730th Airlift Squadron

730th Airlift Squadron

730th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active 1 June 1943 - 28 August 1945
1 August 1947 - 10 May 1952
13 June 1952 - Present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Type Airlift
Part of Air Force Reserve Command
4th Air Force
452d Air Mobility Wing
452d Operations Group
Garrison/HQ March Air Reserve Base
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 730th Airlift Squadron (730 AS) is part of the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.

Contents

Mission

Organize, train and equip aircrews to provide strategic airlift any time, any place. The 730th Airlift Squadron at March ARB, CA was de-activated on 01 April 2005. The assigned C-141 aircraft were retired. It re-opened at Altus AFB, OK as a Det 1 assigned under the original Operations Group at March ARB, CA on 01 Oct 2011. It is now a new reserve unit building up at Altus with C-17 and KC-135R aircraft and it will train aircrew along side of the active duty units already at Altus.

History

Established in mid-1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to II Bomber Command for training, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in January 1944, being assigned to Eighth Air Force in England. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Returned to the United States and prepared for B-29 transition training, however Japanese Capitulation in August led to unit's inactivation in November.

Reactivated in the reserves in 1947 as a B-29 Superfortress bomber squadron, assigned to Long Beach AAF, California. Never equipped with Superfortresses, redesignated as a light bomb squadron and received B-26 Invaders in 1949. Moved to George AFB in 1950 when Long Beach was closed. Was deployed to Japan in August 1950 for combat duty during the Korean War, engaged in night bombardment missions over both North and South Korea. Inactivated in May 1952 with assets being reassigned to active-duty units.

It has airlifted personnel and cargo worldwide since 1960. Missions the 729th has flown included humanitarian relief, aeromedical flights, and airdrops of supplies and paratroopers. The squadron supported deployment and redeployment of troops to Panama, December 1989-January 1990.

Lineage

Activated on 1 Jun 1943
Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943
Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945
Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1947
Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 27 Jun 1949
Ordered to Active Service on 10 Aug 1950
Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder on 25 Jun 1951
Relieved from Active Duty, and inactivated, on 10 May 1952
Activated in the Reserve on 13 Jun 1952
Redesignated: 730th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 22 May 1955
Redesignated: 730th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1957
Redesignated: 730th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967
Redesignated: 730th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 Mar 1968
Redesignated: 730th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992
Redesignated: 730th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1993.

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Operations

References

United States Air Force portal
Military of the United States portal
World War II portal

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

External links