309th Airlift Squadron

309th Airlift Squadron
309th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	25 May 1943 - 31 July 1945 27 June 1949 - 1 February 1953 8 October 1954 - 9 July 1956 18 March 1963 - 31 July 1970 12 March 2002 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	United States Air Forces in Europe 3rd Air Force 86th Airlift Wing 86th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Chièvres Air Base
Engagements	Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden Operation Plunder
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 309th Airlift Squadron (309 AS) is part of the 86th Airlift Wing at Chièvres Air Base, Belgium. It operates C-37 aircraft providing executive airlfit for NATO.

History

The 309th provided aerial transportation in the European Theater of Operations of materiel, equipment, and troops, and participated in the airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany from 6 June 1944-May 1945.

The 309th flew intratheater combat cargo and troop carrier missions in Southeast Asia from 1 July 1963-26 June 1970.

Lineage

• Constituted as 309 Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943

Activated on 1 Oct 1943

Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945

• Re-designated as: 309 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 10 May 1949

Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949

Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951

Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953

• Re-designated as: 309 Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Rotary Wing on 12 Aug 1954

Activated on 8 Oct 1954

Inactivated on 9 Jul 1956

• Re-designated as: 309 Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, and activated, on 18 Mar 1963

Organized on 1 Apr 1963

Re-designated as: 309 Air Commando Squadron, Troop Carrier on 8 Mar 1965

Re-designated as: 309 Air Commando Squadron, Tactical Airlift on 1 Aug 1967

Re-designated as: 309 Special Operations Squadron on 1 Aug 1968

Re-designated as: 309 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jan 1970

Inactivated on 31 Jul 1970

• Re-designated as: 309 Airlift Squadron on 10 Feb 2002

Activated on 12 Mar 2002.

Aircraft

• L-3 Grasshopper (1943)
• C-53 Skytrooper (1943–1944)
• C-47 Skytrain (1944–1945)
• B-24 Liberator (1944–1945)
• C-46 Commando (1945, 1951–1952)

• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1952–1953)
• H-19 Chickasaw (1954–1956)
• H-21 Shawnee (1956)
• C-123 Provider (1963–1970)
• C-37 (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
• USAF 309th Airlift Squadron History