Lineage

Constituted 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 9 Jun 1942. Activated on 20 Jun 1942. Redesignated: 13th Photographic Squadron (Light) on 6 Feb 1943; 13th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron on 13 Nov 1943. Inactivated on 1 Dec 1945. Redesignated 13th Reconnaissance Squadron, Photographic, on 11 Mar 1947. Activated in the Reserve on 6 Jul 1947. Inactivated on 27 Jun 1949. Redesignated 13th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium, on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1953. Redesignated 13th Military Airlift Squadron on 14 Jul 1987. Activated on 1 Oct 1987. Redesignated 13th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1992.

Assignments

3d Photographic (later, 3d Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping) Group, 20 Jun 1942 (attached to 1st Bombardment Wing, 2 Dec 1942?16 Feb 1943, and to Eighth Air Force, 16 Feb?7 Jul 1942); 7th Photographic Reconnaissance and Mapping Group, 7 Jul 1943?21 Nov 1945; unkn, 22 Nov?1 Dec 1945. 65th Reconnaissance Group, 6 Jul 1947?27 Jun 1949. 65th Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun 1952?1 Apr 1953. 374th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1 Oct 1987; 316th Airlift Support Group, 1 Apr 1992; 18th Operations Group, 1 Jun 1992; 438th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1993; 305th Operations Group, 1 Oct 1994?.

Stations

Colorado Springs, CO, 20 Jun?17 Oct 1942; Podington, England, 2 Dec 1942; Mount Farm, England, 16 Feb 1943; Chalgrove, England, 8 Apr 1945; Grove, England, c. 13 Oct?23 Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 30 Nov?1 Dec 1945. Rome AAFld, NY, 6 Jul 1947; Chemung County Aprt, NY, 26 Jan 1948?27 Jun 1949. Mitchel AFB, NY, 14 Jun 1952?1 Apr 1953. Kadena AB, Japan, 1 Oct 1987?1 Oct 1993; McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Oct 1993?.

Aircraft

P?38/F?5, 1942?1945; L?4, 1942?1943; Spitfire, 1943; P?51, 1945. Unkn, 1947?1949. C?46, 1952?1953. C?12, 1987?.

Operations

Combat in ETO, 28 Mar 1943?26 Apr 1945. Intra theater airlift for high-ranking PACAF and civilian officials and small mission-essential equipment, 1987?1993.

Honors

Service Streamers. None.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air Combat, EAME Theater.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, 31 May?30 Jun 1944. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 1944.

Emblem

Azure, a cat caricature descending bendwise Sable and Argent langued Gules grasping in its forepaws a winged globe Azure land masses Vert winged White all below three lightning flashes issuant from chief bendwise of the fourth in dexter a lightning flash issuant from chief palewise of the like; all within a diminished bordure Or. Copyright?Walt Disney. Approved on 6 Mar 1944 (K 8337), modified and reinstated on 5 Jun 1995; replaced emblem approved on 13 Oct 1988 (DFSC 89?03004).