Lineage. Constituted 65 Troop Carrier Squadron on 7 Dec 1942. Activated on 12 Dec 1942. Inactivated on 27 Jan 1946. Activated in the Reserve on 9 Aug 1947. Redesignated 65 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 1 Apr 1951. Inactivated on 1 Jan 1953. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Jan 1953. Ordered to active service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from active duty on 28 Nov 1962. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 1 Jul 1966. Redesignated 65 Airlift Squadron on 20 Feb 1992. Activated on 10 Mar 1992.
Assignments. 403 Troop Carrier Group, 12 Dec 1942; Fifth Air Force, 26 Jul 1943; 54 Troop Carrier Wing, 13 Aug 1943; 433 Troop Carrier Group, 9 Nov 1943; 403 Troop Carrier Group, 20 Feb 1945-27 Jan 1946. 419 Troop Carrier Group, 9 Aug 1947; 403 Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-1 Jan 1953. 403 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Jan 1953; 442 Troop Carrier Group, 16 Nov 1957; 403 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 929 Troop Carrier Group, 11 Jan 1963-1 Jul 1966. 15 Air Base Wing, 10 Mar 1992; 15 Operations Group, 13 Apr 1992-.
Stations. Bowman Field, KY, 12 Dec 1942; Alliance, NE, 18 Dec 1942; Pope Field, NC, 3 May 1943; Baer Field, IN, 19 Jun-14 Jul 1943; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 26 Jul 1943 (air echelon operated from Tsili Tsili, New Guinea, 18 Sep-31 Oct 1943); Nadzab, New Guinea, 9 Oct 1943 (air echelon operated from Tadji, New Guinea, 3 May-2 Jun 1944); Biak, 18 Oct 1944 (air echelon operated from Hill Field, Mindoro, 24 Jan-27 Feb 1945); Morotai, 27 Feb 1945; Dulag, Leyte, 15 Jul 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, 27 Jan 1946. Richmond AAB, VA, 9 Aug 1947; Portland, OR, 27 Jun 1949-29 Mar 1952; Ashiya AB, Japan, 14 Apr 1952-1 Jan 1953. Portland Intl Aprt, OR, 1 Jan 1953; Paine AFB, WA, 15 Apr 1955; Davis Field, OK, 16 Nov 1957-1 Jul 1966. Hickam AFB, HI, 10 Mar 1992-.
Commanders. 1 Lt Malcolm J. Long Jr., 20 Dec 1942; Maj Marvin O. Calliham, 27 Dec 1942; Maj Donald G. Anderson, 13 Nov 1944; Maj Elmer F. Hauser, Sep 1945; unkn, Nov 1945-27 Jan 1946. Unkn, 9 Aug 1947-1951; Maj Gilbert G. Tipton, by 1 Oct 1951; Maj Richard E. Knie, by Apr-Dec 1952. Unkn, 1 Jan 1953-1959. Lt Col Ralph M. Lain, by Apr 1959; Lt Col Claude Sledd Jr., c. 11 Jan 1963; Lt Col William E. Stealey, by Dec 1963; Lt Col Claude Sledd Jr., by Jun 1964-unkn. Lt Col James E. Stieber, 10 Mar 1992; Lt Col Don W. Merritt, 24 Apr 1992; Lt Col Gerry D. Wolfe, 2 Sep 1994; Lt Col Gary W. Stephens, 18 Jun 1996; Lt Col John H. Elder III, 1 Dec 1997; Lt Col Thomas G. Philipkosky, 10 Nov 1999; Lt Col Joseph Lenertz, 28 Jun 2001; Lt Col Lance Lindsley, 19 Jun 2003; Lt Col Robert S. Holba, 20 Jan 2005; Lt Col Robert R. Howe, 3 Aug 2006; Lt Col James D. Golden, 4 Sep 2008-.
Aircraft. C-47, 1943-1945; C-46, 1944-1945. C-46, 1947-1952; C-119, 1952. C-119, 1953-1966. C-135, 1992-2003; C-37, 2002-; C-40, 2003-.
Operations. Aerial transportation and evacuation in South and Southwest Pacific, 26 Jul 1943-c. Aug 1945; and in Korea, 9 May-31 Dec 1952. Beginning in 1992, flew specially configured C-135s, and later C-37 and C-40 aircraft, to provide global airlift to Commander, US Pacific Command and Commander, Pacific Air Forces, as well as distinguished visitor missions.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: New Guinea; Northern Solomons; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines. Korea: Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Laguna de Bay, Luzon, 23 Feb 1945; Philippine Islands, 17 Apr-30 Jun 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 10 Mar 1992-30 Jun 1993; 1 Oct 1993-30 Sep 1995; 1 Oct 1995-1 Aug 1997; 2 Aug 1997-1 Aug 1999; 29 Nov 1999-30 Nov 2001; 1 Nov 2002-31 Oct 2004; 1 Nov 2004-31 Oct 2006; 1 Nov 2006-31 Oct 2007. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation (WWII). Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [1952].
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 8 Dec 2008.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 8 Dec 2008.
Supersedes statement prepared on 7 Aug 2007.
Emblem. Approved on 27 Nov 1992; latest rendering, 27 Aug 2020.
Prepared by Daniel Haulman.
Reviewed by Patsy Robertson.