757th Airlift Squadron
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The 757th Airlift Squadron is an Air Force reserve unit, part of the 910th Airlift Wing stationed at Youngstown Air Reserve Station (YARS), Ohio. It flies C-130H Hercules aircraft on airlift and aerial spray missions.
757th Airlift Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1945; 1947–1949; 1955–present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Airlift, Aerial spray operations |
Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
Garrison/HQ | Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio |
Nickname(s) | Thunderbirds (World War II)[1] Blue Tigers |
Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
Insignia | |
757th Airlift Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 1][2] | |
757th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 2][3] | |
757th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1] |
The squadron was first activated in 1943 as the 757th Bombardment Squadron. It flew Consolidated B-24 Liberators in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, primarily on strategic bombing missions, but also flew air support and interdiction missions, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for attacking an aircraft plant in Austria despite heavy flak and fighter opposition. It was inactivated following V-J Day, but was reactivated in the reserve from 1947 through 1949, flying various trainer aircraft but was inactivated before becoming operational.
The squadron was again activated in the reserve in 1955 as the 757th Troop Carrier Squadron and trained as an airlift squadron with Curtiss C-46 Commando and Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar aircraft until 1970, and returned to the airlift mission in 1991. From 1970 until 1991, it served as a forward air control and tactical fighter unit.