44th Military Airlift Squadron
| 44th Military Airlift Squadron | |
|---|---|
| 300px
Arrival ceremony for Lockheed C-141A-10-LM Starlifter(Tail 63-8088) at Travis Air Force Base, CA on April 23, 1965. Known as the "Golden Bear", This plane was the first production C-141 Starlifter to see active service. It was assigned to the 44th Air Transport Squadron, 1501st Air Transport Wing at Travis
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| Active | 1955-1972 |
| Country |  United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Type | Strategic Airlift |
| Engagements | 150px American Defense  European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign (World War II) |
| Battle honours |  Distinguished Unit Citation (3x)  Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (5x) |
| Insignia | |
| 44th Military Airlift Squadron Emblem | 125px |
The 44th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 60th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California.
In 1965, the 44th ATS was the first USAF squadron to receive the C-141 Starlifter. It was inactivated on 1 March 1972.
Contents
History
World War II
Established in 1942 as a C-47 Skytrain air transport squadron, initially active in the United States supporting units in the Zone of the Interior.
Deployed to Egypt in 1942 being assigned to Ninth Air Force. Provided combat transport in support of the British Eighth Army during the Western Desert Campaign, and the United States Fifth Army under Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign in Algeria and Tunisia. Included airborne assaults on Sicily, then reassigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in England, participating in the airborne invasions of Normandy, the Netherlands, and Germany.
Returned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May 1945; many combat veterans demobilized and unit re-equipped with C-46 Commandoes. Reassigned to Hawaii Territory and provided air transport for Seventh Air Force until inactivated in 1946.
Cold War
The squadron was organized in 1955 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey when assets of the inactivated 1600th Air Transport Group were moved to McGuire from Westover AFB, Massachusetts. However, it was never fully manned or equipped. It was inactivated a few days after activation.
Reactivated in 1961 at Travis AFB, California as a C-135B Stratolifter strategic airlift squadron, it operated these aircraft over the Pacific and around the world transport routes under Military Air Transport Service. It became the first organization to use jets while airlifting Bob Hope Christmas tours to the Far East in 1963. On 23 April 1965, the squadron received the first operational Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, which it operated over MATS and later Military Airlift Command routes on a worldwide basis, 1965-1972. The squadron frequently flew cargo and personnel to United States bases in South Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War. It was inactivated in 1972 due to budget restrictions as part of the post-Vietnam drawdown of the USAF.
Lineage
- Constituted 44th Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942
- Activated on 15 Jun 1942
- Re-designated 44th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
- Inactivated on 25 Mar 1946.
- Re-designated as 44th Air Transport Squadron on 1 Nov 1955
- Activated on 9 Nov 1955
- Inactivated on 14 Nov 1955
- Re-activated as the 44th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 1 Nov 1961
- Re-designated the 44th Military Airlift Squadron, Heavy on 8 Jan 1966
- Inactivated on 1 March 1972
Assignments
- 316th Transport (later, 316th Troop Carrier) Group, 15 Jun 1942
- I Troop Carrier Command, May 1945
- VI Air Service Area Command, attached 3 Aug 1945-25 Mar 1946.
- 1611th Air Transport Wing, 9-14 Nov 1955
- 1501st Air Transport Wing, 1 Nov 1961-8 Jan 1966
- 60th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan 1966-1 Mar 1972
Stations
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Aircraft
- C-47 Skytrain, 1942-1945
- C-46 Commando, 1945-1946
- C-135B Stratolifter, 1961-1965
- C-141 Starlifter, 1965-1972
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
- Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
