39th Airlift Squadron

39th Airlift Squadron
C-130s from the squadron and the Air National Guard taxi at Dyess AFB
Active1942–1949; 1952–1971; 1971–1992; 1993–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQDyess Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Trailblazers,[1] Jungle Skippers[citation needed]
EngagementsSouthwest Pacific Theater
Desert Storm
Global War on Terrorism[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
39th Airlift Squadron emblem (apoproved 27 October 1942)[1]
Military unit

The 39th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The unit flies the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules. It is primarily tasked to transport cargo and personnel, and where circumstances require, airdrop them. It traces its history to 1942 and fought in the Pacific during the Second World War.

History

The 39th conducted paratroop drops on Noemfoor, Luzon, as well as aerial transport in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II during World War II. The squadron participated in the Berlin Airlift in 1948. It was the squadron that provided disaster relief for the Peruvian earthquake in June 1970 conducting numerous missions to the people of Peru. It was part of airlift missions to Grenada, in October 1983, to Panama, December 1989 – January 1990, and to Southwest Asia, August 1990 – March 1991.

Operations

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 39th Transport Squadron on 2 February 1942
Activated on 22 February 1942
Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 21 May 1948
Inactivated on 14 September 1949
  • Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 3 July 1952
Activated on 14 July 1952
Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron on 1 March 1966
Redesignated 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 May 1967
Inactivated on 31 July 1971
  • Activated on 31 August 1971
Redesignated 39th Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992
Inactivated on 1 June 1992
  • Activated on 1 October 1993[1]

Assignments

  • 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, 31 August 1971 (attached to 322d Tactical Airlift Wing, 12 December 1973 – 17 February 1974; 513th Tactical Airlift Wing, 9 July–15 September 1974, 12 July – 14 September 1975; 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, 12 April–14 June 1976, 1 October–15 December 1977; 435th Tactical Airlift Group, 4 January–4 March 1977)
  • 317th Tactical Airlift Group, 1 October 1978 (attached to 313th Tactical Airlift Group, 5 June–14 August 1979)
  • 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 April 1980 (attached to 313th Tactical Airlift Group, 8 October–13 December 1980, 3 February–14 April 1982, 4 June–13 August 1983, 1 October–12 December 1984, 2 February–15 April 1986), 3 March–15 May 1987, 3 June–10 August 1988, May–11 July 1991)
  • 317 Operations Group, 1 January–1 June 1992 (attached to 313th Tactical Airlift Group, 3 April–31 May 1992)
  • 7th Operations Group, 1 October 1993
  • 317th Airlift Group, 1 April 1997 – present[1]

Stations

Deployed to Évreux-Fauville Air Base, France, February–May 1965; RAF Mildenhall, England, 13 May-18 July 1968; Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (15 April-22 July 1969)
Deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany , 12 December 1973 – 17 February 1974, 12 April–14 June 1976, 1 October–15 December 1977; RAF Mildenhall, England, 12 July–14 September 1975, 4 January–4 March 1977, 5 June–14 August 1979, 8 October–13 December 1980, 3 February–14 April 1982, 4 June–13 August 1983, 1 October–12 December 1984, 2 February–15 April 1986, 3 March–15 May 1987, 3 June–10 August 1988, May–11 July 1991, 3 April–31 May 1992)

Aircraft

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 39 Airlift Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 February 2018.

Bibliography

Public Domain 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. 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. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. 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.
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