313th Airlift Squadron

The 313th Airlift Squadron is located at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It is part of the 446th Airlift Wing and operationally flies the C-17 Globemaster jet transport. The mission of the 313 AS consists of airlift, aerial delivery, and aerial refueling on a worldwide basis. The majority of the airlift mission is conducted in the Pacific and Alaska; however, missions are also flown to Europe, Africa, and South America.

Constituted as the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron October 23, 1943 at Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, the squadron was activated November 1, 1943.

As part of the 349th Troop Carrier Group, the squadron soon transferred to the European Theater. The 313 TCS was located at Barkston, England, and later at Roye Army Airfield, France, where it participated in aerial transportation flying the C-53 and C-47.

Following World War II, the unit was deactivated September 1946. It was activated into the Reserve in 1949.

Following a short recall to active service in 1951, the squadron was redesignated as the 313th Fighter-Bomber Squadron May 26, 1952. The 313 FBS was located at Hamilton AFB, Calif., and flew the T-6, F-51, T-28, T-33, and F-80 as part of the 349th Fighter Bomber Group.

Redesignated as the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron September 1, 1957, the unit transferred to Portland International Airport, Oregon. The squadron flew the C-46 and the C-119 Flying Boxcar, and in September 1958 flew the first Reserve mission outside the continental United States taking a R-33 engine to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The squadron was ordered to active service for a month in 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis. It became part of the 939th Troop Carrier Group in 1963 and was redesignated the 313th Tactical Airlift Squadron July 1, 1967.

July 25, 1968, the squadron transferred to McChord AFB, Wash., where it was redesignated as the 313th Military Airlift Squadron as part of the 939th Military Airlift Group. At McChord, it flew the C-141A Starlifter and with a global strategic mission, 313th aircrews saw much service providing airlift to Southeast Asia.

The 313th Military Airlift Squadron was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in June 1970 and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm in January 1973. A second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was awarded June 1974 following participation in Operation Nickel Grass in defense of Israel. It became part of the 446th Military Airlift Wing in July 1973.

The 313th Airlift Squadron has also received numerous safety awards and has recently completed 39 years and more than 168,000 hours of accident-free flying.