| Unit Name: | 47th Liaison Squadron |
| Dates: | 1943–1948 |
| Role: | Courier |
| Battles: | European Theater of Operations |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 47th Liaison Squadron emblem (approved 19 January 1944)[1] |
The 47th Liaison Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it was inactivated on 25 August 1948. The squadron was activated in July 1943. It trained in the United States until the spring of 1944, then deployed to the European Theater of Operations. It served as a courier and communication unit for various headquarters. After V-E Day, it remained in Germany as part of the occupation force until 1947, when it returned to the United States as a paper unit. It remained in that status until inactivating.
The 47th Liaison Squadron was activated at Gainesville Army Air Field, Texas on 1 July 1943 as one of the four squadrons of the 426th Reconnaissance Group. The following month the squadron was reassigned to II Air Support Command, as the 426th Group was inactivated without fully equipping or being brought up to strength.[2] The squadron was equipped with a variety of light aircraft, primarily Stinson L-5 Sentinels and Piper L-4 Grasshoppers, but it also flew a few Stinson L-1 Vigilants and Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshoppers. The 47th trained at bases in Texas and Louisiana until late March 1944, when it departed for the European Theater of Operations.[1] Squadron training was informal and extended due to the absence of a formal training program until January 1944, and the absence of a definition of the squadron's mission. Because the squadron was nearing its overseas deployment, it received little benefit from the formal training program.[3]
After its arrival at Cheltenham, England in early April 1944, the squadron moved to RAF Heston, west of London. From late May, six aircraft were detached to Oatlands Hill, near Stonehenge in Wiltshire.[4] The squadron provided courier service for Headquarters Command, European Theater of Operations, U.S. Army until after D-Day, primarily with L-5 Sentinels.[1] Other squadron missions included transport of personnel, aeromedical evacuation, visual reconnaissance, providing commanders with information to control advancing columns and checking passive air defense measures.[3] In late July, one flight moved to the European continent, flying from Colombieres Airfield, France to support First Army Group. The squadron followed in August, when it moved to Saint-Sauveur-Lendelin. For the remainder of the war, it was attached to Twelfth Army Group.[1]
Just before V-E Day, the squadron moved to Wiesbaden Air Base, Germany where it became part of the occupation forces. After August 1945, it was attached to attached to Headquarters Command, European Command and supported that headquarters until May 1947.[1]
The squadron became non-operational and was moved to Langley Field, Virginia in June 1947. The squadron was not manned or equipped at Langley, and was finally inactivated on 25 August 1948.[1]
Activated on 1 July 1943
Inactivated on 25 August 1948[1]
Flight at Colombieres Airfield, France, c. 24 July – c. 18 August 1944
Flights operated from several points in Germany and Austria during period 21 July 1945 – 20 June 1947
| Campaign Streamer | Campaign | Dates | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern France | 25 July 1944–14 September 1944 | |||
| Rhineland | 15 September 1944–21 March 1945 | |||
| Ardennes-Alsace | 16 December 1944–25 January 1945 | |||
| Central Europe | 22 March 1944–21 May 1945 | |||
| World War II Army of Occupation (Germany) | 9 May 1945–25 June 1947 |