327th Airlift Squadron

History

The 327th conducted aerial transportation in the China – Burma – India theater from, 28 August 1944 – c. 20 October 1945. It performed troop carrier training from, 1947 – 1951. It has supported airborne forces and performed worldwide airlift since 1952. The squadron deployed to Southwest Asia and performed airlift missions in support of the Gulf War, January – April 1991. The squadron deployed again in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom in 2003 and 2005-2006. It was inactivated on 30 September 2007 after a lengthy and controversial closure process. The 327th was reactivated at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas on 13 July 2014.

Lineage

Constituted 2d Combat Cargo Squadron on 11 April 1944

Activated on 15 April 1944 Redesignated 327th Troop Carrier Squadron on 31 October 1945 Inactivated on 26 December 1945

Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947

Redesignated 327th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 2 September 1949 Ordered to Active Service on 15 March 1951 Inactivated on 1 April 1951

Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952

Ordered to Active Service on 28 October 1962 Relieved from Active Duty on 28 November 1962 Redesignated: 327th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967 Redesignated: 327th Airlift Squadron on 1 February 1992 Inactivated on 30 September 2007

Activated on 13 July 2014

Assignments

1st Combat Cargo Group, 15 April 1944

Under operational control of Air Transport Command, 1 July – 9 September 1945

Fourteenth Air Force, 10 September – 26 December 1945

514th Troop Carrier Group, 29 May 1947

512th Troop Carrier Group, 2 September 1949 – 1 April 1951

512th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952; 14 April 1959

913th Troop Carrier (later, 913th Tactical Airlift; 913th Airlift) Group, 11 February 1963

913th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – 30 September 2007

913th Airlift Group, 13 July 2014

Aircraft operated

C-47 Skytrain (1944 – 1945)

C-46 Commando (1949 – 1951, 1952 – 1957)

AT-7 Navigator (1949 – 1951)

AT-11 Kansan (1949 – 1951)

C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957 – 1969, 1970 – 1971)

C-130 Hercules (1970 – 2007)

C-130 Hercules (2014)

Patch (Aircraft Marking for the 2d Combat Cargo Squadron)

AIRCRAFT MARKING: On a medium blue disc, border yellow, a dexter hand holding five playing cards spread fanwise, all deuces of Spades, proper, as per record drawing. SIGNIFICANCE: The five deuces represent winners, while the "2's" indicate the Squadron's numerical design. The five cards symbolize the five flights of the squadron. Approved 17 July 1944 by Robert C. Jones, Colonel, Air Corps, Chief, Special Services Division, Office, Asst. Chief of Air Staff, Personnel.