37th Airlift Squadron [37th AS]

The 37th Airlift Squadron operates C-130 aircraft equipped with the Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System (AWADS) and Air Defense System.

The 37th Airlift Squadron was originally constituted as the 37th Transport Squadron on 2 February 1942. It was activated on 14 February 1942 at Patterson Field, OH and assigned to the 316th Transport (later 316th Troop Carrier) Group. Aircrafts flown by the squadron were the C-47 (until 1947) and the C-109 (1944-1945). The unit was redesignated as the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942. During World War II, operations in which the squadron took part included airborne assaults on Normandy, Holland, and Germany as well as aerial transportation in MTO and ETO, relocating in the process to locations in Egypt, Lybia, Tunisia, Sicily and England.

Adding the C-46 to its aircraft inventory for the years 1946-1947, the squadron transitioned to the C-82 in 1947-1950.

It was redesignated as the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 23 June 1948; as the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy, on 8 October 1949; and as the 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 28 January 1950. That same year, the 37th transitioned to the C-119 aircraft. Attached to the 314th Troop Carrier Group, from 21 August 1950-8 May 1952, it relocated to Ashiya AB, Japan, c. 11 Sep 1950, and to Komaki AB, Japan on 29 November 1950 (though operating from Ashiya AB. It flew, during the Korean War, airborne assaults at Sukchon/Sunchon and Munsan-ni as well as provided aerial transportation between Japan and Korea. It inactivated on 8 May 1952 at Ashiya AB.

The 37th reactivated on 8 May 1952 at Sewart AFB, TN, assigned to the 316th Troop Carrier Group, flying the C-119. It inactivated on 18 June 1957 at Ashiya AB, Japan.

Redesignated 37th Troop Carrier Squadron, it reactivated on 17 May 1966 at Langley AFB, VA, under Tactical Air Command, flying the C-130 aircraft. It was organized on 1 October 1966 under the 316th Troop Carrier (later, 316th Tactical Airlift) Wing. Redesignated as the 37th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 May 1967, it deployed at RAF Mildenhall, England (24 November 1968-26 February 1969); Rhein-Main AB, Germany (13 July-26 September 1969); RAF Mildenhall, England (24 February-11 May 1970); Rhein-Main AB, Germany (7 February-13 April 1971); RAF Mildenhall, England (13 January-14 March 1972); Ching Chaun Kang AB, Taiwan (6 December 1972-15 March 1973); RAF Mildenhall, England (31 August-c. 1 October 1973); Rhein-Main AB, Germany (5 April-15 June 1975).

While deployed in Taiwan, crews of the 37th flew to Hanoi on 17 February 1973 in support of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of American prisoners of war to Clark AB, Philippines, on 5 March 1973.

The 37th was reassigned to the 317th Tactical Airlift Wing, on 15 September 1975; and to the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, on 1 October 1977, at which point it relocated to Rhein-Main AB, Germany. It was reassigned again to the 435th Tactical Airlift Group, on 15 December 1978; and to the 435th Tactical Airlift Wing, on 1 June 1980.

The 37th took part in airlift operations during Operations Desert Shield/Storm in Southwest Asia, from 14 August 1990-29 March 1991. It also airdropped humanitarian supplies in Operation Provide Comfort for the relief of fleeing Kurdish refugees in northern Iraq, from April-May 1991.

It was redesignated as the 37th Airlift Squadron on 1 April 1992 and reassigned to the 435th Operations Group. The 37th AS conducted airlift and airdrop missions to Bosnia-Herzegonia for Operation Provide Promise, starting July 1992.

The 37th AS was reassigned to the 86th Operations Group, on 1 October 1994, at which point it relocated to Ramstein AB, Germany.