This is a list of air cargo, airmail and airlift related events as well as a summary from the decade 1960-1969:
Summary for the decade (Based on the content of this page where unreferenced:)
Civil developments The most important civil developments of this decade are the transition to jet-powered cargo (e.g. DC-8F, 707F) and the accompanying step-change in payload (~30 tons class) and much faster long-haul cargo capability. Together with a further development of palletization / containerization (although not standardized in the industry as a whole) enabling faster turnaround and mechanised handling, this facilitated a strong growth of air cargo, although still in a secondary role behind passenger transport and a large part being transported in the bellies of passenger aircraft.
By this decade, established passenger airlines increasingly recognized air freight as a viable source of additional revenue. Many carriers organized dedicated cargo divisions and, in some cases, operated freight-only services in competition with specialist all-cargo operators. Because passenger airlines already possessed route networks, ground infrastructure, and operational systems, they were able to accommodate cargo traffic at comparatively lower marginal cost. Early narrow-body jets like the Boeing 707, Douglas DC-8 and Convair 880/990 offered significantly more usable lower-deck cargo volume than earlier piston/turboprop airliners, largely due to their pressurized, wide-fuselage designs (circular or double-bubble) allowing for substantial and better accessible baggage/freight holds (Unit Load Devices/ULDs) all in combination with more powerful engines, transforming air transport from primarily passenger-focused to include significant freight capacity, enabling bulk shipping alongside passengers. Passenger airlines further expanded their involvement in air freight by utilizing unused capacity in the lower holds of scheduled passenger aircraft, thereby integrating cargo transport into regular passenger services and creating an additional commercial channel for air freight, generally making it hard for the all-cargo airlines to compete. These advantages also contributed to sustained growth in airmail traffic, which rose from approximately 130 million tonne-kilometres in 1945 to 610 million in 1960, reaching 2.3 billion in 1968.
The end of the decade saw the first flight of the Boeing 747, marking the start of the wide-body era, as well as the founding of DHL, that would further expand the air express business in the next decade, together with Emery Air Freight, FedEx and UPS.
Military developments The 1960s marked a major transition in military air cargo from piston-powered transport fleets to the jet age, greatly increasing the speed, range, and global reach of strategic airlift. During the decade, air logistics became an essential component of military planning, particularly for the United States as Cold War commitments expanded worldwide and the Vietnam War escalated.
One of the most significant developments was the introduction of the jet-powered Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. Conceived to replace slower aircraft such as the C-124 Globemaster II, the C-141 first flew in 1963 and entered operational service in 1965. It was the world's first jet aircraft designed specifically for large-scale military cargo transport and rapidly became the backbone of U.S. strategic airlift. Its ability to transport troops, vehicles, pallets, and medical evacuees over intercontinental distances dramatically reduced deployment times compared with earlier transport aircraft.
The Vietnam War became the defining test of military air cargo operations during the decade. Beginning in the mid-1960s, U.S. airlift forces moved vast quantities of personnel, ammunition, spare parts, vehicles, and medical supplies between North America, the Pacific, and Southeast Asia. The C-141 Starlifter was heavily employed on these routes, while tactical transport aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules sustained combat operations within the theater. Strategic airlift became a continuous logistical bridge linking the continental United States with forces deployed thousands of miles away.
Organizationally, the decade also saw the modernization of American military airlift command structures. In January 1966, the long-standing Military Air Transport Service (MATS) was replaced by the Military Airlift Command (MAC), reflecting the growing importance of global air mobility and the increasing scale of strategic transport operations. The new command integrated long-range cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation, and rapid deployment capabilities under a unified structure.
Another milestone was the development of the giant Lockheed C-5 Galaxy. Designed to carry outsized cargo that could not fit inside existing transports, the C-5 made its first flight in 1968. Although it entered operational service in the following decade, its development represented a major advance in military air cargo capability and reflected lessons learned from the Vietnam War regarding the movement of heavy equipment and large vehicles by air.
The decade also witnessed important advances in humanitarian and special-purpose airlift. Military transport aircraft supported Antarctic operations, disaster relief missions, and global Cold War deployments. In 1966, a C-141 became the first jet transport to fly directly from Christchurch, New Zealand, to McMurdo Station in Antarctica, demonstrating the expanding reach of jet-powered cargo aviation.
Another key development of the decade was the widespread adoption of standardized cargo handling systems, notably pallet-based logistics. These systems allowed for rapid loading and unloading, improved interoperability between aircraft and ground infrastructure, and more efficient integration of global supply chains. This standardisation formed the backbone of modern military airlift operations.
The 1960s also witnessed the emergence of the helicopter as a major military airlift platform. During the Vietnam War, helicopters were employed on an unprecedented scale to transport troops, ammunition, supplies, artillery, and casualties between dispersed bases and combat zones. Aircraft such as the UH-1 Iroquois ("Huey"), CH-47 Chinook, and CH-54 Tarhe demonstrated how rotary-wing aircraft could provide flexible battlefield logistics independent of runways. The decade established the concept of air mobility and made helicopters an indispensable component of modern tactical and operational airlift.
By the end of the 1960s, military air cargo had evolved into a highly sophisticated global logistics system capable of rapidly moving troops, equipment, and supplies across continents. The introduction of dedicated jet transports, the experience gained during Vietnam, and the development of very-large cargo aircraft such as the C-5 Galaxy established the foundations of modern strategic airlift for the decades that followed.
Events
1960s Undated – (United States) American Airlines developed the "Astroloader" for the Boeing 707, generally recognized as the world's first powered cargo loader designed for aircraft freight handling. Undated – (United States) American Airlines introduced the "Astroroller", an early in-aircraft roller system designed to facilitate the internal movement of cargo. The Astroroller is credited with being the world's first in-plane roller mechanisms developed for aircraft cargo handling.
1960
Undated – (United States) The U.S. Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) in communication with the U.S. Air Force (USAF) revised military charter procurement practices: rather than the USAF operating all military transport, it incentivized commercial airline participation in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, and consequently also in for example Logair, rewarding carriers that provided jets and convertible aircraft capable of cargo services. February 7 – (United States) A United States Air Force C-124 Globemaster II of the MATS 1607th Air Transport Wing completed a record-setting non-stop airlift flight from Hickam AFB (Hawaii) to Dover AFB (Delaware) in 18 hours 40 minutes. May 12 – (United States) A U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules drops a record one-bundle 35,000 lb (15,876 kg) of equipment by parachute at El Centro, claimed as a world weight record for airdrops. July 9-29 – (Belgium-Congo) Shortly after the independence of Congo, Sabena begins airlifting Belgian and other European nationals out of Congo, assisted by several European airlines and the US military. Sabena used Douglas DC-6, Douglas DC-7 and Boeing 707 aircraft to fly between Léopoldville or Usumbura and Zaventem. Special challenge was for the Sabena Douglas DC-3 crews to retrieve people from the bush in eastern Congo while the airfields there were blocked by rebel soldiers. Over three weeks, 34,483 refugees were evacuated, 25,711 of them by Sabena. August 18 – (United States) A Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar successfully retrieved a capsule from the Corona reconnaissance satellite Discoverer 14 in mid-air — a first in aerospace history.
1961
Undated – (United Kingdom) British European Airways (BEA) placed an order for three Armstrong Whitworth Argosy all-cargo aircraft, the airline's first dedicated freighters; the first one was delivered and entered service later that year. Undated – (United States) Flying Tiger Line put its first Canadair CL-44 “Swingtail” freighter into service. February – (India) India issued stamps commemorating the 50th anniversary of the world's first official airmail flight (18-Feb-1911). November – (United Kingdom The General Post Office began a direct airmail service, flying between London and the cities Glasgow, Edinburgh and Belfast. December 23 – (United States / Vietnam) In Operation Chopper, U.S. Army helicopters airlift 1,000 South Vietnamese paratroopers to attack a suspected Viet Cong headquarters in South Vietnam west of Saigon.
1962
Undated – (United States) Pan American World Airways placed a landmark order for Boeing 707-321C aircraft configured for freight operations, becoming the first U.S. airline to commit to jet-powered freighters, also as part of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet. The aircraft were designed with enhanced payload capacity and range relative to earlier piston and turboprop freighters, enabling Pan Am to offer faster, longer-range all-cargo services once they entered service in following years. Undated – (United States) The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced plans to significantly expand cargo handling facilities at Idlewild Airport (now John F. Kennedy International Airport), increasing available space to approximately 590,000 square feet in response to rapidly growing demand for air freight services. Undated – (United States) The United States Navy developed and trialed vertical replenishment (VERTREP) operations to transfer supplies between ships at sea using helicopters. As part of these early efforts, Sikorsky HSS-2 Sea King helicopters (later redesignated SH-3A under the 1962 Tri-Service aircraft designation system) embarked aboard the general stores issue ship USS Altair (AK-257) and the fleet oiler USS Mississinewa (AO-144) to resupply vessels of the United States Sixth Fleet operating in the Mediterranean. January – (United States / Vietnam) United States Army Piasecki H-21C Shawnee transport helicopters were deployed to Da Nang Air Base in South Vietnam, marking the first time American aircraft operated from that base.