| Unit Name: | 330th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 330th Airlift Flight) |
| Dates: | 1944–1946; 1948–1949; 1955–1958; 1993 |
| Role: | Airlift |
| Battles: | China-Burma-India Theater |
| Decorations: | Air Force Outstanding Unit Award |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 330 Troop Carrier Sq emblem[1] [2] |
The 330th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit, last active briefly as the 330th Airlift Flight, a personnel airlift unit, in 1993. The squadron was first activated in 1944 as the 9th Combat Cargo Squadron. The squadron was activated in India and served in combat in India and Burma. In October 1945, the squadron was redesignated the 330th Troop Carrier Squadron and moved to Shanghai, China, where it inactivated in April 1946.
The squadron was activated again in 1948 at Rhein-Main Air Base for the Berlin Airlift. Following the termination of the airlift, the squadron was inactivated. It was activated again in 1955 as an assault airlift unit, serving in that role until 1958. It was active for a few months in 1993 as the 330th Airlift Flight, transporting personnel.
The squadron was activated in India along with other elements of the 3d Combat Cargo Group in June 1944. It was initially equipped with Douglas C-47 Skytrains available within the theater. It flew missions to support Allied ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the subsequent drive to the south. It flew personnel and materiel to the front and transported gasoline, oil, vehicles and signal equipment, airdropping or landing them as conditions permitted. It also flew aeromedical evacuation missions on return flights to India.[2] [3]
In March 1945, the squadron replaced its C-47s with the more capable Curtiss C-46 Commando.[4] Operating from Myitkyina Airfield, Burma after June 1945, it flew gasoline and other supplies to bases in western China, flying over The Hump. Following V-J Day, the squadron moved to Kiangwan Airfield, near Shanghai, China. At Shanghai it flew Chinese Nationalist troops to locations in China.[5] It was inactivated there in April 1946, as the American presence in mainland China was reduced to a minimal force.[2] [3] Most of its aircraft were transferred to the Chinese Nationalist Air Force or Civil Air Transport.
Shortly after the beginning of the Berlin Airlift, the United States Air Force began to augment the C-47s that had been used at the beginning of the airlift with Douglas C-54 Skymasters.[6] C-54s drawn from various Military Air Transport Service (MATS) were formed into the 1422nd Air Transport Group (Provisional) at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany on 1 August 1948. On 19 November 1948, the provisional group was replaced by the 513th Troop Carrier Group,[3] and the 330th was reactivated as one of the group's squadrons.[2] The squadron transported food, coal and other supplies to Berlin.[3] Transport of coal posed particular problems, because it eroded equipment, increasing maintenance requirements to keep up the airlift's demanding schedule.[7] Airlift operations officially ended on 30 September 1949.[8] The end of the airlift coincided with President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget, which required a reduction in the number of groups in the Air Force to 48.[9] The squadron's C-54s were also needed elsewhere. While its planes were on loan for the airlift, MATS had only been able to meet 60% of its air transport obligations apart from the airlift.[10] As a result, the 330th was inactivated on 16 October 1949.[2]
The squadron was reactivated at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee on 8 November 1955. On 8 October 1957, the 513th Troop Carrier Wing activated to replace the 513th Group. Until it could equip with Fairchild C-123 Provider, it temporarily flew Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. The squadron continued to maintain proficiency in assault airlift operations and participated in exercises under Tactical Air Command until its personnel were withdrawn on 15 September 1958. Inactivation followed on 1 December.[2] [11]
The squadron was reactivated in the spring of 1993 at McClellan Air Force Base, California, where it flew C-21 Learjets until inactivating on 1 October 1993
Activated on 5 June 1944
Redesignated 330th Troop Carrier Squadron on 1 October 1945
Inactivated on 15 April 1946
Inactivated on 16 October 1949
Activated on 8 November 1955
Redesignated 330th Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault on 1 July 1958
Inactivated on 1 December 1958[13]
Activated c. 31 May 1993
Inactivated 1 October 1993
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India-Burma | 2 April 1943 – 28 January 1945 | 9th Combat Cargo Squadron | ||
| Central Burma | 29 January 1945 – 15 July 1945 | 9th Combat Cargo Squadron | ||
| China Defensive | 4 July 1942 – 4 May 1945 | 9th Combat Cargo Squadron | ||
| China Offensive | 5 May 1945 – 2 September 1945 | 9th Combat Cargo Squadron | ||
| World War II Army of Occupation (Berlin Airlift) | 3 December 1948 – 20 September 1949 | 330th Troop Carrier Squadron |