VR-55 Historical Highlights

Wings of Gold, Summer 2005

VR-55 was established in 1976 at NAS Alameda, California and was the first Naval Air Reserve unit to fly the McDonnell-Douglas C-9B Skytrain II jet. The Minutemen, who acquired C-130Ts in 1993, have transported over 808,000 passengers and 35 million pounds of cargo over 17.6 million air miles. They have logged over 121,500 accident free flight hours over the past 29 years while achieving an overall aircraft availability rate is 98 percent.

VR-55 has played key roles in support of Operations Desert Shield, and Desert Storm. The squadron conducted air logistics missions around-the-clock as a part of the USAF's Military Airlift Command, moving USA and USMC troops from Germany to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Egypt, and Greece. It also conducted nighttime special missions in eastern European airspace.

Prior to their relocation to Point Mugu, the Minutemen were at Moffett Federal Airfield in California, moving to their current home base in 1999.

In recent years, operating from bases in Italy, Japan and Bahrain, VR-55 supported American forces assigned to IFOR operations in the Balkans. The Minutemen have also flew missions in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Ted Carlson's websiteis: www.fotodynamics.net