97th Airlift Squadron

97th Airlift Squadron
97th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	25 May 1943 - 18 October 1945 15 September 1947 - 4 May 1951 15 June 1952 - 1 July 1957 16 November 1957 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 4th Air Force 446th Airlift Wing 446th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	McChord Air Force Base
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 97th Airlift Squadron (97 AS) is part of the 446th Airlift Wing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.

Contents 1 Mission 2 History 2.1 Operations 2.2 Previous designations 3 Assignments 4 Bases stationed 5 Aircraft operated 6 References 7 External links

Mission

Train and equip C-17 aircrews for global air-land and airdrop operations.

History

During World War II the 97th participated in Allies airborne assaults on Normandy, southern France, the Netherlands, and Germany as well as the relief of Bastogne and the transportation of cargo and personnel in the European Theater of Operations and Mediterranean Theater of Operations.

It trained for troop carrier missions from 1947-1951 and for fighter-bomber operations from 1952-1957. The squadron has conducted worldwide airlift since 1957 including Supporting contingency operations in Panama, 1989-1990, and in southwest Asia, 1990-1991.

Operations

• World War II
• Operation Overlord
• Operation Dragoon
• Operation Market Garden
• Operation Vittles
• Vietnam War
• Operation Just Cause
• Operation Urgent Fury
• Operation Desert Shield
• Operation Desert Storm
• Operation Joint Endeavor
• Operation Joint Forge
• Operation Enduring Freedom
• Operation Iraqi Freedom
• Operation Deep Freeze

Previous designations

97th Troop Carrier Squadron (1943–1949) 97th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949–1952) 97th Fighter-Bomber Squadron (1952–1957) 97th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1957–1965) 97th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy (1965–1966)

97th Military Airlift Squadron (1966–1969) 97th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) (1969–1992) 97th Airlift Squadron (Associate) (1992–1994) 97th Airlift Squadron (1994 – Present)

Assignments

• 440th Troop Carrier Group (1943–1945, 1947–1951)
• 440 Fighter-Bomber Group (1952–1957)
• 440th Troop Carrier Wing (1957–1958)
• 349th Troop Carrier Wing (1958–1963)
• 941st Military Airlift Group (1963–1969)
• 939th Military Airlift Group (1969–1973)
• 446th Airlift Wing (1973–Present)

Bases stationed

Baer Field, Indiana (1943) Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri (1943) Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1943–1944) Pope Field, North Carolina (1944) Baer Field, Indiana (1944) RAF Bottesford, England (1944) RAF Exeter, England (1944) Operated: Ombrone Airfield, Italy (18 July – 24 August 1944) Reims, France (1944)

Le Mans, France (1944) Orléans, France (1944–1945) Scott Field, Illinois (1947–1949) Wold-Chamberlain Municipal Airport, Minnesota (1949–1951) Ft. Snelling, Minnesota (1952–1953) Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota (1953–1957) O'Hare International Airport, Illinois (1957–1958) Paine Air Force Base, Washington (1958–1965) McChord Air Force Base, Washington (1965 – Present)

Aircraft operated

• C-47 Skytrain (1942–1945, 1946–1948)
• C-54 Skymaster (1948–1949)
• C-82 Packet (1949–1953)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1953–1960)
• VT-29A (1969–1970)
• C-131 Samaritan (1969–1970)
• C-23 (1984–1990)
• C-141 Starlifter (1990–2003)
• C-17 Globemaster III (2003 – Present)

References

• Official USAF 97th Airlift Squadron History

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