65th Airlift Squadron

65th Airlift Squadron
65th Airlift Squadron
	Squadron C-40 Clipper at Wellington Airport
Active	1942–1946; 1947–1966; 1992–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Pacific Air Forces
Garrison/HQ	Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater; Korean War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation; Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Insignia
65th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 27 November 1992)

The 65th Airlift Squadron is part of the 15th Wing at Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii. It operates C-37 aircraft providing executive airlift in the Pacific theater.

Mission edit

The squadron's mission is to provide global airlift to Commander, US Pacific Command and Commander, Pacific Air Forces, as well as distinguished visitor missions.^[1]

History edit

World War II edit

New Guinea. A bulldozer arrives for use on the Kaiapit strip, September 1943. The aircraft is C-47A 42-92034 of the 65th Troop carrier Squadron.

The 65th conducted aerial transportation and evacuation in the Pacific Theater of Operations from 26 July 1943-c. August 1945.^[1]

Reserve operation and Korean War mobilization edit

In Korea, the 65th carried out aerial evacuation and transportation operations between 9 May 1952 and 31 December 1952.^[1]

Reactivation and Berlin crisis mobilization edit

Pacific airlift edit

Beginning in 1992, flew specially configured C-135s, and later C-37 and C-40 aircraft, to provide global airlift to Commander, US Pacific Command and Commander, Pacific Air Forces, as well as distinguished visitor missions.^[1]

Lineage edit

Constituted as the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron on 7 December 1942

Activated on 12 December 1942

Inactivated on 27 January 1946

Activated in the reserve on 9 August 1947

Redesignated 65th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 June 1949

Ordered to active service on 1 April 1951

Inactivated on 1 January 1953

Activated in the reserve on 1 January 1953

Ordered to active service on 28 Oct 1962

Relieved from active service on 28 Nov 1962

Discontinued and inactivated on 1 July 1966

Redesignated 65th Airlift Squadron on 20 February 1992

Activated on 10 March 1992^[1]

Assignments edit

403d Troop Carrier Group, 12 Dec 1942
Fifth Air Force, 26 July 1943
54th Troop Carrier Wing, 13 August 1943
433d Troop Carrier Group, 9 November 1943
403d Troop Carrier Group, 20 February 1945 – 27 January 1946
419th Troop Carrier Group, 9 August 1947
403 Troop Carrier Group, 27 June 1949 – 1 January 1953
403 Troop Carrier Group, 1 January 1953
442d Troop Carrier Group, 16 November 1957
403d Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
929th Troop Carrier Group, 11 January 1963 – 1 July 1966
15th Air Base Wing, 10 March 1992
15th Operations Group, 13 April 1992 – present^[1]

Stations edit

Bowman Field, Kentucky, 12 December 1942
Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska, 18 December 1942
Pope Field, North Carolina, 3 May 1943
Baer Field Indiana, 19 June–14 July 1943
Port Moresby, New Guinea, 26 July 1943 (air echelon operated from Tsili Tsili, New Guinea after 18 September 1943)
Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, 9 October 1943 (air echelon operated from Tsili Tsili, New Guinea until 31 October 1943 and from Tadji, Papua New Guinea, 3 May–2 June 1944)
Biak, 18 October 1944 (air echelon operated from Hill Field, Mindoro, after 24 January 1945)
Morotai, Netherlands East Indies, 27 February 1945
Dulag Airfield, Leyte, Philippines, 15 July 1945

Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, 27 January 1946
Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 9 August 1947
Portland International Airport, Oregon, 27 June 1949 – 29 March 1952
Ashiya Air Base, Japan, 14 April 1952 – 1 January 1953
Portland International Airport, Oregon, 1 January 1953
Paine Air Force Base, Washington, 15 April 1955
Davis Field, Oklahoma, 16 November 1957 – 1 July 1966
Hickam Air Force Base (later Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam, Hawaii, 10 Mar 1992 – present)^[1]

Aircraft edit

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1943–1945)
Curtiss C-46 Commando (1944–1945, 1947–1952)
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1952, 1953–1966)
Boeing C-135 Stratolifter (1992–2003)
Gulfstream C-37A Gulfstream V (2002–present)
Boeing C-40B Clipper (2003–2019)^[1]^[2]

References edit

Notes edit

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Robertson, Patsy (3 April 2014). "65 Airlift Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
^ Svan, Jennifer H. (7 June 2019). "C-40B aircraft that served VIPs departs Ramstein for its new home in Maryland". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 10 March 2022.

Bibliography edit

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

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
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. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

External links edit

[65ASfacts-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Robertson, Patsy (3 April 2014). "65 Airlift Squadron (PACAF)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 17 December 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2017.

[2] Svan, Jennifer H. (7 June 2019). "C-40B aircraft that served VIPs departs Ramstein for its new home in Maryland". Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 10 March 2022.

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