Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 4.0 inch-100mm
815th AIRLIFT SQUADRON (AFRC)
Lineage. Constituted 815 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 Sep 1943. Activated on 20 Sep 1943. Redesignated 815 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. Sep 1944. Inactivated on 25 Sep 1945. Redesignated 815 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 15 Nov 1952. Activated on 1 Jan 1953. Redesignated: 815 Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 Dec 1965; 815 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Aug 1967. Inactivated on 15 Dec 1969. Activated in the Reserve on 25 Apr 1973. Redesignated 815 Weather Reconnaissance Squadron on 1 Jan 1976; 815 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 31 Dec 1987; 815 Airlift Squadron on 1 Feb 1992.
Assignments. 483 Bombardment Group, 20 Sep 1943-25 Sep 1945. 483 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jan 1953; 483 Troop Carrier Wing, 8 Dec 1958; 315 Air Division, 25 Jun 1960; 374 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Nov 1968-15 Dec 1969. 920 Tactical Airlift (later, 920 Weather Reconnaissance) Group, 25 Apr 1973; 403 Rescue and Weather Reconnaissance (later, 403 Tactical Airlift; 403 Airlift) Wing, 1 Nov 1983; 403 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.
Stations. Ephrata AAB, WA, 20 Sep 1943; MacDill Field, FL, 7 Nov 1943-2 Mar 1944; Sterparone Airfield, Italy, 9 Apr 1944; Pisa, Italy, 15 May-25 Sep 1945. Ahiya AB, Japan, 1 Jan 1953; Tachikawa AB, Japan, 25 Jun 1960-15 Dec 1969. Keesler AFB, MS, 25 Apr 1973-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1943-1945. C-119, 1953-1959; C-130, 1958-1969. C-130, 1973-1975, 1988-; WC-130, 1976-1990; WC-130, 1991-1993.
Operations. Combat in the MTO and ETO, 12 Apr 1944-26 Apr 1945; transported redeployed personnel from Italy to French Morocco, May-Sep 1945. In 1953, the squadron transported troops, supplies, and equipment to Korea and evacuated casualties from there. Airlifted personnel and cargo to the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, Okinawa, and Korea, 1953-1969. Performed combat support missions in Southeast Asia, 1964-1969. Performed weather reconnaissance missions, 1983-1987, including flying into hurricanes to collect atmospheric data. Began conversion to tactical airlift operations late in 1987, but retained weather reconnaissance capability until 1992. Took part in Operation Just Cause in Panama, Dec 1989-Jan 1990. Squadron crews and aircraft participated in numerous training exercises and humanitarian airlift operations since 1992.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; North Apennines; Rhineland; Central Europe; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Korean War: Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Panama, 1989-1990.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Germany, 18 Jul 1944; Germany, 24 Mar 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V’ Device: 1 Jan 1968-10 Nov 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 6 May 1953-10 Sep 1954; 1 Jan-30 Jun 1961; 1 Jul 1964-30 Jun 1966; 1 Jul 1977-31 Dec 1978; 1 Jul 1984-30 Jun 1986; 1 May 1992-30 Apr 1994; 1 May 1994-30 Apr 1996; 1 May 1996-31 Aug 1997. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [Jan]-28 Jul 1953. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jan 1968-10 Nov 1969.
Emblem. Originally approved on 28 Apr 1960; reinstated in 1988.