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56th Airlift Squadron [56th AS]

The 56th Airlift Squadron was originally constituted as the 56th Troop Carrier Squadron on 12 November 1942. It activated on 18 November 1942 at Bowman Field, KY. It was assigned to the 375th Troop Carrier Group, and operated the C-47 (1942-1945), the B-17 (1944) and the C-46 (1944-1946). The 56th provided aerial transportation in the Southwest and Western Pacific during World War II, operating from New Guinea, Biak, Mindoro, Luzon and Okinawa. It also took part in the airborne assault on Nadzab, New Guinea, on 5 September 1943. The squadron inactivated on 25 March 1946 at Tachikawa, Japan.

The 56th was reactivated in the Reserve on 3 August 1947 at Greater Pittsburgh Airport, PA, and assigned to the 375th Troop Carrier Group. It was redesignated as the 56th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 27 June 1949. The 56th was ordered to active service on 15 October 1950, flying the C-82. It inactivated on 14 July 1952 at Greenville AFB, SC.

It reactivated in the Reserve on 14 July 1952 in Pittsburgh, PA, under the 375th Troop Carrier Group. Assigned to the squadron were the C-46 (1952-1954) and the C-119 (1954-1957) aircraft. The 56th inactivated on 16 November 1957.

Redesignated as the 56th Military Airlift Squadron, Training, it reactivated on 27 December 1965 under Military Air Transport Service (later, Military Airlift Command). It organized on 8 January 1966 at Tinker AFB, OK, and was assigned to the 443rd Military Airlift (later, 443rd Airlift) Wing. There, the squadron provided training for aircrews in C-124 aircraft from 1966-1968.

Relocating to Altus AFB, OK, the 56th transitioned to the C-5 in 1969. The 56th then began providing training and transition flying training for aircrews in the C-5 aircraft.

The 56th provided support of US forces in Southeast Asia, from April 1972 to December 1974.

It was redesignated as the 56th Airlift Squadron on 27 August 1991, and was reassigned to the 443rd Operations Group, on 1 October 1991.

The 56th AS was reassigned to the 97th Operations Group on 1 October 1992.