World War II The
squadron was first activated at
Bowman Field, Kentucky in February 1943, as one of the original squadrons of the
435th Troop Carrier Group. The group used
Douglas C-47 Skytrains and Douglas C-53 Skytrooopers in preparing for duty overseas with
Ninth Air Force. The 76th left the United States in October 1943, arriving at
RAF Langar, England, in early November. On arrival, it began training for participation in the airborne operation over
Normandy. The squadron flew its first combat missions on
D-Day by dropping paratroopers of
101st Airborne Division near
Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. The unit towed
Waco CG-4A and
Airspeed Horsa gliders carrying reinforcements to the same location that afternoon and on the following morning. The squadron received a
Distinguished Unit Citation for its part in
Operation Overlord, the Normandy invasion. The detachment dropped paratroopers over the assault area on 15 August and also released gliders carrying troops and equipment such as
jeeps, guns, and ammunition. The following day it flew a resupply mission over France, then transported supplies to bases in Italy before returning to England at the end of the month. The unit moved to
Bretigny Airfield, France in February 1945 to prepare for
Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the
Rhine River. Each squadron aircraft participating in this operation towed two gliders transporting troops and equipment to the east bank of the Rhine near
Wesel on 24 March. The unit then flew resupply missions to Germany in support of ground forces. the 435th Group and its squadrons moved to
Miami International Airport, where it was assigned to the newly formed
435th Troop Carrier Wing and formed its
cadre from elements of the inactivating
100th Bombardment Group. Air Force flying operations at Orlando came to a temporary end. The squadron was manned at only 25% of the strength of a regular unit. At Miami, the squadron trained with C-46s under the supervision of the active duty 2585th Air Force Reserve Training Center. The squadron was ordered into active service in March 1951 as a result of the
Korean War. Along with other reserve units called to active duty, it formed
Tactical Air Command's
Eighteenth Air Force. The squadron's initial function was to train C-46
aircrews for service in Korea. The 76th also trained with
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Although it remained at Miami, the unit deployed twice while on active duty: to
Laurinburg-Maxton Airport, North Carolina from 21 July until 1 September 1951 and to
Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire from 2 January to 3 March 1952. It was relieved from active duty and inactivated on 1 December 1952 and its mission, personnel and equipment were transferred to the regular
744th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was activated the same day. The squadron was activated as a reserve unit the same day at the same station, but with the personnel and equipment of the inactivating
812th Troop Carrier Squadron. In the reserve, the squadron once again flew the Curtiss Commandos. In 1957, the squadron once again received C-119s.
Strategic airlift and air refueling The squadron began strategic
airlift operations in 1966, and global air refueling and airlift since 1994.
Operations and decorations • Campaigns. World War II: Normandy; Rome-Arno; Southern France; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. • Decorations.
Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 5–7 June 1944.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 October 1995 – 30 September 1997. ==Lineage==