72nd Helicopter Squadron

The 72nd Helicopter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active as a flight, then as a squadron from 1991 to 1995 at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it provided light transport and assisted with search and rescue operations.

72nd Helicopter Squadron
UH-1 Huey as flown by the squadron
Active1943–1946; 1946–1949; 1991–1995
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
Rolelight transport, reconnaissance and search and rescue
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations[1]
DecorationsArmy Meritorious Unit Commendation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award[2]
Insignia
72d Liaison Sq emblem[note 1][1]
72d Helicopter Sq emblem[note 2][2]

The squadron was first activated as the 72nd Liaison Squadron. After training in the United States with various liaison aircraft, it deployed to the North African Theater of Operations, mostly supporting ground army units. It earned an Army Meritorious Unit Commendation for its wartime service. It briefly served in the occupation of Germany, before returning to the United States for inactivation. The squadron was again active from 1946 to 1949.

History

World War II
L-5 Sentinel, primary aircraft of the 72d Liaison Squadron

The squadron was first activated in April 1943 at New Cumberland Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, where it was assigned to the 26th Reconnaissance Group. Two months later, it moved to join the 26th at Reading Army Air Field, Pennsylvania. It was equipped with a variety of liaison aircraft, including the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, Piper L-4 Cub, Stinson L-5 Sentinel and Interstate L-6 Cadet. It was also assigned a few obsolete Douglas RA-24 Banshee dive bombers. In July, it moved to Camp Mackall Army Air Field, North Carolina, where it was soon reassigned to the I Air Support Command. The unit completed its training at several bases in the Southeastern United States. It then staged at Camp Patrick Henry and sailed from Norfolk, Virginia for the North African Theater of Operations aboard the USS General W. A. Mann (AP-112) in April 1944.[2][3][4]

The squadron arrived in Oran, Algeria, its first station in the Mediterranean, on 14 June 1944. It re-equipped with L-5s and moved to Italy, where it began combat operations and preparation for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France. The squadron moved to Saint-Tropez, France on 19 August 1944, five days after the initial amphibious assault. it moved north with Seventh Army, providing courier and light reconnaissance support.[5] By V-E Day, the squadron was located in Augsburg Airfield, and briefly served with the occupation forces.[2]

The squadron returned to the United States without personnel or equipment in August 1945, initially to the 3rd Air Force Assembly and Processing Station at Drew Field, Florida.[2] In September, it moved to Muskogee Army Air Field, Oklahoma, where it began to be manned and equipped with L-5G aircraft.[6] In November, it relocated to Marshall Field, Kansas, where it flew observation and visual reconnaissance missions for the Cavalry School.[7] It moved to Brooks Field, Texas in October 1946 and was inactivated there in December.[2]

Postwar operations

The squadron was again activated a few months later at Langley Field, Virginia, again equipped with the L-5 Sentinel.[2] It also had detachments at other Tactical Air Command bases.[8][9] The following year, it added the all metal Stinson L-13 and in 1948, operated the Sikorsky R-6 and Sikorsky H-5 helicopters.[2][10] However, after 1948, it only operated Sentinels. The squadron was inactivated in April 1949[2]

Helicopter operations

The squadron was redesignated the 72d Helicopter Flight and activated at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia on 1 November 1991, when it absorbed the personnel, and equipment of the 4401st Helicopter Flight, which had been activated at Langley on 15 March 1987. In October 1992, it was expanded to become the 72d Helicopter Squadron. The unit transported personnel and equipment and provided search and rescue assistance until inactivating in December 1995. It was awarded an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its performance between 1992 and 1994.[2]

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 72d Liaison Squadron on 2 April 1943
Activated on 11 April 1943
Inactivated on 31 March 1945
  • Activated on 3 October 1946
Inactivated on 1 April 1949
  • Redesignated 72d Helicopter Flight
Activated 1 November 1991
Redesignated 72d Helicopter Squadron on 1 October 1992
Inactivated on 30 December 1995[11]

Assignments

Stations
  • New Cumberland Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, 11 April 1943
  • Reading Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, 7 June 1943
  • Camp Mackall Army Air Field, North Carolina, 29 July 1943
  • Knollwood Field, Tennessee, 13 September 1943
  • Sky Harbor Airport, Tennessee, 18 October 1943
  • Raleigh-Durham Army Air Field, North Carolina 27 February – 24 April 1944
  • Oran, Algeria, 14 June 1944
  • Santa Maria Airfield, Italy, 1 July 1944 (flight operated from Caserta Airfield, Italy c 38 July – c. 1 September 1944)
  • Saint-Tropez, France 19 August 1944
  • Brignoles, France, 21 August 1944
  • Grenoble, France, 2 September 1944
  • Lons-le-Saunier, France, 8 September 1944
  • Vesoul, France, 18 September 1944
  • Epinal, France, 30 September 1944
  • Buhl, Bas-Rhin, France, 1 December 1944 (detachment at Strassbourg, France c. 8 December 1944 – 1 January 1945)
  • Epinal, France, 2 January 1945
  • Buhl, France, 11 March 1945
  • Sarreguemines, France, 22 March 1945
  • Kaiserslautern, Germany, 26 March 1945
  • Darmstadt Airfield (Y-76),[12] Germany, 1 April 1945
  • Kitzingen Airfield (R-6),[13] Germany, 13 April 1945
  • Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany 27 April 1945[14]
  • Augsburg Airfield (R-84),[15] Germany, 2 May 1945
  • Darmstadt Airfield (Y-76), Germany, June – c. 2 July 1945
  • Drew Field, Florida, 4 August 1945
  • Muskogee Army Air Field, Oklahoma, 1 September 1945
  • Marshall Field, Kansas, 1 November 1945 – 31 March 1946
  • Brooks Field, Texas, 3 October 1946
  • Langley Field (later Langley Air Force Base), Virginia, 20 December 1946 – 1 April 1949
  • Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 1 November 1991 – 30 December 1995[16]

Aircraft
  • Stinson L-1 Vigilant, 1943–1944
  • Piper L-4 Cub, 1943–1944
  • Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1943–1945, 1945–1946, 1946–1949
  • Interstate L-6 Cadet, 1943–1944
  • Douglas RA-24 Banshee, 1943–1944
  • Stinson L-13, 1947–1948
  • Sikorsky R-6, 1948
  • Sikorsy H-5, 1948[10]
  • Bell UH-1 Huey, 1991–1995[17]

Awards and campaigns
Award streamerAwardDatesNotes
Army Meritorious Unit Commendation15 August 1944 – 31 December 194472nd Liaison Squadron[2]
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award1 May 1992 – 30 April 1994.72nd Helicopter Flight (later 72nd Helicopter Squadron)[2]
Campaign Streamer Campaign Dates Notes
Rome-Arno1 July 1944–9 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron[2]
Southern France15 August 1944–14 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron (with arrowhead device)[2]
Northern France25 July 1944–14 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron[2]
Rhineland15 September 1944–21 March 194572nd Liaison Squadron[2]
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944–25 January 194572nd Liaison Squadron[2]
Central Europe22 March 1944–21 May 194572nd Liaison Squadron[2]

References

Notes
Explanatory notes
  1. Approved 6 November 1943.
  2. Approved 19 July 1993
Citations
  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 266–267
  2. "Factsheet 72 Helicopter Squadron (ACC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 9 April 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  3. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, May 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  4. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Jun 1944". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  5. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Feb 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  6. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Sep–Dec 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  7. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr 1946". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  8. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Jan–Mar 1947". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  9. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr–Jun 1947". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  10. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr–Jun 1948". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  11. Lineage, including assignments through October 1992 in Factsheet, 72 Helicopter Squadron.
  12. Station number in Johnson, p. 32.
  13. Station number in Johnson, p. 35.
  14. "Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr 1945". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  15. Station number in Johnson, p. 41.
  16. Station information through October 1992 in Factsheet, 72 Helicopter Squadron, except as noted.
  17. Aircraft information through October 1992 in Factsheet, 72 Helicopter Squadron, except as noted.

Bibliography

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