16th Airlift Squadron

16th Airlift Squadron
16th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	November 20, 1940 – Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force 437th Airlift Wing 437th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Charleston Air Force Base
Decorations	DCU AFOUA

16 AS alternate patch

The 16th Airlift Squadron (16 AS) is one unit of four active duty C-17A Globemaster III squadrons at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina.

Overview

The 16th Airlift Squadron is commanded by a Lieutenant Colonel, who serves as the leader of the squadron, including the pilots. The Chief Loadmaster is in charge of the loadmasters and the First Sergeant takes charge of the few support military personnel and civilians working in the squadron.

History

Lineage

• Constituted 16 Transport Squadron on 20 Nov 1940

Activated on 11 Dec 1940

Re-designated: 16 Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942

Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945

• Activated on 19 May 1947

Inactivated on 10 Sep 1948

• Re-designated: 16 Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Light on 19 Sep 1950

Activated on 5 Oct 1950

Re-designated: 16 Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Fixed Wing on 8 Nov 1954

Inactivated on 8 Jul 1955

• Re-designated: 16 Tactical Airlift Training Squadron on 14 Aug 1969

Activated on 15 Oct 1969

Re-designated: 16 Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991

Inactivated on 29 Sep 2000

• Activated on 1 Jul 2002.

Assignments

• 64 Transport (later, 64 Troop Carrier) Group, 11 Dec 1940-31 Jul 1945
• 64 Troop Carrier Group, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948
• 316 Troop Carrier Group, 5 Oct 1950
• Eighteenth Air Force (attached to 463 Troop Carrier Wing), 14 Nov 1954-8 Jul 1955
• 4442 Combat Crew Training Wing, 15 Oct 1969
• 314 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1971
• 34 Tactical Airlift Training Group, 1 Nov 1978
• 314 Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991
• 437 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993-29 Sep 2000
• 437 Operations Group, 1 Jul 2002-Present

Stations

• McClellan Field, CA, 11 Dec 1940
• Portland, OR, 9 Jul 1941
• Westover Field, MA, 12 Jun-31 Jul 1942
• RAF Ramsbury, England, 18 Aug-Nov 1942

Operated from Maison Blanche, Algeria, 11 Nov-Dec 1942

• Blida, Algeria, c. 12 Dec 1942
• Kairouan, Tunisia, 28 Jun 1943
• El Djem, Tunisia, 26 Jul 1943
• Comiso, Sicily, 4 Sep 1943

Operated from bases in India, 7 Apr-Jun 1944

• Ciampino, Italy, 10 Jul 1944

Operated from Istres, France, 7 Sep-11 Oct 1944

• Rosignano Airfield, Italy, 10 Jan-23 May 1945

Operated from Brindisi, Italy, 29 Mar-13 May 1945

• Waller Field, Trinidad, 4 Jun-31 Jul 1945
• Langley Field, VA, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948
• Sewart AFB, TN, 5 Oct 1950
• Ardmore AFB, OK, 14 Nov 1954-8 Jul 1955
• Sewart AFB, TN, 15 Oct 1969
• Little Rock AFB, AR, c. 15 Mar 1970
• Charleston AFB, SC, 1 Oct 1993-29 Sep 2000; 1 Jul 2002-Present

Aircraft

• C-47 Skytrain (1941–1945)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1950–1951)
• YC-122 Avitruc (1951–1955)
• H-19 Chickasaw (1952)

• H-5 Horse (1952)
• C-130 Hercules (1969–1993)
• C-141 Starlifter (1993–2000)
• C-17 Globemaster III (2002-Present)

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 0-89201-097-5
• 16th Airlift History at AFHRA
• 16th Airlift Squadron web site