96th Airlift Squadron

96th Airlift Squadron
Profile of a squadron C-130H Hercules
Active	1943–1945; 1947–1951; 1952–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Minneapolis-St Paul Joint Air Reserve Station
Nickname(s)	Flying Vikings
Engagements	Operation Overlord Operation Dragoon Operation Market Garden Battle of Bastogne
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt Col Derek J. Poellet
Insignia
96th Airlift Squadron emblem
96th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem

C-130H showing the squadrons Flying Vikings banner

The 96th Airlift Squadron is part of the 934th Airlift Wing at Minneapolis-St Paul Joint Air Reserve Station, Minnesota. It operates Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide. The unit has supported the conflicts of World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the Gulf War and has helped prove the concept of a reliable and ready airlift reserve fleet of the United States Air Force.

Mission

Fly Lockheed C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft, both airdropping and air landing cargo and people.

History

World War II

The squadron was activated in July 1943 as an I Troop Carrier Command Douglas C-47 Skytrain Squadron. After training in the United States, at various bases, it was sent to Baer Field, Indiana for final equipping with aircraft, personnel, and other equipment. It was then deployed to IX Troop Carrier Command in February 1944 during the build-up prior to the invasion of France.

During the D-Day Invasion, the squadron dropped paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies. During the airborne attack on The Netherlands (Operation Market Garden, September 1944), the squadron dropped paratroops, towed gliders, and flew resupply missions. Later participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. The squadron supported the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne on 27 December 1944. In addition, its units participated in the air assault across the Rhine River in early 1945 (Operation Varsity) and later flew numerous freight missions to carry gasoline, food, medicine, and other supplies to allied ground forces during the Western Allied invasion of Germany in April 1945 near Wesel. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It transported displaced persons from Germany to France and Belgium after V-E Day. Remained in Europe during the summer of 1945, inactivating as part of the United States Air Forces in Europe, October 1945.

Reserve operations and mobilization for the Korean War

Reactivated in the reserve as a Curtiss C-46 Commando troop carrier squadron in Minneapolis, Minnesota during 1947. Was federalized as a result of the Korean War in 1951, squadron personnel and aircraft being sent to active-duty units as fillers, inactivated as an administrative unit a few days later.

Reactivation in the reserve

Reactivated after the Korean War as a reserve fighter-bomber squadron in 1952 initially equipped with North American F-51 Mustangs, later upgraded to Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star jet aircraft. Redesignated back to a troop carrier squadron in 1957. Carried out theater transport operations and supported Air Force and Army units with troop carrier missions. Was activated during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, carried Army units to South Florida in preparation of a possible invasion of Cuba. Returned Army personnel to home stations after the situation was normalized and returned to reserve service.

The squadron flew airlift missions worldwide, including to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War and to Southwest Asia during the Gulf War. It has also participated in training exercises, some involving the dropping or landing of airborne troops, and flew numerous humanitarian airlift missions.

Campaigns and decorations

• Campaigns: World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rome-Arno; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
• Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6–7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Oct 1988 – 30 Sep 1990; 1 Jul 1994 – 30 Jun 1996; 30 Sep 1998 – 1 Oct 2000. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb-11 Mar 1968.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 96th Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943

Activated on 1 July 1943

Inactivated on 18 October 1945

• Activated in the reserve on 6 March 1947

Redesignated 96th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 June 1949

Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951

Inactivated on 4 May 1951

• Redesignated 96th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952

Activated in the Reserve on 15 June 1952

Redesignated 96th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 8 September 1957

Ordered to active service on 28 October 1962

Relieved from active service on 28 November 1962

Redesignated 96th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967

Redesignated 96th Airlift Squadron on 1 February 1992

Assignments

• 440th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jul 1943 – 18 Oct 1945
• Second Air Force, 6 March 1947
• 440th Troop Carrier Group, 3 Sep 1947 – 4 May 1951
• 440th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 440th Troop Carrier Group), 15 June 1952
• 440th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 934th Troop Carrier Group (later 934 Tactical Airlift Group 934 Airlift Group), 11 February 1963
• 934th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992 – present

Stations

• Baer Field, Indiana, 1 July 1943
• Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, 9 July 1943
• Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska, 7 September 1943
• Pope Field, North Carolina, 4 January 1944
• Baer Field, Indiana, 14–21 February 1944
• RAF Bottesford (AAF-481), England, 8 March 1944
• RAF Exeter (AAF-463), England, 26 April 1944 (operated from Ombrone Airfield, Italy, 18 July-24 August 1944)

• Reims/Champagne Airfield (A-62), France, 13 September 1944
• Le Mans Airfield (A-35), France, 28 September 1944
• Orleans/Bricy Airfield (A-50), 4 November 1944 – 18 October 1945
• Scott Field (later Scott Air Force Base), Illinois, 6 March 1947
• Wold-Chamberlain Field, Minnesota, 27 June 1949 – 4 May 1951
• Fort Snelling, Minnesota, 15 June 1952
• Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport (later Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport - Air Reserve Station), Minnesota, 8 January 1953 – present

Aircraft

• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1943–1945)
• Curtiss C-46 Commando (1947–1951)
• North American P-51 Mustang (1952–1955)

• Lockheed F-80 Shooting Star (1955–1957)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957–1970)
• Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1970 – present)

References

Notes

Citations

Bibliography

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

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL yes: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2017.
• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 September 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2017.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.