312th Airlift Squadron

312th Airlift Squadron
301st Airlift Squadron C-5 Galaxy
Active	1943–1946; 1949–1951; June 1952–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Travis Air Force Base
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Operation Just Cause
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
312th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 2 December 1968)

The 312th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 349th Operations Group, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California. It is a associate unit of the active duty 22d Airlift Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing.

History

World War II

Activated in late 1943 as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command. Was not used in combat operations, however did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.

Air Force reserve and Korean mobilization

It trained in the reserve for troop carrier missions from, 1949–1951,

Return to the reserves

Resumed its reserve operations as a fighter-bomber squadron from 1952–1957, and resumed its current role as an airlift squadron in 1957.

The 312th was called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and from 1968-1969. The squadron airlifted United States troops between the continental United States and Southeast Asia and flew other strategic airlift missions as needed across the Pacific Ocean, including channel flights, contingency and humanitarian relief operations, and joint training exercises. Flew missions in support of anti-terrorism operations after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the U. S.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 312th Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 October 1943

Activated on 1 November 1943

Inactivated on 7 September 1946

• Redesignated 312th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 10 May 1949

Activated in the reserve on 27 June 1949

Ordered to active service on 1 April 1951

Inactivated on 2 April 1951

• Redesignated 312th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 13 June 1952

Redesignated 312th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 September 1957

Ordered to active service on 28 October 1962

Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962

Redesignated 312th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1966

Ordered to active service on 26 January 1968

Relieved from active duty on 2 June 1969

Redesignated 312th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 July 1969

Redesignated 312th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992

Redesignated 312th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994

Assignments

• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 1 November 1943 – 7 September 1946
• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951
• 349th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 349th Troop Carrier Group), 13 June 1952
• 349th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 938th Troop Carrier Group (later 938 Military Airlift Group), 11 February 1963
• 349th Military Airlift Wing (later 349 Airlift Wing), 1 July 1973
• 349th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present

Stations

• Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, 1 November 1943
• Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska, 20 January 1944
• Pope Field, North Carolina, 11 March 1944
• Baer Field, Indiana, 7-15 March 1945
• RAF Barkston Heath (AAF-483), England, 30 March 1945

• Roye-Amy Airfield (A-73), France, 18 April–13 July 1945
• Bergstrom Field, Texas, 17 September 1945 – 7 September 1946
• Hamilton Air Force Base, California, 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951
• Hamilton Air Force Base, California, 13 June 1952
• Travis Air Force Base, California, 25 July 1969 – present

Aircraft

• Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (1943–1944)
• Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1943–1944, 1955–1956)
• C-46 Commando (1944–1946, 1949–1951, 1952–1955, 1957–1958)
• T-7 Navigator (1949–1951)
• T-11 Kansan (1949–1951)
• T-6 Texan (1952–1954)
• P-51 Mustang (1952–1954)
• T-28 Trojan (1953–1956)
• T-33 Shooting Star (1953–1957)

• F-80 Shooting Star (1953–1957)
• C-45 Expeditor (1955–1956)
• F-84 Thunderjet (1956–1957)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1958–1966)
• C-124 Globemaster II (1966–1969)
• C-141 Starlifter (1969–1973)
• C-5 Galaxy (1973 – Present)

Decorations

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 Aug 2002 – 31 Jul 2002. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 Dec 1964 – 22 Jan 1965; 26 Jan 1968-1 Jun 1969; 1 Jul 1974 – 30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1992 – 30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-15 Aug 1995; 1 Jul 1996 – 30 Jun 1998; 1 Aug 2000-31 Jul 2002; 16 Aug 2003 – 17 Aug 2004; 18 Aug 2004-17 Aug 2005; 18 Aug 2005 – 17 Aug 2006; 18 Aug 2006-17 Aug 2007; 18 Aug 2007 – 17 Aug 2008; 18 Aug 2008-17 Aug 2009. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966 – 28 Jan 1973.

References

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

• 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.
• AFHRA 312 Airlift Squadron Factsheet