About this Unit
The 438th Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS) was a support unit assigned to the 438th Military Airlift Wing (MAC) at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. Activated during the Cold War era, the 438 FMS was responsible for providing aircraft maintenance and logistical support, ensuring the operational readiness of the unit's airlift fleet, which primarily included C-141 Starlifter aircraft. As part of the Military Airlift Command (MAC), the squadron played a crucial role in supporting strategic airlift missions, both in peacetime and during contingencies. The 438 FMS was eventually inactivated or redesignated as part of Air Force restructuring efforts in the post-Cold War period.
Historical Facts
•
Unit Name and Role: The 438th Field Maintenance Squadron (FMS) was a key support unit within the Military Airlift Command (MAC), responsible for aircraft maintenance and ensuring operational readiness for airlift missions.
•
Parent Wing: The 438 FMS was part of the 438th Military Airlift Wing, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, one of the primary hubs for global airlift operations.
•
Aircraft Supported: The 438 FMS maintained a variety of aircraft over its history, including the C-141 Starlifter, a workhorse of the U.S. Air Force’s strategic airlift capabilities during the Cold War.
•
Vietnam War Support: During the Vietnam War, the squadron played a crucial role in maintaining airlift aircraft used for resupplying troops, evacuating wounded, and transporting equipment to Southeast Asia.
•
Operation Nickel Grass: Personnel and aircraft supported by the 438 FMS were involved in the 1973 airlift to Israel during the Yom Kippur War, providing critical supplies during Operation Nickel Grass.
•
Desert Storm Participation: In the early 1990s, the 438 FMS supported airlift operations for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, ensuring the rapid deployment and sustainment of coalition forces in the Gulf War.
•
Innovation in Maintenance: The unit was recognized for implementing new maintenance processes and reliability-centered maintenance programs that improved aircraft mission-capable rates.
•
Humanitarian Missions: The 438 FMS supported humanitarian airlift missions, including operations in response to natural disasters and emergencies, delivering relief supplies worldwide.
•
Unit Awards: The squadron received numerous Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards for exemplary performance, teamwork, and support of high-tempo airlift operations.
•
Legacy and Inactivation: With changes in Air Force structure and the retirement of the C-141 fleet, the 438 FMS was eventually inactivated, but its legacy lives on in the high standards of maintenance and support it set for modern airlift operations.
