44th Military Airlift Squadron

44th Military Airlift Squadron

Arrival ceremony for Lockheed C-141A-10-LM Starlifter(Tail 63-8088) at Travis Air Force Base, CA on April 23, 1965. Known as the "Golden Bear", This plane was the first production C-141 Starlifter to see active service. It was assigned to the 44th Air Transport Squadron, 1501st Air Transport Wing at Travis
Active 1955-1972
Country  United States
Branch  United States Air Force
Type Strategic Airlift
Engagements
American Defense

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign (World War II)
Battle honours
Distinguished Unit Citation (3x)

Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (5x)
Insignia
44th Military Airlift Squadron Emblem

The 44th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 60th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California.

In 1965, the 44th ATS was the first USAF squadron to receive the C-141 Starlifter. It was inactivated on 1 March 1972.

History

World War II

Established in 1942 as a C-47 Skytrain air transport squadron, initially active in the United States supporting units in the Zone of the Interior.

Deployed to Egypt in 1942 being assigned to Ninth Air Force. Provided combat transport in support of the British Eighth Army during the Western Desert Campaign, and the United States Fifth Army under Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign in Algeria and Tunisia. Included airborne assaults on Sicily, then reassigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in England, participating in the airborne invasions of Normandy, the Netherlands, and Germany.

Returned to the United States after the German Capitulation in May 1945; many combat veterans demobilized and unit re-equipped with C-46 Commandoes. Reassigned to Hawaii Territory and provided air transport for Seventh Air Force until inactivated in 1946.

Cold War

A C-141A 63-6075 60th MAW on the ramp at Tan Son Nhut AB, South Vietnam, July 1966 (Note MATS Livlery)

The squadron was organized in 1955 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey when assets of the inactivated 1600th Air Transport Group were moved to McGuire from Westover AFB, Massachusetts. However, it was never fully manned or equipped. It was inactivated a few days after activation.

Reactivated in 1961 at Travis AFB, California as a C-135B Stratolifter strategic airlift squadron, it operated these aircraft over the Pacific and around the world transport routes under Military Air Transport Service. It became the first organization to use jets while airlifting Bob Hope Christmas tours to the Far East in 1963. On 23 April 1965, the squadron received the first operational Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, which it operated over MATS and later Military Airlift Command routes on a worldwide basis, 1965-1972. The squadron frequently flew cargo and personnel to United States bases in South Vietnam and Thailand during the Vietnam War. It was inactivated in 1972 due to budget restrictions as part of the post-Vietnam drawdown of the USAF.

Lineage

Emblem of the MATS 44th Air Transport Squadron
Activated on 15 Jun 1942
Re-designated 44th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942
Inactivated on 25 Mar 1946.
Activated on 9 Nov 1955
Inactivated on 14 Nov 1955
Re-activated as the 44th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 1 Nov 1961
Re-designated the 44th Military Airlift Squadron, Heavy on 8 Jan 1966
Inactivated on 1 March 1972

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

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