86th Airlift Squadron

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86th Airlift Squadron History and Lineage   

Constituted as 86th Troop Carrier Squadron, on 15 Apr 1943 at Baer Field, Ind.  Activated on 1 May 1943, trained with C-46 and C-47 aircraft for duty overseas with Ninth AF. Moved to England, Jan-Feb 1944, as a unit operating under the 9th Army Air force, 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 437th Troop Carrier Group, and began preparing for the Normandy invasion. Released gliders near Cherbourg early on 6 Jun 1944; flew follow-up missions on 6 and 7 Jun, carrying reinforcements of troops, antiaircraft pieces, ammunition, rations, and other supplies for 82d Airborne Division; received a DUC for these actions in France. A detachment was sent to Italy in July 1944 for the invasion of Southern France in Aug; it dropped paratroops over the assault area on 15 Aug, flew a resupply mission on the following day, and then hauled freight to bases in Italy until it returned to England on 24 Aug. During the airborne attack on Holland, 17-25 Sep 1944, the group re- leased gliders carrying troops and equipment, and flew several resupply missions to provide reinforcements. Moved to France in Feb 1945 for action during the air assault across the Rhine; each aircraft towed two gliders over the east bank and released them near Wesel on 24 Mar 1945. Flew numerous missions in Mar and Apr to carry gasoline, food, medicine, and other supplies to ground forces pushing across Germany. When not participating in one of the major airborne operations, the organization continually transported ammunition, rations, clothing, and other supplies, and evacuated wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals. Evacuated prisoners of war and displaced persons to relocation centers after V-E Day. Returned to the US in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 15 Nov I945.

Allotted to the reserve and activated on 27 June 1949. Ordered to active duty on 10 Aug 1950. Moved to Japan in Nov 1950 and assigned to Far East Air Forces for duty in the Korean War. Used C-119's and C-46's to participate in the airlift between Japan and Korea from Dec 1950 to Jun 1952, transporting ammunition, rations, aircraft parts, gasoline, and other items to Pusan, Taegu, Suwon, Kimpo, Pyongyang, and other bases in Korea, and evacuating wounded personnel to hospitals in Japan. Dropped paratroops of 187th Regimental Combat Team at Munsanni in Mar 1951 and flew resupply and reinforcement missions in Apr and May. Supported the advance of Eighth Army into North Korea in Jun 1951. From Jan to Jun 1952, engaged chiefly in evacuating personnel on leave and in transporting replacements to the battle area. Relieved from active duty and inactivated in Japan, on 10 Jun 1952. Allotted to the reserve. Activated in the Reserve on 15 June 1952, activated as part of the Air Reserve 437th Troop Carrier Wing at O’Hare International Airport under the command of Tenth Air Force and Continental Air Command flying C-46s and also began flying C-47 Skytrains in 1955. On 16 November 1957, just after transitioning to the C-119 Flying Boxcar, the 86th was again inactivated. 

Activated as the 86th Air Transportation Squadron under the 1501st Air Transport Wing on 21 Dec 1962. In 1966 they were redesignated the 86th Military Airlift Squadron and placed under the 60th MAW and began conversion to the C-141.  With the restructuring of the Air Force in 1991-1992 the Air Force moved or inactivated several flying units throughout the service and on 1 October 1993, the 86th Airlift Squadron was re-designated the 20th Airlift Squadron (formerly assigned to Charleston AFB, SC). The Air Force inactivated the 86th as part of the drawdown of forces at the end of the Cold War. Personnel and equipment were transferred to the 19th Airlift Squadron in a name-only re-designation.

Commanders:  ------------(Help needed ----- send names).          Lt Col Earl Walter Van Kaenal, 1963;      Lt Col Richard B Anderson, 1966; Lt Col Fred Weigand, 1967; Lt Col Ralph Leslie, 1968; Lt Col Bob Taylor, 1969;  - Lt Col Ed Burkley, 1970; Lt Col Bill Podoll, 1971; Lt Col TC Long, 1972; - - -  -  Lt Col Jerry Harmon, 1976; Lt Col Joe "Easy Joe"  Brand, 1978; Lt Col Rob Larsen, 1981; Lt Col Len Svoboda, 1983; -----    Lt Col Dub Heidler, 1984?;  -----     Lt Col Jim East, 1985; Lt Col Bob Lawrence, 1986; Lt Col Gary Hoffman, 1987; Lt Col Len Augistine, 1988; Lt Col Tom Kane, 1993; Lt Col Mark Stearns, 1995; -----    Lt Col Phil Spiker --------????

Stations: Baer Field, Ind, I May 1943, Sedalia AAFld, Mo, 8 Jun 1943, Pope Field, NC, 10 Oct 1943, Baer Field, Ind, 29 Dec I943-Jan 1944, Balderton, England, Jan 1944, Ramsbury, England, 5 Feb 1944, Coulommiers/Voisins, France, 25 Feb-Jul 1945, Baer Field, Ind, 15 Aug 1945, Marfa Army Airfield, Tex, 14 Sep-15 Nov 1945. Chicago-Orchard Airport, Ill, 27 Jun 1949; Shaw AFB, SC, 14 Aug-:16 Oct 1950; Brady AB, Japan, 8 Nov 1950-10 Jun 1952. O'Hare Intl Airport, Ill, 15 Jun 1952-16 Nov 1957. Charleston AFB, SC, 20 May 1954-1 Jul 1955, Travis AFB, CA 21 Dec. 1962-1 Oct. 1993.

Aircraft: C-46 & C-47, 1943-45; C-46 & C-119, 1949-57; C-54, 1952-55; C-124, 1955; C-130, 1963-67; C-141, 1967-93

Honors:

Campaign Streamers: Europe: American Theater, Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe.  Korea: CCF Intervention, First UN Counteroffensive , CCF Spring Offensive, UN Summer-Fall Offensive, Second Korean Winter, Korea Summer-Fall 1952

Decorations: Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 1 July 1951 – 10 June 1952.