Japan to Washington, D.C in under 48 hours. Later Military Air Transport Service (MATS) used Shemya and Davis AFB as refueling stops during the 1950s. MATS established the 1727th Air Support Squadron at Elmendorf in July 1950, and the squadron provided aerial port service for AAC with cargo and personnel C-124 Globemaster flights from McChord AFB, Washington. In 1966, Elmendorf also began providing more support for Military Airlift Command (MAC) (now Air Mobility Command) with C-5 Galaxy and C-141 Starlifter flights to and from the Far East becoming a common sight with the expansion of the aerial port at the base (602d Military Airlift Support Squadron) in January 1966 for airlift supporting the Southeast Asia requirements. Initially referred to as Fly Fast, the operational name was changed in 1967 to Combat Pacer. This was upgraded to the 616th Military Airlift Group in 1975, and remains a part of the 3d Group today at Elmendorf. MAC also used Eielson AFB, Shemya AFS and King Salmon and Galena as stops for its aircraft. In addition to MAC aircraft, C-130s also initially used Elmendorf AFB as a stopover base for Southeast Asia operations. On 1 October 1967, the Air Force switched C-130s to the Central Pacific route. Realignment In 1966, the Air Force 21st Composite Wing was activated at Elmendorf AFB, replacing the AAC provisional 5040th Air Base Wing which was inactivated. All of the AAC's flying units were assigned to the new Air Force wing's control. AAC, however, retained control of the radar aircraft control and warning sites until 1977, when the USAF 531st Aircraft Control and Warning Group was activated and the AC&W squadrons were assigned to its control. The 21st Composite Wing brought the following squadrons under its control: 17th Troop Carrier Squadron, C-130s 317th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, F-102s 21st Operations Squadron, C-118, C-123, EC-54, ET-33, EB-57, H-21 and U-6 This mixture of jet and propeller-driven aircraft, along with helicopters and utility aircraft represented a conglomeration of AAC's aircraft and was supported by four different maintenance squadrons. Budget reductions under the Nixon administration in 1969 meant that the assigned strength dropped to 9,987; the Aleutian DEW Line segment was dismantled; Fire Island, Unalakeet and Northeast Cape AFS were closed and the squadrons inactivated. The 317th FIS was also inactivated on 31 December 1969, with the permanently stationed F-102s being sent to the Air National Guard at CONUS bases, leaving AAC