39th Military Airlift Squadron
The 39th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 436th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. It was inactivated on 31 March 1971.
| 39th Military Airlift Squadron | |
|---|---|
 39th ATS Douglas C-133A-5-DL Cargomaster 54-142 | |
| Active | 1948–1971 |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Airlift |
| Insignia | |
| 39th Military Airlift Squadron emblem |  |
History
Activated in 1942 to ferry newly manufactured combat aircraft to combat units deployed overseas. Primarily flew B-25 and B-26 medium bombers to Southwest Pacific Area, however also ferried aircraft to Africa for units assigned to the North African Campaign and European Theater of Operations. Inactivated in October 1943 during realignment of Ferrying Command to Air Transport Command.
Reactivated in 1954 under Military Air Transport Service (MATS), operated C-54 Skymaster aircraft on a worldwide scale from Dover AFB, Delaware. Upgraded to C-133A Cargomaster heavy-lift strategic transports in 1957, and continued global strategic airlift operations. Reassigned to Military Airlift Command (MAC) in 1966 after inactivation of MATS, continued operations until retirement of C-133s in 1971 then inactivated.
Lineage
- Constituted as the 39th Ferrying Squadron on 9 July 1942
- Activated on 28 July 1942
- Redesignated 39th Transport Squadron on 24 March 1943
- Disbanded on 18 October 1943
- Reconstituted and redesignated as 39th Air Transport Squadron, Medium on 4 November 1953
- Activated on 16 February 1954
- Redesignated as 39th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 8 September 1957
- Redesignated as 39th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
- Inactivated on 31 March 1971
Assignments
- 27th Army Air Forces Ferrying Wing, 19 June 1942
- Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command, 1 Jul 1942 – 18 October 1943
- Elements attached to Pacific Wing, Air Transport Command entire period
- 1607th Air Transport Group, 16 February 1954
- 1607th Air Transport Wing, 18 January 1963
- 436th Military Airlift Wing, 6 January 1966 – 31 March 1971
Stations
- Morrison Field, Florida, 8 July 1942 – 18 October 1943
- Dover AFB, Delaware, 16 February 1954 – 31 March 1971
Aircraft
- Primarily ferrying B-25 Mitchell and B-26 Marauder, 1942–1943.
- C-54 Skymaster, 1954–1957
- Douglas C-133 Cargomaster, 1957–1971
References
- Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989
- Remembering an Unsung Giant The Douglas C-133 Cargomaster and Its People
- AFHRA document search