First C-135 Joins the Military Air Transport Service

June 9, 1961

Military Air Transport Service accepts delivery of the first C-135 Stratolifter, introducing jet cargo aircraft into the MATS fleet.

Related Content

PHOTOS: From F-22s to CV-22s, the Aircraft of REFORPAC

July 25, 2025
Thousands of Airmen and scores of aircraft have poured into the Indo-Pacific region over the past few weeks for Resolute Force Pacific 2025, the Air Force’s largest-ever contingency-response exercise in the region.

Air Force Creates New Deputy Chief Role for Cyber and Comms

July 25, 2025
The Air Force has split one of its top leadership roles to create a new deputy chief of staff job focused on command, control, communications, and cyber—a move meant to devote more attention to missions at the core of modern warfare.

Airman’s Death Prompts Investigation into Safety of M18 Pistols

July 24, 2025
The Air Force has launched an investigation into whether the pistol carried by its security forces is safe, after 21-year-old Airman Brayden Lovan died July 20 at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, in an incident involving a discharged firearm, the service said July 24.

Space Force Acquisition, Ops Units Team Up for More Capable Satellites

July 24, 2025
The Space Force stood up two new acquisition deltas focused on missile warning and space sensing this month, marking the next step in the service's push to link the teams that buy satellites with the ones that operate them, the head of Space Systems Command said July 23.

Lohmeier Confirmed as Air Force’s No. 2 Civilian Leader

July 24, 2025
The Senate confirmed Matthew Lohmeier to serve as Air Force undersecretary in a 52-46 vote July 24, elevating the former Space Force officer to the service’s No. 2 civilian job four years after he was fired from command amid an investigation into whether his comments on a conservative podcast amounted…

Guetlein Talks Golden Dome Priorities, Says Missile Interceptors are Feasible

July 23, 2025
Freshly installed as the direct reporting program manager for the Golden Dome missile defense project, Gen. Michael A. Guetlein said July 22 that his first line of effort will be to create a command-and-control network—and argued that the space-based interceptors envisioned for the project are technically difficult but not infeasible.