728th Airlift Squadron

rdf:langString 728th Airlift Squadron

rdf:langString 728th Airlift Squadron

rdf:langString What are these?

rdf:langString AF MUA

rdf:langString AF OUA

rdf:langString AF PUC

rdf:langString VGC

rdf:langString KPUC

rdf:langString Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

rdf:langString Distinguished Unit Citation

rdf:langString Germany 728th Bombardment Squadron

rdf:langString Korea 728th Bombardment Squadron

rdf:langString April 2019

rdf:langString Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

rdf:langString World War II fuselage code

rdf:langString The 728th Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 446th Operations Group, stationed at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is an associate unit of the active duty 8th Airlift Squadron of the 62d Airlift Wing. The squadron was first activated as the 728th Bombardment Squadron in 1943. After training in the United States with the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, participating in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) during an attack on a German jet fighter base near Kaltenkirchen in April 1945. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated. The squadron was activated again in the reserves in 1947. Two years later, it began to train with Douglas B-26 Invaders. In August 1950, the squadron was one of the first reserve units mobilized for the Korean War. After filling its ranks and undergoing intensive training, the squadron deployed to Far East Air Forces and began flying combat missions. It was awarded two additional DUCs for its operations in Korea. In May 1952, the squadron was inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to a regular unit that was simultaneously activated. The squadron was activated in the reserves again two months later as the 728th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron. It returned to the light bomber mission in 1955, but the Air Force's reserve units were converting to the airlift mission, and the squadron became the 728th Troop Carrier Squadron in July 1957, and has served in tactical and strategic airlift roles since then.