95th Airlift Squadron

95th Airlift Squadron C-130 over Biltmore House, Asheville, North Carolina

The 95th Airlift Squadron (95 AS) is part of the 440th Operations Group at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide.

History

Activated in July 1943 as an I Troop Carrier Command C-47 Skytrain Squadron. After training in the United States, at various bases, sent to Baer Field, Indiana for final equipping with aircraft, personnel and other equipment. Deployed to Ninth Air Force in England, assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in February 1944 during the build-up prior to the Invasion of France.

During the D-Day invasion, the squadron dropped paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies. During the airborne attack on The Netherlands (Operation Market Garden, September 1944), the squadron dropped paratroops, towed gliders, and flew resupply missions. Later participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. The squadron supported the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne on 27 December 1944. In addition, its units participated in the air assault across the Rhine River in early 1945 (Operation Varsity) and later flew numerous freight missions to carry gasoline, food, medicine, and other supplies to allied ground forces during the Western Allied invasion of Germany in April 1945 near Wesel. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It transported displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium after V-E Day. Remained in Europe during the summer of 1945, inactivating as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe, October 1945.

Reactivated in the reserve as a C-46 Commando troop carrier squadron in Minneapolis, Minnesota during 1947. Was federalized as a result of the Korean War in 1951, squadron personnel and aircraft being sent to active-duty units as fillers, inactivated as an administrative unit a few days later.

Reactivated after the Korean War as a reserve fighter-bomber squadron for Tactical Air Command in 1952 initially equipped with F-51 Mustangs, later upgraded to F-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft. Re-designated back to a troop carrier squadron in 1957 and moved to Milwaukee's Billy Mitchell Field under TAC's Eighteenth Air Force. Carried out theater transport operations and supported Air Force and Army units with troop carrier missions. Was activated during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, carried Army units to South Florida in preparation of a possible invasion of Cuba. Returned Army personnel to home stations after situation was normalized and returned to reserve service.

The squadron flew airlift missions worldwide, including to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and to Southwest Asia during the Gulf War. It has also participated in training exercises, some involving the dropping or landing of airborne troops, and flew numerous humanitarian airlift missions.

Operations and decorations

• Combat operations: Airborne assaults on Normandy, Southern France, Holland, and Germany; relief of Bastogne; transportation of cargo and personnel in European and Mediterranean theaters of operation (ETO and MTO) during World War II. Flew airlift missions worldwide, including to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict and Operation Desert Shield during the Gulf War. Participated in training exercises, some involving the dropping or landing of airborne troops, and flew numerous humanitarian airlift missions. Supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, 2003–2005. Provided Hurricanes Katrina and Rita relief (Joint Task Force Katrina), 2005.
• Campaigns: World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia.
• Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6–7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1985 – 30 Sep 1987; 1 Oct 1990 – 30 Sep 1992; 2 Oct 1992 – 2 Oct 1993; 1 Jun 1997 – 30 Sep 1998; 1 Aug 2003 – 31 Jul 2005. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb 1968 – 6 Nov 1972.

Lineage

• Constituted as 95th Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943

Activated on 1 July 1943

Inactivated on 18 October 1945

• Activated in the Reserve on 9 April 1947

Re-designated as 95th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 June 1949

Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951

Inactivated on 4 May 1951

• Re-designated as 95th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952

Activated in the Reserve on 15 June 1952

Re-designated as 95th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 8 September 1957

Ordered to Active Service on 28 October 1962

Relieved from Active Duty on 28 November 1962

Re-designated as: 95th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967

Re-designated as: 95th Airlift Squadron on 1 February 1992.

Assignments

• 440th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jul 1943 – 18 Oct 1945
• Second Air Force, 9 April 1947
• 440th Troop Carrier Group, 3 Sep 1947 – 4 May 1951
• 440th Fighter-Bomber (later, 440th Troop Carrier) Group, 15 June 1952
• 440th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 933d Troop Carrier (later, 933d Tactical Airlift) Group, 11 February 1963
• 440th Tactical Airlift (later, 440th Airlift) Wing, 1 September 1975
• 440th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992–present

Stations

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• 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. 
• Official USAF 95th Airlift Squadron History
• 95th Airlift Squadron Fact Sheet

External links

• The SNAFU Special – Official website of the C-47A #43-15073, WW 2 95th TCS aircraft recovered and restored

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