708th Airlift Squadron

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  708th Military Airlift Squadron History and Lineage

The 708th Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 349th Operations Group, stationed at Travis Air Force Base, California. It was inactivated on 30 September 1996.Activated in mid 1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron, trained under Second Air Force. Deployed to England in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) during November 1943, assigned to VIII Bomber Command as a strategic bombardment squadron. Participated in the air offensive over Nazi Germany and Occupied Europe until German capitulation in May 1945. Personnel demobilized in England and returned to the United States; squadron reassigned to Third Air Force for possible re-equipping with B-29 Superfortresses and deployment to Pacific Theater. Japanese capitulation led to inactivation in November 1945.

Activated in the postwar reserve as a B-29 squadron. Trained for proficiency as part of Strategic Air Command reserve forces. Activated as a result of Korean War in 1951, squadron's aircraft and personnel reassigned to Far East Air Force Bomber Command, inactivated as a paper unit.

Reactivated as Military Airlift Command reserve strategic airlift squadron in 1973. Assigned to Travis AFB and became associate squadron of 60th Military Airlift Wing. equipped with C-141 Starlifter in 1973 and continued worldwide transport mission. Inactivated in 1996 as part of phase out of C-141s.

Lineage: Constituted 708th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 April 1943, activated on 1 May 1943, inactivated on 7 November 1945.  Redesignated 708th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 24 October 1947, activated in the reserve on 10 November 1947, redesignated 708th Bombardment Squadron (Medium) on 27 June 1949, ordered to active service on 1 May 1951, inactivated on 16 June 1951.  Redesignated as 708th Military Airlift Squadron, and activated in the reserve, 1 July 1973. Redesignated 708th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 October 1994. Redesignated 708th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992 on 1 October 1994. Redesignated 708th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994 and inactivated on 30 September 1996.

Assignments: 447th Bombardment Group, 1 May 1943-7 November 1945; 10 November 1947-16 June 1951, ETO Fuselage Code: CQ. 349th Military Airlift Wing (Associate), 1 July 1973. 349th Operations Group, 1 August 1992-30 September 1996.

Commanders: Col Robert Andersen, 28 Oct 1975; Col Clyde L. MacGowan, 20 Jul 1980; Col Richard K. Vogel 9 Aug 1982; Col Ralph M. Utterback, 1 Jul 1984; Lt Col Horace T. Whitman, 31 Mar 1985; Lt Col Lorence D. Meier, 1 Aug 1985; Col Ralph M. Utterback, 27 Jan 1986; Lt Col Ozero H. Hutchins 1 Apr 1987; Col James L. Martin, 5 Nov 1989; Col James B. Eustis, 7 Jun 1992; 23 May 1993; Col Allan A. McCrary, 18 Jun 1995; Col John C. Lowe, 30 Sep 1996; Col Philip D. Webb, 5 May 1996.

Stations: Ephrata Army Air Base, Washington, 1 May 1943; Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, 13 June 1943; Harvard Army Airfield, Nebraska, 1 August-11 November 1943; RAF Rattlesden (AAF-126), England, 1 December 1943-c. 1 August 1945; Drew Field, Florida, 14 August-7 November 1945; Bergstrom Field, Texas, 10 November 1947; Castle AFB, California, 27 June 1949-16 June 1951 and Travis AFB, California, 1 July 1973-1 August 1992

Aircraft: B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945; B-29 Superfortress, 1947–1951 and C-141 Starlifter, 1973–1996.