301st Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 301st Airlift Squadron


caption= 301st Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 25 May 1943 - 27 May 1946
27 June 1949 - 14 March 1951
25 July 1969 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
4th Air Force
349th Air Mobility Wing
349th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Travis Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Operation Overlord
Operation Market Garden
Battle of Bastogne
Operation Plunder
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
battle_honours=

The 301st Airlift Squadron (301 AS) is part of the 349th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.

Mission

History

THe 301st dropped paratroopers in preparation for Normandy invasion on 6 June 1944. It transported cargo and mail in France and England and evacuated wounded troops from the continent. The squadron took part in the airborne attacks in Netherlands in September 1944. It dropped supplies to 101st Airborne Division surrounded at Bastogne, Belgium, during the Battle of the Bulge. Tht 301st also participated in airborne crossings of the Rhine River into Germany on 24 March 1945. It was the first American air unit to occupy Tempelhof Airdrome in Berlin in 1945.

Since 1969 the 301st has trained in the Reserve to fly global strategic airlift missions, performing routine channel flights, contingency and humanitarian relief operations, and joint training exercises.

Operations

*World War II

Previous designations

*301st Troop Carrier Squadron (1943 – 1949)
*301st Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949 – 1969)
*301st Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) (1969 – 1992)
*301st Airlift Squadron (Associate) (1992 – 1994)
*301st Airlift Squadron (1994 – Present)

Assignments

*441st Troop Carrier Group (1943 – 1945)
**Attached: 442d Troop Carrier Group (18 May - 16 July 1945)
*442d Troop Carrier Group (1945)
*302d Transport Wing (1945)
*441st Troop Carrier Group (1945 - 1946)
*Strategic Air Command (1946)
*441st Troop Carrier Group (1949 - 1951)
*938th Military Airlift Group (1969 - 1973)
*349th Air Mobility Wing (1973 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri (1943 – 1944)
*Camp Mackall, North Carolina (1944)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1944)
*RAF Langar, England (1944)
*RAF Merryfield, England (1944)
**Operated: RAF Ramsbury, England (7 – 24 August 1944)
*Vertus, France (1944)
*Saint-Marceau, France (1944)
*Dreux, France (1944 - 1945)
*St-Andre-de-l'Eure, France (1945)
*Halle, Germany (1945)
*Tempelhof Air Force Station, Germany (1945 – 1946)
*Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. (1946)
*O'Hare International Airport, Illinois (1949 – 1951)
*Travis Air Force Base, California (1969 – Present)

Aircraft operated

*L-3 Grasshopper (1943 – 1944)
*C-53 Skytrooper (1943 – 1944)
*C-47 Skytrain (1943 – 1946)
*CG-4 Waco (1944 – 1945)
*C-46 Commando (1949 – 1951)
*T-6 Texan (1949 – 1951)
*T-7 Navigator (1949 – 1951)
*T-11 Kansan (1949 – 1951)
*C-141 Starlifter (1969 – 1973)
*C-5 Galaxy (1973 – 2006)
*C-17 Globemaster III (2006 – Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0301as.html Official USAF 301st Airlift Squadron History]

External links