537th Airlift Squadron

537th Airlift Squadron
C-130 Hercules aircraft of the 537th Airlift Squadron on an airdrop training mission near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson
Active	1943–1944; 1952–1953; 1966–1971; 2011–2013
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Motto(s)	Gesta non Verba (Latin for 'Deeds, not Words')
Decorations	Presidential Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Insignia
537th Airlift Squadron emblem[a][1]

The 537th Airlift Squadron is an inactive squadron of the United States Air Force. The unit was last active at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Alaska, where it was inactivated on 13 September 2013.

The squadron was first established during World War II as the 537th Fighter Squadron. It served as a Replacement Training Unit for Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilots until it was disbanded in a major reorganization of the Army Air Forces in 1944 designed to streamline training organizations.

In 1952, the squadron was redesignated as the 537th Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated at Atterbury Air Force Base to replace elements of the 923d Reserve Training Wing. The following year the squadron was inactivated and replaced at Atterbury by the 73d Troop Carrier Squadron.

The unit was activated again in Viet Nam as a C-7 Caribou squadron assigned to the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing the squadron was awarded three Presidential Unit Citations for its actions during the Viet Nam War.

In 2011, the unit was reactivated and designated the 537th Airlift Squadron.

The squadron was first established as the 537th Fighter Squadron and was activated in November 1943 at Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia,^[2] as one of the four original squadrons of the 87th Fighter Group.^[3] The squadron began operations with Republic P-47 Thunderbolts as a Replacement Training Unit (RTU). RTUs were oversized units which trained aircrews prior to their deployment to combat theaters and assignment to an operational group.^[4] In January 1944, the squadron and the 546th Fighter Squadron moved to Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey,^[2] and the 87th group's headquarters and other squadrons transferred to Camp Springs Army Air Field, Maryland.^[3][5]

However, the Army Air Forces found that standard military units, based on relatively inflexible tables of organization were proving less well adapted to the training mission. Accordingly, a more functional system was adopted in which each base was organized into a separate numbered unit.^[6] while the groups and squadrons acting as RTUs were disbanded or inactivated.^[7] This resulted in the squadron being disbanded in the spring of 1944^[2] and being replaced by the 135th AAF Base Unit (Fighter), which assumed its mission, personnel, and equipment.^[8]

The reserve mobilization for the Korean War had left the reserve without aircraft. In 1951, Continental Air Command (ConAC) formed the 923rd Reserve Training Wing to train reservists at Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana.^[9] Anticipating the return of mission aircraft to reserve units, ConAC replaced the 923rd Wing with the newly constituted 87th Troop Carrier Wing on 15 June 1952. The squadron was redesignated as the 537th Troop Carrier Squadron, became part of the 87th Wing, and was activated at Atterbury.^[b] The squadron operated Curtiss C-46 Commandos to train reservists. In February 1953 the 434th Troop Carrier Wing, a reserve unit that had been called to active duty in 1951, was released from active duty and activated in the reserve, replacing the 87th Wing, and its 73d Troop Carrier Squadron assumed the mission, personnel and equipment of the 537th.^[2][10][11]

In August 1966, the Air Force and the Army began implementing Project Red Leaf, which would transfer responsibility for the de Havilland Canada C-7 Caribou from the Army to the Air Force following the Johnson-McConnell agreement of 1966. At An Khe Airfield, South Vietnam, Air Force personnel began being assigned to the 17th Aviation Company. The Department of Defense had ordered that the 483d Tactical Airlift Wing's new squadrons be located on Air Force installations, not on Army posts, and the cadre of the wing at Cam Ranh Bay Air Base began planning to move squadron level operations from the small Army camps they were operating from to permanent sites when the Air Force units were activated.^[12] In December, the company began moving to Phu Cat Air Base, , although Phu Cat only had a 3,000 feet (910 m) laterite strip at the time and it was not until April that permanent facilities and a 10,000 feet (3,000 m) runway was ready for use.^[13] On 1 January 1967, the 537th Squadron was organized and took over Caribou operations from the 17th Company, although it initially maintained a detachment at An Khe.^[1][14] Although the air commander in Viet Nam, General William W. Momyer, made clear that Caribou operations were to be integrated with other airlift operations in Viet Nam, an exception was made for the 537th, which was dedicated to supporting the 1st Cavalry Division.^[13]

To support the 1st Cavalry Division, the squadron launched one or two aircraft daily as FM radio relay ships linking command posts with units in active field operations. These ships included army radio operators on their crews and ordinarily were on ground alert status, launching when needed. Late in 1967, this process was terminated and the communications ships carried out airlift missions, subject to recall when needed. The 537th performed both scheduled and emergency aeromedical evacuation missions for the division. It made daily flights between An Khe and Tan Son Nhut Airport transporting Army aircraft parts. Roughly once a week, it would transport battalions, moving them to new locations. The majority of missions were courier and logistics flights linking division headquarters and its subordinate brigades and battalions.^[15]

In early 1968, the 1st Cavalry Division moved to the northern provinces. The squadron flew about fourteen missions a day linking the northern operating bases with the logistics centers, which remained at An Khe and Qui Nhon, even though many of these missions were flown between large hard surface airfields and could have been more efficiently handled by Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft.^[c] In late 1968, the 1st Cavalry Division moved to the south and the squadron surrendered its division support mission to the C-7 units at Vung Tau and Cam Ranh Bay Air Bases.^[16]

The 537th earned a Navy Presidential Unit Citation, as well as an Air Force Presidential Unit Citation for airlift support of Khe Sanh and other forward bases from January to May 1968.

In April 1970, the squadron helped break the siege of Dak Seang Special Forces Camp.^[17] North Vietnamese forces had surrounded the camp, and learning from the success of air resupply during their 1969 attack on the Ben Het Camp, also established anti-aircraft artillery positions along likely air resupply corridors. On the first day of the siege, two C-7s were diverted from their scheduled missions and staged out of Pleiku to make the first airdrops to the camp. Resupply of the camp was so urgent that all drop-qualified crews of the 483rd Tactical Airlift Wing were ordered to Pleiku to support the operation and eleven sorties were flown that day with cover from Douglas A-1 Skyraiders. Crews approached the camp from the north or south to use terrain to mask their approaches from enemy flak. Loss of the third Caribou in five days, including one from the 537th, prompted a move to resupply the camp with night drops, with cover and illumination provided by Fairchild AC-119 Stinger gunships. Although all 483rd Wing squadrons participated in the operation, the majority of the sorties were flown by the 537th.^[18] It earned a second Presidential Unit Citation for this action, evacuation of over 2000 refugees from Cambodia, and transportation of the Presidential Southeast Asia Investigation Team to various remote locations in South Vietnam.^[19]

Following the June 1970 move of the C-7 squadrons from Vung Tau Air Base and inactivation of the 459th Squadron, the 537th was the only Caribou squadron not located at Cam Ranh Bay. It was inactivated on 31 August 1971. Its remaining personnel were reassigned to the 483rd Wing's other squadrons. In September, its former aircraft were ferried back to the United States for assignment to units of the Air Force Reserve.^[20]

The squadron was redesignated the 537th Airlift Squadron and activated at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska in 2011 to augment the 144th Airlift Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard. Its primary mission was to support Army airborne forces training. The squadron was inactivated due to cuts in the Department of Defense budget resulting from sequestration.^[21]

• Constituted as the 537th Fighter Squadron (Single Engine) on 24 September 1943

Activated on 1 October 1943

• Disbanded on 10 April 1944
• Reconstituted and redesignated 537th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 26 May 1952

Activated in the reserve on 15 June 1952

Inactivated on 1 February 1953

• Redesignated 537th Troop Carrier Squadron and activated on 12 October 1966 (not organized)

Organized on 1 January 1967

Redesignated 537th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 August 1967

Inactivated on 31 August 1971

• Redesignated 537th Airlift Squadron on 30 March 2011

Activated on 29 April 2011^[22]

Inactivated on 11 September 2013

• 87th Fighter Group: 1 October 1943 – 10 April 1944
• 87th Troop Carrier Group: 15 June 1952 – 1 February 1953
• Pacific Air Forces: 12 October 1966 (not organized)
• 483d Troop Carrier Wing (later 483d Tactical Airlift Wing): 1 January 1967 – 31 August 1971
• 3d Operations Group: 29 April 2011 – 11 September 2013^[22]

• Richmond Army Air Base, Virginia, 1 October 1943
• Millville Army Air Field, New Jersey, 7 January 1944 – 10 April 1944
• Atterbury Air Force Base, Indiana, 15 June 1952 – 1 February 1953
• Phu Cat Air Base, Vietnam, 1 January 1967 – 31 August 1971
• Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 29 April 2011 – 11 September 2013^[22]

Capt John C. Yancey, 6 October 1943 – 10 April 1944; Lt Col Charles C. Smith, 1 January 1967; Lt Col John F. Yelton, c. Apr 1967; Lt Col Harold J. Zweifel, 22 May 1967; Lt Col Robert C. Olson, c. Jul 1967; Lt Col Gayle C. Wolf, 1 May 1968; Lt Col George C. Marvin, 18 February 1969; Lt Col Donald J. MacFarren, 14 November 1969; Lt Col Walter H. Perris, c. Jun 1970; Lt Col Ray Barton, 16 November 1979 – c. Aug 1971^[22][23]

• Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, 1943–1944
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1952–1953
• DeHavilland Canada C-7A Caribou, 1967–1971
• Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules, 2011–2013^[22]

Award streamer	Award	Dates	Notes
	Presidential Unit Citation	21 January 1968 – 12 May 1968	537th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Viet Nam[1]
	Presidential Unit Citation	1 April 1970 – 30 June 1970	537th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Viet Nam[1]
	Navy Presidential Unit Citation	20 January 1968 – 1 April 1968	537th Tactical Airlift Squadron, Viet Nam[1]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device	1 January 1967 – 30 April 1967	537th Troop Carrier Squadron[1]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device	1 May 1967 – 30 April 1968	537th Troop Carrier Squadron (later Tactical Airlift Squadron)[1]
	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award w/Combat "V" Device	1 July 1970 – 28 August 1971	537th Tactical Airlift Squadron[1]
	Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm	1 January 1967 – 31 August 1971	537th Troop Carrier Squadron (later Tactical Airlift Squadron)[1]

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	Vietnam Air Offensive	1 January 1967 – 8 March 1967	537th Troop Carrier Squadron[1]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II	9 March 1967 – 31 March 1968	537th Troop Carrier Squadron (later Tactical Airlift Squadron)[1]
	Vietnam Air/Ground	22 January 1968 – 7 July 1968	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III	1 April 1968 – 31 October 1968	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV	1 November 1968 – 22 February 1969	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Tet 1969/Counteroffensive	23 February 1969 – 8 June 1969	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969	9 June 1969 – 31 October 1969	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970	3 November 1969 – 30 April 1970	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Sanctuary Counteroffensive	1 May 1970 – 30 June 1970	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Southwest Monsoon	1 July 1970 – 30 November 1970	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Commando Hunt V	1 December 1970 – 14 May 1971	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]
	Commando Hunt VI	15 May 1971 – 31 July 1971	537th Tactical Airlift Carrier Squadron[1]

Explanatory notes

Citations

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Bowers, Ray L. (1999) [1983]. Tactical Airlift (PDF). The United States Air Force in Southeast Asia. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ASIN B00DJU4SGA. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
• Cantwell, Gerald T. (1997). Citizen Airmen: a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946–1994. Washington, D.C.: Air Force History and Museums Program. ISBN 0-16049-269-6. Retrieved 1 October 2014.
• Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657.

  Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F.; Cate, James L. (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II (PDF). Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158. Retrieved 17 December 2016.

• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• 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.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.

• Forgett, John F., 12 Tactical Fighter Wing Association: Phu Cat Air Base History Retrieved 20 December 2013
• PACAF news story 537th Airlift Squadron flies again after 40 years Retrieved 20 December 2013
• Air Force Magazine New C-130 Squadron in Alaska Retrieved 20 December 2013
• YouTube video 537th Airlift Squadron Final Flight Retrieved 20 December 2013