729th Airlift Squadron

729th Airlift Squadron
Squadron C-141B Starlifter over the Grand Canyon in 1998
Active	1943-1945; 1947-1952; 1952-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command
Garrison/HQ	March Air Reserve Base
Engagements	European Theater of Operations Korean War
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
729th Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 29 April 1980)^[1]
729th Bombardment Squadron emblem (approved 1 October 1943)^[2]
Aircraft flown
Transport	C-17 Globemaster III

The 729th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 452d Operations Group, stationed at March Joint Air Reserve Base, California.

Overview

It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift any time, any place.

History

Established in mid-1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to II Bomber Command for training, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in January 1944, being assigned to Eighth Air Force in England. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Returned to the United States and prepared for B-29 transition training, however Japanese Capitulation in August led to unit's inactivation in November.

Reactivated in the reserves in 1947 as a B-29 Superfortress bomber squadron, assigned to Long Beach AAF, California. Never equipped with Superfortresses, redesignated as a light bomb squadron and received B-26 Invaders in 1949. Moved to George AFB in 1950 when Long Beach was closed. Was deployed to Japan in August 1950 for combat duty during the Korean War, engaged in night bombardment missions over both North and South Korea. Inactivated in May 1952 with assets being reassigned to active-duty units.

It has airlifted personnel and cargo worldwide since 1960. Missions the 729th has flown included humanitarian relief, aeromedical flights, and airdrops of supplies and paratroopers.

Lineage

Constituted as the 729th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943

Activated on 1 June 1943

Redesignated 729th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 August 1943

Inactivated on 28 August 1945

Redesignated 729th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947

Activated in the reserve on 12 July 1947

Redesignated 729th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 27 June 1949

Ordered to active service on 10 August 1950

Redesignated 729th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder on 25 June 1951

Relieved from active service and inactivated, on 10 May 1952

Redesignated 729th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 6 June 1952

Activated in the reserve on 13 June 1952

Redesignated: 729th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 22 May 1955

Redesignated: 729th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 July 1957

Redesignated: 729th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967

Redesignated: 729th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 April 1969

Redesignated: 729th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992

Redesignated: 729th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1993^[1]

Assignments

452d Bombardment Group, 1 June 1943 - 28 August 1945
452d Bombardment Group, 12 July 1947 - 10 May 1952
452d Tactical Reconnaissance Group (later 452d Bombardment Group, 452d Troop Carrier Group), 13 June 1952
452d Troop Carrier Wing, 14 April 1959
943d Troop Carrier Group (later 943 Tactical Airlift Group), 17 Januqry 1963
944th Military Airlift Group, 25 April 1969
445th Military Airlift Wing, 1 July 1973
445th Operations Group, 1 August 1992
452d Operations Group, 1 May 1994 – present^[1]

Stations

Geiger Field, Washington, 1 June 1943
Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, c. 13 June 1943
Pendleton Field, Oregon, 10 October 1943
Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, c. 4 November–December 1943
RAF Deopham Green (AAF-142), England, c. 8 January 1944 – 6 August 1945
Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, c. 12 – 28 August 1945
Long Beach Army Air Field (later Long Beach Municipal Airport)]], California, 19 April 1947

George Air Force Base, California, 10 August - October 1950
Itazuke Air Base, Japan, 26 Oct 1950
Miho Air Base, Japan, c. 10 Dec 1950
Pusan East (K-9) Air Base, South Korea, 17 May 1951 – 10 May 1952
Long Beach Municipal Airport, California, 13 June 1952
March Air Force Base, California, 14 October 1960
Norton Air Force Base, California, 25 March 1968
March Air Force Base (later March Air Reserve Base), California, 14 August 1993 – present^[1]

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortress (1943–1945)
T-6 Texan (1948–1950, 1952–1954)
T-7 Navigator (1948–1950)
T-11 Kansan (1948–1950)
B-26 Invader (1949–1952, 1955–1957)
P-51 Mustang (1953–1954)

T-33 Shooting Star (1954–1955)
P-80 Shooting Star (1954–1955)
C-46 Commando (1957–1958)
C-119 Flying Boxcar (1958–1969)
C-141 Starlifter (1969–2005)
C-17 Globemaster III (2006 – present)^[1]

Operations

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 Robertson, Patsy (November 26, 2012). "Factsheet 729 Airlift Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved October 23, 2016.
↑ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 724-725

Bibliography

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

Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

External links

452d Air Mobility Wing Fact Sheet

United States Air Force

Leadership

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

Uniforms and
equipment

History and
traditions

Category
Portal

Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)

Air Forces

Bases

Command

Air Reserve Personnel Center

Wings/Groups

Air Refueling	434th 459th 507th 916th 939th 940th

Airlift	94th 302d 315th 433d 439th 440th 445th 446th 512th 908th 910th 911th 914th 927th 932d 934th

Fighter	301st 414th 419th 442d 476th 477th 482d 944th

other	310th Space 349th Air Mobility 403d 452d Air Mobility 514th Air Mobility 307th Bomb 919th Special Operations 920th Rescue

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