RONALD REED

934th Airlift Wing

U.S. Air Force

The 934th Airlift Wing, based at Minneapolis-St. Paul Air Reserve Station in Minnesota, was established in 1963 as part of the Air Force Reserve. Originally equipped with the C-119 Flying Boxcar, the wing transitioned over the years to modern aircraft, currently operating the C-130H Hercules to provide tactical airlift capabilities. The 934th has supported numerous operations, including Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and humanitarian missions worldwide. As Minnesota’s only Air Force Reserve unit, the 934th continues to play a vital role in both national defense and disaster response efforts.

The 731st Radar Squadron was a United States Air Force unit activated during the early years of the Cold War to provide air defense radar coverage. Established in 1950, the squadron was initially stationed at Sundance Air Force Station, Wyoming, as part of the Air Defense Command’s efforts to monitor and intercept potential aerial threats to North America. The unit operated various radar systems, tracking both friendly and unidentified aircraft, and played a crucial role in the nation’s continental air defense network. The squadron was inactivated in 1968 as advances in technology and shifting defense priorities led to the consolidation of radar sites across the country.