1st Airlift Squadron

The 1st Airlift Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the 89th Operations Group of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Its principal role is Special Air Mission support: the worldwide movement of the President, Vice President, senior military commanders, cabinet-level and other high-ranking government officials, and foreign dignitaries when tasked through the appropriate national and Air Force command channels. The squadron's work extends beyond operating aircraft. Its stated mission includes airlift, logistics, aerial-port support, and communications, requiring the coordination of crews, aircraft, passengers, cargo, security, diplomatic arrangements, and destination services. The unit was first established during the Second World War as the 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile). Activated in March 1944, it supported aerial transportation in the China-Burma-India Theater and later in the Western Pacific. It initially operated Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft before converting to Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express transports. The original wartime organization was inactivated in March 1946 and subsequently disbanded in 1948. The squadron was reconstituted and activated again in November 1953 under the Military Air Transport Service. Based first at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, it operated Douglas C-54 Skymasters and then moved into long-range heavy airlift with the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II. In 1960 it converted to the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, supporting very heavy strategic transportation until the squadron's inactivation in June 1971. During this period its identity and assignments changed as the Air Force reorganized its transport structure, including redesignation as the 1st Military Airlift Squadron in 1966. The unit returned to active service in September 1977 at Andrews Air Force Base in the Special Air Mission role. At Andrews it operated and supported a succession of executive-transport aircraft, including the VC-9 Skytrain II, C-12 Huron, VC-135 Stratolifter, VC-140 JetStar, VC-137, and Gulfstream C-20. These aircraft enabled domestic and international travel for senior American officials and visiting dignitaries. The squadron also supported the movement of personnel to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm from August 1990 through April 1991. Since July 1991, when it adopted its current designation, the 1st Airlift Squadron has remained assigned to the 89th Operations Group. It is best understood not as a consumer-facing brand or commercial logistics company, but as a specialized government aviation organization whose value lies in secure, reliable, globally coordinated executive airlift. Publicly available reference material does not identify a commercial website, corporate ownership, public financial results, or named current commanders for the squadron.

The 1st Airlift Squadron traces its lineage to the wartime 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile), constituted on 13 March 1944 and activated ten days later. It was initially associated with the Air Transport Command's Caribbean Wing and then moved into the India-China Wing, supporting air transportation in the China-Burma-India Theater. The squadron operated Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft and later Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express aircraft. Its wartime stationing included Homestead Army Air Field in Florida, Kalaikunda and Kharagpur in India, and Naha Air Base on Okinawa. The original unit was inactivated on 25 March 1946 and disbanded in October 1948. The organization was reconstituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron, Medium, in September 1953 and activated at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, in November of that year. It initially operated Douglas C-54 Skymasters. As the Air Force expanded and reorganized its strategic transport capability, the squadron was redesignated the 1st Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, in September 1954 and transitioned to Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft. The unit's role involved long-range movement of personnel and equipment on a global scale. In 1960, the squadron converted to the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, a very heavy strategic transport aircraft. It continued that mission through the end of the C-133's operational service. On 8 January 1966 it became the 1st Military Airlift Squadron and was assigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing. The squadron was inactivated on 30 June 1971 after its second period of heavy-airlift service. The unit was activated again on 12 September 1977 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, under the 89th Military Airlift Wing. Its mission shifted from general strategic transport toward Special Air Mission operations. The squadron supported transportation for the President, other senior United States officials, and high-ranking foreign dignitaries. It also provided training-related support involving the Beechcraft C-12 Huron and operated or supported a wide range of executive-transport types, including the VC-9 Skytrain II, VC-135 Stratolifter, VC-140 JetStar, VC-137, and Gulfstream C-20. The squadron supported the movement of personnel to Southwest Asia during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm between August 1990 and April 1991. On 12 July 1991 it received its current designation, 1st Airlift Squadron, and was assigned to the 89th Operations Group, where it remains. Its present mission combines aircraft operations with logistics, aerial-port, and communications functions for Special Air Missions tasked by the White House, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Air Mobility Command. The squadron's public history therefore reflects several distinct phases: wartime theater transportation, postwar heavy strategic airlift, and modern executive and national-leader airlift.

1. 1991Adopted the 1st Airlift Squadron designation

   On 12 July 1991, the unit was redesignated the 1st Airlift Squadron and assigned to the 89th Operations Group.

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2. 1977Reactivated for Special Air Missions

   The unit returned to service at Andrews Air Force Base on 12 September 1977 and assumed a senior-leader and executive transportation mission.

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3. 1971Second inactivation

   The 1st Military Airlift Squadron was inactivated on 30 June 1971.

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4. 1960Converted to Douglas C-133 Cargomaster operations

   The squadron began operating the C-133 for very heavy strategic airlift, a role it retained until the aircraft type left service.

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5. 1953Reactivated for postwar airlift

   The squadron was reconstituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron, Medium, and activated at Dover Air Force Base on 18 November.

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6. 1946First inactivation

   The original wartime organization was inactivated on 25 March 1946 and later disbanded in 1948.

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7. 1944Constituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile)

   The unit was constituted on 13 March 1944 and activated on 23 March to support wartime air transportation operations.

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8. 1944China-Burma-India transportation service

   The squadron operated in the China-Burma-India Theater with Curtiss C-46 Commando aircraft before converting to Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express transports.

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A specialized United States government aviation unit positioned around secure, dependable, globally deployable transport and mission support for national leaders and other high-priority passengers.

• Special Air Mission airliftGovernment aviation service1977

  The squadron's principal current offering is mission support for the movement of the President, Vice President, senior military commanders, and other designated national and foreign officials. The service encompasses flight operations as well as passenger, cargo, communications, aerial-port, and destination logistics.

• Douglas C-133 Cargomaster operationsHeavy strategic airlift1960

  During its 1960s heavy-airlift phase, the squadron operated the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster for very heavy strategic transportation of personnel and equipment. This historical capability continued until the C-133's service ended and the squadron was later inactivated.

• Executive transport fleet operationsExecutive aviation1977

  After its 1977 reactivation at Andrews Air Force Base, the squadron operated or supported a succession of executive and VIP aircraft, including the VC-9, C-12, VC-135, VC-140, VC-137, and Gulfstream C-20. These aircraft supported domestic and international travel for high-ranking officials.

• 1990Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm

  Southwest Asia

  The squadron transported personnel to Southwest Asia from August 1990 through April 1991 in support of the United States response to Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the subsequent coalition war.

  Outcome. The cited reference confirms the squadron's personnel-transport role but does not provide mission totals or other quantitative results.

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• 1991Redesignation as the 1st Airlift SquadronOther

  The unit's organizational role had evolved from general and heavy strategic transport toward executive and national-leader airlift.

  What changed. The Air Force redesignated the unit from the 1st Military Airlift Squadron to the 1st Airlift Squadron on 12 July 1991.

  Aftermath. The squadron retained its Special Air Mission responsibilities under the 89th Operations Group.

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• 1977Transition to Special Air Mission supportStrategy

  After a period focused on heavy strategic airlift, the squadron was reactivated at Andrews Air Force Base for executive transportation and other Special Air Mission duties.

  What changed. The Air Force returned the unit to active service and assigned it to the organization responsible for senior-government airlift.

  Aftermath. The squadron has continued in the Special Air Mission role, later becoming part of the 89th Operations Group.

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1. 1st Airlift Squadron