772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
United States Air Force / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The 772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force unit, assigned to Air Combat Command to activate or inactivate as needed. Its most recent known deployment was with the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan prior to the United States withdrawal from Afghanistan.
772nd Expeditionary Airlift Squadron | |
---|---|
Active | 1943–1945; 1953–1971; 1972–1993; 2009-present |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Role | Airlift |
Part of | Air Combat Command |
Nickname(s) | The Hallmark Squadron (1953-1993) Gun Runners (2011- )[1] |
Motto(s) | If You Care Enough Send the Best |
Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations Vietnam War War in Afghanistan |
Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Meritorious Unit Award Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
Insignia | |
772d Expeditionary Airlift Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 1][2] | |
Patch with 772d Troop Carrier Squadron emblem | |
772d Bombardment Squadron emblem[lower-alpha 2][3][4] |
The squadron was first activated as the 772nd Bombardment Squadron during World War II. After training in the United States with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, earning two Distinguished Unit Citations before inactivating in Italy.
The squadron was redesignated the 772nd Troop Carrier Squadron and activated in January 1953, when it assumed the mission, personnel and aircraft of a reserve unit that had been called to active duty for the Korean War and was being released from active duty. The squadron provided airlift during a number of contingency operations, and in 1968, moved to the Philippines, from which its crews and planes rotated to Vietnam to provide airlift support during the Vietnam War. The squadron was reactivated in the United States, where it continued airlift operations until inactivating in 1993. It was converted to provisional status in 2001.