535th Airlift Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III at Hickam AFB | |
| Active | 1943–1944; 1949–1951; 1952–1953; 1967–1972; 2005–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Role | Airlift / Airdrop |
| Part of | Pacific Air Forces |
| Garrison/HQ | Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam |
| Nickname(s) | The Tiger Line (Vietnam era) |
| Engagements | Vietnam War |
| Decorations | Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 535th Airlift Squadron Emblem[a][1] |  |
| 535th Tactical Airlift Squadron Emblem[b][2] |  |
| Vietnam squadron tail code | KH |
The 535th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing strategic and tactical airlift in the Indo-Pacific theater.
The squadron was first established during World War II as the 535th Fighter Squadron. It served as a Replacement Training Unit for Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilots until it was disbanded in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces in 1944 designed to streamline training organizations. In 1949, the squadron was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve and served as a corollary unit of the active duty 27th Fighter Group and later, as the 535th Fighter-Escort Squadron, of the 12th Fighter-Escort Group until it was ordered to active service in 1951. Its personnel were used to man active duty units and the squadron was inactivated. The squadron was redesignated in 1952 as the 535th Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated at Atterbury Air Force Base to replace elements of the 923d Reserve Training Wing. The following year the squadron was inactivated and replaced at Atterbury by the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron.
The unit was activated again in Vietnam as a de Haviland Canada C-7 Caribou squadron assigned to the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing and the squadron was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations for its actions during the war. The unit was designated the 535th Airlift Squadron and activated in its current role in 2005.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).
- ^ Robertson, Patsy (12 April 2014). "Factsheet 535 Airlift Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Hites, Jackie (2 January 2008). "535th Airlift Squadron Fact Sheet". 15th Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 20 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2016.