8th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 8th Airlift Squadron


caption= 8th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 1 October 1933 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
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command_structure= Air Mobility Command
current_commander=
garrison= McChord Air Force Base
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The 8th Airlift Squadron (8 AS) is part of the 62d Airlift Wing as McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.

Mission

Train and equip C-17 aircrews for global air-land and airdrop operations.

History

The history of the 8th includes airborne assaults on Sicily and Southern France, support of partisans in Northern Italy and the Balkans, and transportation of personnel and supplies in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, during World War II. It provided airlift from the United States to Japan during the Korean War. THe 8th also airdropped equipment and personnel during the invasion of Panama on 20 December 1989.

Operations

*World War II
*Vietnam War
*Operation Just Cause
*Operation Deep Freeze

Previous designations

*8th Transport Squadron (1933 – 1942)
*8th Troop Carrier Squadron (1942 – 1948)
*8th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1948 - 1949)
*8th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy (1949 – 1965)
*8th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy (1965 – 1966)
*8th Military Airlift Squadron (1966 – 1991)
*8th Airlift Squadron (1991 – Present)

Assignments

*10th Transport Group (1940)
*62d Troop Carrier Group (1940 - 1945, 1946 - 1947)
*62d Airlift Wing (1947 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Brooks Field, Texas (1940)
*Duncan Field, Texas (1940 - 1941)
*Hill Field, Utah (1941 - 1942)
*Kellogg Field, Michigan (1942)
* Florence, South Carolina (1942)
*RAF Keevil, England (1942)
*Algeria (1942 – 1943)
*Tunisia (1943)
* Ponte Olivo, Sicily (1943 – 1944)
*Italy (1944 – 1946)
*Bergstrom Field, Texas (1946 – 1947)
*McChord Air Force Base, Washington (1947 – 1950)
*Kelly Air Force Base, Texas (1950)
*McChord Air Force Base, Washington (1950 – 1952)
*Larson Air Force Base, Washington (1952 - 1960)
*McChord Air Force Base, Washington (1960 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

*C-39 (1940 – 1942)
*C-47 Skytrain (1942 – 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1946 – 1947)
*C-82 Packet (1947 – 1949)
*C-54 Skymaster (1949 – 1951)
*C-124 Globemaster II (1951 – 1969)
*C-141 Starlifter (1966 – 2002)
*C-17 Globemaster III (1999 – Present)

External links

* [http://public.mcchord.amc.af.mil/units/8thairliftsquadron/index.asp 8th AIrlift Squadron Home Page]