The squadron was first activated during World War II as the 310th Troop Carrier Squadron. After training in the United States, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations. It participated in combat and airlift operations until V-E Day, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions on D-Day. Following the end of hostilities, it participated in the airlift of American troops back to the United States until inactivating in Trinidad in the summer of 1945.
The 310th was activated again in the reserve in June 1949. It was mobilized for the Korean War and performed airlift missions until February 1953, when it was released from active duty and inactivated. From February 1955 to September 1956, the squadron served as a helicopter unit in a trial of the Air Force using rotary wing aircraft to support the Army It was activated again in 1963 in the early buildup of American forces for the Vietnam War It served under several designations until the withdrawal of American forces from Vietnam in 1972, earning a number of decorations for its actions.
In 1984, the squadron was activated as the 310th Military Airlift Squadron in the Panama Canal Zone. It provided airlift throughout South and Central America, including participation in Operation Just Cause until inactivating with the withdrawal of United States forces from Panama in 1999.
History
315th Troop Carrier Group C-47s
It was established in early 1942 as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force, and later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States. It was deployed to England in December 1942, being assigned to Eighth Air Force to provide transport and resupply support to the buildup of the heavy bomber force in England.
The squadron was detached to Twelfth Air Force in Algeria in May 1943 to provide air resupply and transport during the North African Campaign in Algeria and Tunisia. It also performed combat casualty evacuation of wounded personnel to rear areas. It remained under jurisdiction of VIII ASC while in North Africa, providing transport between England and North Africa from its base in Algeria. It returned to England in early 1944 to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D-Day in June 1944.
After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom. It also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the Operation Market Garden. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.
The squadron moved to Belgium in early 1945, and participated in the Western Allied invasion of Germany, participating in the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel.
In late May 1945, after V-E Day, the squadron moved to Waller Field, Trinidad and attached to Air Transport Command. From Trinidad, the squadron ferried returning military personnel to Morrison Field, Florida, where they were sent on to other bases or prepared for separation after the war. It was inactivated at the end of July 1945.
It was reactivated in 1949 as a reserve troop carrier squadron. It was equipped with Curtiss C-46 Commandos. activated during the Korean War and became a training unit for crews flying Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar assault transports in South Korea. It was inactivated in 1953 after federalized activation period ended. The squadron was reactivated a year later operating variety of rotary wing helicopters. It provided helicopter support for atomic weapons tests on Bikini in the Eniwetok Atoll, February–June 1956. It was inactivated when the helicopter mission was transferred to the United States Army.
C-123K in 310th Air Commando Squadron markings
The squadron was reactivated again in 1963 as a Fairchild C-123 Provider combat resupply squadron, used in remote combat airfield resupply and casualty evacuation of ground forces. It was deployed to South Vietnam after training and operated under 2d Air Division, Pacific Air Forces to support advisory units, primarily in Operation Mule Train combat cargo missions in South Vietnam to support special forces in the early stages of US Involvement in the Vietnam War. It was re-designated an Air Commando squadron in 1965 under Seventh Air Force, engaged in special operations and tactical airlift during 1965–1970 based at Phan Rang Air Base flying intratheater combat cargo and troop carrier missions. It took over de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou remote outpost resupply mission in 1972. It moved from Phan Rang to Tan Son Nhut Airport in 1972 after the base was turned over to South Vietnamese. It remained in the country supporting last combat forces in South Vietnam until it was inactivated in November 1972.
310th Airlift Squadron C-27A over Panama
The squadron flew airlift missions in South and Central America from 1985 to 1999, including support for Operation Just Cause, December 1989 to January 1990, until its inactivation in March 1999.
On 1 July 2019, the C-37As were reassigned to other bases and the squadron was inactivated a few months later on 30 September 2019.[3][4]
Operations and decorations
Combat operations. Airborne assaults on Normandy, the Netherlands, and Germany, as well as aerial transportation in ETO, during World War II. Awarded Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for service at Normandy, 5–6 June 1944. Helicopter support for atomic weapons tests (Operation RED WING) on the Bikini and Eniwetok atolls in the Marshall Islands, Feb–June 1956. Airdrop and airlift to combat forces in Southeast Asia, 1963–1972; also vegetation destruction and malaria control flights, August 1970 – June 1972. Awarded Presidential Unit Citations (PUCs) for service in Vietnam, 21 January-12 May 1968; 1 April-30 June 1970. Airlift in South and Central America, 1985–1999, including the invasion of Panama (Operation JUST CAUSE), December 1989 – January 1990. Airlifted combatant commanders, government and military official throughout the US and worldwide in support of Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), 2001 – present
Campaigns. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. Vietnam: Vietnam Advisory; Vietnam Defensive; Vietnam Air; Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/ Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer/Fall, 1969; Vietnam Winter/Spring, 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII; Vietnam Ceasefire.
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