85th Military Airlift 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