About this Unit
The Military Airlift Command (MAC) was established by the United States Air Force on January 1, 1966, as a successor to the Military Air Transport Service. Its primary mission was to provide global airlift capabilities, transporting troops, equipment, and supplies during peacetime and conflicts, including the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. MAC operated iconic aircraft such as the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy, and C-130 Hercules, playing a vital role in humanitarian and military operations worldwide. In 1992, MAC was inactivated and its responsibilities were assumed by the newly formed Air Mobility Command, reflecting an expanded mission that included both airlift and aerial refueling.
Historical Facts
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Origins in World War II: The Military Airlift Command (MAC) traces its roots to the Air Transport Command and the Ferrying Command, both established during World War II to move aircraft, troops, and supplies around the globe.
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Official Establishment: MAC was officially activated on January 1, 1966, consolidating the missions of the Military Air Transport Service (MATS) and the Tactical Air Command's airlift forces.
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Berlin Airlift: Units that would later become part of MAC played a crucial role in the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949), delivering food and supplies during the Soviet blockade of West Berlin.
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Vietnam War Support: MAC was the backbone of strategic airlift during the Vietnam War, transporting troops, equipment, and even entire helicopters to Southeast Asia.
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Operation Homecoming: In 1973, MAC aircraft brought home American prisoners of war from North Vietnam, a highly emotional and historic mission known as Operation Homecoming.
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Humanitarian Missions: MAC was extensively involved in humanitarian operations, such as the airlift of Ethiopian famine relief supplies in the mid-1980s and response to natural disasters worldwide.
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Operation Babylift: In 1975, MAC aircraft evacuated thousands of Vietnamese orphans and refugees to safety during the fall of Saigon, an event called Operation Babylift.
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Desert Shield and Desert Storm: MAC orchestrated one of the largest airlifts in history during the Gulf War, moving hundreds of thousands of troops and vast amounts of cargo to the Middle East.
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Iconic Aircraft: MAC operated legendary strategic airlifters like the C-141 Starlifter, C-5 Galaxy, and later the C-17 Globemaster III, revolutionizing global air mobility.
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Transition and Legacy: In 1992, MAC was inactivated and its mission was absorbed by the newly created Air Mobility Command (AMC), but its legacy continues to shape modern airlift and aerial refueling operations.
