728th Airlift Squadron
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The 728th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 446th Operations Group, stationed at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is an associate unit of the active duty 8th Airlift Squadron of the 62d Airlift Wing.
728th Airlift Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1945; 1947–1952; 1952–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Airlift |
Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
Garrison/HQ | McChord Air Force Base |
Nickname(s) | Flying Knights[citation needed] |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Lt Col Daniel Arneson[citation needed] |
Insignia | |
728th Airlift Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 2][1] | |
728th Bombardment Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 3][2] | |
World War II fuselage code[3][lower-alpha 4] | 9Z |
The squadron was first activated as the 728th Bombardment Squadron in 1943. After training in the United States with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on a German jet fighter base near Kaltenkirchen in April 1945. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
The squadron was activated again in the reserves in 1947. Two years later, it began to train with Douglas B-26 Invaders. In August 1950, the squadron was one of the first reserve units mobilized for the Korean War. After filling its ranks and undergoing intensive training, the squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces and began flying combat missions. It was awarded two additional DUCs for its operations in Korea. In May 1952, the squadron was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to a regular unit that was simultaneously activated.
The squadron was activated in the reserves again two months later as the 728th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. It returned to the light bomber mission in 1955, but the Air Force's reserve units were converting to the airlift mission, and the squadron became the 728th Troop Carrier Squadron in July 1957, and has served in tactical and strategic airlift roles since then.