356th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 356th Airlift Squadron


caption= 356th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 28 January 1942 - 10 April 1944
7 July 1944 - 15 April 1946
27 June 1949 - 28 January 1950
14 June 1952 - 30 June 2006
9 January 2007 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Force Reserve Command
4th Air Force
433d Airlift Wing
433d Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Kelly Field Annex
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles=
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
battle_honours=

The 356th Airlift Squadron (356 AS) is part of the 433d Airlift Wing at Kelly Field Annex, Texas. It operates C-5 Galaxy aircraft providing global airlfit.

Mission

The 356 AS operates the Air Force Reserve's only Formal Training Unit providing initial and advanced C-5 flight qualification for Air Mobility Command, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve Command aircrews.

History

The 356th trained aircrews for bombardment missions from, June 1942-April 1944 and saw combat in the Western Pacific from c. 1 July 1945 – 14 August 1945.

It trained for C-54 airlift operations from 1949-1950 and for troop carrier missions from 1952-1967. THe squadron airlifted troops and their equipment during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October-November 1962. From 1970-1971 the squadron trained for special operations. Between 1971 and 2006 it trained for and flew airlift missions, participating in exercises, supporting unit deployments, taking part in special assignment airlift missions, and rotating periodically to Panama. The 356th supported liberation of Kuwait in 1991. It converted from tactical to strategic aircraft in 1992.

Since 2007 the 356th has conducted air crew training for the C-5 Galaxy

Operations

*World War II
*Operation Desert Shield

Lineage

*356th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (1942 - 1944)
*356th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy (1944 - 1949)
*356th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949 - 1967)
*356th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1967 - 1970)
*356th Special Operations Squadron (1970 - 1971)
*356th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1971 - 1992)
*356th Airlift Squadron (1992 - Present)

Assignments

*302d Bombardment Group (1942 – 1944)
*331st Bombardment Group (1944 – 1946)
*302d Troop Carrier Group (1949 – 1950)
*302d Troop Carrier Wing (1952 – 1963)
*907th Tactical Airlift Group (1963 - 1975)
*302d Tactical Airlift Wing (1975 - 1981)
*907th Operations Group (1981 - 1994)
*445th Airlift Wing (1994 - 2006)
*433d Airlift Wing (2007 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Geiger Field, Washington (1942)
*Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona (1942)
*Wendover Field, Utah (1942)
*Pueblo Army Air Base Colorado (1942)
*Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona (1942 - 1943)
*Clovis Army Air Field, New Mexico (1943)
*Langley Field, Virginia (1943 - 1944)
*Chatham Army Air Field, Georgia (1944)
*Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas (1944)
*McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska (1944 - 1945)
*Northwest Field, Guam (1945 - 1946)
*McChord Air Force Base, Washington (1949 - 1950)
*Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio (1952 - 1971)
*Rickenbacker Air Force Base, Ohio (1971 - 1993)
*Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio (1993 - 2006)
*Kelly Field Annex, Texas (2007 - Present)

Aircraft operated

*B-24 Liberator (1942 – 1944)
*B-17 Flying Fortress (1944)
*B-29 Superfortress (1945 – 1946)
*C-54 Skymaster (1949 – 1950)
*C-46 Commando (1952 – 1957)
*C-119 Flying Boxcar (1956 – 1973)
*C-123 Provider (1972 – 1981)
*C-130 Hercules (1981 – 1992)
*C-141 Starlifter (1992 – 2006)
*C-5 Galaxy (2007 – Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0356as.asp USAF 356th Airlift Squadron History]
* [http://www.433aw.afrc.af.mil/units/c-5ftu/356thairliftsquadron/index.asp 356th Airlift Squadron Fact Page]

External links