732nd Airlift Squadron

   732nd Airlift Squadron History and Lineage

The 732nd Airlift Squadron (732nd AS) is part of the 514th Air Mobility Wing at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft providing global airlift.

Activated as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron; trained under Second Air Force. Completed training in early 1943; deploying to European Theater of Operations (ETO) assigned to VIII Bomber Command in England. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment operations over Occupied Europe and Nazi Germany, March 1944-May 1945 attacking enemy military and industrial targets as part of the United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany. Most personnel demobilized in Europe after the German capitulation in May 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in November.

Reactivated in 1947 as a B-29 Superfortress squadron in the reserves, however equipped with trainers until 1949 when equipped with B-26 Invader light bomber. Squadron activated in 1951 as a result of the Korean War; personnel and equipment assigned as replacements to units of Far East Air Forces, then inactivated as a paper unit.

The squadron trained in bombardment operations from, 1947-1951 and 1955-1957, reconnaissance operations from, 1952-1955, and troop carrier operations 1957-1966. After 1970, it participated in strategic airlift missions and exercises. In 1989 took part in Operation Just Cause in Panama by transporting U.S. troops.

Reactivated as a reserve transport squadron in 1952, being equipped with C-119 Flying Boxcars. Activated during Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; returned to reserve status after crisis was resolved; inactivated in 1966 with phaseout of C-119 from the inventory.

Activated in 1970 with long-range C-141 Starlifters, performing intercontinental airlift of personnel and materiel. Upgraded to C-17 Globemaster III in 2004 after retirement of C-141s.

Constituted 332 Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 15 Jun 1942. Redesignated 332 Bombardment Squadron, Heavy on 20 Aug 1943. Inactivated on 15 Dec 1945. Redesignated 332 Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947. Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947. Redesignated 332 Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 20 Mar 1951. Redesignated 332 Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 26 May 1952. Activated in the reserve on 14 Jun 1952. Redesignated: 332 Bombardment Squadron, Tactical on 18 May 1955; 732 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 1 Jul 1957. Ordered to active service on 28 Oct 1962. Relieved from active duty on 28 Nov 1962. Discontinued, and inactivated, on 25 Jan 1966. Redesignated 732 Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 19 Mar 1970. Activated on 1 Apr 1970. Redesignated: 732 Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 Feb 1992; 732 Airlift Squadron on 1 Oct 1994.

Assignments: 94 Bombardment Group, 15 Jun 1942-15 Dec 1945. 94 Bombardment Group, 29 May 1947-20 Mar 1951. 94 Tactical Reconnaissance (later, 94 Bombardment; 94 Troop Carrier) Group, 14 Jun 1952; 94 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 902 Troop Carrier Group, 11 Feb 1963-25 Jan 1966. 903 Military Airlift Group, 1 Apr 1970; 514 Military Airlift (later, 514 Airlift) Wing, 1 Jul 1973; 514 Operations Group, 1 Aug 1992-.

Stations: MacDill Field, FL, 15 Jun 1942; Pendleton Field, OR, 29 Jun 1942; Davis-Monthan Field, AZ, 29 Aug 1942; Biggs Field, TX, 1 Nov 1942; Pueblo AAB, CO, 3 Jan-17 Apr 1943; Earls Colne, England, c. 11 May 1943; Bury St Edmunds, England, c. 13 Jun 1943-9 Dec 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 14-15 Dec 1945. Marietta AAFld, GA, 29 May 1947-20 Mar 1951. Dobbins AFB, GA, 14 Jun 1952; Scott AFB, IL, 18 May 1955; Grenier AFB, NH, 16 Nov 1957-25 Jan 1966. McGuire AFB, NJ, 1 Apr 1970-. 

Commanders: Maj Maurice S. Rosener, by Oct 1942; Col Kenneth S. Steele, 5 May 1943; Lt Col William E. Creer, 27 May 1944; Lt Col Edelle M. Jones, 25 Jun 1944; Maj Sidney S. Carter, by Mar 1945; Maj Francis M. Smith, Apr 1945; Capt Phillip Perdue, c. Oct 1945; Maj Sidney C. Covington, 21 Oct 1945; Maj Harold O. Herz, 9 Nov 1945; unkn, 27 Nov-15 Dec 1945. Unkn, 29 May 1947-20 Mar 1951. Unkn, 14 Jun 1952-May 1959; Lt Col Gardner W. Mills, by Jun 1959; Maj George S. Cricenti, 11 Feb 1963; Lt Col Robert W. Fortnam, by Dec 1963; Lt Col George S. Cricenti, by Jun 1964; Lt Col Robert W. Fortnam, 15 Feb 1965; unkn, 1 Jul 1965-25 Jan 1966. Maj Marc M. McClelland, 1 Apr 1970; Lt Col Floyd J. Carter, 19 Oct 1971; Lt Col Theodore J. Killian, 7 Jun 1974; Lt Col John C. Attebury, 2 Nov 1974; Lt Col Robert Anderson, Aug 1975; Lt Col Joseph R. Bergad, 26 Aug 1976; Lt Col Robert J. Winner, 26 Feb 1979; Lt Col James C. Armstrong, 3 Aug 1979; Lt Col Donald B. Livingston, 1 Apr 1983; Lt Col Kent Kerbel, 3 Nov 1984; Lt Col Kenneth L. Weyler, 1 Oct 1985; Lt Col David E. Brubaker, Sep 1987; Lt Col Martin P. Sedlacko, 31 Jan 1990; Lt Col Bruce M. Carskadon, 22 Sep 1991; Lt Col Lloyd C. Welken, 22 Jan 1994; Lt Col Paul Doto Jr., 25 Aug 1995; Lt Col Thad Livingston, Apr 1997; Lt Col Mark E. Sheprow, 26 Jun 1999; Lt Col Larry Etzel, 25 Oct 2000; Lt Col Ed J. Callaghan, 2003; Lt Col James Fryer, 2005; Lt Col Dave Berkowitz, Nov 2008; Lt Col Dennis Duffy, Apr 2011- 

Aircraft: B-17, 1942-1945. Unkn, 1947-1951. Unkn, 1952-1958; C-119, 1959-1965. C-141, 1970-2004. C-17, 2004-.

Operations: Combat in ETO, 13 May 1943-21 Apr 1945. Trained in bombardment operations, 1947-1951 and 1955-1957; reconnaissance operations, 1952-1955; and troop carrier operations 1957-1966. After 1970, participated in strategic airlift missions and exercises. In 1989 took part in Operation Just Cause in Panama by transporting U.S. troops.

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: Panama, 1989-1990. 

Decorations: 

Distinguished Unit Citations (Germany): 17 Aug 1943; 11 Jan 1944. 

Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Jul 1973-31 Jan 1975; 1 Aug 1977-31 Dec 1978; 1 Aug 1988-31 Jul 1990; 1 Aug 1990-31 Jul 1992; 1 Oct 1995-30 Sep 1997; 1 Oct 1997-30 Sep 1998.