Lineage. Constituted as 37 Transport Squadron on 2 Feb 1942. Activated on 14 Feb 1942. Redesignated as: 37 Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 Jul 1942; 37 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 23 Jun 1948; 37 Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 8 Oct 1949; 37 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 28 Jan 1950. Inactivated on 8 May 1952. Activated on 8 May 1952. Inactivated on 18 Jun 1957. Redesignated as 37 Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated on 17 May 1966. Organized on 1 Oct 1966. Redesignated as: 37 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 May 1967; 37 Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1992
Assignments. 316 Transport (later 316 Troop Carrier) Group, 14 Feb 1942–8 May 1952 (attached to 314 Troop Carrier Group, 21 Aug 1950–8 May 1952). 316 Troop Carrier Group, 8 May 1952–18 Jun 1957. Tactical Air Command, 17 May 1966; 316 Troop Carrier (later, 316 Tactical Airlift) Wing, 1 Oct 1966; 317 Tactical Airlift Wing, 15 Sep 1975; 435 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1977; 435 Tactical Airlift Group, 15 Dec 1978; 435 Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Jun 1980; 435 Operations Group, 1 Apr 1992; 86 Operations Group, 1 Oct 1994–.
Stations. Patterson Field, OH, 14 Feb 1942; Bowman Field, KY, 16 Jun 1942; Lawson Field, GA, 9 Aug 1942; Del Valle, TX, 29 Sep–12 Nov 1942; Deversoir, Egypt, 23 Nov 1942; El Adem, Libya, 10 Dec 1942; Deversoir, Egypt, 23 Dec 1942; Marble Arch, Libya, 11 Jan 1943; Ismailia, Egypt, 25 Jan 1943; Fayid, Egypt, 14 Feb 1943; El Kabrit, Egypt, 28 May 1943; El Aouina, Tunisia, 16 Oct 1943; Borizzo, Sicily, 29 Nov 1943–16 Feb 1944; Cottesmore, England, 18 Feb 1944–10 May 1945; Pope Field, NC, c. 10 Jun 1945; Greenville AAB (later, AFB), SC, 30 Jul 1946; Smyrna (later, Sewart) AFB, TN, 4 Nov 1949–4 Sep 1950; Ashiya AB, Japan, c. 11 Sep 1950; Komaki AB, Japan (operated from Ashiya AB, Japan), 29 Nov 1950; Ashiya AB, Japan, 11 Feb–8 May 1952. Sewart AFB, TN, 8 May 1952–15 Nov 1954; Ashiya AB, Japan, 15 Nov 1954–18 Jun 1957. Langley AFB, VA, 1 Oct 1966–30 Sep 1977 (deployed at RAF Mildenhall, England, 24 Nov 1968–26 Feb 1969; Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 13 Jul–26 Sep 1969; RAF Mildenhall, England, 24 Feb–11 May 1970; Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 7 Feb–13 Apr 1971; RAF Mildenhall, England, 13 Jan–14 Mar 1972; Ching Chaun Kang AB, Taiwan, 6 Dec 1972–15 Mar 1973; RAF Mildenhall, England, 31 Aug–c. 1 Oct 1973; Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 5 Apr–15 Jun 1975); Rhein-Main AB, Germany, 1 Oct 1977; Ramstein AB, Germany, 1 Oct 1994–.
Commanders. Maj William H. Matthews, 1942; Capt Leonard G. Fletcher, May 1943; Maj Walter R. Washburn Jr., May 1943; Lt Col Leonard G. Fletcher, c. 7 Aug 1943; Maj James L. Hoggatt, 20 Sep 1945; Capt Harold K. Bailey, 27 Sep 1945; Maj Dwight E. Maul, 11 Oct 1945; Maj James L. Hoggatt, 22 Oct 1945; Lt Col Robert W. Gates, 16 Nov 1945; Maj Charles W. Williams, 12 Dec 1945; Lt Col Bertie W. David, 17 Dec 1945; Lt Col Harry N. Tower, 20 May 1946; Col Adriel N. Williams, 29 Jul 1946; Lt Col Walter M. Bridgers, 2 Oct 1946; Col Adriel N. Williams, 7 Oct 1946; Lt Col Frank A. Hansley, 29 Oct 1946; Col Adriel N. Williams, 13 Nov 1946; Lt Col Walter M. Bridgers, 16 Dec 1946; Col Adriel N. Williams,12 Jan 1947; Lt Col Walter M. Bridgers, 17 Mar 1947; Lt Col Jack Roessell, 31 Mar 1947; Lt Col Walter M. Bridgers, 2 Apr 1947; Col Adriel N. Williams, 3 May 1947; Lt Col Walter M. Bridgers, 15 May 1947; Col Edgar W. Hampton, c. Jul 1947; Lt Col Robert G. Johns, c. 20 Sep 1947; Lt Col Harry N. Tower, Oct 1947; Maj Caleb P. Moberly, 15 Jul 1950; Lt Col Harry N. Tower, 1 Aug 1950; Maj Lake W. Stroup Jr., 5 Nov 1971; Maj Richard E. Knie, Feb-May 1952. Capt Donald K. Peters, 8 May 1952; Maj Robert E. Gill, 18 Jun 1952; Maj Colin J. Walker, 31 Jul 1953; Capt Arthur T. Waaland, 5 Nov 1953; Lt Col Carl M. Nelson, 17 Nov 1953-1954; Lt Col Eugene O. Godfrey, unkn-1956; Lt Col Frank C. Church, 1956-c. Mar 1957; unkn, Mar-18 Jun 1957. Lt Col Stanley A. Rollag, 1 Oct 1966; Col Frank A. Messer, 30 Jan 1968; Lt Col Bruce D. Ferrier, c. Nov 1969; Lt Col Leland L. Martin, 15 Dec 1970; Lt Col Arne Ellermets, 15 Dec 1972; Lt Col Leland L. Adams, 22 Mar 1974; Lt Col Charles R. Skinner, 27 Nov 1974; Lt Col William E. Hutchison, 5 Jul 1977; Lt Col Lowell W. Jones, by Apr 1978; Lt Col Darrell K. Koerner, 17 Nov 1978; Lt Col Allan D. Wade, by 1 Oct 1980; Lt Col Rodney A. Wells, 11 Aug 1981; Lt Col Don Streater, 10 Aug 1983; Lt Col Maxwell C. Bailey, 28 May 1985; Lt Col Darrell Singleton, 23 Mar 1987; Lt Col William E. Stevens, 26 May 1988; Lt Col Robert Boudreau, 7 Dec 1989; Lt Col Larry Radov, 19 Jul 1991; Lt Col Harlan W. Ray, 1 Dec 1992; Lt Col Frank Laras, 7 Jan 1994; Lt Col John P. Bloom, 25 Aug 1995; Lt Col Douglas E. Kreulen, 1 Oct 1997; Lt Col Michael D. Cassidy, 18 Jun 1999; Lt Col John Lipinski, Jun 2001; Lt Col William R. Ward, Jun 2003; Lt Col Bryan Yates, 25 Oct 2006; Lt Col Mark August, Oct 2008; Lt Col Tobias R. Sernel, 17 May 2010; Lt Col Joshua M. Olson, 8 Sep 2011; Lt Col Jobie J. Turner, 13 Jun 2013; Lt Col Barry A. King II 1 May 2015; Lt Col Jonathan B. Cato 28 Jun 2017-.
Aircraft. C–47, 1942–1947; C–109, 1944–1945; C–46, 1946–1947; C–82, 1947–1950; C–119, 1950–1952. C–119, 1952–1957. C–130, 1966–.
Operations. During World War II, included airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany; aerial transportation in Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) and European Theater of Operations (ETO). In the Korean War, flew airborne assaults at Sukchon/Sunchon and Munsan-ni; aerial transportation between Japan and Korea. While deployed in Taiwan, crews of the squadron flew to Hanoi on 17 Feb 1973 in support of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of American prisoners of war to Clark AB, Philippines, on 5 Mar 1973. Airlift operations during Operation Desert Shield/Storm in Southwest Asia, 14 Aug 1990–29 Mar 1991. Airdropped humanitarian supplies in Operation Provide Comfort for the relief of fleeing Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq, Apr–May 1991. Airlift and airdrop missions to Bosnia–Herzegovina for Operation Provide Promise, Jul 1992–Jan 1996; continued support with Operations Joint Endeavor/Guard/Forge, 1996-2000. Airlifted troops and equipment to Kosovo, Mar-Jun 1999. Airlifted troops and equipment throughout ETO, 2000-.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Egypt-Libya; Tunisia; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. Korea: UN Offensive with Arrowhead; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive with Arrowhead; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter. Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait. Kosovo: Air Campaign.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Middle East, 25 Nov 1942–25 Aug 1943; France, [6–7] Jun 1944; Korea, 28 Nov–10 Dec 1950. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device: 15 Jan 2004-31 Oct 2005. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 May 1967–30 Apr 1969; 1 May 1970–30 Apr 1972; 1 May 1972–30 Apr 1974; 15 Sep 1975–30 Apr 1977; 1 Jul 1978–30 Jun 1980; 1 Jul 1981–30 Jun 1983; 1 Jul 1983–30 Jun 1985; 1 Jul 1985–30 Jun 1987; 1 Jul 1987–30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1989–30 Jun 1991; 1 Jul 1991-31 Mar 1992; 1 Jul 1993-[30 Sep 1994]; [1 Oct 1994]-30 Jun 1995; 1 Jul 1996-30 Jun 1997; 24 Mar-10 Jun 1999; 1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2001; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2002; 1 Nov 2005-31 Dec 2006; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2007; 1 Jan-31 Dec 2008; 1 Jul 2009-31 Dec 2010; 1 Jan 2014-31 Dec 2015. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, 1 Jul 1951–[8 May 1952]. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Oct 1967–28 Jan 1973.
Lineage, Assignments, Stations, Commanders, Aircraft, Operations and Honors through 22 Mar 2018.
Supersedes statement prepared Apr 2014.
Emblem. Approved on 6 Jul 1951; newest rendition approved on 14 Jun 2007.
Prepared by Maria Forte.
Reviewed by Carl E. Bailey.