Lineage. Constituted 305 Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 Sep 1943. Inactivated on 30 Sep 1946. Redesignated 305 Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 10 May 1949. Activated in the reserve on 27 Jun 1949. Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 12 Mar 1951. Activated in the reserve on 15 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 26 Jul 1955. Activated in the reserve on 16 Nov 1957. Redesignated 305 Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 8 May 1961. Ordered to active service on 1 Oct 1961. Relieved from active duty on 27 Aug 1962. Redesignated: 305 Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 1 Dec 1965; 305 Military Airlift Squadron on 1 Jan 1966. Inactivated on 20 May 1972. Redesignated 305 Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, and converted to provisional status on 27 Mar 2003.
Assignments. 442 Troop Carrier Group, 1 Sep 1943-30 Sep 1946. 442 Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-12 Mar 1951. 442 Troop Carrier Group, 15 Jun 1952-26 Jul 1955. 442 Troop Carrier Group, 16 Nov 1957; 442 Troop Carrier Wing, 14 Apr 1959; 937 Troop Carrier (later, 937 Air Transport; 937 Military Airlift) Group, 17 Jan 1963-20 May 1972. Air Mobility Command to activate or inactivate at any time after 27 Mar 2003.
Stations. Sedalia AAFld, MO, 1 Sep 1943; Alliance AAFld, NE, 16 Dec 1943; Pope Field, NC, 26 Jan 1944; Baer Field, IN, 2-8 Mar 1944; Fulbeck, England, 27 Mar 1944; Weston Zoyland, England, 13 Jun 1944 (operated from Follonica, Italy, 18 Jul-24 Aug 1944); Peray, France, 6 Oct 1944; St-Andre-de-L'Eure, France, 11 Nov 1944 (operated from Metz, France, May-11 Sep 1945); USAF Station Munich/Reim (later, USAF Station Munich), Germany, 11 Sep 1945; USAF Station Capodichino (later, Capodichino Army Air Base), Italy, 16 Jan-30 Sep 1946. Fairfax Field, KS, 27 Jun 1949; Olathe NAS, KS, 27 May 1950-12 Mar 1951. Olathe NAS, KS, 15 Jun 1952; Grandview AFB, MO, 3 Apr-26 Jul 1955. Tinker AFB, OK, 16 Nov 1957-20 May 1972.
Commanders. Lt Col John A. Crandell, 6 Sep 1943; Maj Frank Klappas, 20 Jun 1945; 1Lt Frank J. Tomesek, 19 Oct 1945; unkn, Jan-Feb 1946; Lt Col John J. La Roche, ca. 7 Mar 1946; 1Lt Robert E. Strong, 17 May 1946; Capt George N. Pennington, 27 Jun-30 Sep 1946. Unkn, 27 Jun-Nov 1949; Lt Col John D. Kiel, by Dec 1949; Maj Merrill E. Smith, by Dec 1950; unkn, Feb-12 Mar 1951. Unkn, 15 Jun 1952-26 Jul 1955. Lt Col Edwin J. Angelo, 16 Nov 1957; Maj James L. Wade, 17 Jan 1963; Lt Col Dexter J. Taylor, 19 Nov 1964; Lt Col William E. Stealey, 4 Sep 1967; Lt Col George B. Hayden, by Jul 1969; Lt Col James L. Wade, by Dec 1969; Lt Col Louis L. Sadler, by Jul 1971; Lt Col Jessel V. Williams, by Dec 1971-20 May 1972.
Aircraft. C-47, 1943-1946; CG-4A, 1944-1945. T-6, 1949-1950; T-7, 1949-1951; T-11, 1949-1951; C-47, 1949-1950; C/TC-46, 1949, 1950-1951. C-46, 1952-1955. C-119, 1957-1961; C-124, 1961-1972.
Operations. Trained in troop carrier and glider towing operations from Sep 1943 until it departed overseas in March 1944. Participated in airborne assaults on Normandy during Operation NEPTUNE in Jun 1944, in Southern France during Operation ANVIL, over Holland during Operation MARKET in Sep 1944, and into Germany during Operation VARSITY in Mar 1945. Transported cargo, medical patients, and passengers throughout European Theater of Operations (ETO) until Sep 1946. Trained in the Reserve from Jun 1949-Mar 1951 and from Jun 1952-Jul 1955. Continued Reserve airlift training from Nov 1957-May 1972; called to active service during the Berlin Crisis, Oct 1961-Aug 1962; routinely flew airlift support missions to the Pacific region and Southeast Asia, 1964-1972.
Service Streamers. None.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Rome-Arno; Southern France; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 1 Aug 1967-25 Oct 1968. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Apr 1966-19 May 1972.
Lineage, Assignments, Components, Stations, and Honors through 12 Oct 2007.
Commanders, Aircraft, and Operations through 20 May 1972.
Supersedes previous statement prepared on 19 Sep 1966.
Emblem. Approved on 29 Sep 1960.
Prepared by William M. Butler.
Reviewed by Daniel L. Haulman.