The C-17s will be flown by the 535th Airlift Squadron. On September 16, 1985, the Secretary of the Interior designated Hickam AFB a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its key role in the World War II Pacific campaign. A bronze plaque reflecting Hickam's "national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America" took its place among other memorials surrounding the base flagpole. Dominating the area is a large bronze tablet engraved with the names of those who died as a result of the 1941 attack. Other reminders of the attack can still be seen. Bullet holes mark many buildings in use, including World War II era hangars and the base hospital., including the tattered American flag that flew over the base that morning. It is on display in the lobby of the Pacific Air Forces Headquarters building, whose bullet-scarred walls (the structure was a barracks and mess hall known as "the Big Barracks" in 1941) have been carefully preserved as a reminder to never again be caught unprepared. Accidents and incidents On 22 March 1955, a United States Navy Douglas R6D-1 Liftmaster on descent to a landing in darkness and heavy rain strayed off course and crashed into Pali Kea Peak in the southern part of Oahus Waianae Range, killing all 66 people on board. It remains the worst air disaster in Hawaiis history and the deadliest heavier-than-air accident in the history of U.S. naval aviation. Previous names Flying Field, Tracts A and B, near Ft Kamehameha, United States Army (Origins) Hickam Field, 21 May 1935 Army Air Base, APO #953 (official designation, 16 May 1942 – 31 May 1946) Hickam Field, 1 Jun 1946 Hickam Air Force Base, 26 March 1948 – 1 October 2010 Major commands to which assigned 1935–1940: Hawaiian Dept, United States Army 1940–1942: Hawaiian Air Force 1942–1944: Seventh Air Force 1944–1945: Army Air Forces Pacific Ocean Areas (Provisional) 1945: Seventh Air Force 1945–1946: Air Transport Command 1946–1949: Pacific Air Command 1949–1955: Military Air Transport Service 1955–1957: Far East Air Forces 1957–present: Pacific Air Forces Geography Hickam Air Force Base consists of , valued at more than $444 million. It was originally bounded on the north by Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, on the west by the Pearl Harbor entrance channel, on the south by Fort Kamehameha, and on the east by the airport complex. The original main gate is reached via Nimitz Highway (Hawaii