6th Airlift Squadron
6th Airlift Squadron | |
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Southwest Asia Service
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Decorations | Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1] |
Insignia | |
6th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 1 December 1952)[1] | |
6th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (approved 4 April 1942) |
The 6th Airlift Squadron is part of the
Mission
Train and equip Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircrews for global airland operations.
History
World War II
The squadron was constituted in a major
The squadron was activated on 14 October 1939 at
The squadron made airlift history during World War II when, in October 1942, it moved to Port Moresby, New Guinea. Then flying Douglas C-47 Skytrains, the 6th became the first personnel transport squadron to fly in the Pacific. During this assignment, the squadron earned the nickname Bully Beef Express, as it carried tons of boiled beef to allied combat troops in Australia and New Guinea. The French called it "bouilli boeuf, " The term's Americanized version has continued to be the squadron's emblem.
The 6th performed aerial transportation in the Pacific Theater and Southwest Pacific Theater during World War II and in the Far East during the Korean War and after until 1968.
Strategic airlift
It has performed worldwide airlift operations since April 1970. The 6th conducted resupply missions in support of scientific stations in the Antarctic during Operation Deep Freeze from 1971 to 1974. It resupplied Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. It evacuated Vietnamese refugees during the fall of Saigon in April through June 1975. It also supported U.S. forces in Grenada from October to December 1983, the invasion of Panama from December 1989 to January 1990, and the liberation of Kuwait from August 1990 to March 1991.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 6th Transport Squadron on 1 October 1933
- Organized with reserve personnel by July 1934 (remained inactive)[2]
- Activated on 14 October 1939
- Redesignated 6th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
- Redesignated 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 21 May 1948
- Redesignated 6th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
- Discontinued and inactivated on 8 June 1968
- Activated on 8 April 1970
- Redesignated 6th Airlift Squadron on 1 November 1991[3]
Assignments
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Stations
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Aircraft
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References
Notes
- Explanatory notes
- ^ Aircraft is Boeing C-17A Globemaster III Lot XV, serial 03-3126
- Citations
- ^ a b c d e Kane, Robert B. (17 March 2015). "Factsheet 6 Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f Clay, p. 1374
- ^ a b c Lineage information, including assignments and stations, in Kane, except as noted.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
- Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919–1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. OCLC 637712205. Archived from the original(PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- 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.
External links
- Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (Official Web site)
- Air Mobility Command (Official Web site)