Airlift Pins and Buttons

The 8th Airlift Squadron is part of the 62d Airlift Wing as McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide.

The squadron was first activated in April 1943 as the 701st Bombardment Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed with its Consolidated B-24 Liberators to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign until the end of hostilities, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its actions. Now, is part of the 315th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.

The Berlin Blockade was from 24 June 1948 to 11 May 1949. It began when the Soviet Union blocked railway and road access by the three Western powers (the Americans, British, and French) to the Western-occupied sectors of Berlin. The Blockade stopped after the Western powers used airplanes to airlift food and other things that people needed. The Soviet Union began the blockade because they thought that monetary reform in the three German Occupation zones controlled by the Western powers which started on 21 June 1948 made the western parts of Germany too strong and wanted to force the west out of their occupation zone. The Russians wanted one Germany, without an army, that they could control.

The Berlin Blockade (24 June 1948 – 12 May 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post–World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. The Soviets offered to drop the blockade if the Western Allies withdrew the newly introduced Deutsche Mark from West Berlin. The Western Allies organised the Berlin airlift (26 June 1948 – 30 September 1949) to carry supplies to the people of West Berlin, a difficult feat given the size of the city's population.

In May 1961, received the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and continued to carry on its Cold War mission of tactical nuclear weapons delivery. Twice in the early 1960s when Cold War tensions were elevated due to the 1961 Berlin Wall crisis and 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis the squadron rose to a high level of alert. Was upgraded to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II in 1966.

Ideal for C-130 Hercules veterans, flight simulator gamers, C-130 Hercules model kit builders and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Ideal for C-130 Hercules veterans, flight simulator gamers, C-130 Hercules model kit builders and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

C-130 H3 with American Flag from the 96th Airlift Squadron from Minnesota "Flying Vikings" aka "Pillagers of the North"

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for RAF Hercules veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool British C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for Hercules veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool British C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for Hercules veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool British C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Established as part of the Army Air Corps in January 1938 at Olmsted Field, Pennsylvania but not activated until 1 December 1940. Was ordered deployed to England, assigned to Eighth Air Force in June 1942.

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

This idea was created by combining the concept of the Oni mask with biting Coilover.

Perfect for Hercules veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool British C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

In May 1961, received the Republic F-105 Thunderchief and continued to carry on its Cold War mission of tactical nuclear weapons delivery. Twice in the early 1960s when Cold War tensions were elevated due to the 1961 Berlin Wall crisis and 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis the squadron rose to a high level of alert. Was upgraded to the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II in 1966.

Perfect for C-130 Hercules veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Moose veterans, flight simulator gamers, cargo airplane model kit builders and Australian military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool Globemaster 3 gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Globemaster veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-17 Moose gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Globemaster veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-17 Moose gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Globemaster veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-17 Moose gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Globemaster veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-17 Moose gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Globemaster veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-17 Moose gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Globemaster veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-17 Moose gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for Hercules veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool British C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Moose veterans, flight simulator gamers, cargo airplane model kit builders and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool Globemaster 3 gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Ideal for C-130 Hercules Vietnam veterans, flight simulator gamers, C-130 Hercules model kit builders and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-130 Hercules veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and British military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for veterans, C-130 model kit builders, flight simulator gamers and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 Hercules gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-17 Moose veterans, flight simulator gamers, cargo airplane model kit builders and military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool Globemaster 3 gift at Christmas and birthdays.

Perfect for C-130 Hercules veterans, flight simulator gamers, transport aircraft model kit builders and US military aviation enthusiasts. Also makes a cool C-130 gift at Christmas and birthdays.