730th Airlift Squadron

 730th Airlift Squadron History and Lineage

The 730th Airlift Squadron (AS) is inactive unit (March 2005) that was part of the 452d Air Mobility Wing at March Air Reserve Base, California.

Established in mid-1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron; assigned to II Bomber Command for training, primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Deployed to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) in January 1944, being assigned to Eighth Air Force in England. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, becoming one of the most highly decorated squadron of the Air Offensive. Engaged in strategic bombardment operations until the German Capitulation in May 1945. Returned to the United States and prepared for B-29 transition training, however Japanese Capitulation in August led to unit's inactivation in November.

Reactivated in the reserves in 1947 as a B-29 Superfortress bomber squadron, assigned to Long Beach AAF, California. Never equipped with Superfortresses, redesignated as a light bomb squadron and received B-26 Invaders in 1949. Moved to George AFB in 1950 when Long Beach was closed. Was deployed to Japan in August 1950 for combat duty during the Korean War, engaged in night bombardment missions over both North and South Korea. Inactivated in May 1952 with assets being reassigned to active-duty units.

It has airlifted personnel and cargo worldwide since 1960. Missions the 730th has flown included humanitarian relief, aeromedical flights, and airdrops of supplies and paratroopers.

Lineage: Constituted 730th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943, Activated on 1 Jun 1943. Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 28 Aug 1945. Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947, Activated in the Reserve on 12 Jul 1947, Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Light on 27 Jun 1949, Ordered to Active Service on 10 Aug 1950, Redesignated 730th Bombardment Squadron, Light, Night Intruder on 25 Jun 1951, Relieved from Active Duty, and inactivated, on 10 May 1952. Redesignated 730th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 6 Jun 1952, Activated in the Reserve on 13 Jun 1952. Redesignated: 730th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 22 May 1955, Redesignated: 730th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1957, Redesignated: 730th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Jul 1967, Redesignated: 730th Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 25 Apr 1969, Redesignated: 730th Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992, and Redesignated: 730th Airlift Squadron on 1 Apr 1993.

Assignments: 452d Bombardment Group, 1 Jun 1943-28 Aug 1945; 12 Jul 1947-10 May 1952, 452d Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 452 Bombardment; 452 Troop Carrier) Group, 13 Jun 1952, 452d Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959, 943d Troop Carrier (later, 943 Tactical Airlift) Group, 17 Jan 1963, 944th Military Airlift Group, 25 Apr 1969, 445th Military Airlift Wing, 1 Jul 1973, 445th Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992 and 452d Operations Group, 1 May 1994-2005.

Commanders: None (not manned), 1 Jun-8 Jul 1943; Capt Bertram C. Joseph, 9 Jul 1943; Maj Edward A. Rosen, 13 Jul 1943; Capt Ralph S. Hayes Jr., by Sep 1943; Maj David A. Beardsley, by Jul 1944; Maj Boone Seegars, 25 Mar-c. 24 Jun 1945; unkn, Jul-28 Aug 1945. Unkn, 1 Aug 1947-Jun 1948; Lt Col Colm, by Jul 1948; Lt Col Harland H. Foat, by Sep 1950; Maj Philip B. Lockwood, 9 Feb 1951; Capt. William W. McDannel, 16 May 1951; Lt Col William A. Gunter, 4 Jun 1951; Lt Col Gilbert Nevling, 21 Sep 1951; Maj Fredric E. Mau, Apr-10 May 1952. Unkn, 13 Jun 1952-Jun 1954; Lt Col Karl W. Thompson, by Jul 1954; Lt Col Henry C. Reavis Jr., by Dec 1957; Lt Col Mark A. Steyaert, by Jun 1960; Lt Col Leon E. Carlson, by Dec 1960-Jan 1963; unkn, Feb 1963-Feb 1968; Lt Col Edward Dillon, 25 Mar 1968; Col Ronald R. Blalack, 1 Aug 1969; Lt Col William M. Conley, 1 Jul 1973; Col Walter T. Davey Jr., by Sep 1976; Col Wesley L. Robertson, 26 Jul 1977; Lt Col Thomas L. Neubert, Aug 1981; Col Claude G. Jackson Jr., 7 Jul 1984; Lt Col John D. Dorris, 1 Oct 1989; Lt Col Patrick A. Collins, 2 Oct 1993; Lt Col Brian W. Davis, 25 Feb 1995; Lt Col William C. Marshall, Sep 1997; Lt Col Fouad Yacoub, Nov 2000;  Lt Col (Col ret.) Wes Taylor, 2004;  Col Michael Fortanas, Apr 2005;               

Stations: Geiger Field, Washington, 1 June 1943, Rapid City Army Air Base, South Dakota, c. 13 June 1943, Pendleton Field, Oregon, 10 October 1943, Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington, c. 4 November-December 1943, RAF Deopham Green (AAF-142), England, c. 8 January 1944-6 August 1945, Sioux Falls Army Air Field, South Dakota, c. 12–28 August 1945, Long Beach AAFld (later, Long Beach Muni Aprt), California, 19 April 1947, George AFB, California, 10 August-Oct 1950, Itazuke AB, Japan, 26 Oct 1950, Miho AB, Japan, c. 10 Dec 1950, Pusan-East AB (K-9), South Korea, 17 May 1951-10 May 1952, Long Beach Municipal Airport, California, 13 Jun 1952, March AFB, California, 14 Oct 1960, Norton AFB, California, 25 Mar 1968 and March AFB (later, ARB), California, 14 Aug 1993-2005 – Inactive as of March 19, 2005.

Aircraft: B-17 Flying Fortress (1943–1945), T-6 Texan (1948–1950, 1952–1954), T-7 Navigator (1948–1950), T-11 Kansan (1948–1950), B-26 Douglas Invader (1949–1952, 1955–1957), P-51 Mustang (1953–1954), T-33 Shooting Star (1954–1955), P-80 Shooting Star (1954–1955), C-46 Commando (1957–1958), C-119 Flying Boxcar (1958–1969), C-141 Starlifter (1969–2005), C-17 Globemaster III (2006 – present.

Emblem: Description/Blazon: Azure, a demi-globe issuant throughout from sinister base Celeste axis bendwise gridlined Argent surmounted by a runway palewise of the first garnished and fimbriated of the third superimposed in sinister by a knight's helm Silver Gray garnished Blue, plumed Gules, all within a diminished border Blue.

Attached above the disc, a White scroll edged with a narrow Blue border and inscribed "730TH AIRLIFT SQ" in Blue letters.

Attached below the disc, a White scroll edged with a narrow Blue border and inscribed "FIRST ASSOCIATE RESERVE" in Blue letters.

Symbolism: Ultramarine blue is the Air Force color that alludes to the sky, the primary theater of Air Force operations. The runway depicts the Squadron's airlift mission. It is mounted upon a globe signifying worldwide duties. The helmeted knight's head, a feature of the parent Group's emblem, recalls the unit's history