53rd Airlift Squadron

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53d Airlift Squadron
C-130J Super Hercules lands on an unimproved runway
Active1942–1945; 1946–1966; 1972–1993; 1993–2008; 2008–2016
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Part ofAir Mobility Command
Garrison/HQLittle Rock Air Force Base
Nickname(s)Blackjack
Motto(s)Primus Cum Plurimi Latin First with the Most (1953-present)[1]
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Korean War[1]
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm[1]
Insignia
53d Airlift Squadron emblem[note 1][1]
53d Airlift Squadron emblem [note 2][1]
53d Airlift Squadron emblem[2]

The 53d Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last part of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It operated Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft for airlift and airdrop operations.

The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 53d Troop Carrier Squadron. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated in the airborne assault on Sicily, for which it earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). It moved to England, where it participated in the D Day airborne assault, for which it earned a second DUC, and in Operation Market Garden, the attempt to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine River in the Netherlands. Following V-E Day, it participated in the movement of American troops back to the United States before inactivating in July 1945.

The squadron was reactivated in France in 1946, moving to Germany, where it participated in the Berlin Airlift. It returned to the United States in 1950, but soon deployed to Japan, where it provided airlift during the Korean War. The squadron was inactivated in 1966, but reactivated as the 53d Military Airlift Squadron in 1972. Except for a brief period of inactivation in 1993, it has been a strategic airlift unit since then.

History[edit]

World War II[edit]

Constituted as 53 Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942 and activated on 1 June 1942 with C-47s at Pope Field, NC. 2 Lt Glen A. Myers was the unit's first commanding officer.[1]

Assigned to I Troop Carrier Command as a troop carrier squadron, trained in the United States. Assigned to Twelfth Air Force and deployed North Africa during May 1943.[1] The squadron's aircraft flew supplies to front-line units in Algeria and Tunisia during the North African Campaign as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties back to rear area field hospitals. Redesignated 53 Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942.[1]

Squadron engaged in combat operations, dropping airborne units into Sicily during the Operation Husky invasion and later into areas around Anzio, Italy as part of Operation Shingle, the invasion of mainland Italy and the initiation of the Italian Campaign, January 1944. Moved north through Italy, in 1943 in support of Allied ground forces, evacuated wounded personnel and flew missions behind enemy lines in Italy and the Balkans to haul guns, ammunition, food, clothing, medical supplies, and other materials to the partisans and to drop propaganda leaflets.

Was moved to England in February 1944, assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command. Prepared for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. In June 1944, subordinate units dropped paratroops in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies. During the airborne attack on The Netherlands (Operation Market Garden, September 1944), the squadron dropped paratroops, towed gliders, and flew resupply missions. Several of its subordinate units also participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. The 50th supported the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne on 27 December 1944.

When the Allies made 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. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals.

In late May 1945, after V-E Day, the squadron was 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. Redesignated 53 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 1 July 1948 and 53 Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 15 Aug 1948.[1]

Berlin airlift[edit]

The squadron participated in the Berlin Airlift, 1948–1949.[1]

Korean war[edit]

It conducted aerial transportation from the U.S. to Japan from August–December 1950, and between Japan and Korea from 13 December 1950 – November 1952.

Airlift operations[edit]

It conducted worldwide airlift operations from 1953 to 1966, including resupply to Antarctica from 1957 to 1958, and missions to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. Redesignated 53 Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966. Inactivated, on 8 July 1966. Reactivated on 8 January 1972 and converted to C-141 Starlifters.[1]

The 53d again conducted worldwide airlift from 1972 to 1993 flying missions into Grenada, 23 October 1983 – 9 November 1983, during the invasion of Panama, 20 December 1989, and to Southwest Asia, August 1990 – June 1991. Redesignated 53 Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992. Inactivated on 30 Apr 1993. Activated on 1 Oct 1993 with C-130 Hercules, as a training unit.[3] The squadron was inactivated 11 January 2008 and detached from AETC. It was reactivated on 15 May 2008 as a part of the 19th Airlift Wing.[1]

Lineage[edit]

  • Constituted as the 53d Transport Squadron on 30 May 1942
Activated on 1 June 1942
Redesignated 53d Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 31 July 1945
  • Activated on 30 September 1946
Redesignated 53d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1948
Redesignated 53d Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 15 August 1948
Redesignated 53d Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
Discontinued and inactivated on 8 July 1966
  • Activated on 8 January 1972
Redesignated 53d Airlift Squadron on 1 January 1992
Inactivated on 30 April 1993
  • Activated on 1 October 1993
Inactivated on 11 January 2008
  • Activated on 15 May 2008[1]
Inactivated 30 September 2016

Assignments[edit]

  • 61st Transport Group (later 61st Troop Carrier Group), 1 June 1942 – 31 July 1945
  • 61st Troop Carrier Group, 30 September 1946 (attached to Airlift Task Force, Provisional, August 1958 – February 1959, February–July 1960, and 5 January 1961 – April 1962)
  • 63d Troop Carrier Group, 8 October 1959
  • 63d Troop Carrier Wing (later 63d Military Airlift Wing), 18 January 1963 – 8 July 1966
  • 63d Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1972
  • 63d Military Airlift Group, 1 October 1978
  • 63d Military Airlift Wing, 1 July 1980
  • 63d Operations Group, 1 January 1992 – 30 April 1993
  • 314th Operations Group, 1 October 1993 – 11 January 2008
  • 463d Airlift Group, 15 May 2008 – 1 October 2008
  • 19th Operations Group, 1 October 2008[1] – 30 September 2016

Stations[edit]

Aircraft[edit]

References[edit]

Notes[edit]

Explanatory notes
  1. ^ Approved 9 December 1994.
  2. ^ Approved 10 September 1953.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Robertson, Patsy (31 March 2009). "Factsheet 53 Airlift Squadron (MAC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  2. ^ Watkins, p. 64
  3. ^ "Historic squadron deactivates [sic]". Retrieved 18 March 2020.

Bibliography[edit]

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

External links[edit]

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