely to the Laotian Government, who were fighting communist rebels in Laos . As

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3848-471: The operational control of the United States Air Force, the United States Navy was a full partner in the command and operational components of the organization. Major naval components of MATS were naval air transport (VR) squadrons. VR-3 and VR-6 were assigned to McGuire AFB and VR-22 was assigned to the Naval Air Transport Station at Naval Station Norfolk /Chambers Field, Virginia. Together they constituted MATS EASTAF's Naval Air Transport Wing, Atlantic. On

3922-444: The retirement of the C-97 in 1971, the 109th became a Tactical Airlift Group and the 139th Tactical Airlift Squadron received eight C-130A Hercules transports and was transferred from MAC to Tactical Air Command. The first major mission of the C-130s was in June 1972 when the squadron provided relief assistance to storm victims of Tropical Storm Agnes . 109th crews gave around-the-clock support to relief efforts. Operating mainly from

3996-426: The role performed by ATC should be provided by contract carriers. When the United States Air Force was established as a separate service in 1947, the Air Transport Command was not established as one of its major commands. The ATC commander and his staff took it upon themselves to convince the new civilian leadership of the newly created Department of Defense (DOD) (and Secretaries of the Army and Air Force) that ATC had

4070-423: The season began in October, with an average of 150 on duty at any one time. The Airmen deploy for 30–60 days each, working two 12-hour shifts six days each week, running supplies and people to field camps across the continent and the South Pole station. The wing has completed 38 more missions than the 181 which the Airmen had planned to execute in 2014. In addition to the routine support the 109th AW gives each year,

4144-596: The transfer of Tactical Air Command Eighteenth Air Force heavy-lift C-124 Globemaster II units to MATS. However, the units retained their troop carrier designation and remained dedicated to support TAC on worldwide troop deployments. Upon its establishment, Military Air Transport Service inherited much of Air Transport Command's worldwide network of stations and transport routes. By the time of its disestablishment, MATS had closed its facilities at many of these stations; however, some are still in use today by Air Mobility Command in support of United States interests around

4218-589: The troops were lifted back to the United States on 21 November 1963 Beginning in 1948, MATS flew airlift missions into French Indochina , providing airlifts of military equipment and supplies to the French government and colonial Vietnamese forces fighting the Viet Minh . In 1954, at the request of the French, wounded Legionnaires from Dien Bien Phu were transported from Tan Son Nhut Airport to either Algeria or France. Initially flown from Saigon to Tachikawa AB near Tokyo on C-124s , over 14,000 wounded soldiers received stabilization medical care. From Japan,

4292-414: The unit inactivated. VR-7, flying C-121/RV-7 Super Constellations remained attached to MAC until 31 January 1967, and the Naval Air Transport Wing (Pacific) was inactivated on 23 March 1967. VR-8 and VR-22 at NAS Moffett Field withdrew its C-130s from MAC on 20 April. The last naval squadron, VR-3, flying C-130s from McGuire AFB, was inactivated on 30 June and the formal DOD program action directive relieving

4366-572: The unit was re-designated as the 109th Airlift Group. On 1 October 1995, in accordance with the Air Force "One Base - One Wing" policy, the 109th Airlift Wing was established and the 139th Airlift Squadron was assigned to the new 109th Operations Group. In September 1994, elements of the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron deployed to Rwanda as part of Operation Support Hope . In mid-1996, the Air Force, in response to budget cuts, and changing world situations, began experimenting with Air Expeditionary organizations. The Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) concept

4440-431: The western part of Berlin. Railroads tracks were destroyed, barges were stopped on the rivers, and highways and roads blocked. The only avenue left was through the air. On 26 June 1948, the airlift began. Troop carrier transports from around the globe began making their way to Germany, where they were assigned to United States Air Forces, Europe. Squadrons transferred from as far away as Hawaii and Japan, and included two of

4514-501: The world providing accurate aerial charts to military aviators wherever they need to be. Also producing all Air Force training films; public relations films; monthly newsreels, and coordinating with private filmmakers with regards to use of Air Force equipment and facilities. Evacuation of wounded military personnel from combat zones; transport of critically ill military personnel (and dependents) to military medical facilities for treatment. Performed unconventional warfare missions during

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4588-487: The wounded were airlifted across the Pacific Ocean to the Western United States on MATS C-97s . At each of the subsequent stops at Hickam AFB , Hawaii; Travis AFB , California, and Westover AFB , Massachusetts, there were layovers of about a day. This portion of the journey was carried out by MATS' Pacific Division. From Westover, the Atlantic Division took charge and airlifted the wounded to Orly Air Base in France and Oran Airport in Algeria . From start to finish,

4662-402: The years of the Vietnam War , seeing Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 commercial airliners at MAC aerial ports in Southeast Asia was a common sight. On 1 December 1974, MAC expanded its mission by acquiring the theater troop carrying and tactical airlift mission (i.e., C-130 Hercules , C-123 Provider , C-7 Caribou ) previously performed by the combat commands (TAC, PACAF, USAFE). In 1987, MAC

4736-539: Was accomplished in eight days by MATS C-135 Stratolifter jets. In the first time that a full United States Army division and elements of a Tactical Air Command Strike Force were ferried across the ocean in one big airlift, 15,358 officers and men of the 2nd Armored Division , their support troops, and 504 tons of battle equipment were airlifted by 204 MATS aircraft from eight bases in the South and southwestern United States to France and Germany. They were accompanied by 116 tactical fighters and reconnaissance aircraft of

4810-415: Was an integral part of MATS, providing five transport squadrons to the joint service effort, but they operated under USAFE while they were part of the airlift. The organization's next major test was the bootstrap supply operations supporting the United Nations troops under General Douglas MacArthur in the country of South Korea which was nearly overrun by the time UN forces were mobilized. The MATS role

4884-413: Was assigned the 139th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron as operational unit, equipped with F-94B Starfires . A major change to the 107th Air Defense Wing in 1958 was the transition from an Air Defense Command (ADC) mission to Tactical Air Command (TAC) and a tactical fighter mission, the 109th being re-designated as a Tactical Fighter Group and the 139th also being re-designated. The new assignment involved

4958-505: Was commenced in which MATS new four-engined jets, the Boeing C-135 Stratolifter , made their first appearance in a major airlift when 12 of them airlifted nearly 500 Army troops over the north polar route from Fort Lewis , Washington, to central West Germany . They made the nonstop trip in little more than 10 hours compared to the piston-engined aircraft which averaged between 30 and 35 hours along normal routes. Altogether, more than 200 MATS aircraft moved 5,300 troops of three battle groups of

5032-403: Was designated as the Air Force component of the United States Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM), a unified joint-service command. In June 1992, MAC was reorganized and redesignated as the Air Mobility Command (AMC) with a broadened mission of aerial refueling (i.e., KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender ), acquired from the inactivating Strategic Air Command . AMC then succeeded MAC as

5106-406: Was developed that would mix Active Duty, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard elements into a combined force. Instead of entire permanent units deploying as "Provisional" as in the 1991 Gulf War, Expeditionary units are composed of "aviation packages" from several wings, including active duty Air Force, the Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard, would be married together to carry out

5180-516: Was engaged in an ammunition airlift to Guantánamo Bay. All three of the technical services stepped up activities to provide close weather, rescue, and documentation support to the buildup. During the airlift operation, MATS was called on to react to a call for arms to India in early November to stem the Communist Chinese invasion. The airlift required the movement of 980 tons of small arms more than 6,000 miles from Rhein-Main AB , West Germany , to Dum-Dum Airport , Calcutta . This "no notice" airlift

5254-411: Was equipped with C-97 Stratofreighter intercontinental transports, with an Aeromedical Flight as a secondary mission. With the C-97s, the 109d augmented MATS airlift capability worldwide in support of the Air Force's needs in Europe. During the 1961 Berlin Crisis , the 139th ATS was federalized on 1 October 1961. From Schenectady, the 139th ATS augmented MATS airlift capability worldwide in support of

5328-838: Was not enacted. An effective lobby against the move was carried out by the Schenectady Military Affairs Council. The 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron deployed to Afghanistan in June 2007, marking the first time since Vietnam that aircraft from the unit flew their own aircraft in a combat theater of operations. During the 2011–2012 season, crews flying six LC-130H Ski-Herc transports carried out 359 missions between McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and eighteen inland Antarctic destinations, transporting more than seven million pounds of cargo and fuel and more than 1,600 passengers. The LC-130H crews were also called on to provide aerial reconnaissance and communication links to

5402-671: Was purely logistical, and operated from the United States to Japan. Theater transport forces assigned to the Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command, which became the 315th Air Division , operated supply routes into Japan and provided troop carrier services for UN forces. During the 1956 Suez Crisis , MATS MATS airlifted 1,300 Colombian and Indian troops from Bogotá and Agra to the United Nations staging area in Naples , Italy, to supplement

5476-534: Was the name given to the deployment of Air National Guard fighter units overseas to NATO bases in France, and Operation High Top was the redeployment, June–August 1962. In High Top, for example, more than 260 missions were flown by MATS aircraft of all types, including the C-97's which themselves had been called to active duty. These aircraft returned more than 9,600 ANG personnel and 1,400 tons of equipment. On addition,

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