73rd Airlift Squadron

73d Airlift Squadron
73d Airlift Squadron emblem
Active	9 February 1943 - 31 July 1946 1 August 1947 - 24 March 1954 8 June 1957 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Distinguished Visitor Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 4th Air Force 932nd Airlift Wing 932nd Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Scott Air Force Base
Engagements	Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden Battle of Bastogne
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm French Fourragère Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Col. Harry Hughes

The 73d Airlift Squadron (73 AS) is part of the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It operates C-9 Skytrain II and C-40 Clipper aircraft providing executive airlfit.

Mission

Provide first-class, worldwide, safe, and reliable airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs.

History

During World War II the 73d participated in airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany, the relief of Bastogne, and transportation of passengers and cargo in European Theater of Operations.

It transported personnel, equipment, and supplies and airdropped airborne troops and equipment from, 1957-1967. The squadron conducted long range movement of troops, cargo, and equipment from 1965–1969 and trained for space capsule recovery from, 1961-1969. It augmented the active duty 375th Airlift Wing in operating the aeromedical airlift system from, 1969-2005. Since 2005 the 73d has conducted executive airlift.

Lineage

• Constituted 73 Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 Jan 1943

Activated on 9 Feb 1943

Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946

• Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1947

Re-designated 73 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1949

Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951

Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953

• Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 1953

Inactivated on 24 Mar 1954

• Activated in the Reserve on 8 Jun 1957

Ordered to Active Service on 28 Oct 1962

Relieved from Active Duty on 28 Nov 1962

• Re-designated: 73 Military Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1967

Re-designated: 73 Aeromedical Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 Jul 1969

Re-designated: 73 Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments

• 434 Troop Carrier Group, 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946; 1 Aug 1947
• 436 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jul 1948
• 434 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jul 1949-1 Feb 1953
• 434 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Feb 1953-24 Mar 1954
• 434 Troop Carrier Group, 8 Jun 1957
• 434 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959
• 932 Troop Carrier (later, 932 Military Airlift; 932 Aeromedical Airlift) Group, 11 Feb 1963
• 932 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-Present

Aircraft

• C-47 Skytrain (1943–1946, 1949)
• CG-4 Waco (1943–1945)
• C-46 Commando (1945–1946, 1949–1953, 1957)
• T-11 Kansan (1947–1952, 1953)
• T-7 Navigator (1947–1952)
• T-6 Texan (1953)

• C-45 Expeditor (1953–1954)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957–1967)
• C-124 Globemaster II (1967–1969)
• C-9 Skytrain II (1969 – Present)
• C-40 Clipper (2005 – 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 73d Airlift Squadron History
• 932nd Airlift Wing Fact Sheet
• 932nd Airlift Wing History