The 866th Air Expeditionary Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force that operates on an expeditionary basis, meaning it can be deployed worldwide to perform specific missions as needed. Originally established in 1942 during World War II, the squadron has since been redesignated and reactivated multiple times to adapt to changing military requirements. It is currently part of the Air Combat Command and primarily operates C-130 Hercules aircraft for aerial refueling, tactical airlift, and airdrop missions. The 866th AE Sq's mission is to provide rapid, flexible, and sustainable combat power to support joint and multinational operations across the globe.