97th Airlift Squadron

97th Airlift Squadron
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm^[1]
97th Airlift Squadron Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
97th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 26 August 1960)

The 97th Airlift Squadron is a

62d Airlift Wing

.

Overview

The squadron operates

McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force

global reach mission worldwide.

History

World War II

Activated in July 1943 as an

Baer Field, Indiana for final equipping with aircraft, personnel and other equipment. Deployed to IX Troop Carrier Command

in February 1944 during the build-up prior to the Invasion of France.

During the

V-E Day

. Remained in Europe during the summer of 1945, inactivating as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe, October 1945.

Reserve operations and mobilization for the Korean War

Reactivated in the reserve as a Curtiss C-46 Commando troop carrier squadron in Minneapolis, Minnesota during 1947. Was federalized as a result of the Korean War in 1951, squadron personnel and aircraft being sent to active-duty units as fillers, inactivated as an administrative unit a few days later.

Return to reserve operations

Reactivated after the Korean War as a reserve fighter-bomber squadron in 1952 initially equipped with

Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft. Redesignated back to a troop carrier squadron in . Carried out theater transport operations and supported Air Force and Army units with troop carrier missions. Was activated during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis

, carried Army units to South Florida in preparation of a possible invasion of Cuba. Returned Army personnel to home stations after situation was normalized and returned to reserve service.

The squadron flew airlift missions worldwide, including to

Southwest Asia during the Gulf War. It has also participated in training exercises

, some involving the dropping or landing of airborne troops.

The squadron has conducted worldwide airlift including Supporting contingency operations in

southwest Asia

, 1990–1991.

Campaigns and decorations

Campaigns: World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Decorations:
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
, 1 April 1966 – 28 January 1973.

Lineage

Constituted as the 97th Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943

Activated on 1 July 1943

Inactivated on 18 October 1945

Activated in the reserve on 15 September 1947

Redesignated 97th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 June 1949

Ordered to active duty on 1 May 1951

Inactivated on 4 May 1951

Redesignated 97th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952

Inactivated on 1 July 1957

Redesignated 97th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 24 October 1957

Activated in the Reserve on 16 November 1957

Ordered to active duty on 28 October 1962

Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962

Redesignated 97th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 1 December 1965

Redesignated 97th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1966

Ordered to active duty on 26 January 1968

Relieved from active duty on 2 June 1969

Redesignated 97th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 July 1969

Redesignated 97th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992

Redesignated 97th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994 [1]

Assignments

440th Troop Carrier Group
, 1 July 1943 – 18 October 1945
440th Troop Carrier Group, 15 September 1947 – 4 May 1951
440th Fighter-Bomber Group, 15 June 1952 – 1 July 1957
440th Troop Carrier Group, 16 November 1957
349th Troop Carrier Group
, 25 March 1958
349th Troop Carrier Wing
, 14 April 1959
941st Troop Carrier Group
(later 941st Air Transport Group, 941st Military Airlift) Group, 11 February 1963
939th Military Airlift Group
, 25 July 1969
446th Military Airlift Wing
(later 446th Airlift Wing), 1 July 1973
446th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present^[1]

Stations

Baer Field
, Indiana, 1 July 1943
Sedalia Army Air Field
, Missouri, 9 July 1943
Alliance Army Air Field
, Nebraska, 7 September 1943
Pope Field, North Carolina, 4 January 1944
Baer Field, Indiana, 14–21 February 1944
RAF Bottesford (AAF-481),^[2] England, 8 March 1944
RAF Exeter (AAF-463),^[2] England, 26 April 1944 (operated from Ombrone Airfield
, Italy, 18 July–24 August 1944)

Reims/Champagne Airfield (A-62),^[3]
France, 13 September 1944

Le Mans Airfield (A-35),^[3] France, 28 September 1944
Orleans/Bricy Airfield (A-50),^[3]
4 November 1944 – 18 October 1945

Wold-Chamberlain Field

, Minnesota, 9 April 1947 – 4 May 1951

Fort Snelling, Minnesota, 15 June 1952
Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport, Minnesota, 8 January 1953 – 1 July 1957
O'Hare International Airport, Illinois, 16 November 1957
Paine Air Force Base
, Washington, 25 March 1958
McChord Air Force Base (later Joint Base Lewis-McChord), Washington, 9 November 1965 – present^[4]

Aircraft

Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper (1943–1945)^{[citation needed}
]

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1943-1945, 1948)

Douglas C-54 Skymaster (1943–1945)^{[citation needed]}
Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express (1943–1945)^{[citation needed}
]

Curtiss C-46 Commando (1949–1951, 1952–1957)

Beechcraft T-7 Navigator (1950–1951)

Beechcraft T-11 Kansan

(1947–1951)

North American T-6 Texan (1948–1951, 1952–1955)
North American F-51 Mustang (1953–1954)
Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (1954–1957)
Lockheed T-33 T-Bird
(1954–1957)
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957–1965)
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II (1965–1969)
Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (1969–2003)
McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III (2003–present)^[1]

References

Notes

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Robertson, Patsy (7 December 2012). "Factsheet 97 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b Station number in Anderson.
^ ^a ^b ^c Station number in Johnson.
^ Station information in Robertson, except as noted.