39th Airlift Squadron
Alongside their sister squadron the 40th, the 39th Airlift Squadron and it's compliment of 14 C-130 Hercules aircraft maintain a high degree of activity and professional dedication to its mission.
The 39th Airlift Squadron was activated Feb. 22, 1942, at Duncan Field, Texas, as the 39th Transport Squadron. The squadron arrived at Port Moresby, New Guinea, in January 1943, and began combat operations against the Japanese in the fight for Buna. The 39th received its first Distinguished Unit Citation for delivering food, weapons, ammunition, and troops to the front. The squadron's second DUC was awarded for action on Jan. 30 and Feb. 1, 1943 during the battle for Wau. The squadron's final campaigns came during the retaking of the Philippines. The squadron was heavily involved in airborne operations during the battle of Luzon and for this, received its third DUC
Following the war, the 39th was stationed in Japan and began flying the C-54 Skymaster. In September 1948, the squadron was transferred to Germany to support the Berlin Airlift. On Sept. 14, 1949, the 39th was inactivated.
On July 14, 1952, the 39th was activated at Rhein-Main, Germany, and in early 1958, the squadron transitioned to the C-130 Hercules. On July 31, 1972, the squadron moved to Pope Air Force Base, N.C.
In 1983, the 39th airdropped troops during the rescue of American students on the island of Grenada. In December 1989, the squadron dropped paratroopers and conducted resupply operations during the invasion of Panama. In early August 1990, the 39th was sent to defend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from invasion by Iraqi forces, ultimately participating in the infamous "End Run." In 1992, the 39th inactivated at Pope and was activated at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. In 1994, the squadron participated in Operation Uphold Democracy for Haiti.
On April 1, 1997, the 317th Airlift Group reactivated at Dyess under Air Mobility Command. The 39th was transferred to the 317th Airlift Group.
In early 2001 the 39th Airlift Squadron conducted its Air Expeditionary Force deployment to Germany and Southwest Asia marking the second time the unit had deployed to two different theaters in one deployment. Part of the squadron deployed to Ramstein AB, Germany, to support AEF 3 and the other members will deploy to Southwest Asia to support AEF 4. Aircraft and people will departed from late February 2001 through the first week of March. In Germany, the 39th AS was flying intratheater airlift support missions in support of Operation Joint Forge, which included supplying forces in the Balkans. The SWA portion supported forces in the theater supporting Operation Southern Watch, which is the coalition effort to enforce the United Nations mandated no-fly zone in Iraq. Air Force cargo aircraft bring in supplies from the United States, and the C-130 crews transport to the bases throughout the theater. In the European theater, the squadron was augmented by the Air National Guard units. The total AEF deployment including the Guard, was about 330 people. The AEF commitment is 90 days, but travel and transition time brings the TDY to about 100 days. Some members were gone even longer.
The 39th has supported operations in SWA since Operation Desert Shield in 1990 and has supported annual Southern Watch taskings there since reactivating at Dyess in 1997. Each squadron would take a 45 day portion of the total 90 day commitment and rotate who went first each year. The 39AS did lead the way by deploying for the first AEF (I and II from Sept. 25 to Dec. 5, 1999). They supported that with 10 aircraft for 90 days with 330 personnel in three locations in the European and SWA areas of responsibility. The 39th AS has participated in five operations in Europe supporting operations in the Balkans.
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