Lineage

Constituted 357 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Jun 1942. Inactivated on 10 Apr 1944. Redesignated 357 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 27 Jun 1944. Activated on 7 Jul 1944. Inactivated on 15 Apr 1946. Redesignated 357 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Ordered to active duty on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from active service on 28 Nov 1962. Redesignated: 357 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967; 357 Tactical Air Support Squadron on 25 Apr 1969; 357 Tactical Airlift Squadron on 15 Dec 1971; 357 Airlift Squadron on 1 Feb 1992.

Assignments

302 Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1942-10 Apr 1944. 331 Bombardment Group, 7 Jul 1944-15 Apr 1946. 302 Troop Carrier Group, 14 Jun 1952; 445 Troop Carrier Group, 16 Nov 1957; 446 Troop Carrier Group, 25 Mar 1958; 446 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 302 Troop Carrier Wing, 8 May 1961; 908 Troop Carrier (later, 908 Tactical Airlift; 908 Tactical Air Support; 908 Tactical Airlift;) Group, 11 Feb 1963; 908 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.

Stations

Geiger Field, WA, 1 Jun 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 23 Jun 1942; Wendover Field, UT, 30 Jul 1942; Pueblo AAB, CO, 30 Sep 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 1 Dec 1942; Clovis, NM, 29 Jan 1943; Langley Field, VA, 17 Dec 1943; Chatham AAFld, GA, 9 Mar-10 Apr 1944. Dalhart AAFld, TX, 7 Jul 1944; McCook AAFld, NE, 22 Nov 1944-8 Apr 1945; Northwest Field, Guam, 12 May 1945-15 Apr 1946. Clinton County AFB, OH, 14 Jun 1952; Donaldson AFB, SC, 16 Nov 1957; New Orleans NAS, LA, 25 Mar 1958; Bates Field, AL, 8 May 1961; Brookley AFB, AL, 1 Oct 1964; Maxwell AFB, AL, 25 Apr 1969-.

Commanders

1st Lt David E. Kunkel Jr., 21 Jun 1942; Capt Hugh R. Graff, unkn-c. May 1943; Capt Orville L. Buchanan, 1943; Maj Ralph E. Caldwell, Nov 1943; Capt Orville L. Buchanan, 22 Dec 1943-unkn. Maj Andrew F. Gordon, by Aug 1944; Lt Col Thaddeus L. Woltanski, 12 Oct 1944; Lt Col Gerald J. Crosson, Nov 1944-unkn. Unkn, 1952-c.1958; Lt Col Charles D. Burpee Jr., c.1958; Lt Col William A. Willis, 1961; Lt Col William G. McDowell, 1963; Lt Col Joe M. Wilson, c.1969-c.1971; Lt Col Joseph M. Davis, 1971; Maj Melvin Howe, by Mar 1972; Lt Col Prince A. Wiginton, by Sep 1972; Lt Col George D. Leadbetter, 1 Jul 1975; Lt Col Gordon W. Tyrrell, 22 Sep 1976; Lt Col David J. Turner, 31 Jul 1978; Lt Col John D. Edrington Jr., by Apr 1979; Lt Col Robert J. Osik, 9 Jan 1981; Lt Col Charles L. Burnett, 12 Feb 1982; Lt Col Hoyle B. Williams Jr., 1 Oct 1983; Lt Col Lee H. Richey, 3 Feb 1989; Lt Col Daniel J. Manix, 10 Oct 1990; Lt Col Wallace S. Drage, 1 Nov 1992; Lt Col Robert C. Martin, 3 Dec 1995-.

Aircraft

B-24, 1942-1944. B-17, 1944; B-29, 1945-1946. C-46, 1952-1957; C-119, 1956-1969; U-3, 1969-1970; O-2, 1970-1971; C-7, 1971-1983; C-130, 1983-.

Operations

Operational and later replacement training unit, 1942-1944. Combat in Western Pacific, Jul-Aug 1945. Since 1963, the squadron flew numerous, worldwide airlift missions, including missions in the Persian Gulf War and the Bosnian relief effort.

Service Streamers

World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers

World War II: Air Offensive, Japan; Eastern Mandates; Western Pacific.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers

None.

Decorations

Distinguished Unit Citation: Japan, 22-29 Jul 1945. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1972-15 Mar 1974; 1 Jan 1976-30 Nov 1977; 1 Feb 1980-31 Jan 1982; 1 Sep 1986-31 Aug 1988; 1 Sep 1991-31 Aug 1993.

Emblem

Approved on 26 Jun 1986.

Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 22 Feb 2001.

Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 30 Sep 1996