15th Airlift Squadron

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15th Airlift Squadron
Air Mobility Command.svg
A U.S. Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft with the 817th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron receives cargo at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan. 3, 2014 140103-F-IG195-116.jpg
A 437th Airlift Wing C-17A Globemaster III deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan
Active1940–1945; 1946–1993; 1993–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Air Force.svg  United States Air Force
Role Airlift
Part of Air Mobility Command
Garrison/HQ Charleston Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Global Eagles
Engagements Mediterranean Theater of Operations
European Theater of Operations
Korean War [1]
Decorations Distinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm [1]
Insignia
15th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 14 June 1977) [1] 15 AS.jpg
15th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem [a] [2] 15 Troop Carrier Sq emblem.png
World War II Fuselage marking [3] Y9

The 15th Airlift Squadron is part of the 437th Airlift Wing at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina. It operates Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission worldwide.

Contents

Mission

The 15th Airlift Squadron, "Global Eagles", provides combat-ready C-17 aircrews for strategic airlift missions worldwide. The squadron is tasks include emergency nuclear airlift, Presidential support and humanitarian relief efforts. [4]

History

World War II

Constituted as the 15th Transport Squadron on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 4 Dec 1940 at Duncan Field, Texas, and was assigned to the 61st Transport Group (later 61st Troop Carrier Group). The squadron flew the Douglas C-33 and then Douglas C-39 between 1941 and 1942. Converted to Douglas C-47 Skytrains in early 1942, trained under I Troop Carrier Command for combat operations. Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942. [1]

Post World War II

Reactivated on 30 Sep 1946 at Eschborn Air Base, Germany. Then, relocated to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, on 9 February 1947, it was redesignated as the 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 1 July 1948. [1]

The 15th moved to McChord Air Force Base, Washington, on 26 July 1950, before relocating to Ashiya Air Base, Japan on 13 December 1950. During the Korean War it provided aerial transportation from the US to Japan, from August–December 1950, and between Japan and Korea, from 13 December 1950-November 1952. The squadron relocated from Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, relocating there on 26 March 1952, to Larson Air Force Base, Washington on 21 November 1952. During 1952 also saw the 15th transition to the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft, and the following year, the squadron was tasked was tasked with providing worldwide airlift. [1]

The squadron moved to Donaldson Air Force Base, South Carolina on 25 August 1954, before being reassigned to the 63d Troop Carrier Group on 8 October 1959, and to the 63d Troop Carrier Wing (later, 63rd Military Airlift) Wing, on 18 January 1963. The unit relocated to Hunter Air Force Base, Gergia, on 1 April 1963. The squadron was redesignated as the 15th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966. [1]

Global airlift

The 15th relocated to Norton Air Force Base, California, on 1 April 1967. That same year, it transitioned to the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter. The squadron was reassigned to the 63d Military Airlift Group on 1 October 1978; and to the 63rd Military Airlift Wing on 1 July 1980. The squadron provided airlift to Southeast Asia, 1966–1973; and to Grenada, Operation Urgent Fury, from October–November 1983; to Panama, Operation Just Cause, from 18 December 1989 – 8 January 1990; and to Southwest Asia, from August 1990-January 1991. [1]

Redesignated the 15th Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992 under the 63rd Operations Group, the 15th inactivated on 26 July 1993. [1]

The squadron reactivated on 1 October 1993 at Charleston Air Force Base, South Carolina, and was assigned to the 437th Operations Group. [1] The 15th received its first McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III in June 1993.

Lineage

Activated on 4 December 1940
Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 31 July 1945
Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1948
Redesignated 15th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 15 August 1948
Redesignated 15th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
Redesignated 15th Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992
Inactivated on 26 July 1993

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

References

Notes

Explanatory notes
  1. Approved 16 July 1952. Description: On a terrestrial sphere, light blue, with land markings yellow, longitude and latitude lines white, an American Bald Eagle flying, in natural colors, on the sphere three eight-pointed stars white, shaded red, all within a piping red, and border dark blue.
Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "Factsheet 15 Airlift Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 3 January 2008. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 3 June 2018.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 87–88
  3. Watkins, p. 64
  4. "15th Airlift Squadron". Joint Base Charleston. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  5. Station number in Anderson.
  6. Station number in Johnson.
  7. Station information in AFHRA Factsheet, 15 Airlift Squadron, except as noted.

Bibliography

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency