249th Airlift Squadron is now the 144th Airlift Squadron

Posted on August 11, 2018 by alert5

The U.S. Air National Guard has deactivated the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron so that the personnel and aircraft can stand up as the 144th Airlift Squadron.

Members of the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron changed their unit affiliation to the 144th Airlift Squadron during a discreet patch-changing ceremony at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Aug. 4. The 144th AS has been a part of the Alaska Air National Guard in some form since its founding in 1952. In 2017, the 144th AS divested eight C-130H Hercules aircraft. The ceremony marks the deactivation of the 249th AS as the 144th AS assumes control of the 249th’s C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, shared with their active duty partners, the 517th Airlift Squadron. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Edward Eagerton/released)

The 144th is the founding unit of the Alaska Air National Guard.