313th Airlift Squadron

Patch created by Larry Kangas in 1983. On a light blue disc in front of a black mountain with a white snow cap, a blue demi-globe outlined and grid lined yellow issuant from base overall a horizontal arced flight symbol above a white parachute supporting a white triangle within a narrow yellow border

Activated in late 1943 as a Douglas C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command. Was not used in combat operations, however did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.

Redesignated as the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron 1 September 1957, the unit transferred to Portland International Airport, Oregon. The squadron flew the Curtiss C-46 Commando and the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, and in September 1958 flew the first reserve mission outside the continental United States taking a R-33 engine to Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. The squadron was ordered to active service for a month in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It became part of the 939th Troop Carrier Group in 1963 and was redesignated the 313th Tactical Airlift Squadron 1 July 1967.

25 July 1968, the squadron transferred to McChord Air Force Base, Washington, where it was redesignated as the 313th Military Airlift Squadron as part of the 939th Military Airlift Group. At McChord, it flew the Lockheed C-141A Starlifter and with a global strategic mission, 313th aircrews saw much service providing airlift to Southeast Asia.

• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 1 November 1943 – 7 September 1946
• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 27 June 1949 – 2 April 1951
• 349th Fighter-Bomber (later 349 Troop Carrier Group), 13 June 1952
• 349th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
• 939th Troop Carrier Group (later 939 Tactical Airlift Group, 939 Military Airlift Group), 11 February 1963
• 446th Military Airlift Wing (later 446 Airlift Wing), 1 July 1973
• 446th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – present[1]

• Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 August 2002 – 31 July 2002. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 December 1964 – 22 January 1965; 26 January 1968 – 1 June 1969; 1 July 1974 – 30 June 1975; 1 July 1975 – 30 June 1977; 1 July 1992 – 30 June 1994; 1 July 1994 – 15 August 1995; 1 July 1996 – 30 June 1998; 1 August 2000 – 31 July 2002; 16 August 2003 – 17 August 2004; 18 August 2004 – 17 August 2005; 18 August 2005 – 17 August 2006; 18 August 2006 – 17 August 2007; 18 August 2007 – 17 August 2008; 18 August 2008 – 17 August 2009. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 April 1966 – 28 January 1973.

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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• 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.