535th Tactical Airlift Squadron

535th Airlift Squadron
535th Airlift Squadron C-17 Globemaster III at Hickam AFB
Active	1943–1944; 1949–1951; 1952–1953; 1967–1972; 2005–Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Pacific Air Forces 15th Wing 15th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
Nickname(s)	The Tiger Line (Viet Nam era)
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Scott R. Raleigh
Insignia
535th Airlift Squadron Emblem (approved 6 April 2007)
535th Tactical Airlift Squadron Emblem (approved 11 June 1968)
Viet Nam squadron tail code	KH

The 535th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing airlift in the Pacific theater.

The squadron was first established during World War II as the 535th Fighter Squadron. It served as a Replacement Training Unit for Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilots until it was disbanded in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces in 1944 designed to streamline training organizations. In 1949, the squadron was reactivated in the Air Force Reserve and served as a corollary unit of the active duty 27th Fighter Group and later, as the 535th Fighter-Escort Squadron of the 12th Fighter-Escort Group until it was ordered to active service in 1951. Its personnel were used to man active duty units and the squadron was inactivated. The squadron was redesignated in 1952 as the 535th Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated at Atterbury Air Force Base to replace elements of the 923d Reserve Training Wing. The following year the squadron was inactivated and replaced at Atterbury by the 71st Troop Carrier Squadron.

The unit was activated again in Viet Nam as a C-7 Caribou squadron assigned to the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing and the squadron was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations for its actions during the war. The unit was designated the 535th Airlift Squadron and activated in its current role in 2005.