Lineage. Constituted 16 Transport Squadron on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 11 Dec 1940. Redesignated 16 Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945. Activated on 19 May 1947. Inactivated on 10 Sep 1948. Redesignated 16 Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Light on 19 Sep 1950. Activated on 5 Oct 1950. Redesignated 16 Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Fixed Wing on 8 Nov 1954. Inactivated on 8 Jul 1955. Redesignated 16 Tactical Airlift Training Squadron on 14 Aug 1969. Activated on 15 Oct 1969. Redesignated 16 Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991. Inactivated on 29 Sep 2000. Activated on 1 Jul 2002.
Assignments. 64 Transport (later, 64 Troop Carrier) Group, 11 Dec 1940-31 Jul 1945. 64 Troop Carrier Group, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948. 316 Troop Carrier Group, 5 Oct 1950; Eighteenth Air Force (attached to 463 Troop Carrier Wing), 14 Nov 1954-8 Jul 1955. 4442 Combat Crew Training Wing, 15 Oct 1969; 314 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Aug 1971; 34 Tactical Airlift Training Group, 1 Nov 1978; 314 Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991; 437 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993-29 Sep 2000. 437 Operations Group, 1 Jul 2002-.
Stations. McClellan Field, CA, 11 Dec 1940; Portland, OR, 9 Jul 1941; Westover Field, MA, 12 Jun-31 Jul 1942; Ramsbury, England, 18 Aug-Nov 1942 (operated from Maison Blanche, Algeria, 11 Nov-Dec 1942); Blida, Algeria, c. 12 Dec 1942; Kairouan, Tunisia, 28 Jun 1943; El Djem, Tunisia, 26 Jul 1943; Comiso, Sicily, 4 Sep 1943 (operated from bases in India, 7 Apr-Jun 1944); Ciampino, Italy, 10 Jul 1944 (operated from Istres, France, 7 Sep-11 Oct 1944); Rosignano Airfield, Italy, 10 Jan-23 May 1945 (operated from Brindisi, Italy, 29 Mar-13 May 1945) ; Waller Field, Trinidad, 4 Jun-31 Jul 1945. Langley Field, VA, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948. Sewart AFB, TN, 5 Oct 1950; Ardmore AFB, OK, 14 Nov 1954-8 Jul 1955. Sewart AFB, TN, 15 Oct 1969; Little Rock AFB, AR, c. 15 Mar 1970; Charleston AFB, SC, 1 Oct 1993-29 Sep 2000. Charleston AFB, SC, 1 Jul 2002-.
Commanders. Capt Ralph J. Moore, 11 Dec 1940; 1Lt John Cerny, 1 May 1941; Capt Lloyd A. Hardesty, 25 Apr 1942; Maj John Cerny, 16 Jun 1942; Lt Col John H. Champion, 18 May 1943; Capt Long, 4 Sep 1944; Capt Jack F. Linn, 29 Sep 1944-31 Jul 1945. None (not manned), 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948. Unkn, 5 Oct 1950-Apr 1951; Lt Col Earl A. Butts, c. May 1951; Major James S. Hamer, c. Mar 1952; Maj Louis P. Lindsay, by Mar 1953; Capt Elden C. Funk, c. 30 Jun 1953; Maj Louis P. Lindsay, c. Dec 1953-8 Jul 1955. Lt Col George A. Ashbridge, 15 Oct 1969; Lt Col John D. Hedges, 1 Mar 1970; Lt Col Ralph A. Yates, 1 Aug 1971; Lt Col Walter J. Ford, 20 Nov 1972; Lt Col Delbert A. Emerson Jr., 1 Aug 1973; Lt Col Jerry D. Livingston, 3 May 1976; Lt Col James L. Biggs, 10 Mar 1977; Lt Col Richard W. Blatter, 9 Feb 1979; Lt Col Robert C. Peck, 14 Nov 1980; Lt Col Ronald L. Morey, 11 Aug 1982; Lt Col Robert E. Snyder, 9 Mar 1984; Lt Col Charles H. Wittrock, 21 Mar 1986; Lt Col Robert W. Topel, 10 Feb 1988; Lt Col Jon L. Martinson, 28 Jul 1989; Lt Col Paul M. Rouse, 26 Jun 1990; Lt Col Carl W. Gustke, 25 Jun 1992; Lt Col Keith A. Feigh, 22 Jun 1993; Lt Col Charles P. Brooks Jr., 1 Oct 1993; Lt Col Kip L. Self, 18 Apr 1994; Lt Col Michael C. Jackson, 1 Mar 1996; Lt Col Richard J. Richardson, 16 Oct 1997; Lt Col James J. Wendling, 1 Dec 1998-29 Sep 2000.
Aircraft. C-47, 1941-1945. C-119, 1950-1951; YC-122, 1951-1955; H-19, 1952; H-5, 1952. C-130, 1969-1993; C-141, 1993-2000.
Operations. World War II: Airborne assaults on Sicily and Southern France; support for partisans in Northern Italy, Jan-May 1945; aerial transportation in MTO, and briefly in CBI. Airlift of Army assault troops in training exercises, 1951-1954. Aircrew training, 1969-1993; flew humanitarian and resupply missions worldwide, including to Bosnia and Southwest Asia, 1993-2000.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Algeria-French Morocco; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; India-Burma; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: CBI Theater, 7 Apr-15 Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 30 Sep 1975-30 Jun 1976; 1 Jun 1985-31 May 1986; 1 Jul 1991-30 Jun 1993; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1995; 1 Jul 1995-30 Jun 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1998; 1 Jul 1998-29 Sep 2000.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 3 Jun 2002.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Sep 2000.
Supersedes published information contained in Judy G. Endicott (ed.), USAF Active Flying, Space, and Missile Squadrons as of 1 October 1995 (Washington: USGPO, 1999).
Emblem. Approved on 17 Dec 1980; latest rendering, 18 Apr 2019.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.
Approved by Judy G. Endicott.