World War II

Established under Air Transport Command in 1944 to provide aerial transportation in China-Burma-India Theater from May 1944–May 1945 and in Western Pacific from c. September–December 1945. The unit was equipped first with the Curtiss C-46 Commando, and then converted to the Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express in 1944.

Heavy airlift operations

Re-established under Military Air Transport Service in November 1953, providing airlift of personnel and equipment initially flying Douglas C-54 Skymasters. Converted to long range Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs and provided long range heavy strategic transport on a global scale. In 1960 converted to the Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and provided very heavy strategic airlift until the end of the C-133's service in 1971.

Special air missions

Reactivated in 1977 at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland and assigned to the Special Air Mission supporting transportation for the President and other high-ranking dignitaries of US and foreign governments, and Beechcraft C-12 Huron training for personnel from all branches of the military in 1977. At Andrews, has operated a variety of aircraft including the McDonnell Douglas VC-9 Skytrain II, C-12, Boeing VC-135 Stratolifter, Lockheed VC-140 JetStar, Boeing VC-137 and Gulfstream C-20. These aircraft were used to transport VIPs throughout the United States and around the world.

It also transported personnel to Southwest Asia from August 1990–April 1991 during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.

Assignments

• Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command, 23 March 1944
• India-China Wing, Air Transport Command (later India-China Division, Air Transport Command), c. 2 May 1944 (attached to XX Bomber Command after 17 May 1944
• XX Bomber Command, 21 November 1944 (attached to 22d Air Depot Group, November - December 1944)
• United States Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Areas (later US Army Strategic Air Forces), c. 20 June 1945
• Eighth Air Force, 31 July 1945
• Okinawa Air Depot, 10 September 1945
• Far East Air Service Command, 9 January 1946
• IV Air Service Area Command, 15 January - 25 March 1946
• 1607th Air Base Group, 18 November 1953
• 1607th Air Transport Group, 1 January 1954
• 1607th Air Transport Wing, 18 January 1963
• 436th Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1966 - 30 June 1971
• 89th Military Airlift Wing (later 89 Military Airlift Group, 89 Military Airlift Wing), 12 September 1977
• 89th Operations Group, 12 July 1991 – present^[1]

Stations

• Homestead Army Air Field, Florida, 23 March - 21 April 1944
• Kalaikunda Airfield, India, 3 May 1944

Air echelon operated from Kharagpur Airfield, India, 7 May - 4 August 1945

• Naha Air Base, Okinawa, 20 June 1945 - 25 March 1946
• Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 18 November 1953 - 30 June 1971
• Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 12 Sept 1977–Present^[1]

Aircraft