53d Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 53d Airlift Squadron


caption= 53d Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 30 May 1942 - 31 July 1945
30 September 1946 - 8 July 1966
8 January 1972 - 30 April 1993
1 October 1993 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift Training
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Education and Training Command
19th Air Force
314th Airlift Wing
314th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Little Rock Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto= First with the Most
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
battle_honours=

The 53d Airlift Squadron (53 AS) is part of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft training pilots for airlift and airdrop operations.

Mission

History

During World War II the 53d participated in airborne assaults on Sicily, Normandy, Holland, and Germany, and aerial transportation of personnel, supplies, and equipment in the European Theater of Operations and Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

The squadron participated in the Berlin Airlift, 1948-1949, and conducted aerial transportation from the U.S. to Japan from August-December 1950, and between Japan and Korea from 13 December 1950-November 1952. It conducted worldwide airlift operations form 1953-1966, including resupply to Antarctica from 1957-1958, and missions to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The 53d again conducted worldwide airlift from 1972-1993 flying missions into Grenada, 23 October 1983 – 9 November 1983, during the invasion of Panama, 20 December 1989, and to Southwest Asia, August 1990-June 1991.

Operations

*World War II
*Korean War
*Vietnam War
*Operation Deep Freeze
*Operation Urgent Fury
*Operation Just Cause
*Operation Desert Shield

Lineage

*53d Transport Squadron (1942)
*53d Troop Carrier Squadron (1942 - 1948)
*53d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1948)
*53d Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy (1948 - 1966)
*53d Military Airlift Squadron (1966 - 1992)
*53d Airlift Squadron (1992 - Present)

Assignments

*61st Troop Carrier Group (1942 – 1945, 1946 – 1959)
*63d Military Airlift Wing (1959 - 1966, 1972 - 1993)
**Attached: Airlift Task Force, Provisional (August 1958 - February 1959, February - July 1960, 5 January 1961 - April 1962)
*314th Airlift Wing (1993 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Pope Field, North Carolina (1942 - 1943)
*Lourmel, Algeria (1943)
*Kairouan, Tunisia (1943)
*Licata, Sicily (1943)
*Sciacca, Sicily (1943 - 1944)
*RAF Barkston Heath, England (1944 - 1945)
*Abbeville, France (1945)
*Waller Field, Trinidad (1945)
*Orly Air Base, France (1946)
*Eschborn Air Base, Germany (1946 - 1947)
*Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (1947 - 1948)
*Tempelhof Air Base, Germany (1948)
*Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (1948 - 1950)
*McChord Air Force Base, Washington (1950)
*Ashiya, Japan (1950 - 1952)
*Johnson Air Base, Japan (1952)
*Larson Air Force Base, Washington (1952 - 1954)
*Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina (1954 - 1963)
**Deployed: Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (August 1958 - February 1959, February - July 1960, 5 January 1961 - April 1962)
*Hunter Air Force Base, Georgia (1963 - 1966)
*Norton Air Force Base, California (1972 - 1993)
*Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas (1993 - Present)

Aircraft Operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1942 – 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1946 – 1948)
*C-54 Skymaster (1948 – 1952)
*C-124 Globemaster II (1952 – 1966)
*C-141 Starlifter (1972 – 1993)
*C-130 Hercules (1993 – Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0053as.html USAF 53d Airlift Squadron History]
* [http://www.littlerock.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5369 314th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

External links