History and Lineage Of The 535^th

Lineage

Constituted 535 Fighter Squadron on 24 Sep 1943.

• Activated on 1 Oct 1943.

• Disbanded on 10 Apr 1944.

Reconstituted, and redesignated 535 Fighter Squadron, Two-Engine, on 16 May 1949.

Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949.

Redesignated 535 Fighter-Escort Squadron on 16 Mar 1950.

• Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951.

• Inactivated on 25 Jun 1951.

Redesignated 535 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 26 May 1952.

• Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952.

• Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953.

Redesignated 535 Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated, on 12 Oct 1966.

• Organized on 1 Jan 1967.

Redesignated 535 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Aug 1967.

• Inactivated on 24 Jan 1972.

Redesignated 535 Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 2005.

• Activated on 18 Apr 2005.

Assignments

87 Fighter Group, 1 Oct 1943-10 Apr 1944

87 Fighter (later, 87 Fighter-Escort) Group, 27 Jun 1949-25 Jun 1951

87 Troop Carrier Group, 15 Jun 1952-1 Feb 1953

Pacific Air Forces, 12 Oct 1966
483 Troop Carrier (later, 483 Tactical Airlift) Wing, 1 Jan 1967-24 Jan 1972

15 Operations Group, 18 Apr 2005-

Stations

Richmond AAB, VA, 1 Oct 1943

Camp Springs AAFld, MD, 21 Jan-10 Apr 1944

Bergstrom AFB, TX, 27 Jun 1949-25 Jun 1951

Atterbury AFB, IN, 15 Jun 19521 Feb 1953

Vung Tau Airfield, South Vietnam, 1 Jan 1967

Cam Ranh Bay AB, South Vietnam, 21 Jun 1970-24 Jan 1972

Hickam AFB, HI, 18 Apr 2005-

Commanders

Capt George G. Dewey, 6 Oct 1943

Maj George V. Williams, 3-10 Apr 1944

Unkn, 27 Jun 1949-25 Jun 1951

Unkn, 15 Jun 1952-1 Feb 1953

Lt Col Leo J. Ehmann, 1 Jan 1967

Lt Col Edwin B. Owens, 4 Jan 1967

Lt Col Joseph Faulkner, 15 Dec 1967

Lt Col Harry F. Hunter, 21 Jun 1968

Lt Col Richard D. Kimball, 12 Apr 1969

Lt Col Clem B. Myers, 1 Nov 1969

Lt Col John J. Hanley, 13 Nov 1969

Lt Col John D. Pennekamp, 18 Jul 1970

Lt Col Thomas D. Moyle, 3 Oct 1970

Lt Col Rupert S. Richardson, 31 Dec 1970

Lt Col Dean S. Downing 12 Sep 1971

Lt Col James S. Knox, 8 Dec 1971-24 Jan 1972

Lt Col Christopher O. Davis, 18 Apr 2005-.

Aircraft

P-47, 1943-1944

A-24, 1943-1944

F-82, 1949-1950

T-6, 1950

T-33, 1950

F-84, 1950-1951

C-46, 1952-1953

C-7A, 1967-1972

C-17, 2006? - ?

Operations

Replacement crew, advanced flying, and basic flying training, Dec 1943-Apr 1944

Reserve flying training, Jun 1949-Apr 1951

Reserve flying training, Jun 1952-Feb 1953

On activation in 1967, took over C-7A aircraft of 57 Aviation Company (USA) and tactical airlift mission in South Vietnam. Operated from several locations in addition to its primary base. Airlifted routine cargo and passengers, provided support for Army special forces and radio relay for ground units, airdropped troops and cargo, performed emergency resupply and medical evacuations, and flew other combat airlift missions.

Earned a Navy PUC, as well as PUC for airlift support of Khe Sanh and other forward bases from Jan to May 1968. Earned a second PUC between Apr and Jun 1970 for participation in aerial resupply of Dak Seang Special Forces Camp, evacuation of over 2000 refugees from Cambodia, and transportation of the Presidential Southeast Asia Investigation Team to various remote locations in South Vietnam.

Last mission flown the day of inactivation.

Vietnam Campaign Streamers

Vietnam Air Offensive

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III

Vietnam Air/Ground

Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV

TET 69/Counteroffensive

Vietnam Summer/Fall 1969

Vietnam Winter/Spring

Sanctuary Counteroffensive

Southwest Monsoon

Commando Hunt V

Commando Hunt VI

Commando Hunt VII.

Decorations

Presidential Unit Citations (Vietnam): 21 Jan-12 May 1968; 1 Apr-30 Jun 1970

Navy Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnam, 20 Jan-31 Mar 1968

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jan-30 Apr 1967

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 May 1967-30 Apr 1968

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 1 Jul 1970-31 Dec 1971

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jan 1967-24 Jan 1972.