312th Airlift Squadron

The 312th Airlift Squadron (312 AS) is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 349th Operations Group, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California. It is a corollary unit of the active duty 22d Airlift Squadron, 60th Air Mobility Wing (60 AMW).

History

Activated in late 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force. Was not used in combat operations, however did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.

It trained in the Reserve for troop carrier missions from, 1949–1951, for fighter-bomber missions from, 1952–1957, and resumed its current role as an airlift squadron in 1957.

The 312th was called to active service during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and from 1968-1969. The squadron airlifted United States troops between the continental United States and Southeast Asia and flew other strategic airlift missions as needed across the Pacific Ocean, including channel flights, contingency and humanitarian relief operations, and joint training exercises.

Operations and Decorations

• Combat Operations. Called to active service during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 and in 1968-1969. Flew missions in support of anti-terrorism operations after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the U. S.
• Campaigns. Panama, 1989-1990.
• Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device: 1 Aug 2002 – 31 Jul 2002. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 23 Dec 1964 – 22 Jan 1965; 26 Jan 1968-1 Jun 1969; 1 Jul 1974 – 30 Jun 1975; 1 Jul 1975-30 Jun 1977; 1 Jul 1992 – 30 Jun 1994; 1 Jul 1994-15 Aug 1995; 1 Jul 1996 – 30 Jun 1998; 1 Aug 2000-31 Jul 2002; 16 Aug 2003 – 17 Aug 2004; 18 Aug 2004-17 Aug 2005; 18 Aug 2005 – 17 Aug 2006; 18 Aug 2006-17 Aug 2007; 18 Aug 2007 – 17 Aug 2008; 18 Aug 2008-17 Aug 2009. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966 – 28 Jan 1973.

Lineage

• Constituted as 312th Troop Carrier Squadron on 23 Oct 1943

Activated on 1 Nov 1943

Inactivated on 7 Sep 1946

• Re-designated as: 312th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 10 May 1949

Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun 1949

Ordered to active service on 1 Apr 1951

Inactivated on 2 Apr 1951

• Re-designated as: 312th Fighter-Bomber Squadron on 26 May 1952

Activated in the Reserve on 13 Jun 1952

Re-designated as: 312th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Sep 1957

Ordered to active service on 28 Oct 1962

Relieved from active duty on 28 Nov 1962

Re-designated as: 312th Military Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1966

Ordered to active service on 26 Jan 1968

Relieved from active duty on 2 Jun 1969

Re-designated as: 312th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 Jul 1969

Re-designated as: 312th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992

Re-designated as: 312th Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments

• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 1 Nov 1943 – 7 Sep 1946
• 349th Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949 – 2 Apr 1951
• 349th Fighter-Bomber (later, 349th Troop Carrier) Group, 13 Jun 1952
• 349th Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959
• 938th Troop Carrier (later, 938 Military Airlift) Group, 11 Feb 1963
• 349th Military Airlift (later, 349 Airlift) Wing, 1 Jul 1973
• 349th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992 – present

Stations

Aircraft

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

External links

United States Air Force
Leadership	Secretary of the Air Force Under Secretary of the Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Chief of Staff Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 4-star generals House Armed Services Committee House Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces Senate Committee on Armed Services Senate Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces
Structure	Commands Reserve Air National Guard Field Operating Agencies Installations Direct Reporting Units District of Washington Operational Test and Evaluation Center USAF Academy Major Commands Air Combat Air Education and Training Air Mobility Global Strike Materiel Reserve Space Special Operations Europe & Africa Pacific Numbered Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Fourteenth Seventeenth Eighteenth Nineteenth Twentieth Twenty-Second Twenty-Third Twenty-Fourth Twenty-Fifth Wings ANG Groups ANG Squadrons ANG Security forces Civilian auxiliary: Civil Air Patrol
Personnel and training	Airmen Rank Officers Enlisted Specialty Code Aeronautical ratings Judge Advocate General's Corps RED HORSE Medical Service Chief of Chaplains Chief Scientist Training: USAF Academy Officer Training School Reserve Officer Training Corps Basic Training Airman Leadership School SERE Fitness Assessment
Uniforms and equipment	Awards and decorations Badges Equipment Uniforms
History and traditions	History Army Air Service / Corps / Forces "The U.S. Air Force" Air Force Band The Airmen of Note Tops In Blue Airman's Creed Core Values Flag Symbol Memorial National Museum Air Force One Honor Guard Thunderbirds Service numbers
Category Portal

Air Mobility Command (AMC)
Numbered Air Forces	Eighteenth Air Force
Command Organizations	618th Air and Space Operations Center (Tanker Airlift Control Center) USAF Expeditionary Center Special Air Mission
Bases	Andrews Charleston Dover Dyess Fairchild Grand Forks Hickam Little Rock MacDill McChord McConnell McGuire Pope Ramstein Scott Travis
Groups	43d Air Mobility Operations 317th Airlift
Wings	Air Base 87th 628th 319th Air Mobility 6th 60th 305th 375th Air Refueling (Tanker) 22d 92d Airlift 19th 62d 89th 436th 437th Air Mobility Operations 515th 521st Contingency Response 621st