357th Airlift Squadron

World War II

Activated in early 1942 as a Consolidated B-24 Liberator Operational Training Unit, later becoming a Replacement Training Unit (RTU) for deployed combat units, assigned to II Bomber Command. Inactivated in April 1944.

Redesignated as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress very heavy bombardment Squadron under Second Air Force on 1 April 1944 at Dalhart Army Air Field, Texas. Initially equipped with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses for training, due to shortage of Superfortresses. Moved to McCook Army Air Field, Nebraska in August 1944 and equipped with B-29B limited production aircraft.

After completion of training deployed to Central Pacific Area, assigned to XXI Bomber Command at Northwest Field (Guam) for operational missions. B-29Bs were standard production aircraft stripped of most defensive guns to increase speed and bomb load, The tail gun was aimed and fired automatically by the new AN/APG-15B radar fire control system that detected the approaching enemy plane and made all the necessary calculations.

Mission of the squadron was the strategic bombardment of the Japanese Home Islands. Dntered combat on 16 June 1945 with a bombing raid against an airfield on Moen. Flew first mission against the Japanese home islands on 26 June 1945 and afterwards operated principally against the enemy's petroleum industry. Flew primarily low-level, fast attacks at night using a mixture of high-explosive and incendary bombs to attack targets.

Flew last combat mission on 15 August 1945, later flew in "show of Force" mission on 2 September 1945 over Tokyo Bay during formal Japanese Surrender. Inactivated on Guam 15 April 1946, personnel returned to the United States and aircraft sent to storage in Southwest United States. It was credited with participating in the Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates, and Western Pacific campaigns. The squadron received the Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 22–29 July 1945.

Reserve operations

It trained for troop carrier missions from 1952 to 1967. The squadron airlifted troops and their equipment during the Cuban Missile Crisis, October–November 1962.

The squadron has flown numerous, worldwide airlift missions, including missions in the Gulf War and the Bosnian relief effort. It was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 July 1972 – 15 March 1974; 1 January 1976 – 30 November 1977; 1 February 1980 – 31 January 1982; 1 September 1986 – 31 August 1988; 1 September 1991 – 31 August 1993.

Assignments

• 302d Bombardment Group, 1 June 1942 – 10 April 1944
• 331st Bombardment Group, 7 July 1944 – 15 April 1946
• 302d Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952
• 445th Troop Carrier Group, 16 November 1957
• 446th Troop Carrier Group, 25 March 1958
• 446th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 302d Troop Carrier Wing, 8 May 1961
• 908th Troop Carrier Group (later 908 Tactical Airlift Group, 908 Tactical Air Support Group, 908th Tactical Airlift Group, 908 Airlift Group), 11 February 1963
• 908th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present^[1]

Stations

Aircraft

Notes

Bibliography

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

• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994 (PDF). Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved December 17, 2016.
• 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.