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99th Airlift Squadron [99th AS]

The 99th Airlift Squadron is the largest unit in the 89th Airlift Wing, measured by flying time, missions, and number of aircraft assigned. The history of the 99th Airlift Squadron began on 1 August 1943, when the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron was activated at Sedalia Army Airfield, Missouri. The unit primarily flew C-47 transport aircraft and CG-4 glider aircraft. Upon completion of training activities at several locations in the United States, the squadron deployed to Langer Field, England, in March of 1944.

On its first combat mission, 18 C-47 aircraft transported paratroops from the 101st Airborne Division over France in the initial assault of the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. The squadron carried paratroops or used gliders loaded with troops and equipment to participate in many other combat operations. These operations included the invasion of Southern France, the invasion of Holland, the resupply of Bastogne, and the establishment of the Ruhr bridgehead. During this period, the squadron moved to Merryfield, England, then to St. Marceau, France, and then to Dreux, France where it was located when the war ended. With the cessation of hostilities, the unit acquired a large and great variety of aircraft. At one point the unit totaled 72 aircraft of at least 14 different types including a B-17, a B-29, several P-47s and P-51s. The squadron then made moves to Villacoublay, France and Wiesbaden, Germany as it assumed a new primary mission of providing air transportation for personnel of the U.S. Air Forces in Europe. On 15 February 1946, the 99th was relieved of its assignment to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and was transferred to Bolling Field, DC, where the unit was inactivated on 27 March 1946.

The 99th Troop Carrier Squadron was activated on 27 June 1949 at Chicago-Orchard (O'Hare International) Airport, Park Ridge, IL, as an Air Force Reserve unit. The primary mission of the squadron was to train assigned pilots to fly the C-46. This was a long and arduous task because training was only conducted one weekend a month. Many of its personnel were reassigned to other organizations and called to active duty as they became qualified in their specialty, leaving the squadron in a constant cycle of attempting to rebuild unit strength and train new personnel. On 14 March 1951, all personnel were reassigned to other units as the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron was inactivated.

Redesigned the 99th Military Airlift Squadron, the unit was activated on 27 December 1965. On 8 January 1966, the squadron was officially organized at Andrews Air Force Base, MD. The mission was to "provide safe, reliable, and efficient transportation for the President and Vice President of the United States, Members of the Cabinet, Members of Congress, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other high ranking domestic and foreign dignitaries." The squadron was assigned six VC-140, five C-140, four VC-131 (Convair 580), four U-4, and one VC-6 aircraft. By October of 1969, all U-4 aircraft had been assigned to other units. November of 1970, VC-140 tail number 61-2492 was converted for presidential use. The first three VC-131 aircraft were transferred to another unit.

In January 1976, the squadron's mission was restated to "Provide safe, comfortable, and reliable transportation of the President, Vice President, and Cabinet Members of the United States, and other high ranking domestic and foreign dignitaries as directed by the Office of the Vice Chief of Staff USAF." The area of operation was also expanded from the Continental United States to include North America and the Caribbean. In May of 1977, five VC-140 aircraft were reassigned to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. On 12 September 1977, the 99th Military Airlift Squadron was inactivated and its six VC-6 aircraft and all assigned personnel were transferred to the 1st Military Airlift Squadron. From activation in 1966 through inactivation in 1977, the squadron flew accident free as it carried heads of state and other dignitaries to include; President Nixon, President Ford, Chancellor Brandt of Germany, King Olav of Norway, Prime Minister Thorn of Luxembourg, Prime Minister Antreotti of Italy, Queen Elizabeth II of England, and many other dignitaries.

The return to the 99th Military Airlift Squadron began on October 1988, with personnel and VC-9 and C-20 aircraft reassigned from the 1st Military Airlift Squadron. Further reorganization in 1994 redesigned the squadron as the 99th Airlift Squadron. Today the 99th Airlift Squadron flies three C-9C (DC-9), five C-20B (Gulfstream III), two C-20H (Gulfstream IV), two new C-37A (Gulfstream V), and expects delivery of two additional C-37A aircraft soon.

Since it's inception, the 99th has accumulated over 363,000 hours of accident free flight time while maintaining at or above a 99% reliability rate. These hours include countless mission into thousands of the world's smallest and largest airfields, from the busiest international aerodromes to those in the most remote regions without any established instrument approaches. The addition of the C-37A, the military variant of the Gulfstream V, gives the squadron even greater flexibility with its increased range.

Individuals of the 99th also helped support the many worldwide missions of the U.S. military, sending personnel to Italy for JOINT GUARD and Saudi Arabia for SOUTHERN WATCH, just to name a few. As of early 2001, the squadron had completed a nine-month deployment of a C-20H and supporting crews to Chievres, Belgium in support of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, during and after the hostilities in Kosovo. The 99th was honored as the 89th Airlift Wing's 1999 Gen Smith Trophy nominee as the Best Airlift Squadron in AMC.

The mission of the 99th Airlift Squadron is to "Provide unsurpassed safe, comfortable, and reliable DV airlift for our nation's leaders and foreign dignitaries; anytime, anywhere".

The squadron operates specially configured C-9 and C-20 aircraft on Special Air Missions (SAM) directed by HQ USAF supporting the President, Vice President, and other US and foreign senior diplomats. Selectively manned aircrews are responsible for the detailed planning and execution of sensitive missions of national and international consequence. The crew establishes direct coordination with numerous agencies to include Headquarters United States Air Force, embassies, and Congressional offices. Crews conduct these global missions isolated from normal supply and command and control structures. The aircrews accomplish Special Air Missions (SAM) into unfamiliar airfields, in all weather conditions, with 99.5% reliability and often while the world is literally watching. The crews obtain diplomatic clearances and coordinate all enroute support requirements essential to mission accomplishment.

Typical missions include supporting Congressional delegations sent to monitor election results in Haiti, shuttle diplomacy missions in the Balkans, missions flown in support of the 50th Anniversary of the United Nations, and the V-E and V-J Day celebrations. The 99th Airlift Squadron routinely conducts First Lady and Air Force Two missions and provides aircrew members to augment Air Force One missions.