The 39th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force unit based at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The unit flies the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules. It is primarily tasked to transport cargo and personnel, and where circumstances require, airdrop them. It traces its history to 1942 and fought in the Pacific during the Second World War.

39th Airlift Squadron
C-130s from the squadron and the Air National Guard taxi at Dyess AFB
Active1942–1949; 1952–1971; 1971–1992; 1993–present
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQDyess Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Trailblazers,[1] Jungle Skippers[citation needed]
EngagementsSouthwest Pacific Theater
Desert Storm
Global War on Terrorism[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
39th Airlift Squadron emblem (apoproved 27 October 1942)[1]

History

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The 39th conducted paratroop drops on Noemfoor, Luzon, as well as aerial transport in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II during World War II. The squadron participated in the Berlin Airlift in 1948. It was the squadron that provided disaster relief for the Peruvian earthquake in June 1970 conducting numerous missions to the people of Peru. It was part of airlift missions to Grenada, in October 1983, to Panama, December 1989 – January 1990, and to Southwest Asia, August 1990 – March 1991.

Operations

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Lineage

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  • Constituted as the 39th Transport Squadron on 2 February 1942
Activated on 22 February 1942
Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 21 May 1948
Inactivated on 14 September 1949
  • Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 3 July 1952
Activated on 14 July 1952
Redesignated 39th Troop Carrier Squadron on 1 March 1966
Redesignated 39th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 May 1967
Inactivated on 31 July 1971
  • Activated on 31 August 1971
Redesignated 39th Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992
Inactivated on 1 June 1992
  • Activated on 1 October 1993[1]

Assignments

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Stations

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Aircraft

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Dollman, TSG David (18 October 2016). "Factsheet 39 Airlift Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 24 February 2018.

Bibliography

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

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