| 709th Airlift Squadron | |
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709th Airlift Squadron Patch |
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| Active | 1 May 1943 - 7 November 1945 10 November 1947 - 27 June 1949 1 October 1973 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Airlift |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command 22d Air Force 512th Airlift Wing 512th Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | Dover Air Force Base |
| Decorations | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
The 709th Airlift Squadron (709 AS) is part of the 512th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware.
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It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft providing global airlfit.
Activated in mid 1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to England in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during November 1943, assigned to VIII Bomber Command as a strategic bombardment squadron. Participated in the air offensive over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until German capitulation in May 1945. Personnel demobilized in England and returned to the United States; squadron reassigned to Third Air Force for possible re-equipping with B-29 Superfortresses and deployment to Pacific Theater. Japanese capitulation led to inactivation in November 1945.
Activated in the postwar reserve as a B-29 squadron. Trained for proficiency as part of Strategic Air Command reserve forces. Activated as a result of Korean War in 1951, squadron's aircraft and personnel reassigned to Far East Air Force Bomber Command, inactivated as a paper unit.
Reactivated as Military Airlift Command reserve C-5 Galaxy squadron in 1973 and became associate squadron of 436th Military Airlift Wing. Since 1973 the 709th has trained for and flown airlift missions, participating in exercises and global humanitarian and contingency operations.
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This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.
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