Active 1975–1994 Branch Air Force | Country United States Role Special Operations | |
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The 1st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was a unit of the United States Air Force. It was activated on 1 July 1975 when the 1st Aeromedical Evacuation Group was inactivated. It was inactivated on 1 July 1994 and replaced by the 23d Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron.
History
In October 1983, the 1 AES deployed to Grenada in support of Operation Urgent Fury. The squadron aeromedically evacuated numerous casualties during the operation. From December 1989 through January 1990, the 1 AES was deployed in support of Operation Just Cause. During this period, 1 AES personnel established and supported the Joint Casualty Collection Point at Howard AFB, Panama. In addition to providing life-saving intervention and treatment of combat casualties, 1 AES personnel aeromedically evacuated wounded soldiers to stateside medical treatment facilities.
On 10 August 1990, the 1 AES deployed personnel to the Middle East for support of theater aeromedical operations in Operation Desert Shield. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, thousands of theater and strategic patient movements were managed by 1 AES personnel. Following these operations, the 1 AES deployed personnel in support of Operation Provide Comfort from May through October 1991. The squadron also provided support for US forces in Somalia in Operation Restore Hope. The 1 AES deployed to Mogadishu, Somalia, on 18 December 1992 and managed more patient movements on aeromedical evacuation missions.
The 1 AES was realigned under the 317th Airlift Wing, Air Mobility Command, on 1 July 1992 as part of an Air Force-wide reorganization, and on 16 July 1993, the 1 AES was realigned under Air Combat Command and assigned to the 23rd Wing. Finally, the 1st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was inactivated on 1 July 1994 and on the same date, the 23rd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron was activated.