The 73rd Airlift Squadron, sometimes written as 73d Airlift Squadron, is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 932nd Operations Group, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. Originally constituted as the 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron, the unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a FrenchCroix de Guerre with Palm for its D-Day missions in Normandy in 1944. It was one of the units trained for space capsule recovery in the 1960s. The squadron was redesignated the 73rd Military Airlift Squadron in 1967, the 73rd Aeromedical Airlift Squadron in 1969, and finally the 73rd Airlift Squadron in 1994. It currently operates C-40C Clipper aircraft providing executive airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs.
73rd Airlift Squadron
C-40C Clipper as flown by the squadron
Active
9 February 1943 – 31 July 1946 1 August 1947 – 24 March 1954 8 June 1957 – present
Established in early 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force, later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States. Deployed to England in late 1943, being assigned to Ninth Air Force in England, IX Troop Carrier Command to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D-Day in June 1944.
After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom. 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 dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne attack on the Netherlands. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.
Moved to France in early 1945, and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany, participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel.
Returned to the United States in August 1945, becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces, inactivated July 1946.
It transported personnel, equipment, and supplies and airdropped airborne troops and equipment from, 1957–1967. The squadron conducted long range movement of troops, cargo, and equipment from 1965 to 1969 and trained for space capsule recovery from, 1961–1969. It augmented the active duty 375th Airlift Wing in operating the aeromedical airlift system from, 1969–2005. Since 2005 the 73d has conducted executive airlift with the 54th Airlift Squadron, an Active-Associate Squadron under TFA (Total Force Association).
Operations and decorationsedit
Combat Operations. Airborne assaults on Normandy, the Netherlands, and Germany; relief of Bastogne; transportation of passengers and cargo in ETO during World War II. Transported personnel, equipment and supplies and airdropped airborne troops and equipment, 1957–1967; long range movement of troops, cargo, and equipment, 1965–1969; and trained for space capsule recovery, 1961–1969.
Campaigns. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe
^Originally approved for the 73d Troop Carrier Squadron 30 September 1958. Reinstated in place of 1996 emblem. Robertson, Factsheet 73 Airlift Squadron
Citations
^ abcdeRobertson, Patsy (20 February 2015). . Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 20 September 2017.
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.
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.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN0-912799-12-9.
External linksedit
January 01, 1970
73rd, airlift, squadron, sometimes, written, airlift, squadron, united, states, force, reserve, squadron, assigned, 932nd, operations, group, stationed, scott, force, base, illinois, originally, constituted, 73rd, troop, carrier, squadron, unit, received, dist. The 73rd Airlift Squadron sometimes written as 73d Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron assigned to the 932nd Operations Group stationed at Scott Air Force Base Illinois Originally constituted as the 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron the unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm for its D Day missions in Normandy in 1944 It was one of the units trained for space capsule recovery in the 1960s The squadron was redesignated the 73rd Military Airlift Squadron in 1967 the 73rd Aeromedical Airlift Squadron in 1969 and finally the 73rd Airlift Squadron in 1994 It currently operates C 40C Clipper aircraft providing executive airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs 73rd Airlift SquadronC 40C Clipper as flown by the squadronActive9 February 1943 31 July 1946 1 August 1947 24 March 1954 8 June 1957 presentCountryUnited StatesBranchUnited States Air ForceTypeDistinguished Visitor AirliftPart ofAir Force Reserve Command 22nd Air Force 932nd Airlift Wing 932nd Operations GroupGarrison HQScott Air Force BaseEngagementsOperation Overlord Operation Market Garden Battle of BastogneDecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm French Fourragere Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with PalmCommandersCurrentcommanderLt Col Brandon LortonInsignia73rd Airlift Squadron emblem approved 14 December 2007 1 note 1 73rd Airlift Squadron emblem 31 July 1996 73rd Aeromedical Airlift Squadron emblem Contents 1 History 1 1 Operations and decorations 1 2 Lineage 1 3 Assignments 1 4 Stations 1 5 Aircraft 2 References 2 1 Notes 2 2 Bibliography 3 External linksHistory editEstablished in early 1943 as a C 47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States Deployed to England in late 1943 being assigned to Ninth Air Force in England IX Troop Carrier Command to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D Day in June 1944 Engaged in combat operations by dropping paratroops into Normandy on D Day 6 June 1944 and releasing gliders with reinforcements on the following day The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation for these missions After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom 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 dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne attack on the Netherlands In December it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne Moved to France in early 1945 and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945 each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel Returned to the United States in August 1945 becoming a domestic troop carrier squadron for Continental Air Forces inactivated July 1946 It transported personnel equipment and supplies and airdropped airborne troops and equipment from 1957 1967 The squadron conducted long range movement of troops cargo and equipment from 1965 to 1969 and trained for space capsule recovery from 1961 1969 It augmented the active duty 375th Airlift Wing in operating the aeromedical airlift system from 1969 2005 Since 2005 the 73d has conducted executive airlift with the 54th Airlift Squadron an Active Associate Squadron under TFA Total Force Association Operations and decorations edit Combat Operations Airborne assaults on Normandy the Netherlands and Germany relief of Bastogne transportation of passengers and cargo in ETO during World War II Transported personnel equipment and supplies and airdropped airborne troops and equipment 1957 1967 long range movement of troops cargo and equipment 1965 1969 and trained for space capsule recovery 1961 1969 Campaigns World War II Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes Alsace Central Europe Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation France 6 7 Jun 1944 Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards 20 Aug 1969 30 Jun 1971 1 Jan 1972 31 Mar 1973 24 Jul 1975 23 Jul 1977 29 Sep 1980 30 Jun 1982 1 Jun 1986 31 Jul 1988 1 Jan 1993 1 Aug 1994 French Croix de Guerre with Palm 6 7 Jun 1944 20 28 Aug 1944 French Fourragere Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm 1 Apr 1967 24 Jul 1969 Lineage edit Constituted as the 73d Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 January 1943 Activated on 9 February 1943 Inactivated on 31 July 1946 Activated in the Reserve on 1 August 1947 Re designated 73d Troop Carrier Squadron Medium on 1 July 1949 Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951 Inactivated on 1 February 1953 Activated in the Reserve on 1 February 1953 Inactivated on 24 March 1954 Activated in the Reserve on 8 June 1957 Ordered to Active Service on 28 October 1962 Relieved from Active Duty on 28 November 1962 Redesignated 73d Military Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1967 Redesignated 73d Aeromedical Airlift Squadron Associate on 25 July 1969 Redesignated 73d Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994 1 Assignments edit 434th Troop Carrier Group 9 Feb 1943 31 Jul 1946 1 August 1947 436th Troop Carrier Group 1 July 1948 434th Troop Carrier Group 1 July 1949 1 February 1953 434th Troop Carrier Group 1 February 1953 24 March 1954 434th Troop Carrier Group 8 June 1957 434th Troop Carrier Wing 14 April 1959 932d Troop Carrier later 932 Military Airlift 932 Aeromedical Airlift Group 11 February 1963 932d Operations Group 1 August 1992 present 1 Stations edit Alliance Army Air Field Nebraska 9 February 1943 Baer Field Indiana 4 28 Sep 1943 RAF Fulbeck AAF 488 England Oct 1943 RAF Welford AAF 474 England Nov 1943 RAF Fulbeck AAF 488 England 10 January 1944 RAF Aldermaston AAF 467 England 3 March 1944 Mourmelon le Grand Airfield A 80 France Feb Jun 1945 Baer Field Indiana 5 August 1945 Alliance Army Air Field Nebraska 15 September 1945 George Army Airfield Illinois 11 October 1945 Greenville Air Force Base South Carolina 2 Feb 31 Jul 1946 Lunken Airport Ohio 1 August 1947 Atterbury AFB Indiana 1 July 1949 Lawson AFB Georgia 23 Jan 1952 1 Feb 1953 Atterbury AFB Indiana 1 Feb 1953 24 Mar 1954 Dress Memorial Airport Indiana 8 June 1957 Scott AFB Illinois 16 Nov 1957 present 1 Aircraft edit C 47 Skytrain 1943 1946 1949 CG 4 Waco 1943 1945 C 46 Commando 1945 1946 1949 1953 1957 T 11 Kansan 1947 1952 1953 T 7 Navigator 1947 1952 T 6 Texan 1953 C 45 Expeditor 1953 1954 C 119 Flying Boxcar 1957 1967 C 124 Globemaster II 1967 1969 McDonnell Douglas C 9A 1969 2005 McDonnell Douglas VC 9C 2005 2011 C 40C Clipper 2007 present 1 References editNotes edit Explanatory notes Originally approved for the 73d Troop Carrier Squadron 30 September 1958 Reinstated in place of 1996 emblem Robertson Factsheet 73 Airlift Squadron Citations a b c d e Robertson Patsy 20 February 2015 Factsheet 73 Airlift Squadron AFRC Air Force Historical Research Agency Archived from the original on 27 September 2015 Retrieved 20 September 2017 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 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 Ravenstein Charles A 1984 Air Force Combat Wings Lineage amp Honors Histories 1947 1977 Washington DC Office of Air Force History ISBN 0 912799 12 9 External links edit932nd Airlift Wing Fact Sheet 932nd Airlift Wing History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 73rd Airlift Squadron amp oldid 1205414054, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
