Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.5 inch/90mm
180th AIRLIFT SQUADRON
Lineage. Constituted as the 438th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 19 Jun 1942. Activated on 26 Jun 1942. Redesignated 438th Bombardment Squadron (Light) on 3 Feb 1945. Inactivated on December 13, 1945. Inactivated on 13 Dec 1945. Redesignated 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light), and allocated to Missouri ANG, on May 24, 1946. 180th Bombardment Squadron (Light) extended federal recognition on 22 Aug 1946. 180th Bombardment Squadron (Tactical) on 1 Jul 1955; 180th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 15 Jun 1957; 180th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 10 Apr 1958; 180th Air Transport Squadron (Heavy) on 14 Apr 1962; 180th Air Refueling Squadron on 6 Sep 1969; 180th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1976; 180th Airlift Squadron on 15 Mar 1992-.
Assignment: 319th Bombardment Group 319th BG,26 Jun 1942-13 Dec 1945. 139th Air Transport Group, 14 Apr 1962; 139th Military Airlift Group, 1 Jan 1966; 139th Air Refueling Group, 6 Sep 1969; 139th Tactical Airlift Group, 1 Oct 1976; 139th Tactical Airlift Group 31 May 1991; 139th Airlift Group, 15 Mar 1992; 139th Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1995-. (attached to 126th Bombardment Wing, Jul 1951-1 Jan 1953)
Stations: Barksdale Field, LA, 26 Jun 1942; Harding Field, LA, 8-27 Aug 1942; Shipdham, England, 12 Sep 1942; Horsham St. Faith, England, 5-21 Oct 1942; St-Leu , Algeria, c. 10 Nov 1942, Tafaraoui, Algeria, 17 Nov 1942; Maison Blanche, Algeria, c. 26 Nov 1942; Telergma, Algeria, c. 13 Dec 1942; Oujda, French Morocco, 3 Mar 1943; Rabat/ Sale, French Morocco, 25 Apr 1943; Sedrata, Algeria, 1 Jun 1943; Djedeida, Algeria, 26 Jun 1943; Decimomannu, Sardinia, 1 Nov 1943; Serragio, Corsica, 22 Sep 1944-c. 9 Jan 1945; Bradley Field, CT, 25 Jan 1945; Columbia AAB, SC, c. 28 Feb-28 Apr 1945; Kadena, Okinawa, c. 3 Jul 1945; Machinato, Okinawa, 21 Jul-23 Nov 1945; Vancouver Barracks, WA, c. 11-13 Dec 1945. Rosecrans MAP (later Rosecrans ANGB), MO, 22 Aug 1946-. (Bordeaux-Merignac AB, France, Jul 1951; Laon AB, France, Jul 1952-1 Jan 1952-Korean War call-up)
Aircraft: B-26, 1942-1944; B-25, 1944-1945; A-26, 1945. B-26B/C, 1946-1957; F-80C, 1957-1958; F-84F, 1958-1962; C-97F/G, 1962-1969; C-97L, 1969-1976; C-130A, 1976-1987; C-130H2, 1987-.
Operations: Ground echelon in assault landing at Arzeu, Algeria, 8 Nov 1942. Combat in MTO, 28 Nov 1942-13 Feb 1943; withdrawn for reorganization and re-equipment, 27 Feb-31 May 1943; combat in MTO, 6 Jun 1943-30 Dec 1944; returned to the United States for reorganization and re-equipment, 25 Jan-28 Apr 1945; combat in Western Pacific, 16 Jul-12 Aug 1945. Called to active duty as part of the Korean War call-up, 1951-1953. Flew airlift missions to Vietnam during the 1960s. Participated in air refueling missions during USAFE Operation Creek Party during the 1970s. Supported Operation Volant Oak and Operation Coronet Oak at Howard Air Force Base, Panama, from the 1970s through the 1990s. During a deployment to Howard AFB in Nov, 1978, the 180th became involved with the events unfolding in Jonestown, Guyana. The 180th was the first US military aircraft landing at Timehri International Airport, Guyana in support of rescue operations. Flew combat missions in support of Operation Just Cause, Dec, 1989. Participated in Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 1990-1991. Provided airlift support during Operation Provide Promise, Operation Joint Endeavor, Operation Joint Guard and Operation Joint Forge into Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1992-1996. Following the attacks on 11 Sept 2001, the 180th served in a support role flying missions transporting personnel and equipment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Partially activated in Mar 2003 prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom. The unit was later reassigned in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in the Afghanistan theater.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaigns: Algeria-French Morocco, with Arrowhead; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Anzio; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Japan; Ryukyus; China Offensive.
Decorations: Distinguished Unit Citations: Rome, Italy, 3 Mar 1944; Florence, Italy, 11 Mar 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: Apr, May, and Jun 1944.
Emblem: Approved 8 Mar 1951