776th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 776th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron is a provisional United States Air Force
squadron activated after 11 September 2001, being engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. Its current status is undetermined.
Previously, the squadron was a Tactical Air Command
Troop Carrier squadron, assigned to the 464th Troop Carrier Wing, stationed at Pope Air Force Base
, North Carolina
. It was inactivated on 26 December 1965. During World War II
, the 776th Bombardment Squadron was a B-24 Liberator
heavy bomb squadron which saw combat with Fifteenth Air Force
stationed in Italy
, assigned to the 464th Bombardment Group.
heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, trained under Second Air Force
. Deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), October 1943, becoming a Fifteenth Air Force
heavy bomb squadron, attacking enemy targets both in the MTO and European Theater of Operations (ETO). After end of war in Europe, used B-24s for transport of personnel from various points in Europe
to Waller Field, Trinidad
, being attached to Air Transport Command
. Inactivated 31 July 1945.
Reactivated as a Tactical Air Command
theater transport squadron, 1953. Performed Troop Carrier missions using tactical transport aircraft until 1965 when inactivated.
During the Vietnam era the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron flew Lockheed C130E Hercules aircraft. The C130 is a large cargo aircraft capable of many types of missions. These aircraft do not require paved runways and can take off or land in a very short distance. The C130 is 98 feet long with a 132 foot, 7 inch wingspan. These aircraft can carry up to 45,000 pounds of cargo in a cargo compartment that is 40 feet long, 119 inches wide, and 9 feet high. Additional cargo can be carried on the ramp. The C130 can reach a speed of 345 MPH at an altitude of about 20,000 feet. The range is about 2,000 nautical miles. The aircraft is equipped with four Allison T56 engines which produce 4,200 prop shaft horsepower each. Each engine has a variable pitch prop which can operate in forward or reverse. For short field landings the engines are reversed as soon as the landing gear makes contact with the ground resulting in very short airstrip requirements. The C130E is capable of carrying out cargo, airdrop, med evac, passenger, or paratroop drop missions. Other specialized missions are possible. For normal operations the C130 requires a 5 man crew. The normal crew consists of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, and loadmaster. The C130E is a very tough and reliable aircraft.
During the early 1970s the 776 TAS carried out missions all over Pacific area, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Korea and many other countries. Missions were also flown to many of the islands in the Pacific. All types of cargo was transported. Although much of the cargo was general, fuel and explosives were also hauled. Passengers were transported and medical patients were evacuated to hospital facilities. Passenger missions often included foreign nationals and sometimes prisoners of war. The C130s were often used to transport those killed in action from remote airfields to the larger air bases. In times when a defensive position was surrounded and no supplies could get in, the C130s would fly through heavy anti-aircraft and ground fire to drop needed supplies to the friendlies on the ground.
During 1970 and 1971 the 776 TAS was operating out of CCK, Taiwan with Det 1 at Ton Sun Nhut, Vietnam and Det 2 at Utapao, Thailand. Crews were rotated to the detatachments on a TDY basis. There was also a shuttle operating out of Bangkok, Thailand. As the U.S. involvement in the war began to wind down, Det 1 in Ton Sun Nhut was closed down and the 776 crews began operations out of Nakhon Phanom ,Thailand. Missions were still being flown into Vietnam, but no [U.S.] C-130 crews were assigned TDY to Vietnam.
Activated as a C-130 Hercules
airlift squadron as part of the Global War on Terrorism after 9 September 2001. The squadron has participated in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
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...
squadron activated after 11 September 2001, being engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. Its current status is undetermined.
Previously, the squadron was a Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
Troop Carrier squadron, assigned to the 464th Troop Carrier Wing, stationed at Pope Air Force Base
Pope Air Force Base
Pope Field is a United States Army facility located 12 miles northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States.-Units:...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. It was inactivated on 26 December 1965. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the 776th Bombardment Squadron was a B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bomb squadron which saw combat with Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
stationed in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, assigned to the 464th Bombardment Group.
History
Established as a B-24 LiberatorB-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
heavy bomber squadron in mid-1943, trained under Second Air Force
Second Air Force
The Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
. Deployed to Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), October 1943, becoming a Fifteenth Air Force
Fifteenth Air Force
The Fifteenth Expeditionary Mobility Task Force is one of two EMTFs assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It is headquartered at Travis Air Force Base, California....
heavy bomb squadron, attacking enemy targets both in the MTO and European Theater of Operations (ETO). After end of war in Europe, used B-24s for transport of personnel from various points in 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...
to Waller Field, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, being attached to Air Transport Command
Air 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...
. Inactivated 31 July 1945.
Reactivated as a Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
theater transport squadron, 1953. Performed Troop Carrier missions using tactical transport aircraft until 1965 when inactivated.
During the Vietnam era the 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron flew Lockheed C130E Hercules aircraft. The C130 is a large cargo aircraft capable of many types of missions. These aircraft do not require paved runways and can take off or land in a very short distance. The C130 is 98 feet long with a 132 foot, 7 inch wingspan. These aircraft can carry up to 45,000 pounds of cargo in a cargo compartment that is 40 feet long, 119 inches wide, and 9 feet high. Additional cargo can be carried on the ramp. The C130 can reach a speed of 345 MPH at an altitude of about 20,000 feet. The range is about 2,000 nautical miles. The aircraft is equipped with four Allison T56 engines which produce 4,200 prop shaft horsepower each. Each engine has a variable pitch prop which can operate in forward or reverse. For short field landings the engines are reversed as soon as the landing gear makes contact with the ground resulting in very short airstrip requirements. The C130E is capable of carrying out cargo, airdrop, med evac, passenger, or paratroop drop missions. Other specialized missions are possible. For normal operations the C130 requires a 5 man crew. The normal crew consists of a pilot, co-pilot, navigator, flight engineer, and loadmaster. The C130E is a very tough and reliable aircraft.
During the early 1970s the 776 TAS carried out missions all over Pacific area, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Korea and many other countries. Missions were also flown to many of the islands in the Pacific. All types of cargo was transported. Although much of the cargo was general, fuel and explosives were also hauled. Passengers were transported and medical patients were evacuated to hospital facilities. Passenger missions often included foreign nationals and sometimes prisoners of war. The C130s were often used to transport those killed in action from remote airfields to the larger air bases. In times when a defensive position was surrounded and no supplies could get in, the C130s would fly through heavy anti-aircraft and ground fire to drop needed supplies to the friendlies on the ground.
During 1970 and 1971 the 776 TAS was operating out of CCK, Taiwan with Det 1 at Ton Sun Nhut, Vietnam and Det 2 at Utapao, Thailand. Crews were rotated to the detatachments on a TDY basis. There was also a shuttle operating out of Bangkok, Thailand. As the U.S. involvement in the war began to wind down, Det 1 in Ton Sun Nhut was closed down and the 776 crews began operations out of Nakhon Phanom ,Thailand. Missions were still being flown into Vietnam, but no [U.S.] C-130 crews were assigned TDY to Vietnam.
Activated as a C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
airlift squadron as part of the Global War on Terrorism after 9 September 2001. The squadron has participated in Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF).
Lineage
- Constituted 776th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 May 1943
- 19 May 1943 - - - Originally constituted as the 776th Bombardment Squadron to fly B-24 Bombers with the 464th Bombardment Group in WW2
- Activated on 1 August 1943
- Jun 1944 to 9 Sep 1944 - - - Rome Arno Campaign
- 25 Jul 1944 to 14 Sep 1944 - - - Northern France Campaign
- 14 Aug 1944 to 14 Sep 1944 - - - Southern France Campaign
- 10 Sep 1944 to 4 Aug 1945 - - - North Apennines Campaign
- 5 Sep 1945 to 8 May 1945 - - - Po Valley Campaign
- 31 Jul 1945 - - - 776th Bombardment Squadron inactivated
- Redesignated: 776th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy) on 14 November 1945 (Remained inactive)
- Redesignated: 776th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 15 December 1952
- Activated on 1 February 1953
- Sep 1954 - - - Relocated to Pope AFB, North Carolina - - The 776th was the first squadron at Pope AFB to convert from C-123s to C-130s and one of the first in the USAF to fly the C-130-E models.
- Redesignated: 776th Troop Carrier Squadron (Assault) on 16 December 1958
- 28 Nov 1961 to 1 May 1963 - - - AFOUA, DAF Special Order G-152/64
- Redesignated: 776th Troop Carrier Squadron on 8 January 1964
- 1964 - - - The 776th flew relief missions to Anchorage, Alaska following the earthquake. They were deployed TDY to France after returning from the relief mission.
- Early 1965 - - - Operation Eagle Jump
- April 1965 - - - Operation Power Pack, mission to the Dominican Republic
- Nov 1965 - - - Alerted for movement to Southern Asia - - - In the spring of 1965 the 776th was deployed TDY to Kadena AFB. When TAC sent 8 full squadrons PCS to PACAF, the 776th was one of them, possibly because the 776th was already operating out of Kadena and Naha. The 776th was held at Tachikawa while CCK AB was being prepared to support the C-130s
- 1 Jan 1966 - - - Operational at Tachikawa AB, Japan, Support Southern Asia
- 14 Mar 1966 - - - Frag order #3, 315 ADIV, Ops order #352-66 directed squadron to be in place at Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan - - - The 776th was moved to CCK AB in April or May of 1966 to join the 314th Troop Carrier Wing which came over from Stewart.
- 1 Apr 1966 - - - The 776th Tactical Airlift Squadron operational at CCK
- 1 Jan 1966 to 30 Apr 1966 - - - Cam Ranh Bay Shuttle (Operation Blue Light)
- May 1966 - - - Nha Trang Shuttle (Operation Peach Tree)
- Dec 1966 - - - ABCCC (Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center) requirement, Da Nang AB, Republic of Vietnam
- Jan 1967 - - - Operation Junction City, Georgia, NC.
- 15 Jan 1967 - - - ABCCC moves to Udorn, Thailand
- Sept 1967 - - - Bangkok Shuttle begins
- Oct 1967 - - - Tuy Hoa Shuttle begins
- 20 Jan 1968 to 31 Mar 1968 - - - Battle of Khe Sanh, Republic of Vietnam
- Apr 1968 to Jun 1968 - - - Operation Delaware (A Shau Valley Campaign)
- 4 Aug 1968 - - - Operation Banish Beach
- Jul 1969 - - - Commando Twist and Commando Image
- Aug 1969 to Dec 1969 - - - Katum, Bu Prang, An Hua Operations
- Feb 1971 to Apr 1971 - - - Operation Lam Son 719
- May 1971 to Aug 1971 - - - Operation Lam Son 720
- Oct 1971 - - - Cam Ranh Bay shuttle begins ...Exact date unknown - In a purely paperwork move, the 314 TAW returned stateside and the wing at CCK became the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing. Crews and aircraft remained assigned to CCK and only the name of the wing was changed on official records.
- 15 Apr 1972 - - - Beginning of the Battle of An Loc, Republic of Vietnam (Easter Airlift)
- 1972 to 1973 - - - Maintenance and support at Ching Chuan Kang AB, Taiwan / Detachments operating out of Ton Son Nhut, AB Vietnam / U-Tapao AB, Thailand / Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand.
- 27 Jan 1973 - - - A crew from 776 TAS and a crew from 345 TAS flew into Honoi to bring a North Vietnamese delegation back to Ton Son Nhut near Siagon.
- Some time after 1973 the 776 TAS moved to Clark AFB, Philippines
- 29 Apr 1975 - - - C-130 with a crew from the 776 TAS was the last fixed wing aircraft to leave carrying refugees out of Ton Son Nhut as Siagon was being over run by the North Vietnamese
- Oct 1975 Aprox - - - 776 TAS deactivated
- Converted to provisional status and redesignated as 776th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron on undetermined date.
- Allocated to Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
to activate or inactivate at any time.
Assignments
- 464th Bombardment Group, 1 August 1943-31 July 1945
- Attached to: Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir 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...
, 15 June-31 July 1945- 464th Troop Carrier Group, 1 February 1953
- 464th Troop Carrier Wing, 11 November 1957-26 December 1965
- Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
, undetermined
Stations
- Wendover Field, UtahUtahUtah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
, 1 August 1943 - Gowen Field, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 22 August 1943 - Pocatello Army Airfield, IdahoIdahoIdaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
, 2 October 1943-9 February 1944 - Pantanella Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 10 April 1944 - Gioia del Colle Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, 20 April 1944
- Pantanella Airfield, ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, c. 1 June 1944-c. 6 June 1945 - Waller Field, TrinidadTrinidadTrinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, 15 June-31 July 1945 - Lawson AFB, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 1 February 1953 - Pope AFB, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 16 September 1954-26 December 1965 - Southwest AsiaSouthwest AsiaWestern Asia, West Asia, Southwest Asia or Southwestern Asia are terms that describe the westernmost portion of Asia. The terms are partly coterminous with the Middle East, which describes a geographical position in relation to Western Europe rather than its location within Asia...
, undetermined
Aircraft
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, 1943–1945 - C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1953–1954 - C-119 Flying BoxcarC-119 Flying BoxcarThe Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, 1953–1958 - C-123 ProviderC-123 ProviderThe C-123 Provider was an American military transport aircraft designed by Chase Aircraft and subsequently built by Fairchild Aircraft for the United States Air Force...
, 1958–1965 - C-130 HerculesC-130 HerculesThe Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
, undetermined