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The mission of the 313th consists of airlift and aerial delivery on a worldwide basis, flying the
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III jet transport. The majority of the airlift mission is conducted in the Pacific and Alaska; however, missions are also flown to Europe, Africa, and South America.
History
Patch history
Patch created by Larry Kangas in 1983. On a light blue disc in front of a black mountain with a white snow cap, a blue demi-globe outlined and grid lined yellow issuant from base overall a horizontal arced flight symbol above a white parachute supporting a white triangle within a narrow yellow border
World War II
Activated in late 1943 as a
Douglas C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under
I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the
IX Troop Carrier Command. Was not used in combat operations, however did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.
Air Force reserve and Korean Mobilization
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Reserve fighter-bomber operations
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25 July 1968, the squadron transferred to
McChord Air Force Base, Washington, where it was redesignated as the 313th Military Airlift Squadron as part of the 939th Military Airlift Group. At McChord, it flew the
Lockheed C-141A Starlifter and with a global strategic mission, 313th aircrews saw much service providing
airlift to
Southeast Asia.
Lineage
Constituted as the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 October 1943
Activated on 1 November 1943
Inactivated on 7 September 1946
Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 10 May 1949
Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949
Ordered to active duty on 1 April 1951
Inactivated on 2 April 1951
Redesignated 313th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952
Activated in the reserve on 13 June 1952
Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 September 1957
Ordered to active duty on 28 October 1962
Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962
Redesignated 313th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967
Redesignated 313th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 July 1968
Redesignated 313th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992
Redesignated 313th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994[1]
Decorations.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 August 2002 – 31 July 2002.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 December 1964 – 22 January 1965; 26 January 1968 – 1 June 1969; 1 July 1974 – 30 June 1975; 1 July 1975 – 30 June 1977; 1 July 1992 – 30 June 1994; 1 July 1994 – 15 August 1995; 1 July 1996 – 30 June 1998; 1 August 2000 – 31 July 2002; 16 August 2003 – 17 August 2004; 18 August 2004 – 17 August 2005; 18 August 2005 – 17 August 2006; 18 August 2006 – 17 August 2007; 18 August 2007 – 17 August 2008; 18 August 2008 – 17 August 2009.
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 April 1966 – 28 January 1973.