96th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 96th Airlift Squadron


caption= 96th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 25 May 1943 - 18 October 1945
6 March 1947 - 4 May 1951
15 June 1952 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
22nd Air Force
934th Airlift Wing
934th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Minneapolis-St Paul Joint Air Reserve Station
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname= Flying Vikings
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Overlord
Operation Dragoon
Operation Market Garden
Battle of Bastogne
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
battle_honours=

The 96th Airlift Squadron (96 AS) is part of the 934th Airlift Wing at Minneapolis-St Paul Joint Air Reserve Station, Minnesota. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.

Mission

Fly C-130H cargo aircraft, both airdropping and airlanding cargo and people.

History

The 97th participated in airborne assaults on Normandy, Southern France, Holland, Germany, relief of Bastogne, and transportation of cargo and personnel in European Theater of Operations and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations during World War II.

The squadron trained in the Reserve for airlift missions, 1952-1957 and for fighter-bomber operations, 1952-1957. It reverted to an airlift mission in 1957.

Operations

*World War II

Previous designations

*96th Troop Carrier Squadron (1943 – 1949)
*96th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949 – 1952)
*96th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1952 – 1957)
*96th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1957 – 1967)
*96th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1967 – 1992)
*96th Airlift Squadron (1992 – Present)

Assignments

*440th Troop Carrier Group (1943 - 1945, 1947 - 1951)
*440th Troop Carrier Wing (1952 - 1963)
*934th Airlift Wing (1963 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Baer Field, Indiana (1943)
*Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri (1943)
*Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1943 – 1944)
*Pope Field, North Carolina (1944)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1944)
*RAF Bottesford, England (1944)
*RAF Exeter, England (1944)
**Operated: Ombrone Airfield, Italy (18 July – 24 August 1944)
*Reims, France (1944)
*Le Mans, France (1944)
*Orléans, France (1944 - 1945)
*Scott Air Force Base, Illinois (1947 - 1949)
*Wold-Chamberlain Field, Minnesota (1949 – 1951)
*Fort Snelling, Minnesota (1952 – 1953)
*Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota (1953 – Present)

Aircraft Operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1943 – 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1947 – 1951)
*P-51 Mustang (1952 – 1955)
*F-80 Shooting Star (1955 - 1957)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957 - 1970)
*C-130 Hercules (1970 – Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0096as.html Official USAF 96th Airlift Squadron History]

External links