732nd Airlift Squadron

The 732nd Airlift Squadron, sometimes written as 732d Airlift Squadron, is a unit of the United States Air Force. It was first constituted as the 332nd Bombardment Squadron in 1942, and engaged in strategic bombardment operations in Occupied Europe and Germany during WWII. In 1952, the unit was redesignated the 332nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, and in 1957 the 732nd Troop Carrier Squadron. In 1957, it was redesignated the 732nd Military Airlift Squadron (Associate), before it was finally redesignated as the 732nd Airlift Squadron in 1994. The unit is part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It operates McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III aircraft in providing global strategic airlift to US and allied forces.

732nd Airlift Squadron
A squadron C-17 Globemaster III carrying Vice President Joe Biden arrives at Sather Air Base, Iraq
Active1942–1945; 1947–1951; 1952–1966; 1970–present
CountryUnited States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Part ofAir Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQJoint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[1]
Insignia
732nd Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 20 April 1976[1]
332nd Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 23 December 1943)[2]

History

World War II
94th Bombardment Group B-17 taking off

Activated as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron; trained under Second Air Force. Completed training in early 1943; deploying to European Theater of Operations (ETO) assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, March 1944 – May 1945 attacking enemy military and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany. Most personnel demobilized in Europe after the German capitulation in May 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in November.

Air Force reserve

Reactivated in 1947 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress squadron in the reserves, however equipped with trainers until 1949 when equipped with Douglas B-26 Invader light bomber. Squadron activated in 1951 as a result of the Korean War; personnel and equipment assigned as replacements to units of Far East Air Forces, then inactivated as a paper unit.

The squadron trained in bombardment operations from, 1947–1951 and 1955–1957, reconnaissance operations from, 1952–1955, and troop carrier operations 1957–1966. After 1970, it participated in strategic airlift missions and exercises. In 1989 took part in Operation Just Cause in Panama by transporting U.S. troops.

Reactivated as a reserve transport squadron in 1952, being equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. Activated during Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; returned to reserve status after crisis was resolved; inactivated in 1966 with phaseout of C-119 from the inventory.

Activated in 1970 with long-range Lockheed C-141 Starlifters, performing intercontinental airlift of personnel and materiel. The unit upgraded to Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs in 2004 after retirement of its C-141s. Most recently, the unit participated in relief efforts after the 2010 Haiti earthquakes.[3]

Lineage
  • Constituted 332d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 15 June 1942
Redesignated 332d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 15 December 1945
  • Redesignated 332d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
Redesignated 332d Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951
Inactivated on 20 March 1951
  • Redesignated 332d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 26 May 1952
Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952
Redesignated: 332d Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 18 May 1955
Redesignated: 732d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1957
Ordered to active service on 28 October 1962
Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962
Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 January 1966
  • Redesignated 732d Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 19 March 1970
Activated on 1 April 1970
Redesignated: 732d Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992
Redesignated: 732d Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994[1]

Assignments
  • 94th Bombardment Group, 15 June 1942 – 29 November 1945
  • 94th Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947 – 20 March 1951
  • 94th Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later 94th Bombardment Group, 94th Troop Carrier Group), 14 June 1952
  • 94th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
  • 902d Troop Carrier Group, 11 February 1963 – 25 January 1966
  • 903d Military Airlift Group, 1 April 1970
  • 514th Military Airlift Wing (later 514th Airlift Wing), 1 July 1973
  • 514th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present[1]

Stations

Aircraft
  • Boeing [B-17 Flying Fortress (1942–1945)
  • Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1959–1965)
  • Lockheed C-141 Starlifter (1970–2004)
  • McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III (2004–present)[1]

References
Notes
  1. Haulman, Daniel L. (9 January 2008). "Factsheet 732 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  2. Maurer, Combat Squadrons. p. 409
  3. Johnson, TSG Denise (15 January 2010). "Aircrews deliver relief supplies to Haiti". Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2017.

Bibliography

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

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