Lineage. Constituted as 71 Troop Carrier Squadron on 30 Jan 1943. Activated on 9 Feb 1943. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Mar 1947. Redesignated as 71 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 1 Jul 1949. Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 1953. Ordered to active service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from active service on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated as 71 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967. Ordered to active service on 13 May 1968. Redesignated as: 71 Air Commando Squadron on 15 Jun 1968; 71 Special Operations Squadron on 8 Jul 1968. Relieved from active service on 18 Jun 1969. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1973. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1987. Inactivated on 1 Oct 1993. Activated on 20 May 2005.
Assignments. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 15 Mar 1947-1 Feb 1953. 434 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Feb 1953; 434 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 930 Troop Carrier Group, 11 Feb 1963; 1 Air Commando Wing, 1 Jun 1968; 14 Special Operations Wing, 20 Dec 1968; 930 Special Operations Group, 10 Jun 1969-1 Oct 1973. Fourth Air Force, 1 Oct 1987; 919 Special Operations Group, 1 Apr 1990; 919 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-1 Oct 1993. 58 Operations Group, 20 May 2005-.
Stations. Alliance AAFld, NE, 9 Feb 1943; Baer Field, IN, 3-26 Sep 1943; Fulbeck, England, 7 Oct 1943; Welford Park, England, 10 Dec 1943; Fulbeck, England, 10 Jan 1944; Aldermaston, England, 3 Mar 1944-Feb 1945; Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, Feb-Jun 1945; Baer Field, IN, 5 Aug 1945; Alliance AAFld, NB, 15 Sep 1945; George Field, IL, 11 Oct 1945; Greenville AAB, SC, 2 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Stout Field, IN, 15 Mar 1947; Atterbury AFB, IN, 1 Jul 1949; Lawson AFB, GA, 23 Jan 1952-1 Feb 1953. Atterbury (later, Bakalar) AFB, IN, 1 Feb 1953; Lockbourne AFB, OH, 17 Jun-c. 20 Dec 1968; Nha Trang AB, South Vietnam, 20 Dec 1968-1 Jun 1969; Bakalar AFB, IN, 10 Jun 1969; Grissom AFB, IN, 15 Jan 1970-1 Oct 1973. Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ, 1 Oct 1987-1 Oct 1993 (deployed to King Fahd Airport, Saudia Arabia, 12 Jan 1991-c.16 Mar 1992). Kirtland AFB, NM, 20 May 2005-.
Commanders. Capt Jack S. Southard, 15 Feb 1943; Capt John R. Loveless, 11 May 1943; Capt Ira B. Seiden, 21 Jun 1943; Maj Glen E. W. Mann Jr., 14 Sep 1943; Maj Donald W. Morris, by 1 Jan 1945; Maj Thomas C. Ricketts, by Sep 1945; Capt K. Willis, 6 Oct 1945; Lt Col Robert C. Johns, c. 1 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Unkn, 15 Mar 1947-May 1951; Maj John E. Connor, by 1 May 1951; Capt Lloyd R. Sparks, 28 Jun 1951; Capt Wendell A. Linn, 14 Jan 1952; Capt William T. Clark, 14 Apr 1952; Capt Jesse O. Williams, 23 May 1952; Capt Roland Benson, 26 Jan-1 Feb 1953. Unkn, 1 Feb 1953-Jul 1955; Lt Col William F. Carpenter, by Jul 1955; Lt Col James A. MacMasters, by 1 Jan 1959; Lt Col Joe T. Pound, by 1 Jul 1961; Maj William L. Horrell, c. 11 Feb 1963; Lt Col Joe T. Pound, c. Apr 1964; Lt Col William L. Horrell, by Dec 1966; Lt Col James E. Pyle, 15 Jun 1968-18 Jun 1969; unkn, Jul 1969-Mar 1971; Lt Col Burl C. Campbell, by 1 Apr 1971; Maj James C. Wahleithner, by 30 Jun 1972; Lt Col Richard E. Myers, by 30 Sep 1972; Maj Stanley F. Smith, by 30 Jun-1 Oct 1973. Col Jon E. Hannan, 1 Oct 1987; Lt Col Lawrence M. Rolle, 1 Jul 1988; Lt Col Robert A. Stenevik, 13 Mar 1989; Col Paul R. Davis, 20 Jul 1991-1 Oct 1993. Lt Col James L. Cardoso, 20 May 2005; Lt Col Todd A. Lovell, 22 May 2007; Lt Col James E. Breck Jr., 6 Jun 2008-.
Aircraft. L-4, 1943-1945; L-5, 1943-1945; L-1, 1944-1945; UC-64, 1944-1945. C-46, 1953-1957; C-119, 1957-1968; AC-119, 1968-1969; C-119, 1970; A-37, 1971-1973. CH-3, 1987-1990; HH-3, 1987-1992; MH-60, 1992-1993. CV-22, 2005-.
Operations. Airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany; relief of Bastogne; aerial transportation of passengers and cargo in European Theater of Operations (ETO) during World War II. Reserve troop carrier training after the war. Served in active duty status during the Korean War, 1951-1953 and again during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. From Jun to Dec 1968, continued airlift support of Tactical Air Command (TAC) and Air Force Logistics Command (AFLC), while training in operations of AC-119G gunships, then moved to South Vietnam, beginning on 5 Jan 1969 for combat gunship, forward air control, and other special operations. In less than 6 months returned to the United States to resume reserve training with new aircraft. Called to active duty status on 1 Jan 1992. Carried out combat search, rescue, visual reconnaissance and other special operations in Southwest Asia, Jan-Apr 1991. Released from active status on 21 Apr 1992. Served as CV-22 training squadron, 2005-.
Service Streamers. World War II, American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/Counteroffensive. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Presidential Unit Citation: 19 Dec 1968-31 May 1969. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 19 Dec 1968-30 Apr 1969; 22 Mar 1989-21 Mar 1991; 1 Jun 1990-31 May 1992; 1 Jun 1992-[1 Oct 1993]; [20 May]-30 Jun 2005; 1 Jul 2006-30 Jun 2007; 1 Jul 2007-30 Jun 2008. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 6-7 Jun 1944; 20-28 Aug 1944. French Fourragere. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 14 Feb 1968-[1] Jun 1969.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 19 Jun 2009.
Commanders through 19 Jun 2009; Aircraft, and Operations through 31 Dec 2006.
Supersedes statement prepared on 20 May 2005.
Emblem. Approved on 27 Jun 2005.
Prepared by Patsy Robertson.
Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.