<p>The wing was formed on 8 January 1966 to replace the 1254th Air Transport Wing at Andrews AFB as the primary unit performing special missions duties to transport Presidential, governmental, VIP and senior military passengers. Despite being downgraded to group status for a brief period in 1977, the unit has retained its mission unchanged. A detachment was located at Hickam AFB with a pair of C-135Cs for VIP duties within the Pacific region on behalf of the CinC PACAF, although this became part of PACAF in 1992. 89th MAW aircraft were active in the Gulf during Desert Shield/Storm transporting statesmen between the Middle East and European capitals. The unit was redesignated 89th Airlift Wing on 12 July 1991 when the former 89th MAW was amalgamated with the 1776th ABW.
