780 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (AMC)

Lineage. Constituted as 780 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943. Activated on 1 Aug 1943. Redesignated as 780 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy, on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945. Redesignated as 780 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy, on 14 Nov 1945; 780 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 22 Dec 1952. Activated on 1 Feb 1953. Inactivated on 8 Mar 1958. Redesignated as 780 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron and converted to provisional status on 18 Jun 2002.

Assignments. 465 Bombardment Group, 1 Aug 1943-31 Jul 1945. 465 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Feb 1953; 465 Troop Carrier Wing, 12 Mar 1957; 317 Troop Carrier Wing, 8 Jul 1957-8 Mar 1958. Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 18 Jun 2002.

Stations. Alamogordo AAFld, NM, 1 Aug 1943; Kearns, Utah, c. 13 Sep 1943; McCook AAFld, NE, c. 5 Oct 1943-1 Feb 1944; Pantanella Airfield, Italy, 15 Mar 1944-Jun 1945; Waller Field, Trinidad, c. 15 Jun-31 Jul 1945. Donaldson AFB, SC, 1 Feb-Dec 1953; Toul/Rosiere AB, France, 26 Dec 1953; Evreux AB, France, 6 Dec 1954-8 Mar 1958.

Commanders. Capt Glen C. Cook, Aug 1943; Maj Laurence A. Growdon, 27 Feb 1945; Maj David L. Jones, 15 Apr- Jul 1945. Maj Paul F. Ross, 1 Feb 1953; Maj Allan W. Huet, 19 Apr 1954; Lt Col Edward O. Willeford, 9 Nov 1954; Lt Col Dwight D. Patch, 1 Jul 1955; Lt Col Jess R. Nickols, 26 Aug 1957-8 Mar 1958.

Aircraft. B-24, 1943-1945. C-119, 1953-1957; C-130, 1957-1958.

Operations. Combat in Mediterranean Theater of Operations and European Theater of Operations, 5 May 1944-26 Apr 1945. Transported refugees during the Suez Crisis and emergency supplies to Hungarian refugees, Oct-Dec 1956.

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Combat, EAME Theater; Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy, North Apennines; Northern France; Po Valley; Rome-Arno; Rhineland; Southern France; Central Europe.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Vienna, Austria, 8 Jul 1944; Germany, 3 Aug 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 29 Oct-16 Dec 1956.

Lineage, Assignments, Stations, and Honors through 18 Jun 2002.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 8 Mar 1958.

Supersedes published information contained in: Maurer Maurer (ed.), Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (Washington: USGPO, 1969)

Emblem. Approved on 17 Jun 1955.

Prepared by Patsy Robertson.

Reviewed by Daniel Haulman.