53rd Airlift Squadron
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53d Airlift Squadron
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] | |
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Insignia | |
53d Airlift Squadron emblem[note 1][1] | ![]() |
53d Airlift Squadron emblem [note 2][1] | ![]() |
53d Airlift Squadron emblem[2] | ![]() |
The 53d Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last part of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It operated Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft for airlift and airdrop operations.
The
The squadron was reactivated in France in 1946, moving to Germany, where it participated in the
History
World War II
Constituted as 53 Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942 and activated on 1 June 1942 with C-47s at Pope Field, NC. 2 Lt Glen A. Myers was the unit's first commanding officer.[1]
Assigned to
Squadron engaged in combat operations, dropping airborne units into Sicily during the
Was moved to England in February 1944, assigned to
When the
In late May 1945, after
Berlin airlift
The squadron participated in the
Korean war
It conducted aerial transportation from the U.S. to Japan from August–December 1950, and between Japan and Korea from 13 December 1950 – November 1952.
Airlift operations
It conducted worldwide airlift operations from 1953 to 1966, including resupply to Antarctica from 1957 to 1958, and missions to Southeast Asia during the
The 53d again conducted worldwide airlift from 1972 to 1993 flying missions into
Lineage
- Constituted as the 53d Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942
- Activated on 1 June 1942
- Redesignated 53d Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
- Inactivated on 31 July 1945
- Activated on 30 September 1946
- Redesignated 53d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1948
- Redesignated 53d Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 15 August 1948
- Redesignated 53d Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
- Discontinued and inactivated on 8 July 1966
- Activated on 8 January 1972
- Redesignated 53d Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992
- Inactivated on 30 April 1993
- Activated on 1 October 1993
- Inactivated on 11 January 2008
- Activated on 15 May 2008[1]
- Inactivated 30 September 2016
Assignments
- 61st Transport Group(later 61st Troop Carrier Group), 1 June 1942 – 31 July 1945
- 61st Troop Carrier Group, 30 September 1946 (attached to Airlift Task Force, Provisional, August 1958 – February 1959, February–July 1960, and 5 January 1961 – April 1962)
- 63d Troop Carrier Group, 8 October 1959
- 63d Troop Carrier Wing(later 63d Military Airlift Wing), 18 January 1963 – 8 July 1966
- 63d Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1972
- 63d Military Airlift Group, 1 October 1978
- 63d Military Airlift Wing, 1 July 1980
- 63d Operations Group, 1 January 1992 – 30 April 1993
- 314th Operations Group, 1 October 1993 – 11 January 2008
- 463d Airlift Group, 15 May 2008 – 1 October 2008
- 19th Operations Group, 1 October 2008[1] – 30 September 2016
Stations
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Aircraft
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References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- Citations
Bibliography
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. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors. Vol. III Insignia and Markings of the Ninth Air Force In World War II. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-2938-8.