249th Airlift Squadron

The 249th Airlift Squadron (249 AS) is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard 176th Wing located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Anchorage, Alaska. The 249th is equipped with the C-17 Globemaster III.

Overview
The 249th’s mission is strategic airlift. Its crews mix with crews from the active-duty Air Force 3d Wing, 517th Airlift Squadron to fly eight C-17 Globemaster III jets around the world.

History
In association with the 517th, the 249th began flying a variety of airlift missions—including combat missions in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom—in mid-summer of 2007. From that time up through September 2009, while members referred to it as the 249th, the unit was officially a detachment of the 176th Operations Group. It received official Department of Defense recognition and activation as the 249th Airlift Squadron in September 2009.

Lineage

 * Established as: 249th Airlift Squadron and allocated to Alaska ANG in 2007
 * Received federal recognition on 1 September 2009
 * Components designated as: 249th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron when deployed as part of an Air and Space Expeditionary unit

Assignments

 * 176th Wing, 1 September 2009-Present

Stations

 * Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska, 1 September 2009
 * Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 18 February 2011- present

Aircraft

 * C-17 Globemaster III, 2007-Present