301st AS receives new mission

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Robin Jackson
  • 349th AMW Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The 301st Airlift Squadron celebrated their rich heritage while looking forward to their new mission during a transition ceremony May 25 in Bldg. P-31 at Travis. 

“Today is a historic day for this squadron, but not solely because of today’s ceremony,” said Lt. Col. Dave Pavey, acting commander for the 301st Airlift Squadron. “May 25, 1943, is the date when the U.S. Army Air Corp constituted the first iteration of our unit as the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron at Sedalia Field, Mo. Destined to join the 9th Air Force as an integral part of the Allies invasion of Nazi occupied France on D-Day, the 301st was made up of individuals from all over the United States and all walks of life ranging from farmers to lawyers to garage mechanics, just as we are now.” 

The atrium was filled with Team Travis members and honored to be present were the Honorable Harry Price, Mayor of Fairfield, the Honorable Len Augustine, Mayor of Vacaville, and Supervisor Mike Reagan, from the Solano County Board of Supervisors, District 5. 

The transition ceremony recognized the operational mission change from the C-5 Galaxy to the C-17 Globemaster III. 

“In this room there are so many of the people who continue to make our on-going conversion a success,” said Colonel Pavey. “The 21st Airlift Squadron, 60th Operations Group, and 60th Air Mobility Wing have provided much needed support for our programs, and I’d like to think we have helped them to develop in this new area."

The 301st has been flying the C-5 Galaxy since April 1973. Since becoming a C-5 unit, the 301st has participated in every world crisis with which the United States Air Force has been confronted. 

Some of the early highlights were Operation Babylift and Freedomlift, the emergency evacuation of Vietnam, Operation Nickel Grass, the emergency airlift to Israel, and support of combat operations in Lebanon and Grenada. 

The 301st began preparing for this transition in January 2005 by sending pilots and loadmasters to training. 

The ability of the 301st to generate all-Travis, all-Reserve aircrews is a great source of pride for the squadron, and the journey is far from over. 

“We look forward to strengthening these already strong working relationships with our active duty counterparts. As we get many of our crews trained from Altus and out on the road, the critical and subtle arts of coordination with many of the support agencies continues with an increased emphasis on Life Support Tactics and Intel and a host of others, both Reserve and active,” said Colonel Pavey. “We’d especially like to thank our own leaders in both the 349th Operations Group and wing for their steadfast support through this exciting time.” 

The C-17 Globemaster III will increase the Reserve wings’ ability to accomplish the Total Force, global-reach mission, which is critical to the Global War on Terrorism. 

“In addition to having much of the strategic capability of the C-5, the C-17 with its night vision capability and its unique Direct Lift Control system will allow it to operate on many unimproved surfaces as short as 3,000 feet,” said Colonel Pavey. “This capability allows our crews, along with our active duty partner, the 21st AS, to play a key role in the ongoing war on terrorism and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Simply put, the C-17 Globemaster III is the most versatile airlifter in existence and a natural airplane to base at Travis, America’s First Choice.” 

The 60th and 349th Air Mobility Wings will be the only units to concurrently operate three weapons systems within the AMC. 

Travis is scheduled to receive its first C-17 aircraft in August and the aircraft will be dedicated to the local community and called the “Spirit of Solano.”