731st Airlift Squadron


The 731st Airlift Squadron is a flying unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command and part of the 302d Airlift Wing at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. It operates Lockheed C-130H Hercules aircraft providing global airlift. The squadron also has the specialized mission of Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System.

Mission

World War II

Activated as a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomb squadron; trained under Second Air Force. Completed training in early 1943; deploying to European Theater of Operations assigned to VIII Bomber Command of the Eighth Air Force 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 United States' air offensive against Nazi Germany. Most personnel demobilized in Europe after the German capitulation in May 1945; squadron inactivated as a paper unit in November.

Reserve

Reactivated in 1947 as a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomb squadron in the reserve, however equipped with trainers until 1949 when equipped with the Douglas B-26 Invader light bomber. Squadron activated in 1951 as a result of the Korean War; personnel and equipment assigned as replacements, then inactivated as a paper unit.
Reactivated in 1952 with RB-26 Invader photo-reconnaissance aircraft; Curtiss C-46 Commando transports; North American P-51 Mustangs, and other second-line aircraft. In 1957, moved from Scott Air Force Base, Illinois to Laurence G. Hanscom Field, Massachusetts and re-equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars for tactical airlift. Activated during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962; returned to reserve status after crisis was resolved. In 1966, re-equipped with Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs for performing strategic airlift on a worldwide scale. Reassigned to various Air Force reserve wings; flying Fairchild C-123 Providers until inactivation in 1982. Reactivated in Colorado in the Air Force Reserve same date and equipped with Lockheed C-130 Hercules.

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