Jump to content

15th Airlift Squadron

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

15th Airlift Squadron
A 437th Airlift Wing C-17A Globemaster III deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Active1940–1945; 1946–1993; 1993–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQCharleston Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Global Eagles
EngagementsMediterranean Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
Korean War[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
15th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 14 June 1977)[1]
15th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem (approved 16 July 1952)[2]

The 15th Airlift Squadron is part of the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide.

Mission

[edit]

The 15th Airlift Squadron, "Global Eagles", provides combat-ready C-17 aircrews for strategic airlift missions worldwide. The squadron is tasks include emergency nuclear airlift, Presidential support and humanitarian relief efforts.[3]

History

[edit]

World War II

[edit]

Constituted 15th Transport Squadron on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 4 Dec 1940 at Duncan Field, TX, and was assigned to the 61st Transport (later, 61st Troop Carrier) Group. The squadron flew the C-33 and then C-39 between 1941 and 1942. Converted to Douglas C-47 Skytrains in early 1942, trained under I Troop Carrier Command for combat operations. Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942.[1]

Post WW2

[edit]

Reactivated on 30 Sep 1946. Redesignated: 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, Eschborn AB, Germany. Then, relocated to Rhein-Main AB, Germany, on 9 February 1947, it was redesignated as the 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 1 July 1948.[1]

The 15th moved to McChord AFB, WA, on 26 July 1950, before relocating to Ashiya AB, Japan on 13 December 1950. During the Korean War it provided aerial transportation from the US to Japan, from August–December 1950, and between Japan and Korea, from 13 December 1950-November 1952. The squadron relocated from Tachikawa AB, Japan, relocating there on 26 March 1952, to Larson AFB, WA, on 21 November 1952. During 1952 also saw the 15th transition to the C-124 aircraft, and the following year, the squadron was tasked was tasked with providing worldwide airlift.[1]

The squadron moved to Donaldson AFB, SC on 25 August 1954, before being reassigned to the 63rd Troop Carrier Group on 8 October 1959, and to the 63rd Troop Carrier (later, 63rd Military Airlift) Wing, on 18 January 1963. The unit relocated to Hunter AFB, GA, on 1 April 1963. The squadron was redesignated as the 15th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966.[1]

Global airlift

[edit]

The 15th relocated to Norton AFB, CA, on 1 April 1967. That same year, it transitioned to the C-141. The squadron was reassigned to the 63rd Military Airlift Group, on 1 October 1978; and to the 63rd Military Airlift Wing, on 1 July 1980. The squadron provided airlift to Southeast Asia, 1966–1973; and to Grenada, Operation Urgent Fury, from October–November 1983; to Panama, Operation Just Cause, from 18 December 1989 – 8 January 1990; and to Southwest Asia, from August 1990-January 1991.[1]

Redesignated as the 15th Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992 under the 63rd Operations Group, the 15th inactivated on 26 July 1993.[1]

The squadron reactivated on 1 October 1993 at Joint Base Charleston, SC, and was assigned to the 437th Operations Group.[1] The 15th received its first C-17 in June 1993.

Lineage

[edit]
  • Constituted as the 15th Transport Squadron on 20 November 1940
Activated on 4 December 1940
Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 31 July 1945
  • Activated on 30 September 1946
Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1948
Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 15 August 1948
Redesignated 15th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
Redesignated 15th Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992
Inactivated on 26 July 1993
  • Activated on 1 October 1993[1]

Assignments

[edit]

Stations

[edit]

Aircraft

[edit]

Awards and campaigns

[edit]
  • Campaigns. World War II: Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. Korea: CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korean Summer-Fall, 1952.
  • Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Sicily, 11 July 1943; France, [6–7] Jun 1944; Korea, 13 December 1950 – 21 April 1951. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 July 1957 – 10 December 1962; 1 July 1968 – 30 June 1969; 1 July 1970 – 30 June 1971; 1 June 1978 – 31 May 1980; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1983; 1 Jan-31 Dec 1987; 1 January 1990 – 30 April 1991. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 1 Jul 1951–[18 Nov 1952]. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 April 1966 – 8 January 1973.

References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Factsheet 15 Airlift Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 3 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 87–88
  3. ^ "15th Airlift Squadron". Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  4. ^ Station number in Anderson.
  5. ^ Station number in Johnson.
  6. ^ Station information in AFHRA Factsheet, 15 Airlift Squadron, except as noted.

Bibliography

[edit]

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

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=15th_Airlift_Squadron&oldid=1205379137"