48th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 48th Airlift Squadron


caption= 48th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 30 May 1942 - 15 November 1945
30 September 1946 - 18 September 1949
1 February 1953 - 8 June 1955
20 August 1964 - 25 June 1967
15 November 1971 - 1 September 1973
1 December 2003 - 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=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Distinguished Unit Citation
battle_honours=

The 48th Airlift Squadron (48 AS) is part of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It operates C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, conducting pilot and loadmaster training for airlift and airdrop operations.

Mission

History

During World War II the 48th 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.

The 48th provided airlift for airborne forces from 1965-1967. It deployed aircraft and crews to France and England, October 1965-March 1967 and to Panama Canal Zone, March-June 1967.

It provided intra-theater airlift and support of U.S. Army airborne forces from 1971-1973.

In 2003, the 48th Airlift was reactivated as the first active duty C-130J Super Hercules Formal Training Unit.

Operations

*World War II

Lineage

*48th Transport Squadron (1942)
*48th Troop Carrier Squadron (1942 - 1948)
*48th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy (1948 - 1949)
*48th Troop Carrier Squadron, Special(1949 - 1952)
*48th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1952 - 1966)
*48th Troop Carrier Squadron (1966 - 1971)
*48th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1971 - 2003)
*48th Airlift Squadron (2003 - Present)

Assignments

*313th Troop Carrier Group (1942 – 1945, 1946 – 1949, 1953 – 1955)
*313th Tactical Airlift Wing (1965 - 1967, 1971 - 1973)
*314th Airlift Wing (2003 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Daniel Field, Georgia (1942)
*Bowman Field, Kentucky (1942)
*Florence, South Carolina (1942)
*Maxton North Carolina (1942 - 1943)
*Oujda, French Morocco (1943)
*Kairouan, Tunisia (1943)
*Sciacca, Sicily (1943)
*Trapani, Sicily (1943 - 1944)
*RAF Folkingham, England (1944 - 1945)
*Achiet, France (1945)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1945)
*Illesheim, Germany (1946 - 1947)
*Tulln Air Base, Austria (1947)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1947)
*Bergstrom Air Force Base, Texas (1947 - 1948)
*Faßberg, Germany (1948 - 1949)
*Mitchel Air Force Base, New York (1953)
*Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee (1953 - 1955)
*Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas (1965 - 1967, 1971 - 1973)
*Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas (2003 - Present)

Aircraft Operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1942 – 1945, 1946 – 1947)
*C-53 Skytrooper (1942 – 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1945, 1953)
*C-54 Skymaster (1947 – 1949)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1953 – 1955)
*C-130 Hercules (1965 – 1967, 1971 – 1973)
*C-130J Super Hercules (2003 - Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0048as.html USAF 48th Airlift Squadron History]
* [http://www.littlerock.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5369 314th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

External links