40th Military Airlift Squadron

History

The unit was activated as the 40th Ferrying (later, Transport) Squadron under Ferrying (later Air Transport) Command at Canton Island Airport, Gilbert Islands, in August 1942. It ferried various aircraft, including A-20s, B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-26s, P-38s, P-40s, C-46s, and C-47s, to destinations in the Pacific Theater. The squadron also provided a maintenance service for transient aircraft until inactivated on 30 September 1943.

It was reactivated in 1954 under Military Air Transport Service at Dover AFB, Delaware in 1954. The squadron flew very long range C-124 Globemaster intercontinental transport aircraft carrying passengers and cargo, throughout the MATS Atlantic Division, to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

It was inactivated in 1960.

The squadron was reactivated again in 1962 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey and equipped with the C-135A/B jet transport. It carried cargo between the US and Vietnam until it was inactivated in 1968 when MAC C-135 operations came to an end.

Lineage

Established as 40th Ferrying Squadron on 1 August 1942

Activated on 17 August 1942 Redesignated: 40th Transport Squadron on 1 March 1943 Disbanded on 30 September 1943

Established as 40th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 1 March 1954

Activated on 8 March 1954 Inactivated on 8 December 1960 Redesignated as 40th Air Transport Squadron, Medium on 8 January 1962 Redesignated as 40th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966 Inactivated on 4 March 1968

Assignments

25th Ferrying (later, 25th Transport) Group, 17 August 1942 – 30 September 1943

1607th Air Transport Wing, 8 March 1954 – 8 December 1960

1611th Air Transport Wing, 8 January 1962 – 8 January 1966

438th Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1966 – 4 March 1968

Stations

Canton Island Airport, Kanton Island, Gilbert Islands, 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943

Dover AFB, Delaware, 8 March 1954-8 December 1960

McGuire AFB, New Jersey, 8 January 1962-4 March 1968

Aircraft

C-124C Globemaster II, 1954–1960

C-130E Hercules, 1962–1968