APS looks back over 50 years

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman William Johnson
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  After more than 50 years of service, the Super Port held a celebration ceremony May 20, 2016, inside of the Department of Defense's largest aerial port.

The legacy of the aerial port began in August of 1953 when the Military Air Transport Service recognized Dover as a strategic location. The 1607th Air Terminal Squadron was then organized and Dover AFB became the East Coast embarkation point and foreign clearing base. However, on Jan. 8, 1966, the 436th Aerial Port Squadron was designated and assigned to the airlift wing.

Since its designation, the Super Port has worked under three different groups: the operations group, mission support group and where it is now, the 436th Maintenance Group. Throughout the past 50 years, the aerial port has supported numerous wartime operations such as Operation Desert Shield, Operation Desert Strom, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, along with several humanitarian missions.

Lt. Col. Jarod Blecher, 436th APS commander, said it is special to be a part of the port dawgs' history and lead the Airmen behind the squadron's success.

"It's our Airmen that are making things happen every day that makes this so special," said Blecher. "Our regulations don't dictate everything, so our Airmen have to use a little ingenuity, and after doing that for 50 years, it's pretty amazing."

The celebration kicked off with a Port Dawg Memorial Run remembering fallen port dawgs. The run was followed by a social hour inside of the aerial port. A time wall of photos was on display showing the history of the aerial port dating back to the 1960s. Shirts and coins with the 50th year celebration theme were also available.

Most notably, the 436th APS built a wooden time capsule for members to place items in. Attendees placed a large variety of items into the capsule including coins, letters and photos. The capsule will be sealed for 25 years and re-opened on the aerial port's 75th anniversary on May 20, 2041.

Retired Col. Robert King, former 436th Mission Support Group commander from 2004 to 2006, was invited to be the guest speaker at the celebration. He spoke about his time in the Air Force, both as enlisted and an officer, and how the aerial port is critical to mission at Dover AFB.

"The work that continues here day in and day out is so important," said King during his speech. "I will tell you something that nobody else around here is going to say openly or publically, 'if there wasn't an aerial port, Dover Air Force Base wouldn't even be here.'"

After King's speech, several retired port dawgs took to the podium and shared stories of their time serving at the Super Port. Former commanders and enlisted supervisors were among those who spoke.

Retired Master Sgt. Ronnie Allen served four tours and retired from Dover AFB and spoke about his love for the aerial port.

"I'm real fond of the aerial port and I've been an aerial porter all my life," said Allen. ""With the technology and people they got here, I think the aerial part has evolved great over the last 50 years and it will be interesting to see where they will be at in another 50 years."