The 42nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, sometimes written as 42d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force, assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate as needed. Originally constituted as the 42nd Transport Squadron in 1942 and redesignated the 42nd Troop Carrier Squadron the same year, it received its present designation in 2007. It was last active at Ramstein Air Base, Germany in 2009.
As combat operations diminished, the squadron departed Alaska with the air echelon leaving on 11 February 1944 and the ground echelon following a week later. The squadron was reunited at Lawson Field, Georgia on 6 March to serve as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU).[2] RTUs were oversized units which trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters.[3] The squadron also began to participate in exercises with the parachute school at Fort Benning.[1]
However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization, were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit,[4] while the groups and squadrons acting as RTUs were disbanded or inactivated.[5] As a result, one month after the squadron arrived in Georgia, in April 1944, it was disbanded and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 811th AAF Base Unit (Parachute Flight Training).[1][6]
It was reformed as the 42d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in 2007 and allotted to USAFE to activate as needed for operations. USAFE activated the squadron from 2008 to 2009 to fly missions in the United States Africa Command area.[1]
Lineageedit
Constituted as the 42d Transport Squadron on 17 April 1942
Activated on 2 May 1942
Redesignated 42d Troop Carrier Squadron on 5 July 1942
Disbanded on 14 April 1944
Reconstituted on 6 February 1956 and redesignated 42d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (Special)
Activated on 25 October 1956
Inactivated on 8 December 1957
Redesignated 42d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on 6 November 2007 and allotted to United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate as needed
^ abcdefghijkHaulman, Daniel L. (21 November 2008). "Factsheet 42 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (USAFE)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
^"Abstract, History 42 Troop Carrier Squadron Feb 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
^"Abstract, History 42 Troop Carrier Squadron Apr 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
Bibliographyedit
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657.
Goss, William A (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II(PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
January 01, 1970
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The 42nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron sometimes written as 42d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is a provisional unit of the United States Air Force assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate as needed Originally constituted as the 42nd Transport Squadron in 1942 and redesignated the 42nd Troop Carrier Squadron the same year it received its present designation in 2007 It was last active at Ramstein Air Base Germany in 2009 42nd Expeditionary Airlift SquadronC 130 Hercules from deployed units at Ramstein Air Base in 2008Active1942 1944 1956 1957 2008 2009Country United StatesBranch United States Air ForceRoleAirliftPart ofUnited States Air Forces in EuropeEngagementsAleutian Islands Campaign 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 World War II 1 2 Special Operations 1 3 Provisional squadron 2 Lineage 2 1 Assignments 2 2 Stations 2 3 Aircraft 3 See also 4 References 4 1 Notes 4 2 BibliographyHistory editWorld War II edit nbsp C 47 making the first landing on Shemya AAF in 1943 The squadron was first activated at Elmendorf Field Alaska in May 1942 The 42d transported personnel and supplies to the Aleutian Islands until February 1944 1 As combat operations diminished the squadron departed Alaska with the air echelon leaving on 11 February 1944 and the ground echelon following a week later The squadron was reunited at Lawson Field Georgia on 6 March to serve as a Replacement Training Unit RTU 2 RTUs were oversized units which trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters 3 The squadron also began to participate in exercises with the parachute school at Fort Benning 1 However the Army Air Forces found that standard military units based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission Accordingly it adopted a more functional system in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit 4 while the groups and squadrons acting as RTUs were disbanded or inactivated 5 As a result one month after the squadron arrived in Georgia in April 1944 it was disbanded and its personnel and equipment were transferred to the 811th AAF Base Unit Parachute Flight Training 1 6 Special Operations edit nbsp SA 16s at RAF Molesworth The squadron was reactivated as a Special troop carrier squadron at RAF Molesworth in fall 1956 1 when it absorbed the personnel SA 16 and C 119F aircraft and special operations mission of the 582d Air Resupply Group In the spring of 1957 as United States Air Forces in Europe USAFE was preparing to wind down operations at Molesworth the squadron moved to RAF Alconbury where it was inactivated in December 1 The squadron s Douglas C 54 Skymasters and Douglas C 47 Skytrains were sent to Rhein Main Air Base West Germany and its Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcars were sent to the 322d Air Division at Evreux Fauville Air Base France Provisional squadron edit It was reformed as the 42d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in 2007 and allotted to USAFE to activate as needed for operations USAFE activated the squadron from 2008 to 2009 to fly missions in the United States Africa Command area 1 Lineage editConstituted as the 42d Transport Squadron on 17 April 1942 Activated on 2 May 1942 Redesignated 42d Troop Carrier Squadron on 5 July 1942 Disbanded on 14 April 1944 Reconstituted on 6 February 1956 and redesignated 42d Troop Carrier Squadron Medium Special Activated on 25 October 1956 Inactivated on 8 December 1957 Redesignated 42d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on 6 November 2007 and allotted to United States Air Forces in Europe to activate or inactivate as needed Activated on 1 October 2008 1 Inactivated on 15 June 2009 Assignments edit Eleventh Air Force 2 May 1942 attached to XI Air Force Service Command Provisional after 21 June 1942 XI Air Force Service Command 8 August 1942 attached to 11th Air Force Troop Carrier Group Provisional after 1 July 1943 60th Troop Carrier Wing 6 March 1944 14 April 1944 Third Air Force 25 October 1956 8 December 1957 404th Air Expeditionary Group 1 October 2008 1 15 June 2009 Stations edit Elmendorf Field Alaska 2 May 1942 Lawson Field Georgia 6 March 1944 14 April 1944 RAF Molesworth England 25 October 1956 RAF Alconbury England 31 May 1957 8 December 1957 Ramstein Air Base Germany 1 October 2008 1 15 June 2009 Aircraft edit Douglas C 47 Skytrain 1942 1944 Douglas C 53 Skytrooper 1944 Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcar 1956 1957 Douglas C 54 Skymaster 1956 1957 Grumman SA 16 Albatross 1956 1957 Lockheed C 130 Hercules 2008 2009 1 See also editList of United States Air Force airlift squadrons List of C 130 Hercules operatorsReferences editNotes edit a b c d e f g h i j k Haulman Daniel L 21 November 2008 Factsheet 42 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron USAFE Air Force Historical Research Agency Retrieved 10 January 2018 Abstract History 42 Troop Carrier Squadron Feb 1944 Air Force History Index Retrieved 8 May 2015 Craven amp Cate Vol VI p xxxvi Goss p 75 Maurer Combat Units p 7 Abstract History 42 Troop Carrier Squadron Apr 1944 Air Force History Index Retrieved 8 May 2015 Bibliography edit nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Maurer Maurer ed 1983 1961 Air Force Combat Units of World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 02 1 LCCN 61060979 Craven Wesley F Cate James L eds 1955 The Army Air Forces in World War II Vol VI Men amp Planes Chicago Illinois University of Chicago Press LCCN 48003657 Goss William A 1955 The Organization and its Responsibilities Chapter 2 The AAF In Craven Wesley F Cate James L eds The Army Air Forces in World War II Vol VI Men amp Planes Chicago Illinois University of Chicago Press LCCN 48003657 OCLC 704158 dd Maurer Maurer ed 1982 1969 Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II PDF reprint ed Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 405 12194 6 LCCN 70605402 OCLC 72556 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 42nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron amp oldid 1205380281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
