180th Airlift Squadron

Add links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

180th Airlift Squadron
Distinguished Unit Citation
French Croix de Guerre with Palm[2]
Insignia
180th Airlift Squadron emblem
180th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][2]
438th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1]
Tail markingGray Stripe "St Joseph" Black Letters

The 180th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Missouri Air National Guard

C-130H2 Hercules
.

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 438th Bombardment Squadron and equipped with the

V-J Day
, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.

In 1946, the squadron was allotted to the

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
operations until January 1953, when it transferred its personnel and equipment to a regular Air Force Unit and was inactivated and returned to state control.

The squadron returned to state control in 1953, om in57 it became as a

air refueling
. Prior to 1968, it was a strrategic airlift unit, but since 1976 has performed in a tactical role.

Mission

History

World War II

Organization and preparation for combat

The

319th Bombardment Group. a Martin B-26 Marauder medium bombardment group.[2][3][4] The squadron trained for combat at Barksdale and Harding Field, in Louisiana. The air echelon began ferrying its aircraft to England via the North Atlantic route on 27 August 1942, with the squadron officially moving to RAF Shipdham on 12 September 1942. By late October to early November,[c] squadron aircraft were in place at RAF Horsham St Faith.[2][5] The ground echelon sailed on the RMS Queen Mary on 5 September.[5]

Mediterranean Theater of Operations

Formation of 319th Bombardment Group B-26 Marauders taking off

The air echelon of the squadron departed England on 12 November 1942 for

Arzeu beach on 8 November.[3] However, it was not until the following March that all aircraft had made the move to North Africa.[5]

The squadron began combat quickly, flying its first sorties during November. Until March 1943, it made strikes at enemy targets in Tunisia, including railroads, airfields, and harbor installations. It struck

enemy shipping in the Mediterranean Sea to block reinforcements and supplies from reaching opposing Axis forces.[3]

In March 1943, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and moved to

Decimomannu Airfield, Sardinia to shorten the range to targets in central Italy.[3]

From January to March 1944, the squadron supported Allied ground forces as they advanced in the

French Croix de Guerre with Palm.[3]

A-26 at Machinato Airfield in 1945

In August and September 1944, the squadron supported

Po River. It also attacked some targets in Yugoslavia. It continued combat operations while transitioning into the North American B-25 Mitchell from its Marauders. At the end of the year, the squadron was withdrawn from combat and returned to the United States in January 1945 to begin training with the Douglas A-26 Invader in preparation for deployment to the Western Pacific.[3]

Combat in the Pacific

The squadron completed its training in the new bomber and departed to reenter combat in April 1945. It arrived on

V-J Day. It was briefly assigned to VII Bomber Command when the 319th departed Okinawa on 21 November 1945. The squadron left in December, and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 6 January 1946.[2][3]

The squadron completed its training in the new bomber and departed to reenter combat in April 1945. It arrived on

V-J Day. The squadron left Okinawa on 21 November 1945, and was inactivated at the Port of Embarkation on 13 December 1945.[2][3]

Missouri Air National Guard

The squadron was reactivated and redesignated the 180th Bombardment Squadron, and was allotted to the

131st Composite Group
.

Korean War activation

Squadron B-26C at Bordeaux-Mérignac AB, France, 1951-1952[d]

On 1 April 1951 the 180th was

Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base, France.[7]

The 180th Squadron was the first in the 126th Wing to deploy, taking off from Langley on 30 October. During its flight across the North Atlantic, it was accompanied by a pair of Douglas C-47 Skytrains to provide communications support.[8] The ground echelon sailed for France aboard the USS General H. F. Hodges. The only accident during the wing's deployment occurred when the wing tip of a squadron B-26 came in contact with the tail cone of another as they were coasting into France, although both planes landed safely.[9]

Bordeaux had minimal facilities to support the squadron. Personnel were quartered in tents, and aircraft maintenance had to be performed outdoors due to lack of hangars.

French Air Force station to participate in Operation Grand Slam. When the squadron was mobilized, Tactical Air Command decided that the turret system on the B-26 Invader was obsolete. It grounded the squadron's experienced gunners and transferred them to other units. In November 1951, as the squadron arrived in France, this determination was reversed, and the squadron began to receive untrained airmen as gunners, The squadron improved its gunner's proficiency especially in January and February 1952 through its participation in Operation Vampire, a combined air to air gunnery exercise with French de Havilland Vampires.[11]

Squadron enlisted strength was depleted by about 60% by a Headquarters, United States Air Force (USAF) early release program, that affected ANG airmen. Those whose enlistments would expire later in the year, World War II veterans, and "non-essential" personnel were all released from active duty by April. This problem could have been worse, but while reorganizing at Langley, about 25% of the squadron were assigned from the regular Air Force.[12]

B-26C in night intruder camouflage[f]

In February 1952, USAF transferred 40 B-26s to the French Air Force and the 126th Wing was charged with the initial training of three to six crews per month.[13] Starting in April 1952, the squadron was tasked to support USAF Project 7109. Under this project, it deployed crews to Korea for 90 day temporary duty. This project provided the unit with a cadre of experienced combat crews, and helped alleviate a shortage of crews in combat. The squadron continued to support his program until it was inactivated and returned to the National Guard.[14]

In May 1952, the squadron moved to its intended base, Laon-Couvron Air Base, whose runway had been completed in March.[15] The squadron was not combat capable during its stay at Bordeaux, for the base lacked bombs, bomb loading vehicles and rockets.[16] Base construction continued at Laon during the squadron's stay there[17] Manning problems continued after the squadron move. By 1 August, all officer aircrew were from the regular Air Force. At Laon, the squadron began bombing and rocketry training in addition to the gunnery training. It participated in close air support exercises with various NATO allies.[18] On 2 November, the squadron lost two B-26s during NATO exercise in Italy.[19]

In September, the squadron was designated as being combat ready.

822d Bombardment Squadron, which was simultaneously activated. A few ANG officers remained on active duty for as much as six months.[20][22]

Return to the Missouri Air National Guard

Returning to Rosecrans Airport, the 180th was reformed as a light bombardment squadron in January 1953. It received B-26 Invaders that returned from the Korean War and trained primarily in night bombardment missions, which the aircraft specialized in while in Korea.

With the removal of the B-26 from bombing duties in 1957 as neared the end of their service lives, the squadron received some

air defense mission on 1 July 1957, then transferred out the F-80s and was redesignated as the 180th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 April 1958, performing aerial reconnaissance
missions for the next four years.

Strategic airlift

On 14 April 1962, the 180th was redesignated the 180th Air Transport Squadron and in wartime was gained by

139th Air Transport Group was established, the 180th becoming the group's flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 139th Group headquarters, 139th Material Squadron (Maintenance), 139th Air Base Squadron, and the 139th USAF Dispensary.[23]

The 180th augmented MATS strategic airlift forces worldwide in support of the Air Force's needs. Throughout the 1960s, the unit flew long range transport missions in support of Air Force requirements, frequently sending aircraft to Europe, Alaska, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and during the Vietnam War, to South Vietnam, Okinawa and Thailand. With the replacement of MATS by Military Airlift Command, the squadron was redesignated the180th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1966.

Air Refueling

England AFB, Louisiana.[g]

In 1969, the 180th had a change in mission when the squadron's wartime gaining command changed from MAC to

United States Air Forces in Europe flying air refueling missions in the KC-97 supporting missions of deploying aircraft to NATO for tactical exercises.[23]

SAC did not have sufficient

alert mission and the growing requirements of the Vietnam War. Operation Creek Party was initiated in 1967 to use older Air National Guard KC-97ls to provide in-flight refueling services for fighter aircraft assigned to aUSAFE Creek Party aircraft normally deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. The squadron maintainers, working in austere conditions, usually outdoors played a vital role in sustaining their aging KC-97Lst. Creek Party was the earliest sustained overseas volunteer rotation by a reserve component of the U.S. armed forces to support a real-world military mission in a situation short of war. These deployments continued during the entire time the squadron operated KC-97s.[24][25]

Tactical airlift

In 1976 the KC-97s were retired by SAC and the unit returned to MAC as its gaining command. The 180th was re-equipped with

Lockheed C-130A Hercules tactical airlifters and returned to its transport mission. With the C-130s the 180th supported Operation Volant Oak and Operation Coronet Oak at Howard Air Force Base, Panama.[citation needed
]

During a 180th deployment to

Timehri International Airport, Guyana with US embassy officials that they had picked up in Venezuela as well as food and supplies meant for the survivors the Americans hoped to take out of Guyana. That, of course, was before it became apparent that most of the more than 900 Peoples Temple members were lying dead in Jonestown.[citation needed
]

In December 1989, the 180th was once again deployed at Howard when

Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. It was obvious that the C-130s were not doing well against the ground and air threats posed in the Red Flag exercise. After approval from the National Guard Bureau and tacitly from MAC, they began service test to validate the training program. After more than three service tests, the program proved its worth and the Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center was approved and instituted on 4 February 1984.[citation needed
]

In March 1987, the 180th began to receive brand new C-130H2 Hercules aircraft replacing the C-130A model aircraft they had flown for the past ten years. In October 1987, the 180th deployed two C-130H2 aircraft supporting a United States Army Special Forces and the

RAAF Learmonth, Australia. The exercise provided high altitude low opening and high altitude high opening parachute training. Since all of the airdrops occurred above 10,000 feet and as high as 24,500 feet, the 15th Physiological Training Flight also supported the exercise and provided supplemental oxygen equipment, training and support for the training missions. Each flight was like going to the altitude chamber.[citation needed
]

In 1989, the 180th with four C-130H2 aircraft deployed to

Kimhae International Airport, Republic of Korea in support of Operation Team Spirit 1989. During the exercise, the 180th flew challenging missions including tactical resupply, fuel bladder missions, assault landings on short runways including landing on highway landing strips, numerous airdrop missions including both visual, high altitude and radar drop scenarios.[26]

1991 Gulf War

180th Tactical Airlift Squadron flying over Kuwait 1991

The 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron was ordered to the active service on 28 December 1990, as a result of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to support

Al Kharj Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The 180th departed Al Kharj Air Base on 28 May 1991, and returned to Rosecrans Air National Guard Base on 30 May 1991.[citation needed][h] The 180th was relieved from active duty and released back to state control on 24 June 1991.[26]

During the 1990s, the 180th provided airlift support to

Operation Joint Forge. Members of the 180th along with operations support and maintenance personnel would deploy to Rhein-Main Air Base and, after it closed, to Ramstein Air Base and assigned to "Delta Squadron". The Air National Guard would generally be responsible for a 90- or 120-day period and guard members would typically volunteer for duty for a minimum of a two- to three-week period although some would volunteer for longer periods.[26] Deployed elements were assigned to the 1630th Tactical Airlift Wing (Provisional), 28 December 1990 – 24 June 1991 : Elements operated from: Al Ain International Airport, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, 28 December 1990 – 24 June 1991[citation needed
]

Global War on Terrorism

Following the attacks on 11 September 2001, the 180th served in a support role flying missions transporting personnel and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.[26]

The 180th Airlift Squadron was notified in February 2003 that it would be partially mobilized as a result of the impending conflict in Iraq which would later be known as

Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit deployed in March 2003 to the Iraqi theater and later supported Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and was released from active duty in March 2006 and reverted to state control. This was a historic partial mobilization that lasted three years. The 180th remained in a state of partial activation for three years until it was released from mobilization in March 2006 and reverted to state control.[26]

Lineage

180th Military Airlift Squadron
  • Constituted as the 438th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 June 1942
Activated on 26 June 1942
Redesignated 438th Bombardment Squadron, Medium c. 1944
Redesignated 438th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 3 February 1945
Inactivated on 13 December 1945
Activated on 21 June 1946
Extended federal recognition on 22 August 1946
Federalized and placed on active duty on 1 April 1951
Inactivated and returned to Missouri state control on 1 January 1953
Activated on 1 January 1953
Redesignated 180th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical c. 1955
Redesignated 180th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 15 June 1957
Redesignated 180th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic, Jet on 10 April 1958
Redesignated 180th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 14 April 1962
Redesignated 180th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1966
Inactivated on 5 September 1969
Consolidated with 180th Airlift Squadron on 31 May 1991
180th Airlift Squadron
Constituted as the 180th Air Refueling Squadron, c. August 1969
Activated on 5 September 1969
Redesignated 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 16 October 1976
Federalized and placed on active duty on 28 December 1990
Consolidated with 180th Military Airlift Squadron on 31 May 1991
Released from active duty and returned to Missouri state control on 24 June 1991
Redesignated 180th Airlift Squadron on 1 June 1992

Assignments

  • 319th Bombardment Group, 26 June 1942 – 13 December 1945[27]
  • Missouri National Guard, 21 June 1946
  • 66th Fighter Wing, June 1946
  • 126th Bombardment Group, February 1947
  • 131st Composite Group, 1 November 1950
  • 126th Bombardment Group, 1 February 1951 – 1 January 1953
  • 140th Fighter-Bomber Group
    , 1 January 1953
  • 131st Bombardment Group (later 131st Fighter-Interceptor Group), March 1953
  • 118th Tactical Reconnaissance Group
    , 10 April 1958
  • 139th Air Transport Group (later 139th Military Airlift Group), 14 April 1962
  • 139th Air Refueling Group (later 139th Tactical Airlift Group, 139th Airlift Group), 5 September 1969
  • 139th Operations Group, 1 October 1995 – present

Stations

Aircraft

See also

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Aircraft is Lockheed C-130H2 Hercules, serial 90-1794. Originally City of Crestline with 164th Airlift Squadron. Baugher, Joe (19 August 2023). "1990 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 21 April 2024..
  2. proper
    (brown, with nose, hooves and tail shades of light tan) wearing goggles and earphones proper (shades of tan with blue glasses and trimming) and belted on his back all within a saddle bag proper (light tan) two bombs proper (steel blue).
  3. ^ The 319th Group suffered several losses on the ferry flight, as winter weather began to impact the northern ferry route. Other planes were delayed for weather or aircraft malfunctions. As a result, further deployments of B-26 units to Europe travelled over the South Atlantic route, Freeman, pp. 15, 55.
  4. ^ Aircraft is Douglas A-26C-35-DT Invader (later B-26), serial 44-35549.Baugher, Joe (19 August 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  5. ^ Hangars on the base had been bombed and since the base was unused after World War II, never repaired. McAuliffe, p. 149.
  6. ^ Aircraft is Douglas A-26-55-DT Invader (later B-26)Baugher, Joe (19 August 2023). "1944 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  7. 23d Tactical Fighter Wing. Baugher, Joe (5 August 2023). "1971 USAF Serial Numbers". Joe Baugher. Retrieved 26 April 2024. Baugher, Joe (9 July 2023). "1970 USAF Serial Numbers"
    . Joe Baugher. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  8. ^ When the aircraft arrived home, they had "nose art" on each courtesy of the crew chiefs. The nose art was 391 "Connie Kay", 392 "Desert Possum", 393 "Spirit of St. Joe", 394 "The Hog", 395 "Chief", 396 "Buzzard", 397 "Riders on the Storm" and 398 "Fike's Filly".
Citations
  1. ^ a b Watkins, pp.82–83
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 542–543
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 198-199
  4. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 542-545
  5. ^ a b c Freeman, p. 265
  6. ^ Freeman, p. 55
  7. ^ a b McAuliffe, p. 144
  8. ^ McCaulffe, p. 146
  9. ^ McCauliffe, p.148
  10. ^ McAuiffe,p.149
  11. ^ McAuliffe, pp. 151-152
  12. ^ McAuliffe, pp. 152-153
  13. ^ McAuliffe, p. 153
  14. ^ McAuliffe, p. 28
  15. ^ McAuliffe, p. 330
  16. ^ McAuliffe, p. 154
  17. ^ McAuliffe, p. 331
  18. ^ McAuliffe, p. 338
  19. ^ McAuliffe, p. 339
  20. ^ a b McAulife, p. 340
  21. ^ McAuliffe, pp. 159, 339
  22. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 495
  23. ^ a b No byine. "139th Airlift Wing Missouri Air National Guard: History". 139th Airlift Wing. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  24. ^ Rosenfeld & Gross, pp. 12-13
  25. ^ No byline=. "Air National Guard Historical Paintings: Historical Series, Creek Party". Air Nationa Guard Index. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e James, Vernon W. (2 February 2009). "180th Airlift Squadron History". 139th Airlift Wing. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  27. ^ a b c d Lineage information through March 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 542–543
  28. ^ a b Station number in Anderson, p. 20.
  29. ^ Station information through March 1946 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 542–543, except as noted.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=180th_Airlift_Squadron&oldid=1220953955"