782d Troop Carrier Squadron

History

Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, it trained under the Second Air Force. It deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in March 1944, where it was assigned to the Fifteenth Air Force. It flew strategic bombardment combat missions over France, Germany, Italy, Austria and the Balkans until the German capitulation in May 1945.

The unit was attached to Air Transport Command in June 1945; it used its B-24s as transport aircraft, flying personnel from Trinidad to Florida. The squadron inactivated in place in Trinidad during July 1945.

Re-activated in 1953 as a Tactical Air Command C-119 Troop Carrier squadron under the Eighteenth Air Force, it primarily flew cargo transport missions, but also supported US Army airborne parachute units on maneuvers from Fort Bragg, North Carolina and Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

The squadron was reassigned in 1953 as a United States Air Forces in Europe troop carrier squadron, stationed in France and later West Germany. It performed theater airlift and transport operations until 1957 when it was inactivated due to budget restrictions.

Lineage

Constituted as the 782d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943

Activated on 1 August 1943 Inactivated on 31 July 1945

Redesignated the 782d Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 22 December 1952

Activated on 1 February 1953 Inactivated on 20 December 1957

Assignments

465th Bombardment Group, 1 August 1943 – 31 July 1945

465th Troop Carrier Group, 1 February 1953

465th Troop Carrier Wing, 12 March 1957

317th Troop Carrier Wing, 8 July 1957 – 20 December 1957

Stations

Alamogordo Army Air Field, New Mexico, 1 August 1943

Kearns Center, Utah, c. 13 September 1943

McCook Army Airfield, Nebraska, c. 5 October 1943 – 1 February 1944

Pantanella Airfield, Italy, 15 March 1944 – June 1945

Waller Field, Trinidad, c. 15 June – 31 July 1945

Donaldson AFB, South Carolina, 1 February 1953 – December 1953

Toul-Rosières Air Base, France, 26 December 1953

Évreux-Fauville Air Base, France, 6 December 1954

Neubiberg Air Base, West Germany, 5–20 December 1957

Aircraft

B-24 Liberator, 1943–1945

C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1953–1957

C-130A Hercules, 1957