68th Airlift Squadron

68th Airlift Squadron
68th Airlift Squadron
	Squadron C-5 Galaxy approaches a tanker during air refueling
Active	1943–1946; 1947–1952; 1955–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	Lackland Air Force Base, Joint Base San Antonio, Kelly Field Annex
Motto(s)	Nulli Secundis Latin Second to None[1]
Engagements	Southwest Pacific Theater; Desert Storm[1]
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award; Philippine Presidential Unit Citation[1]
Insignia
68th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 7 July 1961)[1]

The 68th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 433d Operations Group, stationed at Kelly Field Annex, Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. The squadron operates Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft providing global airlift.[2] If mobilized, the wing is gained by Air Mobility Command.

History

World War II

The 68th flew troop carrier missions in New Guinea, Philippines, and the western Pacific from 1943 to 1945 and participated in the airborne assault at Aparri, Luzon, 23 June 1945.[1]

Activation in the reserve and Korean War mobilization

The squadron was activated in the reserve in 1947 and conducted flying training until it was mobilized in 1950. It served on active duty until 1952, moving to Germany in 1951.[1]

Reserve airlift operation

Between 1955 and 1985, the squadron trained for and flew tactical airlift missions at home and abroad, often taking part in joint exercises, humanitarian airlift operations, and firefighting missions.[1]

In 1985, it converted to strategic airlift missions. The 68th took part in Operation Just Cause in 1989-1990, flying medical supplies, tanks, and field rations to Panama. The squadron also took part in the defense of Saudi Arabia and liberation of Kuwait in 1990 and 1991, airlifting men and materiel destined for southwestern Asia.[1]

Lineage

Constituted as the 68th Troop Carrier Squadron on 22 January 1943

Activated on 9 February 1943

Inactivated on 15 January 1946

Activated in the reserve on 3 August 1947

Redesignated 68th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 27 June 1949

Ordered into active service on 15 October 1950

Inactivated on 14 July 1952

Activated in the reserve on 18 May 1955

Redesignated 68th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967

Redesignated 68th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1985

Redesignated 68th Airlift Squadron on 1 February 1992[1]

Assignments

433d Troop Carrier Group, 9 February 1943 – 15 January 1946
433d Troop Carrier Group, 3 August 1947 – 14 Jul 1952
433d Troop Carrier Group, 18 May 1955
433d Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
922d Troop Carrier Group (later 922d Tactical Airlift Group), 17 January 1963
921st Tactical Airlift Group, 30 June 1974
433d Tactical Airlift Wing (later 433d Military Airlift Wing, 433d Airlift Wing), 1 November 1974
433d Operations Group, 1 August – present[1]

Stations

Florence Army Air Field, South Carolina, 9 February 1943
Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, 19 March 1943
Laurinburg–Maxton Army Air Base, North Carolina, 9 June 1943
Baer Field, Indiana, 1-15 August 1943
Port Moresby Airfield Complex, New Guinea, c. 1 September 1943
Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea, c. 15 November 1943 (detachment operated from Tadji, New Guinea, 18 May-4 June 1944)
Biak, Netherlands East Indies, 15 November 1944 (detachment operated from Nadzab, New Guinea until 5 January 1945)
Tanauan, Leyte, Philippines, c. 15 February 1945
Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines, c. 15 June 1945
Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 25 August 1945
Ie Shima, Ryuku Islands, c. 10 September 1945
Tachikawa Air Base, Japan, c. 30 September 1945 – 15 January 1946
Cleveland Municipal Airport, Ohio, 3 August 1947
Greenville AFB (later Donaldson Air Force Base), South Carolina, 16 October 1950 – 20 July 1951
Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, 6 August 1951 – 14 July 1952
Brooks Air Force Base, Texas, 18 May 1955
Kelly Air Force Base (later Kelly Field Annex, Lackland Air Force Base, Joint Base Lackland-San antonio), Texas, 21 May 1960 – present[1]

Aircraft

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (1943–1945)
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (1944)
Curtiss C-46 Commando (1944–1945, 1949–1950, 1955–1958)
Beechcraft T-11 Kansan (1948–1951)
Beechcraft T-7 Navigator (1949–1951)
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar (1950–1952, 1958–1971)
North American T-28 Trojan (1955)
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor (1955–1958)
Lockheed C-130 Hercules (1971–1985)
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy (1985–present)[1]

References

Notes

Haulman, Daniel L. (20 December 2007). "Factsheet 68 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2016. p. 21.

Bibliography

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency.

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

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[68ASfacts-1] Haulman, Daniel L. (20 December 2007). "Factsheet 68 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 10 December 2017.

[AFMAUG16-21-2] AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. August 2016. p. 21.