Lineage. Constituted as 709 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 Apr 1943. Activated on 1 May 1943. Redesignated 709 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 7 Nov 1945. Redesignated 709 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 24 Oct 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 10 Nov 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 709 Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 19 Jun 1973. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Oct 1973. Redesignated: 709 Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 709 Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.
Assignments. 447 Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943-7 Nov 1945. 447 Bombardment Group, 10 Nov 1947-27 Jun 1949. 512 Military Airlift (later, 512 Airlift) Wing, 1 Oct 1973; 512 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.
Stations. Ephrata AAB, WA, 1 May 1943; Rapid City AAB, SD, 13 Jun 1943; Harvard AAFld, NE, 1 Aug-11 Nov 1943; Rattlesden, England, 1 Dec 1943-c. 3 Aug 1945; Drew Field, FL, 18 Aug-7 Nov 1945. Bergstrom Field (later, AFB), TX, 10 Nov 1947-27 Jun 1949. Dover AFB, DE, 1 Oct 1973-.
Commanders. Maj Lloyd W. Sheppard, 31 May 1943; Lt Col Robert G. David, 5 Feb 1944-unkn. Unkn, 10 Nov 1947-27 Jun 1949. Lt Col William J. Cox, 1 Oct 1973; Lt Col Stanley Schneider, 17 Jun 1974; Lt Col George A. Resh, 27 Feb 1976; Lt Col Michael A. Melvin, 5 Jun 1978; Lt Col Ralph H. Oates, 6 Feb 1983; Lt Col Russell E. Mullen, 30 Sep 1986; Lt Col Gary E. Davis, 9 Sep 1989; Lt Col Quentin Smith, 1 Jul 1992; Lt Col James W. Schultz Jr., 1 Feb 1993; Lt Col Warren J. Wetherbee, 24 Jul 1993; Lt Col Robert A. Bell Jr., 24 Aug 1996-.
Aircraft. B-17, 1943-1945. Unkn, 1947-1949. C-5, 1973-.
Operations. Combat in ETO, 24 Dec 1943-21 Apr 1945. Trained in the Reserve for bombardment operations, 1947-1949. Since 1973, trained for and flew airlift missions, participating in exercises and global humanitarian and contingency operations.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. Panama, 1989-1990.
Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 13 Oct-14 Nov 1973; 1 Jan 1974-30 Apr 1975; 1 May 1975-31 May 1976; 1 Jun 1976-31 May 1978; 1 Jun 1978-31 May 1979; 1 Jan 1988-30 Jun 1989; 1 Jul 1993-30 Jun 1995; 1 Sep 1996-31 Aug 1998.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 21 Jun 2001.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1998.
Supersedes published information contained in Maurer Maurer (ed.), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (Washington: USGPO, 1969), and 1973 addendum.
Emblem. Approved on 29 Sep 1980.
Prepared by Daniel L. Haulman.
Approved by Judy G. Endicott.