8th Aerial Port Squadron

8th Aerial Port Squadron
Active	1962–73
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Engagements	Vietnam War

The 8th Aerial Port Squadron is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force.

History

The squadron was activated on 8 December 1962 at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, South Vietnam as part of the 315th Troop Carrier Group, Assault, replacing the 6493rd Aerial Port Squadron (provisional). The 6493rd included 135 permanently assigned personnel, 15 others on temporary assignment and 61 Vietnamese and Thai nationals for unskilled tasks. Most were located at Tan Son Nhut and Bangkok's Don Muang Royal Thai Air Force Base. ^{[1] [2] : 112  [3] : 107}

In May 1963 the squadron established detachments at Qui Nhon Airfield (Detachment 6) and Cần Thơ Base Camp (Detachment 7). ^{[3] : 139} In June a detachment moved to Bien Hoa Air Base (Detachment 5) from Thailand. ^{[3] : 139} In October Military Air Transport Service air terminal detachments at Tan Son Nhut and Dong Muang were merged into the 8th Aerial Port Squadron. ^{[3] : 138} In December 1963 Detachment 4 was formed at Nha Trang Air Base. ^{[2] : 275}

In December 1964 a detachment was established at Vung Tau Air Base. ^{[3] : 140}

In April 1965 the 6th Aerial Port Squadron was established at Don Muang to replace 8th Squadron detachment there. ^{[3] : 409}

On 1 December 1965 the 14th Aerial Port Squadron was established at Cam Ranh Air Base and the 15th Aerial Port Squadron was established at Danang Air Base, together with the 8th they had 35 detachments across South Vietnam. ^{[3] : 191}

In September 1966 the squadron received the National Defense Transportation Award for its outstanding service while operating "under combat conditions, in a hostile environment, coupled with shortages of material and personnel." ^{[3] : 195}

In early 1968 an aerial port mobility team drawn from the 8th and 15th Aerial Port Squadrons served at Khe Sanh Combat Base during the Battle of Khe Sanh. ^{[3] : 305}

On 1 February 1971 a combat control team from the squadron was deployed to the reopened Dong Ha Combat Base to provide communications and traffic control services in support of Operation Lam Son 719. ^{[3] : 510} Two six-man aerial port mobility teams were later moved to the reopened Khe Sanh Combat Base where they handled cargo in support of the operation. ^{[3] : 515}

The start of the Easter Offensive in late March 1972 found the aerial port system severely depleted by Vietnamization and hard-pressed to meet the demands for transport of South Vietnamese forces north. Cargo handling rose from 18,000 tons in March to 47,000 tons in April and 51,000 tons in March. The squadron attributed a rising accident rate to personnel fatigue. ^{[3] : 577}

Assignments

• 315th Troop Carrier Group, 8 December 1962 – 8 March 1966
• 2nd Aerial Port Group, 15 October 1966 - 1973

References

1. "Factsheet 315 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2025. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
2. Futrell, Robert F.; Blumenson, Martin (1980). The Advisory Years to 1965 (PDF). The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia. Office of Air Force History. LCCN   80-24547 . Retrieved 13 September 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
3. Bowers, Ray (1983). The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia: Tactical Airlift (PDF). U.S. Air Force Historical Studies Office. ISBN   9781782664208. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .