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{{no footnotes|date=January 2013}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{use American English|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= 47th Liaison Squadron
|unit_name= 47th Liaison Squadron
|image=
|image=File:L-5 Sentinel.jpg
|image_size=300
|caption=
|caption=[[L-5 Sentinel]] as flown by the squadron
|dates= 1943–1948
|dates=1943–1948
|country= [[United States]]
|country={{USA}}
|allegiance=
|branch=[[United States Air Force]]
|branch={{air force|USA}}
|type= Liaison
|type=
|role=
|role=Courier
|size=
|size=
|command_structure=
|command_structure=
|current_commander=
|current_commander=
|garrison=
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|nickname=
|patron=
|motto=
|motto=
|colors=
|colors=
|march=
|march=
|mascot=
|mascot=
|battles=
|battles=[[European Theater of Operations]]
|notable_commanders=
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=
|battle_honours=
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=[[File:47 Liaison Sq emblem.png|165px]]
|identification_symbol_label=47th Liaison Squadron emblem <small>(approved 19 January 1944)</small><ref name=Maurer47LS>Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 207</ref>
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
}}
}}

The '''47th Liaison Squadron''' is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] unit. Its last assignment was with [[Tactical Air Command]], stationed at [[Langley Air Force Base]], [[Virginia]]. It was inactivated on August 25, 1948.
The '''47th Liaison Squadron''' is an inactive [[United States Air Force]] unit. Its last assignment was with [[Tactical Air Command]] at [[Langley Air Force Base]], Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1948. The [[squadron (aviation)|squadron]] was activated in July 1943. It trained in the United States until the spring of 1944, then deployed to the [[European Theater of Operations]]. It served as a courier and communication unit for various headquarters. After [[V-E Day]], it remained in Germany as part of the [[military occupation|occupation]] force until 1947, when it returned to the United States as a paper unit. It remained in that status until inactivating.


==History==
==History==
The '''47th Liaison Squadron''' was activated at [[Gainesville Army Air Field]], Texas on 1 July 1943 as one of the four [[squadron (aviation)|squadrons]] of the [[426th Reconnaissance Group]]. The following month the squadron was reassigned to [[II Air Support Command]], as the 426th Group was inactivated without fully equipping or being brought up to strength.<ref>Maurer, ''Combat Units'', pp. 302-303</ref> The squadron was equipped with a variety of light aircraft, primarily [[Stinson L-5 Sentinel]]s and [[Piper L-4 Grasshopper]]s, but it also flew a few [[Stinson L-1 Vigilant]]s and [[Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper]]s. The 47th trained at bases in Texas and Louisiana until late March 1944, when it departed for the [[European Theater of Operations]].<ref name=Maurer47LS/> Squadron training was informal and extended due to the absence of a formal training program until January 1944, and the absence of a definition of the squadron's mission. Because the squadron was nearing its overseas deployment, it received little benefit from the formal training program.<ref name=Gray>Gray (unpaginated)</ref>
⚫
===Lineage===

⚫
* Constituted '''47th Liaison Squadron''' on June 25, 1943
After its arrival at [[Cheltenham]], England in early April 1944, the squadron moved to [[RAF Heston]], west of London. From late May, six aircraft were detached to [[Old Sarum Airfield#Oatlands Hill|Oatlands Hill]], near [[Stonehenge]] in Wiltshire.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oatlands Hill|url=https://www.americanairmuseum.com/place/280|access-date=2021-02-22|website=American Air Museum in Britain}}</ref> The squadron provided courier service for Headquarters Command, European Theater of Operations, [[U.S. Army]] until after [[D-Day]], primarily with L-5 Sentinels.<ref name=Maurer47LS/> Other squadron missions included transport of personnel, [[aeromedical evacuation]], visual reconnaissance, providing commanders with information to control advancing columns and checking passive air defense measures.<ref name=Gray/> In late July, one flight moved to the European continent, flying from [[Colombieres|Colombieres Airfield]], France to support [[First United States Army Group|First Army Group]]. The squadron followed in August, when it moved to [[Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin]]. For the remainder of the war, it was attached to [[Twelfth United States Army Group|Twelfth Army Group]].<ref name=Maurer47LS/>
⚫
: Activated on July 1, 1943

: Inactivated on August 25, 1948
Just before [[V-E Day]], the squadron moved to [[Wiesbaden Air Base]], Germany where it became part of the [[military occupation|occupation forces]]. After August 1945, it was attached to attached to Headquarters Command, European Command and supported that headquarters until May 1947.<ref name=Maurer47LS/>

The squadron became non-operational and was moved to [[Langley Field]], Virginia in June 1947. The squadron was not manned or equipped at Langley, and was finally inactivated on 25 August 1948.<ref name=Maurer47LS/>

⚫
==Lineage==
⚫
* Constituted as the '''47th Liaison Squadron''' on 25 June 1943
⚫
: Activated on 1 July 1943
: Inactivated on 25 August 1948<ref name=Maurer47LS/>


===Assignments===
===Assignments===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{Col-begin}}
⚫
* 426th Reconnaissance Group, 1 July 1943
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
⚫
* II Air Support Command (later II Tactical Air Division), 11 August 1943
* [[Second Air Force]]
* [[United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe]], 4 April 1944 (attached to Headquarters Command, [[European Theater of Operations, United States Army]], until 17 April 1944; then First Army Group until 9 August 1944; then to Twelfth Army Group)
⚫
: 426th Reconnaissance Group, July 1, 1943
* [[United States Air Forces Central Command|Ninth Air Force]], 25 April 1944 (attached to Twelfth Army Group, until 1 August 1945; then to Headquarters Command, US Forces, European Theater)
⚫
: II Air Support Command (later II Tactical Air Division), August 11, 1943
⚫
* [[XII Tactical Air Command]], 23 November 1945 (attached to Headquarters Command, US Forces, European Theater (later Headquarters Command, [[United States European Command]]))
* [[United States Strategic Air Forces in Europe]], April 4, 1944
* [[70th Fighter Wing]], 1 February 1946 (attached to Headquarters Command, European Command)
: Attached to: Headquarters Command, European Theater of Operations, US Army, until April 17, 1944
* [[64th Fighter Wing]], 4 March 1946 (attached to Headquarters Command, European Command)
: Attached to: [[First United States Army Group|First Army Group]] (FUSAG), April 17 – August 9, 1944
* XII Tactical Air Command, 1 May 1947 (attached to Headquarters Command, European Command until 31 May 1947)
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* [[Ninth Air Force]], April 25, 1944
* [[Tactical Air Command]], 25 June 1947 – 25 August 1948<ref name=Maurer47LS/>
⚫
{{div col end}}
: Attached to: [[Twelfth United States Army Group|Twelfth Army Group]], August 9, 1944 – August 1, 1945
⚫
: Attached to: Headquarters Command, US Forces, European Theater [later Headquarters Command, European Command], during period August 1, 1945 – May 31, 1947
: XII Tactical Air Command, November 23, 1945
: 10th Fighter Wing, February 1, 1946
: [[64th Air Division|64th Fighter Wing]], March 4, 1946
: XII Tactical Air Command, May 1, 1947
* [[Tactical Air Command]], June 25, 1947 – August 25, 1948.
⚫
{{Col-end}}


===Stations===
===Stations===
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-begin}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* Gainesville AAF, Tex July 1943
* Gainesville Army Air Field, Texas, 1 July 1943
* Brownwood AAF, Tex, September 25, 1943
* [[Brownwood Army Air Field]], Texas, 25 September 1943
* Pollock AAF, La, November 24, 1943 – March 21, 1944
* [[Pollock Army Air Field]], Louisiana, 24 November 1943 – 21 March 1944
* RAF Cheltenham, England, April 9, 1944
* Cheltenham, England, 9 April 1944
* Heston, England, April 25, 1944
* RAF Heston (Sta 510),<ref>Station number in Anderson.</ref> England, 25 April 1944
: Flight at Colombieres, France, C. July 24 – c. August 10, 1944
: Flight at Colombieres Airfield, France, c. 24 July – c. 18 August 1944
* St Sauveur-Lendelin, France, August 10, 1944
* Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin, France, 18 August 1944
* Laval, France, August 21, 1944
* [[Laval Airfield]] (A-57),<ref name=Johnson>Station number in Johnson.</ref> France, 21 August 1944
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
{{Col-break|width=50%}}
* Buc, France, September 2, 1944
* [[Buc Airfield]] (Y-4),<ref name=Johnson/> France, September 2, 1944
* Verdun, France, September 17, 1944
* [[Verdun-Charney Airfield]] (Y-28),<ref name=Johnson/> France, September 17, 1944
* Wiesbaden, Germany, May 5, 1945
* Wiesbaden Air Base (Y-80),<ref name=Johnson/> Germany, 5 May 1945
: Flights operated from several points in Germany and Austria during period July 21, 1945 – June 20, 1947
: Flights operated from several points in Germany and Austria during period 21 July 1945 – 20 June 1947
* Rebstock, Germany, June 24, 1946
* [[Frankfurt-Rebstock Airfield]], Germany, 24 June 1946
* Langley Field, Va, June 25, 1947 – August 25, 1948.
* Langley Field (later Langley Air Force Base), Virginia, 25 June 1947 – 25 August 1948<ref>Station information in Maurer, ''Combat Squadrons'', p. 207, except as noted.</ref>
{{Col-end}}
{{Col-end}}


===Aircraft===
===Aircraft===
* Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1943-1947
* In addition to L-4 and L-5, included L-1, L-2, and L-3 during period 1943–1944
* Piper L-4 Grasshopper, 1943-1944
* Primarily L-5, 1944–1947.
* Stinson L-1 Vigilant, 1943-1944
* Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper, 1943-1944<ref name=Maurer47LS/>

===Campaigns===
{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#efefef;"
! Campaign Streamer
! Campaign
! Dates
! Notes
|-
|[[Image:Streamer EAMEC.PNG|200px]]||Northern France||25 July 1944–14 September 1944||<ref name=Maurer47LS/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer EAMEC.PNG|200px]]||Rhineland||15 September 1944–21 March 1945||<ref name=Maurer47LS/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer EAMEC.PNG|200px]]||Ardennes-Alsace||16 December 1944–25 January 1945||<ref name=Maurer47LS/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer EAMEC.PNG|200px]]||Central Europe||22 March 1944–21 May 1945||<ref name=Maurer47LS/>
|-
|[[Image:Streamer NOS E.JPG|200px]]|| [[Army of Occupation Medal|World War II Army of Occupation]] (Germany)||9 May 1945–25 June 1947||<ref name=Maurer47LS/>

|}


===Operations history===
Primarily courier with army group headquarters in area to rear of front lines, May 1944 – May 1945. Not manned, June 1947 – August 1948.


==References==
==References==
===Notes===
{{AFHRA}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|40em}}
⚫
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|origyear=1969|url= http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/Publications/fulltext/combat_sq_of_the_af_wwii.pdf |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|pages= }}


==External links==
===Bibliography===
{{Portal box|United States Air Force|Military of the United States}}
{{Air Force Historical Research Agency}}
* {{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Capt. Barry|title= 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|url=http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf |year=1985|publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center|location=Maxwell AFB, AL|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160123155923/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-027.pdf |archive-date=January 23, 2016|access-date=June 28, 2017}}
* [http://als-cannonfield.com/docs/SOPA_No.25_AAF_Liaison_Squadrons_WWII.pdf Gray, Jim, ''The Army Air Forces Liaison Squadrons of World War II'', Stinson Owners & Pilots Association]
* {{cite book|last=Johnson|first=1st Lt. David C.|title=U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day|url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf |year=1988| publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center| location=Maxwell AFB, AL|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150929064443/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf |archive-date=September 29, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2017}}
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
⚫
* {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |edition= reprint|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6}}


{{USAAF 9th Air Force UK}}
{{USAAF 9th Air Force UK}}


[[Category:Military units and formations of the United States in World War II]]
[[Category:Reconnaissance squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces|047]]
[[Category:Liaison units of the United States Air Force]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1943]]

Latest revision as of 00:41, 15 May 2023

47th Liaison Squadron
L-5 Sentinel as flown by the squadron
Active1943–1948
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleCourier
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Insignia
47th Liaison Squadron emblem (approved 19 January 1944)[1]

The 47th Liaison Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1948. The squadron was activated in July 1943. It trained in the United States until the spring of 1944, then deployed to the European Theater of Operations. It served as a courier and communication unit for various headquarters. After V-E Day, it remained in Germany as part of the occupation force until 1947, when it returned to the United States as a paper unit. It remained in that status until inactivating.

History

[edit]

The 47th Liaison Squadron was activated at Gainesville Army Air Field, Texas on 1 July 1943 as one of the four squadrons of the 426th Reconnaissance Group. The following month the squadron was reassigned to II Air Support Command, as the 426th Group was inactivated without fully equipping or being brought up to strength.[2] The squadron was equipped with a variety of light aircraft, primarily Stinson L-5 Sentinels and Piper L-4 Grasshoppers, but it also flew a few Stinson L-1 Vigilants and Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshoppers. The 47th trained at bases in Texas and Louisiana until late March 1944, when it departed for the European Theater of Operations.[1] Squadron training was informal and extended due to the absence of a formal training program until January 1944, and the absence of a definition of the squadron's mission. Because the squadron was nearing its overseas deployment, it received little benefit from the formal training program.[3]

After its arrival at Cheltenham, England in early April 1944, the squadron moved to RAF Heston, west of London. From late May, six aircraft were detached to Oatlands Hill, near Stonehenge in Wiltshire.[4] The squadron provided courier service for Headquarters Command, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army until after D-Day, primarily with L-5 Sentinels.[1] Other squadron missions included transport of personnel, aeromedical evacuation, visual reconnaissance, providing commanders with information to control advancing columns and checking passive air defense measures.[3] In late July, one flight moved to the European continent, flying from Colombieres Airfield, France to support First Army Group. The squadron followed in August, when it moved to Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin. For the remainder of the war, it was attached to Twelfth Army Group.[1]

Just before V-E Day, the squadron moved to Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany where it became part of the occupation forces. After August 1945, it was attached to attached to Headquarters Command, European Command and supported that headquarters until May 1947.[1]

The squadron became non-operational and was moved to Langley Field, Virginia in June 1947. The squadron was not manned or equipped at Langley, and was finally inactivated on 25 August 1948.[1]

Lineage

[edit]
  • Constituted as the 47th Liaison Squadron on 25 June 1943
Activated on 1 July 1943
Inactivated on 25 August 1948[1]

Assignments

[edit]

Stations

[edit]

Aircraft

[edit]
  • Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1943-1947
  • Piper L-4 Grasshopper, 1943-1944
  • Stinson L-1 Vigilant, 1943-1944
  • Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper, 1943-1944[1]

Campaigns

[edit]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Northern France 25 July 1944–14 September 1944 [1]
Rhineland 15 September 1944–21 March 1945 [1]
Ardennes-Alsace 16 December 1944–25 January 1945 [1]
Central Europe 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 [1]
World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) 9 May 1945–25 June 1947 [1]


References

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 207
  2. ^ Maurer, Combat Units, pp. 302-303
  3. ^ a b Gray (unpaginated)
  4. ^ "Oatlands Hill". American Air Museum in Britain. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  5. ^ Station number in Anderson.
  6. ^ a b c d Station number in Johnson.
  7. ^ Station information in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, p. 207, except as noted.

Bibliography

[edit]

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

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