World War II Activated in July 1943 as an
I Troop Carrier Command Douglas C-47 Skytrain Squadron. After training in the United States, at various bases, sent to
Baer Field, Indiana for final equipping with aircraft, personnel and other equipment. Deployed to
IX Troop Carrier Command in February 1944 during the build-up prior to the Invasion of France. During the
D-Day invasion, the squadron dropped paratroops of the
101st Airborne Division in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies. During the airborne attack on The Netherlands (
Operation Market Garden, September 1944), the squadron deployed paratroops, towed gliders, and flew resupply missions. Later participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. The squadron supported the 101st Airborne Division in the
Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne on 27 December 1944. In addition, its units participated in the air assault across the Rhine River in early 1945 (
Operation Varsity) and later flew numerous freight missions to carry gasoline, food, medicine, and other supplies to allied ground forces during the
Western Allied invasion of Germany in April 1945 near Wesel. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It transported displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium after
V-E Day. Remained in Europe during the summer of 1945, inactivating as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe, October 1945.
Air Force reserve and Korean mobilization Reactivated in the reserve as a
Curtiss C-46 Commando troop carrier squadron in
Minneapolis, Minnesota during 1947. Was federalized as a result of the
Korean War in 1951, squadron personnel and aircraft being sent to active-duty units as fillers, inactivated as an administrative unit a few days later.
Reserve fighter-bomber operations Reactivated after the Korean War as a reserve fighter-bomber squadron in 1952 initially equipped with
North American F-51 Mustangs, later upgraded to
Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft.
Return to airlift mission Redesignated back to a troop carrier squadron in 1957 and moved to Milwaukee's
Billy Mitchell Field. Carried out theater transport operations and supported Air Force and Army units with troop carrier missions. Was activated during the 1962
Cuban Missile Crisis, carried Army units to South Florida in preparation of a possible invasion of Cuba. Returned Army personnel to home stations after situation was normalized and returned to reserve service. The squadron flew airlift missions worldwide, including to Southeast Asia during the
Vietnam War and to Southwest Asia during the
Gulf War. It has also participated in training
exercises, some involving the dropping or landing of airborne troops, and flew numerous
humanitarian airlift missions.
Campaigns and decorations • Campaigns: World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia. • Decorations:
Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6–7] Jun 1944.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1985 – 30 Sep 1987; 1 Oct 1990 – 30 Sep 1992; 2 Oct 1992 – 2 Oct 1993; 1 Jun 1997 – 30 Sep 1998; 1 Aug 2003 – 31 Jul 2005.
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb 1968 – 6 Nov 1972. ==Lineage==