710th Airlift Squadron

710th Airlift Squadron History and Lineage

The 710th 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 1 January 1998.

History: 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.

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 phaseout of C-141s.

Lineage: Constituted 710th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 6 April 1943, Activated on 1 May 1943, Inactivated on 7 November 1945.  Redesignated as 710th Military Airlift Squadron and activated in the reserve 1 July 1973. Redesignated 710th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 February 1992.  Redesignated 710th Airlift Squadron on 1 October 1994 and Inactivated on 15 November 1997.

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

Commanders:  Lt Col Frank B. Wells, 1 June 1977; Lt Col Thomas C. Shelok, 7 July 1982; Lt Col Robert M. Schuele, 27 October  1984; Lt Col Gary R. Weaver, Dec 1988; Col Charles (Chuck) D. Hill II, 1990; Lt Col Douglas H. Beaumont, 28 May 1993; Lt Col  Bruce A. Tesmer, 21 May 1994; Lt Col Robert W. Marcott, November 1997.

    (Help me to complete commander list -- send names).

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 and Travis AFB, California, 1 July 1973-15 November 1997.

Aircraft: B-17 Flying Fortress, 1943–1945 and C-141 Starlifter, 1973–1997.