312th Airlift Squadron

World War II

Activated in late 1943 as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command. Was not used in combat operations, however, did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.

Air Force reserve and Korean mobilization

It trained in the reserve for troop carrier missions from, 1949–1951,

Return to the reserves

Resumed its reserve operations as a fighter-bomber squadron from 1952–1957, and resumed its current role as an airlift squadron in 1957.

The 312th was called to active duty during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and from 1968-1969. The squadron airlifted United States troops between the continental United States and Southeast Asia and flew other strategic airlift missions as needed across the Pacific Ocean, including channel flights, contingency and humanitarian relief operations, and joint training exercises. Flew missions in support of anti-terrorism operations after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the U. S.

Assignments

• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 1 November 1943 – 7 September 1946
• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951
• 349th Fighter-Bomber Group (later 349th Troop Carrier Group), 13 June 1952
• 349th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 938th Troop Carrier Group (later 938 Military Airlift Group), 11 February 1963
• 349th Military Airlift Wing (later 349 Airlift Wing), 1 July 1973
• 349th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present^[1]

Stations

Aircraft

Decorations

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 Aug 2002 – 31 Jul 2002. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 Dec 1964 – 22 Jan 1965; 26 Jan 1968 – 1 Jun 1969; 1 Jul 1974 – 30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1975 – 30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1992 – 30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-15 Aug 1995; 1 Jul 1996 – 30 Jun 1998; 1 Aug 2000 – 31 Jul 2002; 16 Aug 2003 – 17 Aug 2004; 18 Aug 2004 – 17 Aug 2005; 18 Aug 2005 – 17 Aug 2006; 18 Aug 2006 – 17 Aug 2007; 18 Aug 2007 – 17 Aug 2008; 18 Aug 2008 – 17 Aug 2009. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966 – 28 Jan 1973.

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

• Anderson, Capt. Barry (1985). Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL yes: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 23, 2016. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
• Johnson, 1st Lt. David C. (1988). U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 29, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2017.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved December 17, 2016.