311th Airlift Squadron

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= 311th Airlift Squadron


caption= 311th Airlift Squadron Patch
dates= 23 October 1943 - 15 May 1946
27 May 1949 - 2 April 1951
24 May 1963 - 5 October 1971
1 April 1997 - Present
country= United States
allegiance=
branch=United States Air Force
type= Airlift
role=
size=
command_structure= Air Mobility Command
18th Air Force
375th Airlift Wing
375th Operations Group
current_commander=
garrison= Peterson Air Force Base
ceremonial_chief=
colonel_of_the_regiment=
nickname=
patron=
motto=
colors=
march=
mascot=
battles= Battle of Khe Sanh
notable_commanders=
anniversaries=
decorations= Presidential Unit Citation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
battle_honours=

The 311th Airlift Squadron (311 AS) is part of the 375th Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operates C-21 aircraft providing executive airlfit for Combatant Commanders.

Mission

History

The 311th Troop Carrier Squadron trained in the United States from 1943-1944 and later flew cargo and personnel missions. It transferred to Hawaii in February 1945 and flew cargo in the Hawaiian Islands. When Lieutenant General Millard F. Harmon crashed in the Pacific, the squadron participated in an intensive air search for survivors. In August 1945 it moved to Okinawa and continued its airlift mission until May 1946.

The 311th trained in C-46 aircraft from June 1949-April 1951.

In Vietnam, the 311th flew cargo and passengers in support of I and II Corps. In addition, the unit flew flare, communications cover, air evacuation, and search and rescue missions for downed aircraft.

The flight replaced the 11th Airlift Flight and was equipped with C-21A aircraft in 1997. It has since supported the Commander, US Strategic Command, providing passenger airlift for high-level Defense Department officials and members of Congress throughout the US.

Operations

*World War II
*Vietnam War

Lineage

*311th Troop Carrier Squadron (1943 - 1949)
*311th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1949 - 1963)
*311th Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault (1963 - 1965)
*311th Air Commando Squadron, Troop Carrier (1965 - 1967)
*311th Air Commando Squadron, Tactical Airlift (1967 - 1968)
*311th Special Operations Squadron (1968 - 1970)
*311th Tactical Airlift Squadron (1970 - 1997)
*311th Airlift Flight (1997 - 2005)
*311th Airlift Squadron (2005 - Present)

Assignments

*349th Troop Carrier Group (1943 – 1944)
*I Troop Carrier Command (1944 – 1945)
*VI Air Service Area Command (1945)
*7th Air Force (1945)
*U.S. Army Forces, Middle Pacific (1945)
*VIII Air Force Service Command (1945 – 1946)
*54th Troop Carrier Wing (1946)
*349th Troop Carrier Group (1949 – 1951)
*315th Tactical Airlift Wing (1963 - 1971)
*375th Airlift Wing (1997 - Present)

Bases stationed

*Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri (1943 – 1944)
*Alliance Army Air Field, Nebraska (1944)
*Pope Field, North Carolina (1944 – 1945)
*Baer Field, Indiana (1945)
*Fort Lawton, Washington (1945)
*Kahuku Army Air Base, Hawaii (1945)
*Bellows Field, Hawaii (1945)
*Okinawa (1945 - 1946)
*Hamilton Air Force Base, California (1949 - 1951)
*Da Nang Air Base, South Vietnam (1963 - 1967)
*Phan Rang Air Base, South Vietnam (1967 - 1971)
*Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska (1997 - 2005)
*Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado (2005 - Present)

Aircraft operated

*C-47 Skytrain (1943 – 1945)
*C-53 Skytrooper (1943 – 1944)
*C-46 Commando (1945 – 1946, 1949 – 1951)
*C-123 Provider (1963 – 1971)
*C-21 (1997 – Present)

References

* [http://afhra.maxwell.af.mil/rso/squadrons_flights_pages/0311as.asp USAF 311th Airlift Squadron History]
* [http://public.scott.amc.af.mil/units/375thoperationsgroup.asp 375th Operations Group Fact Sheet]

External links