Lineage. Constituted 8 Transport Squadron on 1 Oct 1933. Activated on 1 Feb 1940. Redesignated 8 Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942. Inactivated on 11 Nov 1945. Activated on 7 Sep 1946. Redesignated: 8 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 23 Jun 1948; 8 Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 12 Oct 1949; 8 Air Transport Squadron, Heavy, on 1 Jan 1965; 8 Military Airlift Squadron on 8 Jan 1966; 8 Airlift Squadron on 1 Dec 1991.
Assignments. 10 Transport Group, 1 Feb 1940; 62 Transport (later, 62 Troop Carrier) Group, 11 Dec 1940-11 Nov 1945. 62 Troop Carrier Group, 7 Sep 1946 (attached to Alaskan Air Command, 2 Sep-1 Dec 1948; 62 Troop Carrier Wing, 8-14 Jan 1960); 62 Troop Carrier (later, 62 Military Airlift) Wing, 15 Jan 1960; 62 Operations Group, 1 Dec 1991-.
Stations. Brooks Field, TX, 1 Feb 1940; Duncan Field, TX, 5 Nov 1940; Hill Field, UT, 29 Jun 1941; Kellogg Field, MI, 26 May 1942; Florence, SC, 30 Jun-14 Aug 1942; Keevil, England, 25 Sep 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 16 Nov 1942; Nouvion, Algeria, 22 Dec 1942; Matemore, Algeria, 17 May 1943; El Djem, Tunisia, 1 Jul 1943; Goubrine, Tunisia, 28 Jul 1943; Gela, Sicily, 7 Sep 1943; Ponte Olivo, Sicily, 30 Sep 1943; Gaudo Airfield, Italy, 8 May 1944; Galera Airfield, Italy, 30 Jun 1944; Malignano Airfield, Italy, 5 Oct 1944; Tarquinia, Italy, 9 Jan 1945; Rosignano, Italy, 26 May 1945; Naples, Italy, Oct-11 Nov 1945. Bergstrom Field, TX, 7 Sep 1946; McChord Field (later, AFB), WA, 14 Jul 1947 (deployed at Elmendorf Field, AK, 2 Sep-1 Dec 1948); Kelly AFB, TX, 9 May 1950; McChord AFB, WA, 27 Jul 1950; Larson AFB, WA, 9 May 1952; McChord AFB, WA, 13 Jun 1960-.
Commanders. Maj Edward Sullivan, 1 Feb 1940; Capt Ernest S. Holmes Jr., c. 5 Nov 1940; Capt Charles A. Cowing, 10 Jun 1942; Maj Alexander P. Couch, 1 Jul 1942; Maj C. A. Gibson, 16 Mar 1943; Lt Col Raymond A. Nowotny, 5 Apr 1943; Maj Wateman J. Webb, 16 Jan 1944; Maj Calvin E. Logan, 9 Jul 1944 (temporary), 2 Oct 1944 (permanent); Maj Joseph H. Griffith Jr., 3 Jun 1945; Capt Allen W. Carver, 5 Jun 1945; none, not manned, 1 Sep-11 Nov 1945. Lt Col Wright J. Sherrard, 30 Sep 1946; Maj Lionel F. Johnson, 12 May 1947; Lt Col Curtis L. Frisbie, 3 Jun 1947; Lt Col William R. Cooper, by 14 Aug 1947; Lt Col George M. Johnson Jr., by Mar 1948; Capt William E. Barnett, Dec 1949; Maj Theodore R. Wright, Feb 1950; Maj Courtney L. Faught, by Apr 1950; Lt Col Lionel F. Johnson, by Dec 1951; Maj Michael F. Robinson, 4 Aug 1953; Maj George M. Rubald, c. 13 Jul 1954; Lt Col John P. Remaklus Jr., by Dec 1955; Lt Col Kent J. Richens, by Jun 1958; Maj Jacob S. Dreyer, by Dec 1958; Maj Jesse W. Perry, by Jun 1960; Lt Col Edward J. Maloney, by Dec 1960; Lt Col Jesse W. Perry, by 12 Mar 1961; Lt Col Blaine J. Felt, by Dec 1961; Lt Col Robert Cooke Jr., by Jun 1965; Lt Col James D. Robinson, by Dec 1966; Lt Col John J. Ryan, 21 Mar 1968; Lt Col Robert E. Englebretson, 1 May 1970; Lt Col Lawrence D. Johnson, 1 Mar 1971; Lt Col Duane H, Cassidy, 21 Sep 1972; Lt Col Rodney P. Williams, 25 Jun 1974; Lt Col Henry J. DiAngelo, 14 Jun 1976; Lt Col Vernon J. Kondra, 17 Apr 1978; Lt Col Edward R. Maney, 3 May 1979; Lt Col Bryan D. Strickland, 6 Jun 1980; Lt Col Augustus C. Moran, 16 Jan 1981; Lt Col David B. Marcrander, by Mar 1983; Lt Col Donald G. Murdoch, 28 Jun 1984; Lt Col William L. Calhoun, 9 Jun 1986; Lt Col Joseph P. Conant, 23 Jun 1988; Lt Col Julian D. Allen, 27 Apr 1990; Lt Col Edward N. Pugh, 8 Jun 1992; Lt Col Norman A. Weinberg, 21 May 1993; Lt Col David M. Snyder, 8 Jun 1994; Lt Col Michael C. Strouse, 15 Jun 1995; Lt Col John I. Pray Jr., 10 Jun 1997; Lt Col Timothy G. Grosz, 6 Jul 1998; Lt Col Angelique L. Paulise, 10 Apr 2000; Lt Col Jon T. Thomas, 16 Jul 2003; Lt Col Gregory J. Schwartz, 22 Apr 2005-.
Aircraft. Probably included C-39, 1940-1942; C-47, 1942-1945. C-46, 1946-1947; C-82, 1947-1949; C-54, 1949-1951; C-124, 1951-1969; C-141, 1966-2000; C-17, 2000-.
Operations. Included airborne assaults on Sicily and Southern France, support of partisans in Northern Italy and the Balkans, and transportation of personnel and supplies in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, during World War II. Airlift from US to Japan during the Korean War. Airdropped equipment and personnel during the invasion of Panama on 20 Dec 1989. Participated in evacuation of US personnel from Philippines following eruption of Mt Pinatubo, Jun 1991. Conducted aerial delivery of rations to Afghani towns and villages during Global War on Terrorism operations in 2001.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Tunisia; Sicily; Naples Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley; Air Combat, EAME Theater. Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Panama, 1989-1990.
Decorations. Meritorious Unit Award: 11 Sep 2001- 10 Sep 2003. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 19 Apr-5 May 1954; 1 Jan 1961-1 Nov 1962; 1 Jul 1965-15 Jul 1966; 1 Jul 1969-30 Jun 1970; 1 Jul 1973-30 Jun 1974; 1 Jul 1981-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1983-30 Jun 1985; 14 Jun-3 Jul 1991;1 Jul 1994-30 Jun 1996; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1997; 1 Jul 1997-30 Jun 1999; 1 Jul 2000-30 Jun 2001; 11 Sep 2005-10 Sep 2006. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 13 Apr 2007.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through Dec 2005.
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 12 Jun 1943, modified on 5 Oct 2010.
Prepared by Carl E. Bailey.
Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.