Lineage. Constituted as 356 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Jun 1942. Inactivated on 10 Apr 1944. Redesignated as 356 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 27 Jun 1944. Activated on 7 Jul 1944. Inactivated on 15 Apr 1946. Redesignated as 356 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 16 May 1949. Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Inactivated on 28 Jan 1950. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Ordered to Active Service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from Active Duty on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated as: 356 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967; 356 Special Operations Squadron on 25 Jun 1970; 356 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 26 Jul 1971; 356 Airlift Squadron on 1 Feb 1992. Inactivated on 30 Jun 2006. Activated in the Reserve on 9 Jan 2007.
Assignments. 302 Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1942-10 Apr 1944. 331 Bombardment Group, 7 Jul 1944-15 Apr 1946. 302 Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-28 Jan 1950. 302 Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun 1952; 302 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 907 Troop Carrier (later, Tactical Airlift; Special Operations; Tactical Airlift) Group, 11 Feb 1963; 302 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Sep 1975; 907 Tactical Airlift (later, Airlift) Group, 1 Apr 1981; 907 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992; 445 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1994-30 Jun 2006. 433 Operations Group, 9 Jan 2007-.
Stations. Geiger Field, WA, 1 Jun 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 23 Jun 1942; Wendover Field, UT, 30 Jul 1942; Pueblo AAB, CO, 30 Sep 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 1 Dec 1942; Clovis, NM, 29 Jan 1943; Langley Field, VA, 17 Dec 1943; Chatham AAFld, GA, 27 Jan-10 Apr 1944. Dalhart AAFld, TX, 7 Jul 1944; McCook AAFld, NE, 22 Nov 1944-8 Apr 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, 12 May 1945-15 Apr 1946. McChord AFB, WA, 27 Jun 1949-28 Jan 1950. Clinton County AFB, OH, 14 Jun 1952; Lockbourne (later, Rickenbacker) AFB (later ANGB), OH, 26 Jul 1971; Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 1 Apr 1993-30 Jun 2006. Kelly Field Annex, Lackland (Joint Base San Antonio) AFB, TX, 9 Jan 2007-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific. Southwest Asia: Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Global War on Terrorism: GWOT-E. Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 22-29 Jul 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jan-31 Dec 1970; 1 Jan 1977-31 Dec 1978; 1 Oct 1999-30 Sep 2001; [9] Jan 2007-31 Dec 2008. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, 14 Feb-11 Mar 1968.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 6 Sep 2023.
Supersedes statement prepared on 28 Jun 2012.
Emblem. Approved on 7 Jul 1969; latest rendering, 29 Jul 1996.
Prepared by James Musser.
Reviewed by Margaret Ream.