1254th Air Transport Wing
Encyclopedia
The 1254th Air Transport Wing was an United States Air Force
unit, existing between 1948 and 1968 It was stationed at Andrews AFB, Maryland
.
The 1254th Air Transport Wing was a transport wing of the Military Air Transport Service
(MATS) which was established on 10 July 1961. The mission of the 1254th Air Transport Wing was to command the MATS Special Air Mission
for VIPs
in the Washington, D.C.
area. The wing reported directly to the MATS Headquarters. The 1254th Air Transport Wing was deactivated on 8 January 1966.
The Unit was expanded to group status on 1 Aug 1952. The 1254th Air Group controlled 1298th and 1299th Air Transport Squadrons stationed at the National Airport. The unit was again expanded to air wing size in 1961 when the Special Air Mission was moved to Andrews Air Force Base from National Airport. It was the direct successor unit to the 1100th Special Air Missions Wing at Bolling, which as inactivated.
It was on the VC-137C of the 1254th Air Transport Wing that Lyndon B. Johnson
was sworn into office as the President of the United States
, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
on 22 November 1963, in Dallas, Texas.
With the inactivation of Military Air Transport Service, the 1254th Air Transport Wing was inactivated on 8 January 1966 and its personnel and equipment were reassigned to 89th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit, existing between 1948 and 1968 It was stationed at Andrews AFB, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
The 1254th Air Transport Wing was a transport wing of the Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
(MATS) which was established on 10 July 1961. The mission of the 1254th Air Transport Wing was to command the MATS Special Air Mission
Special Air Mission
The United States Air Force Special Air Mission is the safe, comfortable, and reliable air transportation for the President, Vice President, Cabinet, members of Congress, and other high-ranking American and foreign dignitaries....
for VIPs
Very Important Person
A Very Important Person, or VIP is a person who is accorded special privileges due to his or her status or importance.Examples include celebrities, heads of state/heads of government, major employers, high rollers, politicians, high-level corporate officers, wealthy individuals, or any other...
in the Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
area. The wing reported directly to the MATS Headquarters. The 1254th Air Transport Wing was deactivated on 8 January 1966.
History
On 1 Oct 1948 the 1254th Air Transport Squadron was established at National Airport, District of Columbia; its mission was to provide air transportation for high ranking United States government officials, and for designated individuals of foreign dignitaries visiting the United States. The Squadron also sent aircraft to Europe in support of the Berlin Airlift.The Unit was expanded to group status on 1 Aug 1952. The 1254th Air Group controlled 1298th and 1299th Air Transport Squadrons stationed at the National Airport. The unit was again expanded to air wing size in 1961 when the Special Air Mission was moved to Andrews Air Force Base from National Airport. It was the direct successor unit to the 1100th Special Air Missions Wing at Bolling, which as inactivated.
It was on the VC-137C of the 1254th Air Transport Wing that Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
was sworn into office as the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
on 22 November 1963, in Dallas, Texas.
With the inactivation of Military Air Transport Service, the 1254th Air Transport Wing was inactivated on 8 January 1966 and its personnel and equipment were reassigned to 89th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
.
Lineage
- Established as: 1254th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Oct 1948
- Redesignated as: 1254th Air Transport Group, (Special Missions), 1 Aug 1952
- Redesignated as: 1254th Air Transport Group, (Heavy) (Special Missions), 1 Jul 1954
- Redesignated as: 1254th Air Transport Wing, 10 Jul 1961
- Inactivated on 8 Jan 1966
Assignments
- 1100th Special Air Missions Group, 1 Oct 1948
- 1100th Special Air Missions Wing, 16 Mar 1958
- HQ, Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, 10 Jul 1961-8 Jan 1966
Components
- 1298th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Oct 1948-8 Jan 1966
- Redesignated 98th Military Airlift Squadron (MAC)
- 1st Special Air Missions Squadron, 10 Mar 1948 (assigned to: 1100th Special Air Missions Group)
- Redesignated 1299th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Aug 1952-8 Jan 1966
- Redesignated 99th Military Airlift Squadron (MAC)
Stations
- National Airport, Washington, D.C., 1 Oct 1948
- Andrews AFB, Maryland, 10 July 1961-8 Jan 1966
Aircraft
- Boeing VC-137A-BN 58-6970; 58-6971, 58-6972
- Three commercial 707-153 bought by USAF as VIP transports. When the President was aboard, it was designated as Air Force One. All later converted to VC-137B with JT3D-3 turbofans.
- 6970 to Boeing Museum of Flight June 1996.
- 6971 to AMARC as CZ0193 Oct 8, 1998. On display at Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, AZ
- 6972 scrapped in 1996 due to severe corrosion.
- Boeing VC-137C. 62-0000 (SAM 26000)
- Special 707-353B for Office of the PresidentExecutive Office of the President of the United StatesThe Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
. The famous "Air Force One". Used for Presidential transport during the Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon Administrations. Flown to Dallas, Texas, 22 November 1963. The plane was the location of swearing-in of President Johnson later that day and returned the body of President Kennedy to Washington, D.C. that evening. The airplane was retired from service in 1972; now it is on display at USAF Museum.
- Douglas VC-54C 42-107451 “Sacred Cow”
- Used by Presidents Roosevelt and Truman. Took President Roosevelt to the Yalta ConferenceYalta ConferenceThe Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and codenamed the Argonaut Conference, held February 4–11, 1945, was the wartime meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D...
in 1945. On July 26, 1947, President Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947National Security Act of 1947The National Security Act of 1947 was signed by United States President Harry S. Truman on July 26, 1947, and realigned and reorganized the U.S. Armed Forces, foreign policy, and Intelligence Community apparatus in the aftermath of World War II...
while on board this plane. This act established the Air Force as an independent service, making the Sacred Cow the "birthplace" of the USAF. The USAF later assigned the plane to other transport duties, and the airplane was retired in October 1961. It is now on display at USAF Museum.
- Lockheed VC-121E Super Constellation, 53-7885
- "Colombine III" presidential aircraft. Ordered by US Navy as R7V-1 Bu. No. 131650 and diverted during construction as Presidential aircraft. Operated throughout the Eisenhower administration. The plane was replaced in October 1962 by Boeing VC-137C. 53-7885 is now on display at USAF Museum.
- Other (non-presidential) aircraft included the C-118 Liftmaster, the C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, and the C-131B Samaritan.