37th Airlift Squadron

37th Airlift Squadron

37th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active 2 February 1942 - 18 June 1957
17 May 1966 - Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Airlift
Part of United States Air Forces in Europe
3rd Air Force
86th Airlift Wing
86th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ Ramstein Air Base
Nickname Blue Tail Flies
Engagements Operation Overlord
Operation Market Garden
Battle of Pakchon
Operation Tomahawk
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 37th Airlift Squadron (37 AS) is part of the 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It operates C-130J Super Hercules aircraft providing theater airlfit.

Contents

Mission

Conduct airlift, airdrop and aeromedical evacuation operations .

History

During World War II the 37th participated in airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany, and transportation of passengers and cargo in European Theater of Operations and Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

In the Korean War the squadron flew airborne assaults at Sukchon and Munsan-ni and aerial transportation between Japan and Korea.

While deployed in Taiwan, crews of the 37th flew to Hanoi on 17 February 1973 in support of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of American prisoners of war to Clark Air Base, Philippines, on 5 March 1973. It conducted airlift operations during Operation Desert Shield in Southwest Asia, 14 August 1990–29 March 1991. It airdropped humanitarian supplies in Operation Provide Comfort for the relief of fleeing Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq, April–May 1991. The 37th flew airlift and airdrop missions to Bosnia and Herzegovina for Operation Provide Promise from July 1992-January 1996.

In November 2009, the 37th gave up its last C-130E and now flies only C-130J models.[1]

Operations

Lineage

Assignments

Bases stationed

  • Langley Air Force Base, Virginia (1966–1977)
    • Deployed: RAF Mildenhall, England (24 November 1968 - 26 February 1969)
    • Deployed: Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (13 July - 26 September 1969, 7 February - 13 April 1971)
    • Deployed: RAF Mildenhall, England (24 February - 11 May 1970, 13 January - 14 March 1972)
    • Deployed: Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan (6 December 1972 - 15 March 1973)
    • Deployed: RAF Mildenhall, England (31 August - c. 1 October 1973)
    • Deployed: Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (5 April - 15 June 1975)
  • Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany (1977–1994)
  • Ramstein Air Base, Germany (1994–Present)

Aircraft operated

References

External links