773d Airlift Squadron

773d Airlift Squadron
773d Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	19 May 1943 - present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 910th Airlift Wing 910th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Youngstown Air Reserve Station
Nickname	Fleagles
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 773d Airlift Squadron is one of the oldest airlift squadrons in existence today. It historically calls itself the "Fleagles" and is assigned to the 910th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve Command), Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Vienna, Ohio. The unit flies the C-130 H2 aircraft.

Contents 1 Mission 2 History 2.1 Lineage 2.2 Assignments 2.3 Stations 2.4 Aircraft 3 References 4 External links

Mission

On 1 April 1995, with the Reserve Forces building, the Department of Defense reactivated the 773d at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, joining the 910th Airlift Wing and the 757th Airlift Squadron. Since that time the 773d has flown numerous humanitarian missions from Europe to the former Yugoslavia. Delivering peacekeeping forces, food, and medicines to aid the people of the region. The 773d also continues the rotational airlift requirement for Central and South America, Southeast Asia and the Far East.

History

Established in mid-1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to Second Air Force for training. Attached in late 1943 and early 1944 to Air University Army Air Force School of Applied Tactics. Deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in February 1944, squadron taking the South Atlantic Transport Route though the Caribbean and South America; transiting the Atlantic Ocean via Brazil and Dakar, French West Africa, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in March 1944 at several airfields in Southern Italy.

Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transport targets, including oil refineries and production oilfields in Italy; France; Southern Germany; Austria and the Balkans. Continued strategic bombardment until German capitulation in May 1945. Demobilized in place in Italy during the summer of 1945; inactivated in September 1945.

Reactivated as a Tactical Air Command Troop Carrier squadron in June 1953, assigned C-119 Flying Boxcars. Engaged in transport of equipment and supplies; including support of Army Airborne parachute units throughout the 1950s and early 1960s. Equipped with new C-130A Hercules in 1956.

Deployed to Pacific Air Forces in 1966, being stationed in the Philippines. Engaged in airlift missions between the Philippines and South Vietnam, airlifting supplies and equipment to airfields in the combat areas; evacuating wounded personnel to hospitals at Clark Air Base. Remained in the Western Pacific until 1971 when inactivated as part of the drawdown of United States forces in the region.

Reactivated at Dyess AFB, Texas as a theater airlift squadron in June 1972, initially under Tactical Air Command, later Military Airlift Command and lastly Air Mobility Command. Deployed frequently to Europe or the Pacific, performing intra-theater airlift missions with C-130s. Inactivated in October 1993 as part of the drawdown of the USAF after the end of the Cold War.

Reactivated in 1995 in the Air Force Reserve.

Lineage

• Constituted 773d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943

Activated on 1 August 1943

Redesignated 773d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 29 September 1944

Inactivated on 25 September 1945

• Redesignated 773d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 December 1952

Activated on 16 January 1953

Redesignated: 773d Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault on 18 December 1961

Redesignated: 773d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 15 May 1965

Redesignated: 773d Troop Carrier Squadron on 1 January 1967

Redesignated: 773d Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 August 1967

Inactivated on 15 June 1971. Activated on 1 June 1972

• Redesignated 773d Airlift Squadron on 1 November 1991

Inactivated on 1 October 1993

Reactivated on 1 April 1995

Assignments

• 463d Bombardment Group, 1 August 1943 – 25 September 1945
• 463d Troop Carrier Group, 16 January 1953
• 463d Troop Carrier Wing, 25 September 1957
• 840th Air Division, 23 November 1965
• 463d Troop Carrier (later, 463f Tactical Airlift) Wing, 7 February 1966 – 15 June 1971
• 463d Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 June 1972

Attached to: 513th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 June – 14 July 1972; 28 August – 16 November 1972; 5 July – 5 September 1973; 5 May – 15 July 1974; 5 May – 14 July 1975

Attached to: 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, 28 February-c. 10 May 1973

• 463d Operations Group, 1 November 1991 – 1 October 1993
• 910th Operations Group, 1 April 1995–present

Stations

Geiger Field, Washington, 1 August 1943 Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, August 1943 MacDill Field, Florida, 4 November 1943 Lakeland Army Airfield, Florida, 3 January 1944 Hampton Roads (Camp Patrick Henry), Virginia (ground echelon), 2–12 February 1944 Air echelon operated from Hunter Field, Georgia, 6–10 February 1944 Morrison Field, Florida, 11–14 February 1944 Then staged through bases in South America and North Africa, 15 February – 13 March 1944 Naples, Italy (ground echelon), 10 March 1944 Celone Airfield, Italy (ground echelon), 11 March 1944 Air echelon operated from Amendola Airfield, Italy, 14–27 March 1944, then joined ground echelon at Celone Airfield, Italy, 28 March 1944 Pomigliano Airfield, Italy, 26 May 1945

Celone Airfield, Italy, 3–25 September 1945 Memphis Municipal Airport, Tennessee, 16 January 1953 Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma, 17 August 1953 Sewart AFB, Tennessee, 15 November 1958 Langley AFB, Virginia, 5 July 1963 – 7 February 1966 Mactan Isle Airfield, Philippines, 12 February 1966 Clark AB, Philippines, 15 July 1968 – 15 June 1971 Dyess AFB, Texas, 1 June 1972 – 1 October 1993 Deployed at: RAF Mildenhall, England, 1 June – 14 July 1972; 28 August – 16 November 1972 Deployed at: Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan, 28 February-c. 10 May 1973 Deployed at: RAF Mildenhall, England, 5 July – 5 September 1973; 5 May – 15 July 1974; 5 May – 14 July 1975 Youngstown-Warren Air Reserve Station, Ohio, 1 April 1995–present

Aircraft

• B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945
• C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1953–1957
• C-130 Hercules, 1956–1971; 1972–1988; 1995–present

References

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

• Mauer, Mauer (1969), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II, Air Force Historical Studies Office, Maxwell AFB, Alabama. ISBN 0-89201-097-5
• 910 Operations Group Factsheet

External links

United States Air Force Leadership Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 4-star generals House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Organization Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major Commands Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe Pacific Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth Wings (ANG) Groups (ANG) Squadrons (ANG) Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol Personnel and training Airmen Rank Officers Enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Office of Special Investigations Security Forces Medical Service Pararescue Combat Control Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: USAF Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Test Uniforms and equipment Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Uniforms History and traditions History Army Air Service / Corps / Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band The Airmen of Note Tops In Blue Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Air Force One Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers Category Portal