Initially flown from Saigon to Tachikawa AB near Tokyo on C-124s, over 14,000 wounded soldiers received stabilization medical care. The U.S. Navy was an integral part of MATS, providing five transport squadrons to the joint service effort, but they operated under USAFE while they were part of the airlift. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy’s Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) and the United States Air Force’s Air Transport Command (ATC) … McClellan AFB, Califor… On 26 June 1948, the airlift began. In 1965 conflicting views of the Air Force and Navy triggered by the demands of the Vietnam War led to the services returning to separate airlift commands. Naval aviators flew scheduled MATS routes to Newfoundland, Iceland, Scotland, West Germany, Italy, Puerto Rico and Africa. On 1 December 1974, MAC expanded its mission by acquiring the theater troop carrying and tactical airlift mission (i.e., C-130 Hercules, C-123 Provider, C-7 Caribou) previously performed by the combat commands (TAC, PACAF, USAFE). With the end of World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command found itself in limbo. In High Top, for example, more than 260 missions were flown by MATS aircraft of all types, including the C-97's which themselves had been called to active duty. We have also been chosen by top hospitals in the U.S. including the world-renowned Mayo Clinic as the most trusted fixed-wing air medical transport service. This aircraft was on display at New England Air Museum, Bradley, Connecticut (USA), but was destroyed by a tornado on 3 October 1979. The MATS role was purely logistical, and operated from the United States to Japan. From Westover, the Atlantic Division took charge and airlifted the wounded to Orly Air Base in France and Oran Airport in Algeria. From start to finish, the mission took about a month to complete. During the 1958 reorganization, senior Naval officers were on the staffs of the commanders of both EASTAF and WESTAF, and at MATS Headquarters. $5.50. On 1 January 19566, as a result of the Navy announcing the withdraw of its components, MATS was rededignated Military Airlift Command. Railroads tracks were destroyed, barges were stopped on the rivers, and highways and roads blocked. These aircraft returned more than 9,600 ANG personnel and 1,400 tons of equipment. The jets brought one battle group back. This page was last modified on 25 December 2015, at 17:00. Lt. Gen. Joe W. Kelly, MATS commander, was on hand to greet the first arriving aircraft, Despite "miserable" weather, no accidents or incidents occurred. During World War II, the USAAF Air Transport Command provided worldwide transport service to every continent on the globe. In the midst of one of the heaviest airlift schedules it has ever had (more than 17 airlifts under way or developing during October and November), MATS was called on to support the buildup of forces in the southeastern part of the United States. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. In 1958, MATS airlifted 5,500 tons of cargo and 5,400 troops to the Middle East in support of the Lebanese government, also supporting the move of a TAC Composite Air Strike Force to the area. The airlift itself was a USAFE operation and all airplanes assigned to it were assigned to one of five troop carrier groups that were sent to Europe to operate the airlift. In the midst of one of the heaviest airlift schedules it has ever had (more than 17 airlifts under way or developing during October and November), MATS was called on to support the buildup of forces in the southeastern part of the United States. Military Air Transport Service. Upon its establishment, Military Air Transport Service inherited much of Air Transport Command's worldwide network of stations and transport routes. Also producing all Air Force training films; public relations films; monthly newsreels, and coordinating with private filmmakers with regards to use of Air Force equipment and facilities. Provided rescue of downed military service members in enemy occupied areas; humanitarian relief to civilians in emergency conditions (floods, hurricanes, earthquakes). Redesignated as Military Airlift Command on 1 Jan 1966. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. MATS C-124s and C-133 Cargomasters were common sights. In West Germany, the troops participated in ground maneuvers with NATO forces. Performed unconventional warfare missions during the Korean War and early years of the Cold War (1950–1956). Williams had been pressing for the development of a long-range troop carrier airplane when he made his statement. Theater transport forces assigned to the Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command, which became the 315th Air Division, operated supply routes into Japan and provided troop carrier services for UN forces. Our U.S. Air Force Military Air Transport Service patch is a regulation, full color, embroidered military patch. These aircraft returned more than 9,600 ANG personnel and 1,400 tons of equipment. In December 1962, MATS Douglas C-124 Globemasters ended six years of seasonal flying as members of the Air Force-Navy team resupplying scientific stations in the Antarctic. A detachment of VR-7 was also stationed at Tachikawa Air Base, Japan. From Japan, the wounded were airlifted across the Pacific Ocean to the Western United States on MATS C-97s. Also in 1958, MATS flew 144 airlift trips to the Far East when the crisis arose in the Formosa Straits, supporting the move of a Composite Air Strike Force, and airlifting a squadron of F-104 Starfighters to Taiwan. On 16 October, MATS began working at its wartime activity rate. MATS transports delivered crucial aircraft parts to the airlift bases in Europe. In 1982, the World War II Air Transport Command (ATC) (1942-1948) and the Military Air Transport Service were consolidated with Military Airlift Command (MAC) (1966-1992). Provided rescue of downed military service members in enemy occupied areas; humanitarian relief to civilians in emergency conditions (floods, hurricanes, earthquakes). VR-3 was assigned to McGuire AFB and VR-22 was assigned to the Naval Air Transport Station at Naval Station Norfolk/Chambers Field, Virginia. In addition, military flights were made to Don Muang Airport in Bangkok which were designated for the Thai Militarily to protect their border along the Mekong River, or clandestinely to the Laotian Government, who were fighting communist rebels in Laos. Consolidated (13 May 1982) with Military Airlift Command, which was established, and activated, as Military Air Transport Service, a major command, on 1 Jun 1948. This way the command would be sanctioned by the Department of Defense, and not by either the Air Force or the Navy. U.S. Air Force Patch. Only service members, retirees and their families are eligible. MILITARY AIR TRANSPORT SERVICE. They seized upon testimony by former I Troop Carrier Command commander Major General Paul L. Williams that the Air Force should have a long-range troop deployment capability, and began advocating that ATC transports could be used to deploy troops. In 1987, MAC was designated as the Air Force component of the United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) unified joint-service command. It was redesignated Military Airlift Command on 1 January 1966. During the 1956 Suez Crisis, MATS MATS airlifted 1,300 Colombian and Indian troops from Bogotá and Agra to the United Nations staging area in Naples, Italy, to supplement the UN police force in the Suez area. Troop carrier transports from around the globe began making their way to Germany, where they were assigned to United States Air Forces, Europe. Note: 4-digit Military Air Transport Service units at all levels were considered Major Command (MAJCOM) provisional units by the USAF due to MATS being a Department of Defense Unified Command. In 1987, MAC was designated as the Air Force component of the United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) unified joint-service command. Initially flown from Saigon to Tachikawa AB near Tokyo on C-124s, over 14,000 wounded soldiers received stabilization medical care. Free shipping for many products! During Vietnam, MATS was jokingly said to be an acronym for "Maybe Again, Tomorrow, Sometime."[1]. After the 1964 Gulf of Tonkin Incident, and the decision being made to escalate United States involvement in the Vietnam War, MATS performed a critical role in the air transport of personnel and equipment to the war zone. Naval aviators flew scheduled MATS routes to Newfoundland, Iceland, Scotland, West Germany, Italy, Puerto Rico and Africa. While the war had firmly established the necessity of a troop carrier mission, most military officers believed the role performed by ATC should be provided by contract carriers. MATS also amalgamated several other missions into its organization: The Special Air Mission was the transport of the President of the United States; Vice-President; Cabinet Members; Member of Congress; Senators, and designated other individuals, such as Foreign Heads of State. Langley AFB, Virginia 5. Throughout 1964 and 1965 MATS flew large numbers of United States Army and United States Marines to South Vietnam. Designated a specified command of the Department of Defense (remained a major command of the Air Force) on 1 Feb 1977. During Deep Freeze III, a C-124 air-dropped a seven-ton tractor to an isolated site, and during Deep Freeze 62 (October–December 1961), three C-124's made the longest flight in Antarctic history, a 3,100-mile round trip to airdrop supplies. The job title of "Air transportation" personnel in the Air Force may seem like a redundant term, but they have some very specific duties that are crucial to the success of this branch of the U.S. military. With the end of World War II, the United States Army Air Forces Air Transport Command found itself in limbo. Also, as a cost-saving measure, MATS would combine the resources of Air Transport Command with those of the Naval Air Transport Service. Douglas C-54E-10-DO Skymaster 44-9093. Together they constituted MATS EASTAF's Naval Air Transport Wing, Atlantic. In December 1962, MATS Douglas C-124 Globemasters ended six years of seasonal flying as members of the Air Force-Navy team resupplying scientific stations in the Antarctic. Following the NATO ground manoeuvers in Europe, the troops were lifted back to the United States on 21 November 1963. On 1 July 1957 a reorganization of USAF troop carrier forces included the transfer of Tactical Air Command Eighteenth Air Force heavy-lift C-124 Globemaster II units to MATS. 1. While the war had firmly established the necessity of a troop carrier mission, most military officers believed the role performed by ATC should be provided by contract carriers. In its original organization, a Rear Admiral commanded the MATS Pacific Division and another rear admiral served as MATS vice-commander. MATS stands for Military Air Transport Service (also Manual of Air Traffic Services and 147 more ) What is the abbreviation for Military Air Transport Service? MATS was the first Joint-Service command and Naval aircrews participated in every major MATS airlift operation. As a result of the construction of the Berlin Wall and the ending of free crossing to and from their occupation zone of Berlin, more than 100 MATS =aircraft from EASTAF and WESTAF participated in deployments of American forces from the United States to West Germany and France. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was activated under United States Air Force Major General William H. 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