778th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron

778th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
Active	1943-1945; 1953-1971; 2000s (TBD)
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift

The 778th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force squadron activated after 11 September 2001, being engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. It's current status is undetermined.

Previously, the squadron was a Tactical Air Command Tactical Airlift squadron, assigned to the 464th Tactical Airlift Wing, stationed at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina. It was inactivated on 31 August 1971. During World War II, the 778th Bombardment Squadron was a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron which saw combat with Fifteenth Air Force stationed in Italy, assigned to the 464th Bombardment Group.

History

Established as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), October 1943, becoming a Fifteenth Air Force heavy bomb squadron, attacking enemy targets both in the MTO and European Theater of Operations (ETO). After end of war in Europe, used B-24s for transport of personnel from various points in Europe to Waller Field, Trinidad, being attached to Air Transport Command. Inactivated 31 July 1945.

Reactivated as a Tactical Air Command theater transport squadron, 1953. Performed Troop Carrier missions using tactical transport aircraft until 1971 when inactivated.

Activated as a C-130 Hercules airlift squadron as part of the Global War on Terrorism after 9 September 2001.

Lineage

• Constituted 778th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943

Activated on 1 Aug 1943

Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945

• Redesignated: 778th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 14 Nov 1945 (Remained inactive)

Redesignated: 778th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 15 Dec 1952

Activated on 1 Feb 1953

Redesignated: 778th Troop Carrier Squadron (Assault) on 1 Dec 1958

Redesignated: 778th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 8 Jan 1964

Redesignated: 778th Troop Carrier Squadron on 1 Mar 1966

Redesignated: 778th Troop Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 May 1967

Inactivated on 31 Aug 1971. Assets absorbed by 40th Tactical Airlift Squadron.

• Converted to provisional status and redesignated as 778th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on undetermined date.

Allocated to Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate at any time.

Assignments

• 464th Bombardment Group, 1 Aug 1943-31 Jul 1945

Attached to: Air Transport Command, 15 Jun-31 Jul 1945

• 464th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Feb 1953
• 464th Troop Carrier (later Tactical Airlift) Wing, 11 Nov 1957-31 Aug 1971

Tail Code after 1968: PG

• Air Mobility Command, undetermined

Stations

• Wendover Field, Utah, 1 Aug 1943
• Gowen Field, Idaho, 22 Aug 1943
• Pocatello Army Airfield, Idaho, 2 Oct 1943-9 Feb 1944
• Pantanella Airfield, Italy, 10 Apr 1944
• Gioia del Colle Airfield, Italy, 20 Apr 1944

• Pantanella Airfield, Italy, c. 1 Jun i944-c. 6 Jun 1945
• Waller Field, Trinidad, 15 Jun-31 Jul 1945
• Lawson AFB, Georgia, 1 Feb 1953
• Pope AFB, North Carolina, 16 Sep 1954-31 Aug 1971
• Southwest Asia, undetermined

Aircraft

• B-24 Liberator, 1943-1945
• C-46 Commando, 1953-1954
• C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1953-1958
• C-123 Provider, 1958-1968
• C-130 Hercules, 1968-1971; undetermined

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from 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: 0892010975