733rd Military Airlift Squadron

The 733rd Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated as the 333rd Bombardment Squadron during World War II. After training in the United States, it deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation. It was inactivated in England following V-E Day.

733d Military Airlift Squadron
Air Force Reserve C-124 Globemaster
Active1942–1945; 1947–1951; 1952–1955; 1957–1973
Country United States
Branch United States Air Force
RoleAirlift
Motto(s)The Only Way to Fly
EngagementsEuropean Theater of Operations
DecorationsDistinguished Unit Citation
Insignia
Patch with 733d Troop Carrier Squadron emblem[note 1][1]
333d Bombardment Squadron emblem World War II[2]
World War II Fuselage code[2]TS

The squadron was reactivated in the reserve in 1947. In 1951,it was mobilized for the Korean War, but was soon inactivated and its personnel used as fillers for other units. On 1 January 1973. It was reactivated in the reserve in June 1952. In 1957, it became the 733rd Troop Carrier Squadron. It was again mobilized in 1962, and continued to serve as a reserve airlift unit until it was inactivated at Hill Air Force Base, Utah in 1973.

History

World War II
Squadron orderly room[note 2]

Activated as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber squadron; trained under Second Air Force. Completed training in early 1943; deploying to European Theater of Operations, 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 strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Most personnel demobilized in Europe after the German capitulation in May 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in November.

Air Force reserve

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

Reactivated in the reserves in 1952 as a tactical reconnaissance squadron. Inactivated in 1955, but reactivated in 1957 as a Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar squadron in 1952; Activated during Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; returned to reserve status after crisis was resolved. Equipped with Douglas C-124 Globemaster II strategic transports and performed strategic airlift until inactivated in 1973 with the final phaseout of the C-124.

Lineage
  • Constituted as the 333d Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 28 January 1942
Activated on 15 June 1942
Redesignated 333d Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 20 August 1943
Inactivated on 1 December 1945
  • Redesignated 333d Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 13 May 1947
Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947
Redesignated 333d Bombardment Squadron, Light on 26 June 1949
Ordered to active service on 10 March 1951
Inactivated on 20 March 1951
  • Redesignated 333d Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron on 26 May 1952
Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952
Inactivated on 18 May 1955
  • Redesignated 733d Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 24 October 1957
Activated in the reserve on 16 November 1957
Ordered to active service on 28 October 1962
Relieved from active duty on 28 November 1962[3]
Redesignated 733d Military Airlift Squadron (Associate) on 1 January 1966
Inactivated on 1 January 1973

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft
  • Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, 1942–1945[1]
  • Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1962–1965[1]
  • Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, 1965–1973

References

Notes
Explanatory notes
  1. Approved 22 April 1960.
  2. This image depicts another squadron emblem. This version was apparently used earlier, but neither version received official approval. Watkens, pp. 40–41.
Citations
  1. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 410–411
  2. Watkins, pp. 40–41
  3. Lineage information through May 1963 in Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 410–411

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

  • Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
  • Watkins, Robert (2008). Battle Colors: Insignia and Markings of the Eighth Air Force In World War II. Vol. I (VIII) Bomber Command. Atglen, PA: Shiffer Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0-7643-1987-7.
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