249th Airlift Squadron

The 249th Airlift Squadron flies the C-17 Globemaster III . It is a unit of the Alaska Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 176th Wing.

Mission

The mission of the 249th Airlift Squadron is to provide mission-ready aircrew, by functioning as the focal point for all mission and crew management. Flight members work hand-in-hand with squadron and senior leadership to schedule, plan and execute the squadron's local flight training and operational missions.

History

The 249th is one of the first Air National Guard units in the nation to be organized under what is called an "associate" organizational construct. Under this model, two or more components of the Air Force (that is, the active-duty Air Force, the Air National Guard, and/or the Air Force Reserve) integrate their operations to carry out a common mission. Each unit, however, retains its own separate chain of command. This innovative concept was designed to capitalize on the inherent strengths of the different components, enhance combat capability and achieve operational efficiencies.

In association with the 517th, the 249th began flying a variety of airlift missions -- including combat missions in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom -- in mid-summer of 2007. From that time up through September 2009, while members referred to it as the 249th, the unit was officially a detachment of the 176th Operations Group. It received official Department of Defense recognition and activation as the 249th Airlift Squadron in September 2009.

Assignments

Major Command

• Air National Guard/Pacific Air Forces (1992–Present)

Previous Designations^[1]

• 249th Airlift Squadron (1995–Present)

Bases stationed

• Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (2007–Present)
• Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska (1955–2007)
• Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska (1952–1955)

Aircraft Operated^[2]

• C-17 Globemaster III (2007–Present)
• HC-130 (1990–2007)
• MH-60/H-60(1990–Present)
• KC-135 Stratotanker (1986–1990)
• C-130 Hercules (1976–1996)
• C-123 (1960–1976)
• C-47 (1957–1960)
• T-33 (1955-1957?)
• F-80 (1955-1957?)
• F-86 (1955-1957?)
• T-6 Texan (1952–1955)

References

External links