John Strunack

The **913th Tactical Airlift Group** was a unit of the United States Air Force Reserve, activated in 1963 at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, Pennsylvania. Originally equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars, the group was tasked with providing tactical airlift support, including troop and cargo transport, airdrop missions, and aeromedical evacuation. In the 1970s, the unit transitioned to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, enhancing its capabilities and increasing its role in numerous training exercises and operational missions, both domestically and overseas. The 913th was inactivated in 2007 as part of Air Force restructuring but was later reactivated as the 913th Airlift Group, continuing its legacy of providing vital air mobility support.

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.