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==History==
==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 [[World War II]] the 97th participated in [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] [[Airborne forces|airborne]] assaults on [[Operation Overlord|Normandy]], [[Operation Dragoon|southern France]], [[Operation Market Garden|the Netherlands]], and [[Germany]] as well as the relief of [[Siege of Bastogne|Bastogne]] and the transportation of cargo and personnel in the [[European Theater of Operations]] and [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations]].


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.
⚫
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 [[Operation Just Cause|Panama]], [[1989]]-[[1990]], and in [[southwest Asia]], 1990-[[1991]].

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.

⚫
It trained for fighter-bomber operations from [[1952]]-[[1957]]. The squadron has conducted worldwide airlift since 1957 including Supporting contingency operations in [[Operation Just Cause|Panama]], [[1989]]-[[1990]], and in [[southwest Asia]], 1990-[[1991]].


=== Operations and Decorations===
=== Operations and Decorations===

Revision as of 18:14, 18 February 2012

97th Airlift Squadron
97th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active25 May 1943 - 18 October 1945
15 September 1947 - 4 May 1951
15 June 1952 - 1 July 1957
16 November 1957 - Present
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
TypeAirlift
Part ofAir Force Reserve Command
4th Air Force
446th Airlift Wing
446th Operations Group
Garrison/HQMcChord Air Force Base
DecorationsDistinguished 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.

Mission

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

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.

It trained 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 and Decorations

  • Campaigns: World War II: Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

Lineage

  • Constituted 97th Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943
Activated on 1 Jul 1943
Inactivated on 18 Oct 1945
  • Activated in the Reserve on 15 Sep 1947
Re-designated: 97th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 Jun 1949
Ordered to active duty on 1 May 1951
Inactivated on 4 May 1951
  • Re-designated: 97th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952
Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952
Inactivated on 1 Jul 1957
  • Re-designated: 97th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 24 Oct 1957
Activated in the Reserve on 16 Nov 1957
Ordered to active duty on 28 Oct 1962
Relieved from active duty on 28 Nov 1962
Re-designated: 97th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 1 Dec 1965
Re-designated: 97th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 Jan 1966
Ordered to active duty on 26 Jan 1968
Relieved from active duty on 2 Jun 1969
Re-designated: 97th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 Jul 1969
Re-designated: 97th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992
Re-designated: 97th Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

External links

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