732d Airlift Squadron
732d Airlift Squadron
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Active | 1942–1945; 1947–1951; 1952–1966; 1970–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Airlift |
Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
Garrison/HQ | McGuire Air Force Base |
Decorations |
Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1] |
Insignia | |
732d Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 20 April 1976[1] | |
332d Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 23 December 1943)[2] |
The 732d Airlift Squadron is a unit of the United States Air Force. It is part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It operates McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in providing global strategic airlift to US and allied forces.
History
World War II
Activated as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron; trained under Second Air Force. Completed training in early 1943; deploying to European Theater of Operations (ETO) assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, March 1944 – May 1945 attacking enemy military and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany. Most personnel demobilized in Europe after the German capitulation in May 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in November.
Air Force reserve
Reactivated in 1947 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress squadron in the reserves, however equipped with trainers until 1949 when equipped with Douglas B-26 Invader light bomber. Squadron activated in 1951 as a result of the Korean War; personnel and equipment assigned as replacements to units of Far East Air Forces, then inactivated as a paper unit.
The squadron trained in bombardment operations from, 1947–1951 and 1955–1957, reconnaissance operations from, 1952–1955, and troop carrier operations 1957–1966. After 1970, it participated in strategic airlift missions and exercises. In 1989 took part in Operation Just Cause in Panama by transporting U.S. troops.
Reactivated as a reserve transport squadron in 1952, being equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Activated during Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; returned to reserve status after crisis was resolved; inactivated in 1966 with phaseout of C-119 from the inventory.
Activated in 1970 with long-range Lockheed C-141 Starlifters, performing intercontinental airlift of personnel and materiel. The unit upgraded to Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs in 2004 after retirement of its C-141s. Most recently, the unit participated in relief efforets after the 2010 Haiti earthquakes.[3]
Lineage
- Constituted 332d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
- Activated on 15 June 1942
- Redesignated 332d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
- Inactivated on 15 December 1945
- Redesignated 332d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
- Redesignated 332d Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 June 1949
- Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951
- Inactivated on 20 March 1951
- Redesignated 332d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 26 May 1952
- Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952
- Redesignated: 332d Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 18 May 1955
- Redesignated: 732d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1957
- Ordered to active service on 28 October 1962
- Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962
- Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 January 1966
- Redesignated 732d Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 19 March 1970
- Activated on 1 April 1970
- Redesignated: 732d Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992
- Redesignated: 732d Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994[1]
Assignments
- 94th Bombardment Group, 15 June 1942 – 29 November 1945
- 94th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 20 March 1951
- 94th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later 94th Bombardment Group, 94th Troop Carrier Group), 14 June 1952
- 94th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
- 902d Troop Carrier Group, 11 February 1963 – 25 January 1966
- 903d Military Airlift Group, 1 April 1970
- 514th Military Airlift Wing (later 514th Airlift Wing), 1 July 1973
- 514th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present[1]
Stations
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Aircraft
- Boeing [B-17 Flying Fortress (1942–1945)
- Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1959–1965)
- Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (1970–2004)
- McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III (2004–present)[1]
References
- Notes
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Haulman, Daniel L. (9 January 2008). "Factsheet 732 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
- ↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons. p. 409
- ↑ Johnson, TSG Denise (15 January 2010). "Aircrews deliver relief supplies to Haiti". Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
Bibliography
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
- Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.