It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing strategic and tactical airlift in the Indo-Pacific theater.

The 204th Airlift Squadron of the Hawaii Air National Guard is an associate unit of the 535th, flying the same planes.

RTUs were oversized units which trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters and assignment to an operational group.

[7] However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission.

[9] This resulted in the squadron being disbanded in the spring of 1944[4] and being replaced by the 112th AAF Base Unit (Fighter), which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment.

[4][12] With no aircraft assigned, reservists of the unit flew the North American F-82 Twin Mustangs, and later, the Republic F-84 Thunderjets[1] of the 27th.

The 535th airlifted routine cargo and passengers, provided support for Army special forces and radio relay for ground units, airdropped troops and cargo, performed emergency resupply and medical evacuation, and flew other combat airlift missions.

Resupply of the camp was so urgent that all drop-qualified crews of the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing were ordered to Pleiku to support the operation and eleven sorties were flown that day with cover from Douglas A-1 Skyraiders.

Loss of the third Caribou in five days, including one from the 458th, prompted a move to resupply the camp with night drops, with cover and illumination provided by Fairchild AC-119 Stinger gunships.

It conducts night vision goggle, low-level, air refueling and austere-airfield operations from within the world's largest area of responsibility.

Additionally, the squadron has provided emergency humanitarian relief to Haiti, Pakistan, Samoa, Kwajalein, Indonesia[2] and Japan.