Expert: James Bell - 11/13/2010

Question
Mr. Bell,

I really hope that you could help me. I have this bracelet and I'm not sure if it is USAF, though I think it's more likely to be than any other. Anyway I digress, engraved on the back of this bracelet is: 22 MAS C-5 and then 07-11-20-86 ... and I've been unsuccessfully, trying to figure out what that could be. So I was just wondering maybe if you knew.

kind regards.

Answer
April -

REVISION: I knew and flew with SSgt Michael Allred on my last C-5 mission in 1987, just before switching over to the C-141.  I know as late as 2008 he was still in Solano County.  E-mail me at KC10Engr@aol.com if you would like to discuss things more.

The 22d Military Airlift Squadron (22 MAS) was activated in February of 1972 at Travis Air Force Base, California, and was assigned to fly the Lockheed C-5A Galaxy aircraft.  The squadron was "upgraded" to the C-5B in the late 1980's.  In 1993, during the McPeak era, the squadron was redesignated the 22d Airlift Squadron (22 AS).  It continues operate out of Travis and still flies the C-5 aircraft.

Your bracelet is definitely Air Force.  I am at a loss as to the significance of the numbers.  If you could send me a picture so I could see how they are displayed, I might be able to shed some light on it.  I was stationed in the 22d MAS from 1980 until 1987, and continued to fly along side the 22nd (literally in the building next door) when I transferred to the 86th MAS, a C-141 squadron.  I am familiar with most "numbers" that have significance to unit members, but again I pull up a blank from the squadron's history.

Do you know the history of the person who owned the bracelet?  What is on the FRONT of the bracelet?  Aircrew wings?  The ONLY thing I can come up with might be the owner's history of previous unit assignments.  The numbers are represented by other squadrons in the Air Force, specifically the Military Airlift Command.

7th MAS - Travis AFB, C-141 unit, moved to C-17's at McChord
11th MAS - Scott AFB Med-Evac C-9 unit
20th MAS - Charleston AFB, C-141 unit, moved to Travis in 1994, then deactivated in 1998
86th MAS - Travis AFB, C-141 unit, replaced by 20th MAS in 1994

With the exception of 11, all the other numbers 7-20-86, are C-141 units.  I knew several people that changed jobs and assignments, so this isn't entirely impossible, although most enlisted aircrew jobs on transports (C-5, C-141) don't have a place on the C-9 other then pilots.

I know I didn't shed much light, but send me a picture of the bracelet -- front and back -- and provide a little more history for me, and I might be able to get you a more definitive answer.

Sincerely,
James Bell