313th Airlift Squadron

313th Airlift Squadron
313th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	1943–1945 1957 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 446th Airlift Wing 446th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	McChord Air Force Base
Engagements	World War II Cold War
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 313th Airlift Squadron (313 AS) is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 446th Operations Group, stationed at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is a corollary unit of the active duty 7th Airlift Squadron, 62d Airlift Wing (62 AW).

Overview

The mission of the 313th AS consists of airlift, aerial delivery, and aerial refueling on a worldwide basis, flying the C-17 Globemaster jet transport. The majority of the airlift mission is conducted in the Pacific and Alaska; however, missions are also flown to Europe, Africa, and South America.

History

Activated in late 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force. Was not used in combat operations, however did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.

Redesignated as the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron 1 September 1957, the unit transferred to Portland International Airport, Oregon. The squadron flew the C-46 and the C-119 Flying Boxcar, and in September 1958 flew the first Reserve mission outside the continental United States taking a R-33 engine to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The squadron was ordered to active service for a month in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It became part of the 939th Troop Carrier Group in 1963 and was redesignated the 313th Tactical Airlift Squadron 1 July 1967.

25 July 1968, the squadron transferred to McChord AFB, Wash., where it was redesignated as the 313th Military Airlift Squadron as part of the 939th Military Airlift Group. At McChord, it flew the C-141A Starlifter and with a global strategic mission, 313th aircrews saw much service providing airlift to Southeast Asia.

The 313th Military Airlift Squadron was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in June 1970 and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm in January 1973. A second Air Force Outstanding Unit Award was awarded June 1974 following participation in Operation Nickel Grass in defense of Israel. It became part of the 446th Military Airlift Wing in July 1973.

The 313th Airlift Squadron has also received numerous safety awards and has recently completed 39 years and more than 168,000 hours of accident-free flying.

Operations and Decorations

• Combat Operations. Called to active service during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and in 1968-1969. Flew missions in support of anti-terrorism operations after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the U.S.

• Campaigns. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.

• Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 August 2002 – 31 July 2002. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 December 1964 – 22 January 1965; 26 January 1968 – 1 June 1969; 1 July 1974 – 30 June 1975; 1 July 1975-30 June 1977; 1 July 1992 – 30 June 1994; 1 July 1994 – 15 August 1995; 1 July 1996 – 30 June 1998; 1 August 2000 – 31 July 2002; 16 August 2003 – 17 August 2004; 18 August 2004 – 17 August 2005; 18 August 2005 – 17 August 2006; 18 August 2006 – 17 August 2007; 18 August 2007 – 17 August 2008; 18 August 2008 – 17 August 2009. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 April 1966 – 28 January 1973.

Lineage

• Constituted as 313th Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 October 1943

Activated on 1 November 1943

Inactivated on 7 September 1946

• Re-designated: 313th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium' on 10 May 1949

Activated in the Reserve on 27 June 1949

Ordered to active duty on 1 April 1951

Inactivated on 2 April 1951

• Re-designated: 313th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952

Activated in the Reserve on 13 June 1952

Re-designated: 313th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 September 1957

Ordered to active duty on 28 October 1962

Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962

Re-designated: 313th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967

Re-designated: 313th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 July 1968

Re-designated: 313th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992

Re-designated: 313th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994.

Assignments

• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 1 November 1943 – 7 September 1946
• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951
• 349th Fighter-Bomber (later, 349 Troop Carrier) Group, 13 June 1952
• 349th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 939th Troop Carrier (later, 939 Tactical Airlift; 939 Military Airlift) Group, 11 February 1963
• 446th Military Airlift (later, 446 Airlift) Wing, 1 July 1973
• 446th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – Present

Stations

• Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, 1 November 1943
• Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska, 20 January 1944
• Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, 11 March 1944
• Baer Field, Indiana, 7–15 March 1945
• RAF Barkston Heath (AAF-483), England, 30 March 1945
• Roye-Amy Airfield (A-73), France, 18 Apr-13 July 1945

• Bergstrom Field, Texas, 17 September 1945 – 7 September 1946
• Hamilton AFB, California, 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951; 13 June 1952
• Hill AFB, Utah, 14 October 1955
• Portland International Airport, Oregon, 16 November 1957
• McChord AFB, Washington, 25 July 1968 – Present

Aircraft

• C-53 Skytrooper, 1943–1944
• C-47 Skytrain, 1944, 1945–1946
• C-46 Commando, 1944–1946; 1949–1951, 1957–1958
• F-51 Mustang, 1952–1954
• T-33 Shooting Star, 1953–1956

• F-80 Shooting Star, 1954–1956
• F-84 Thunderjet, 1956–1957
• C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1958–1968
• C-141 Starlifter, 1968–1996
• C-17 Globemaster III, 1996 – present

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

• AFHRA 313th Airlift Squadron factsheet