Activated in July 1943 as an
I Troop Carrier CommandDouglas 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 dropped 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.
Reserve operations and mobilization for the Korean War
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.
Return to reserve 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. Redesignated back to a troop carrier squadron in . 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.
The squadron has conducted worldwide airlift including Supporting contingency operations in
Panama, 1989–1990, and in
southwest Asia, 1990–1991.
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; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.