99th Airlift Squadron

The 99th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 89th Operations Group of the 89th Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland. Its principal role is special air mission support: transporting the Vice President of the United States, Cabinet officials, members of Congress, and other senior U.S. and foreign government representatives. The squadron operates specially configured Gulfstream aircraft under missions directed by Headquarters United States Air Force rather than providing ordinary commercial passenger or cargo service. The unit traces its lineage to the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron, constituted on 25 May 1943 and activated on 1 August of that year. During the Second World War, it supported airborne operations and the movement of personnel and cargo in the European and Mediterranean theaters. Its documented operations included airborne assaults connected with Normandy, Southern France, Holland, and Germany, as well as relief operations associated with Bastogne. The squadron received campaign credit for Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. After its wartime inactivation in March 1946, the squadron was briefly reactivated in the Air Force Reserve in 1949 as a medium troop-carrier unit. That activation ended in March 1951. A later reorganization created the 99th Military Airlift Squadron, Special Mission, in 1965; it was organized at Andrews in January 1966 under the 89th Military Airlift Wing. From 1966 through 1977, the unit conducted airlift support for the President and other high-ranking dignitaries before being inactivated in September 1977. The squadron returned to active service in October 1988 as the 99th Military Airlift Squadron and resumed high-level government transport duties. It became the 99th Airlift Squadron in July 1991 and has remained within the 89th Operations Group. Its long-running executive transport mission has included support for senior U.S. officials and visiting foreign dignitaries, with flights scheduled as Special Air Missions. The unit's aircraft have changed over time. Its C-20 Gulfstream aircraft were retired on 30 August 2017, and the squadron is described as operating specially configured C-37 Gulfstream V aircraft for its contemporary special-mission role. The 99th is therefore best understood not as a consumer-facing transportation brand, but as a specialized military aviation organization whose service is the secure and highly coordinated movement of government principals and official delegations.

The 99th Airlift Squadron was constituted as the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943 and activated on 1 August 1943. It initially served with the 441st Troop Carrier Group. During World War II, the unit operated in the European and Mediterranean theaters, carrying personnel and cargo and supporting airborne assaults in Normandy, Southern France, Holland, and Germany. It also participated in relief operations connected with Bastogne. Its wartime campaign record includes Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe. The squadron received a Distinguished Unit Citation for operations in France on 6–7 June 1944. The wartime unit was inactivated on 27 March 1946. It was redesignated the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, in May 1949 and activated in the Air Force Reserve the following month. It was ordered to active service in March 1951 but was inactivated after only a short period. A new special-mission lineage was established in December 1965, when the unit was redesignated the 99th Military Airlift Squadron, Special Mission. It was organized on 8 January 1966 under the 89th Military Airlift Wing at Andrews Air Force Base. From 1966 to 1977, the squadron provided airlift assistance for the President and other high-ranking U.S. and foreign government officials. It was inactivated on 12 September 1977. The unit was reactivated on 1 October 1988 as the 99th Military Airlift Squadron and again became part of the 89th Military Airlift Wing. On 12 July 1991, it received its present designation, the 99th Airlift Squadron, and was assigned to the 89th Operations Group. In its modern role, the squadron conducts Special Air Missions directed by Headquarters United States Air Force. Its customers include the Vice President, Cabinet members, members of Congress, and other dignitaries. The unit has also supported official travel by foreign leaders and government representatives. Its aircraft have included specially configured Gulfstream executive transports. The squadron's C-20 aircraft were retired on 30 August 2017, while its current mission is associated with C-37 Gulfstream V aircraft. The unit remains active at Andrews Air Force Base as part of the Air Force organization responsible for senior-leader and government executive airlift.

1. 2017C-20 fleet retirement

   The squadron's Gulfstream C-20 aircraft were retired on 30 August 2017.

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2. 1991Adopted the 99th Airlift Squadron designation

   The squadron was redesignated the 99th Airlift Squadron on 12 July 1991 and assigned to the 89th Operations Group.

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3. 1988Reactivated for special air missions

   The unit was activated again on 1 October 1988 as the 99th Military Airlift Squadron.

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4. 1977Inactivated after first executive-airlift period

   The squadron was inactivated on 12 September 1977 after providing senior-leader airlift support from 1966 through 1977.

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5. 1966Special-mission organization at Andrews

   The 99th Military Airlift Squadron, Special Mission, was organized on 8 January 1966 under the 89th Military Airlift Wing.

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6. 1949Reserve reactivation

   The unit was redesignated as a medium troop-carrier squadron and activated in the Air Force Reserve.

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7. 1946Postwar inactivation

   The wartime 99th Troop Carrier Squadron was inactivated on 27 March 1946.

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8. 1944World War II airborne and airlift operations

   The squadron supported airborne assaults and the movement of cargo and personnel in the European and Mediterranean theaters, including Normandy and Southern France.

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9. 1943Constituted as the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron

   The unit was constituted on 25 May 1943 and activated on 1 August 1943 for troop-carrier operations.

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A specialized United States Air Force executive-airlift unit focused on official, secure, and flexible transportation for senior government leaders and international dignitaries.

• C-37 Gulfstream VSpecial-mission executive aircraft

  A specially configured Gulfstream V aircraft used for United States Air Force Special Air Missions. In the 99th Airlift Squadron's role, the aircraft supports executive transportation for senior U.S. officials, congressional leaders, Cabinet members, and foreign dignitaries.

• C-20 GulfstreamExecutive airlift aircraft

  A Gulfstream executive-transport aircraft family formerly used by the squadron for government special missions. The 99th Airlift Squadron's C-20 aircraft were retired on 30 August 2017.

• 1966Executive airlift support

  United States · International official travel

  From 1966 to 1977, and again from 1988 onward, the squadron provided airlift support for the President and other senior U.S. and foreign government officials.

  Outcome. The mission became the squadron's defining postwar operational role.

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• 1944Normandy campaign

  European Theater

  The squadron supported airborne operations and airlift activity associated with the Normandy campaign during World War II.

  Outcome. The unit received campaign credit and a Distinguished Unit Citation for French operations on 6–7 June 1944.

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• 1944Southern France campaign

  European Theater

  The unit participated in airborne and transport operations during the Allied campaign in Southern France.

  Outcome. The campaign forms part of the squadron's World War II lineage and honors.

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• 1944Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace operations

  European Theater

  The squadron supported Allied operations in the Rhineland and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns, including the movement of personnel and cargo.

  Outcome. Both campaigns are included in the unit's recognized World War II campaign participation.

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• 2017Retirement of the C-20 fleetGeneration change

  The squadron's executive-airlift fleet included Gulfstream C-20 aircraft.

  What changed. The C-20 aircraft were retired on 30 August 2017.

  Aftermath. The squadron's current description centers on specially configured C-37 Gulfstream V aircraft for Special Air Missions.

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• 1991Adoption of the 99th Airlift Squadron designationStrategy

  The unit had returned to active service in 1988 as the 99th Military Airlift Squadron while supporting senior-government transport missions.

  What changed. On 12 July 1991, it was redesignated the 99th Airlift Squadron and placed under the 89th Operations Group.

  Aftermath. The designation has remained in use while the squadron continues its special air mission role.

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• 201799th Airlift Squadron C-20 aircraft retired

  The squadron's Gulfstream C-20 aircraft were retired on 30 August 2017 as the unit's special-mission fleet continued to transition toward newer Gulfstream platforms.

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1. 99th Airlift Squadron