21st Tactical Airlift Squadron

21st Airlift Squadron

21st Airlift Squadron
21st Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	7 March 1942 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force 60th Air Mobility Wing 60th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Travis Air Force Base
Nickname	Bee Liners
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Philippine Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Notable commanders	Charles R. Holland
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-17 Globemaster III

The 21st Airlift Squadron (21 AS) is part of the 60th Air Mobility Wing at Travis Air Force Base, California. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.

Mission

Provide services and support, which promote quality of life and project global power through combat-proven airlift and airdrop.

History

The combat history of the 21st includes paratroop drops at Nadzab, New Guinea, in September 1942 and airborne assault on Sunchon, Korea, in October 1950, as well as aerial transportation in the Pacific Theater during World War II and in the Far East during the Korean War.

The 21st continued troop carrier and transport operations in the Far East after 1953. It also furnished aircraft and crews for transport and special operations in Southeast Asia, 1962–1973. The squadron flew logistical support and evacuation missions to Cambodia, 17 March 1975 – 12 April 1975, and South Vietnam, 17 March–29 April 1975. It conducted airlift operations in Southwest Asia, December 1990–July 1991, and assisted in the evacuation of Clark Air Base, Philippines, June–July 1991.

Operations

World War II Korean War Operation Shining Express Operation Stabilize Operation Noble Eagle Operation Joint Endeavor Operation Bright Star Operation Pitch Black Operation Place Blitz Operation Support Hope

Operation Sea Signal Operation Provide Promise Operation Deny Flight Operation Joint Guardian Operation Assured Response Operation Freedom Banner Operation Deep Freeze Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom

Operation Phoenix Jackal Operation Phoenix Spruce Operation Phoenix Dagger Operation Phoenix Tusk Operation Phoenix Banner Operation Phoenix Silver Operation Phoenix Moat Operation Phoenix Dart Operation Phoenix Scorpion

Lineage

Constituted 21st Transport Squadron on March 7, 1942 Activated on April 3, 1942 Redesignated 21st Troop Carrier Squadron on July 5, 1942 Inactivated on January 31, 1946 Activated on October 15, 1946 Redesignated 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on May 21, 1948

Redesignated 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on February 2, 1951 Redesignated 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on December 1, 1952 Redesignated 21st Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on September 18, 1956 Redesignated 21st Troop Carrier Squadron on December 8, 1966 Redesignated 21st Tactical Airlift Squadron on August 1, 1967 Redesignated 21st Airlift Squadron on April 1, 1992

Assignments

374th Troop Carrier Group (1942–1946) 19th Bombardment Wing (1949–1950) 18th Fighter-Bomber Wing (1950) Far East Air Forces Combat Cargo Command, Provisional (1950–1951) 374th Troop Carrier Wing (1951–1952) 6122d Air Base Wing (1952) 403d Troop Carrier Wing (1952)

483d Troop Carrier Wing (1956–1960) 315th Air Division (1960–1966) Attached: Detachment 1, HQ, 315th Air Division (1960–1964) Attached: 6315th Operations Group (1964–1966) 374th Tactical Airlift Wing (1966–1993) 60th Air Mobility Wing (1993–Present)

Bases stationed

Archerfield Airport Brisbane, Australia (1942–1943) Wards Airfield (5 Mile Drome), Port Moresby, New Guinea New Guinea (1943) Archerfield Airport Brisbane, Australia (1943–1944) Nadzab Airfield Complex, New Guinea (1944) Mokmer Airfield, Biak, Netherlands East Indies (1944–1945) Atsugi AB, Japan (1945–1946) Manila, Philippines (1945–1946) Harmon Air Force Base, Guam (1946–1950) Clark Air Base, Philippines (1950) Tachikawa Air Base, Japan (1950, 1951, 1952)

Ashiya Air Base, Japan (1950, 1951, 1952) Brady Air Base, Japan (1950) Itazuke Air Base, Japan, (1950) Deployed to: Kisarazu Air Base, Japan, (November 14–20, 1955) Naha Air Base, Okinawa (1958–1971) Ching Chuan Kang Air Base, Taiwan (1971–1973) Clark Air Base, Philippines, (1973–1989) Yokota Air Base, Japan (1989–1993) Travis Air Force Base, California (1993–Present)

Aircraft operated

C-39 (1942) C-40 (1942) C-49 (1942) C-50 (1942) C-53 Skytrooper (1942) C-56 Lodestar (1942) C-60 Lodestar II (1942) B-17 Flying Fortress (1942) B-18 Bolo (1942)

LB-30 (1942) C-47 Skytrain (1942–1946, 1950–1952) C-46 Commando (1945–1946, 1946–1949, 1950, 1952) C-54 Skymaster (1946–1950, 1952–1956) C-119 Flying Boxcar (1956–1959) C-130 Hercules (1958–1971, 1971–1993) C-5 Galaxy (1993–2006) C-17 Globemaster III (2006 – Present)

External links

• 21st Airlift Squadron Home Page

• Secretary of the Air Force
• Under Secretary of the Air Force
• Chief of Staff
• Vice Chief of Staff
• Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
• 4-star generals
• House Armed Services Committee
  • House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
• Senate Committee on Armed Services
  • Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces

Organization

Commands	Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations
Direct Reporting Units	District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy
Major Commands	Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe Pacific
Numbered Air Forces	First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth
Wings (ANG) Groups (ANG) Squadrons (ANG) Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol

Personnel and
training

• Airmen
• Rank
  • Officers
  • Enlisted
• Specialty Code
• Aeronautical ratings
• Judge Advocate General's Corps
• RED HORSE
• Office of Special Investigations
• Security Forces
• Medical Service
• Pararescue
• Combat Control
• Chief of Chaplains
• Chief Scientist

• Training: USAF Academy
• Officer Training School
• Reserve Officer Training Corps
• Basic Training
• Airman Leadership School
• SERE
• Fitness Test

Uniforms and
equipment

• Awards and decorations
• Badges
• Equipment
• Uniforms

History and
traditions

• History
• Army Air Service / Corps / Forces
• "The U.S. Air Force"
• Air Force Band
• The Airmen of Note
• Tops In Blue
• Airman's Creed
• Core Values
• Flag
• Symbol
• Memorial
• National Museum
• Air Force One
• Honor Guard
• Thunderbirds
• Service numbers

• Category
• Portal

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