72 Helicopter Squadron

Lineage. Constituted 72d Liaison Squadron on 2 Apr 1943. Activated on 11 Apr 1943. Inactivated on 31 Mar 1946. Activated on 3 Oct 1946. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1949. Redesignated 72d Helicopter Flight, and activated, on 1 Nov 1991. Redesignated 72d Helicopter Squadron on 1 Oct 1992.

Assignments. 26th Reconnaissance Group, 11 Apr 1943; I Air Support Command (later, I Tactical Air Division; III Tactical Air Division), 11 Aug 1943; Army Air Forces, MTO, Jun 1944 (attached to Seventh Army for operations, c. Aug-12 Dec 1944); US Strategic Air Forces in Europe, 1 Nov 1944; Ninth Air Force, 12 Dec 1944 (attached to Sixth Army Group for operations, 22 Dec 1944-14 May 1945; Twelfth Army Group, 15 May-12 Jun 1945); XII Tactical Air Command, 20 May 1945; US Forces, European Theater, 3 Jul 1945; Third Air Force, 4 Aug 1945; XIX Tactical Air Command, 11 Jan 1946; Tactical Air Command, 21 Mar 1946; Ninth Air Force, 28-31 Mar 1946. Ninth Air Force, 3 Oct 1946-1 Apr 1949 (attached to First Air Force, 15 Jan-1 Feb 1949; 363d Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, 9 Mar-1 Apr 1949). 1st Operations Group, 1 Nov 1991-.

Stations. New Cumberland AAFld, PA, 11 Apr 1943; Reading AAFld, PA, 7 Jun 1943; Camp MacKall, NC, 29 Jul 1943; Knollwood Field, NC, 13 Sep 1943; Sky Harbor Airport, TN, 18 Oct 1943; Raleigh-Durham AAFld, NC, 27 Feb-24 Apr 1944; Oran, Algeria, 14 Jun 1944; Santa Maria, Italy, 11 Jul 1944 (flight operated at Caserta, Italy, c. 28 Jul-c. 1 Sep 1944); St Tropez, France, 19 Aug 1944; Brignoles, France, 21 Aug 1944; Grenoble, France, 2 Sep 1944; Lons-le-Saunier, France, 8 Sep 1944; Vesoul, France, 18 Sep 1944; Epinal, France, 30 Sep 1944 (detachment at Charmes, France, 29 Sep-3 Oct 1944 and at Luneville, France, 3 Oct-24 Nov 1944); Buhl, France, 1 Dec 1944 (detachment at Steinbourg, France, c. 8 Dec 1944-1 Jan 1945); Epinal, France, 2 Jan 1945 (detachment at Luneville, France, Jan-10 Mar 1945); Buhl, France, 11 Mar 1945; Sarreguemines, France, 22 Mar 1945; Kaiserlautern, Germany, 26 Mar 1945; Darmstadt, Germany, 1 Apr 1945; Kitzingen, Germany, 15 Apr 1945; Gmund, Germany, 27 Apr 1945; Augsburg, Germany, 2 May 1945; Darmstadt, Germany, Jun-c. 2 Jul 1945; Drew Field, FL, 4 Aug 1945; Muskogee AAFld, OK, 1 Sep 1945; Marshall Field, KS, 1 Nov 1945-31 Mar 1946. Brooks Field, TX, 3 Oct 1946; Langley Field (later, AFB), VA, 20 Dec 1946-1 Apr 1949. Langley AFB, VA, 1 Nov 1991-.

Aircraft. L-1, 1943-1944; L-4, 1943-1944; L-5, 1943-1945, 1945-1946; L-6, 1943-1944; RA-24, 1943-1944. L-5, 1946-1949; L-13, 1947-1948; R-6, 1948; H-5, 1948-1949. UH-1, 1991-.

Operations. Combat in MTO and ETO, Aug 1944-May 1945. Transported personnel and equipment, as well as provided search and rescue assistance, Nov 1991-.

Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.

Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rome-Arno; Northern France; Southern France with Arrowhead; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations. Army Meritorious Unit Commendation: 15 Aug-31 Dec 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 May 1992-30 Apr 1994.

Emblem. Azure, a maltese cross per bend Vert and Vert four bendlets Sable fimbriated Or surmounted by a bald eagle perched and elevated on a billiard eight-ball in base both proper; all within a diminished bordure of the fourth. Approved on 19 Jul 1993; replaced emblem approved on 6 Nov 1943 (K 2843).