3d Airlift Squadron

History

The 3d Airlift Squadron goes back to the days of World War II when it was activated at Pope Field, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in March 1942, as a ferrying squadron. During the war, the 3rd was stationed at Chabau, Upper Assam, India. Later, it transferred to the India-China Wing of the Air Transport Command and carried supplies and equipment back and forth across the treacherous "Hump." The squadron was disbanded in late 1943.

During the Korean War, the 3rd was reconstituted at Brookley Field, Alabama, and began flying regularly scheduled airlift missions in its eight C-124 Globemaster IIs to the Arctic, Caribbean, and South America. In June 1958, the squadron moved to Charleston AFB, South Carolina, where it continued to fly C-124s until August 1965, when it transitioned into jets with the arrival of the first C-141 Starlifter.

In June 1970, the 3rd Military Airlift Squadron received the first operational C-5 Galaxy to be assigned to a Military Airlift Command flying organization. Three years later, the 3rd was transferred to its present home with the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover AFB.

Aircrews of the 3rd AS flew support missions for French troops in the Zaire peacekeeping effort. For their efforts, they were co-recipients with a 9th MAS crew of the Mackay Trophy for the 1978 airlift operation.

The 3rd has proven itself and the C-5 to be highly mission-ready by setting AMC records for departure reliability. In 1986, the 3rd received the 436th Military Airlift Wing's Flying Eagle award four times for having the highest percentage of on-time departures.

In April 1988, a 3rd MAS crew, overcoming the difficulties of flying into unfamiliar territory, airlifted drilling equipment into Semipolitinsk, U.S.S.R. The mission was part of a joint nuclear weapons detonation monitoring agreement signed by the United States and the Soviet Union. The crew was subsequently awarded the Mackay Trophy for the "most meritorious flight of the year".

The 3rd AS continues its distinct history and support of AMC by flying humanitarian and contingency missions into such places as Southwest Asia, Somalia, Rwanda, and Haiti. The 3rd AS participated in the first-ever six-ship formation flights of C-5’s in support of the Strategic Brigade Airdrop Test.

In October 2003 a crew from the 3rd Airlift Squadron landed the first C-5 Galaxy in Iraq at Baghdad International Airport. Until 2004 the unit was also the only Special Operations Low Level SOLL capable unit to fly the C-5 Galaxy. This capability was transferred to the smaller and more modern C-17 in 2001.

In 2007 the 3rd AS transitioned from operation of the C-5 Galaxy to the newer C-17 Globemaster III.

Lineage

Constituted 3rd Air Corps Ferrying Squadron on 18 Feb 1942

Activated on 7 Mar 1942 Re-designated 3rd Transport Squadron on 24 Mar 1943 Disbanded on 1 Dec 1943

Reconstituted, and re-designated 3rd Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 20 Jun 1952

Activated on 20 Jul 1952 Re-designated: 3rd Military Airlift Squadron on 8 Jan 1966 Re-designated: 3rd Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991.

Assignments

1st Ferrying (later, 1st Transport) Group, 7 Mar 1942-1 Dec 1943

1703d Air Transport Group, 20 Jul 1952

1700th Air Transport Group, 18 Jun 1957

1608th Air Transport Wing, 24 Nov 1957

1608th Air Transport Group, 18 Jun 1958

1608th Air Transport Wing, 18 Jan 1963

437th Military Airlift Wing, 8 Jan 1966

436th Military Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1973

436th Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991–Present

Stations

Pope Field, North Carolina, 7 Mar 1942

Charleston Army Air Base, South Carolina, 17-19 Mar 1942

Karachi Airport, India, 15 May 1942

New Malir Cantonment, India, 17 May 1942

Chabua Airfield, India, 1 Aug 1942-1 Dec 1943

Brookley AFB, Alabama, 20 Jul 1952

Charleston AFB, South Carolina, 18 Jun 1958

Dover AFB, Delaware, 1 Aug 1973–Present

Aircraft

C-46 Commando, 1942-1943

C-124 Globemaster II, 1952-1965

C-74 Globemaster, 1955

C-141 Starlifter, 1965-1970

C-5 Galaxy, 1970-2007

C-17 Globemaster III, 2007–Present