40th Military Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 40th Military Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 438th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base
, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 4 March 1968.
at Canton Island Airport
, Gilbert Islands
, in August 1942. Ferried various aircraft, including A-20s, B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-26s, P-38s, P-40s, C-46s, and C-47s, to destinations in the Pacific Theater. Also provided maintenance service for transient aircraft until inactivated on 30 September 1943.
Reactivated in 1954 under Military Air Transport Service
at Dover AFB, Delaware in 1954. Flew very long range C-124 Globemaster intercontinental transports carrying passengers and cargo throughout the MATS Atlantic Division to Europe
, Africa
and the Middle East
. Inactivated in 1960.
Reactivated again in 1962 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
and equipped with the C-135A/B jet transport. Carried cargo between the US and Vietnam. Inactivated in 1968 when MAC C-135 operations came to an end
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last was assigned to the 438th Military Airlift Wing, Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base
McGuire Air Force Base
JB MDL McGuire is a United States Air Force base located approximately south-southeast of Trenton, New Jersey. McGuire is under the jurisdiction of the USAF Air Mobility Command...
, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 4 March 1968.
History
Activated as the 40th Ferrying (later, Transport) Squadron under Ferrying (later Air Transport) CommandAir Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
at Canton Island Airport
Canton Island Airport
Canton Island Airport is an airport located on Kanton Island, in the Phoenix Islands, in the Republic of Kiribati. It has no commercial airline service.-History:...
, Gilbert Islands
Gilbert Islands
The Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, in August 1942. Ferried various aircraft, including A-20s, B-17s, B-24s, B-25s, B-26s, P-38s, P-40s, C-46s, and C-47s, to destinations in the Pacific Theater. Also provided maintenance service for transient aircraft until inactivated on 30 September 1943.
Reactivated in 1954 under Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
at Dover AFB, Delaware in 1954. Flew very long range C-124 Globemaster intercontinental transports carrying passengers and cargo throughout the MATS Atlantic Division to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Inactivated in 1960.
Reactivated again in 1962 at McGuire AFB, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and equipped with the C-135A/B jet transport. Carried cargo between the US and Vietnam. Inactivated in 1968 when MAC C-135 operations came to an end
Lineage
- Established as 40th Ferrying Squadron on 1 August 1942
- Activated on 17 August 1942
- Redesignated: 40th Transport Squadron on 1 March 1943
- Disbanded on 30 September 1943
- Established as 40th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 1 March 1954
- Activated on 8 March 1954
- Inactivated on 8 December 1960
- Redesignated as 40th Air Transport Squadron, Medium on 8 January 1962
- Redesignated as 40th Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966
- Inactivated on 4 March 1968
Assignments
- 25th Ferrying (later, 25th Transport) Group, 17 August 1942 – 30 September 1943
- 1607th Air Transport Wing1607th Air Transport WingThe 1607th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware...
, 8 March 1954 – 8 December 1960 - 1611th Air Transport Wing1611th Air Transport WingThe 1611th Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Eastern Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey...
, 8 January 1962 – 8 January 1966 - 438th Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1966 – 4 March 1968
Stations
- Canton Island AirportCanton Island AirportCanton Island Airport is an airport located on Kanton Island, in the Phoenix Islands, in the Republic of Kiribati. It has no commercial airline service.-History:...
, Kanton IslandKanton IslandKanton Island , alternatively known as "Mary Island", "Mary Balcout's Island" or "Swallow Island", is the largest, northernmost, and as of 2007, the sole inhabited island of the Phoenix Islands, in the Republic of Kiribati. It is an atoll located in the South Pacific Ocean roughly halfway between...
, Gilbert IslandsGilbert IslandsThe Gilbert Islands are a chain of sixteen atolls and coral islands in the Pacific Ocean. They are the main part of Republic of Kiribati and include Tarawa, the site of the country's capital and residence of almost half of the population.-Geography:The atolls and islands of the Gilbert Islands...
, 17 Aug 1942-30 Sep 1943 - Dover AFB, DelawareDelawareDelaware is a U.S. state located on the Atlantic Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is bordered to the south and west by Maryland, and to the north by Pennsylvania...
, 8 March 1954-8 December 1960 - McGuire AFB, New JerseyNew JerseyNew Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, 8 January 1962-4 March 1968