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| Library > AFRC History > 1969-1989 > 69-89 Milestones |
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1969 - 1989 Timeline
17 May - 12 June 1969 - Air Force Reserve aircrews flew C-119 and C-124 aircraft in Exercise Exotic Dancer, a joint sponsored exercise off the coast of Puerto Rico. The exercise involved airlift, troop airdrops, and close air support. The professional performance of the Air Force Reserve units was described by the commander of Tactical Air Command as "tremendous."
 July 1970 - The Air Force Reserve's 930th Special Operations Group, Grissom AFB, Indiana, received its first A-37, the first unit-equipped jet aircraft since the F-86 left the reserve inventory in 1957.
21 August 1970 -Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird announced the Total Force concept. Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird adopted the Total Force concept in August 1970 with Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger declaring it policy in 1973. With the implementation of the Total Force Policy, the Air Force Reserve became a multi-mission force, flying the same modern aircraft as the active Air Force.
20 May 1972 - The Air Force Reserve acquired its first F-105 which was assigned to the 507th Tactical Fighter Group at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma.
 February - March 1973 - Air Force Reserve C-141 and C-9 associate aircrews, medical, aeromedical, casualty assistance, legal, chaplain, and intelligence personnel supported Operation Homecoming--the return of the American POWs from North Vietnam.
21 February 1973 - Chief Master Sergeant Robert I. Boyle became the first Senior Airman Advisor to the Commander, Air Force Reserve.
 1 April 1973 - The Air Force Reserve acquired aerial spray responsibilities, utilizing the UC-123K assigned to the 906th Tactical Airlift Group at Rickenbacker AFB, Ohio.
1 April 1973 - The Air Force Reserve inaugurated a C-5 associate unit at the 301st Military Airlift Squadron, Travis AFB, California.
October - November 1973 - Air Force Reserve C-141 and C-5 associate aircrews flew hundreds of strategic airlift missions into the Middle East during the Arab-Israeli War. The operation, named Nickel Grass, proved the Air Force concept of global mobility based on jet-powered transport aircraft.
1 September 1976 - The first KC-135 in the Air Force Reserve was assigned to the 452nd Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, California.
January 1976 - The Air Force Reserve transitioned to WC-130Hs and assigned them to the redesignated the 920th Weather Reconnaissance Group, Keesler AFB, Mississippi.
1 October 1977 - Air Force Reservists began flying KC-135 Stratotanker missions as part of the Strategic Air Command's refueling force and participated in the tanker alert force.
1 October 1978 - The Air Force Reserve began its conversion to the first F-4 unit at the 93rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, Homestead AFB, Florida.
 19 November - 22 December 1978 - Two HC-130N's and 38 reservists--aircrew members, medics, and aerial porters from Selfridge ANGB, Michigan; Charleston AFB, South Carolina; Dover AFB, Delaware; and Westover AFB, Massachusetts participated in the evacuation of survivors and victims from Georgetown, Guyana, after the outbreak of violence among the People Temple Agricultural Mission at Jonestown.
18 - 28 May 1980 - The 304th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron, Portland International Airport, Oregon flew 111 sorties around Mt. St. Helen's saving 61 lives. Other Air Force Reserve units contributed aircraft, maintenance, and communications assistance.
26 June 1980 - The Air Force Reserve fighter force was significantly modernized with the conversion to A-10s which were delivered to the 917th Tactical Fighter Group, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
1 November 1981 - The Air Force Reserve's air refueling mission expanded when the 78th Air Refueling Squadron (Heavy) (Associate) was activated as a KC-10 associate unit at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.
23 October 1983 - Air Force Reserve airlift associate units assisted in the evacuation of more than 700 American and foreign citizens from Grenada during the civil turbulence on that island. Maintenance, aerial port, and medical reservists also supported the active forces.
24 October 1983 - Air Force Reserve airlift associate aircrews evacuated wounded US Marines from Lebanon.
28 January 1984 - The Air Force Reserve began operating the F-16 at the 419th Tactical Fighter Wing, Hill AFB, Utah.
1 December 1984 - The Air Force Reserve introduced its first unit-equipped C-5 at a ceremony at the 433rd Military Airlift Wing, Kelly AFB, Texas.
1 July 1986 - The 756th Tactical Airlift Squadron at Andrews AFB, Maryland, was the first Air Force Reserve unit to be equipped with its own C-141s.
April 1986 - Crews from the 452nd Air Refueling Wing, March AFB, California, and the 78th Air Refueling Squadron, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, flew KC-135 and KC-10 tankers refueling F-111 and EF-111 aircraft that were flying from the United States during the bombing raid on Libya in Operation El Dorado Canyon.
December 1989 - Air Force Reserve units participated in Operation Just Cause, airlifting passengers and cargo to Panama. Aeromedical, special operations, and air refueling units also participated in the effort to ensure protection of Americans and US resources.
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