327th Airlift Squadron

327th Airlift Squadron
327h Airlift Squadron patch
Active	11 April 1944 – 26 December 1945 29 May 1947 – 1 April 1951 14 June 1952 – 30 September 2007
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 22nd Air Force 913th Airlift Wing 913th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Naval Air Station Willow Grove
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 327th Airlift Squadron (327 AS) was part of the 913th Airlift Wing at Naval Air Station Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. It operated C-130 Hercules aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.

History

The 327th conducted aerial transportation in the China – Burma – India theater from, 28 August 1944 – c. 20 October 1945. It performed troop carrier training from, 1947 – 1951. It has supported airborne forces and performed worldwide airlift since 1952. The squadron deployed to Southwest Asia and performed airlift missions in support of the Gulf War, January – April 1991. It was inactivated on 30 September 2007 after a lengthy and controversial closure process.

Lineage

• Constituted 2d Combat Cargo Squadron on 11 April 1944

Activated on 15 April 1944

Redesignated 327th Troop Carrier Squadron on 31 October 1945

Inactivated on 26 December 1945

• Activated in the reserve on 29 May 1947

Redesignated 327th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 2 September 1949

Ordered to Active Service on 15 March 1951

Inactivated on 1 April 1951

• Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952

Ordered to Active Service on 28 October 1962

Relieved from Active Duty on 28 November 1962

Redesignated: 327th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 July 1967

Redesignated: 327th Airlift Squadron on 1 February 1992

Inactivated on 30 September 2007

Assignments

• 1st Combat Cargo Group, 15 April 1944

Under operational control of Air Transport Command, 1 July – 9 September 1945

• Fourteenth Air Force, 10 September – 26 December 1945
• 514th Troop Carrier Group, 29 May 1947
• 512th Troop Carrier Group, 2 September 1949 – 1 April 1951
• 512th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952; 14 April 1959
• 913th Troop Carrier (later, 913th Tactical Airlift; 913th Airlift) Group, 11 February 1963
• 913th Operations Group, 1 August 1992 – 30 September 2007

Stations

• Bowman Field, Kentucky, 15 April – 3 August 1944
• Sylet Airfield, India, 27 August 1944

Detachment operated from Yunnani Airfield, China, 11 – 18 September 1944

• Tulihal Airfield, India, 22 November 1944
• Tsuyung Airfield, China, 12 December 1944
• Dohazari Airfield, India, 1 February 1945
• Hathazari Airfield, India, 16 May 1945

• Bhamo Airfield, Burma, 1 June 1945
• Peishiyi Airfield, China, 10 September – 26 December 1945
• Marietta Army Airfield, Georgia, 29 May 1947
• Reading Municipal Airport, Pennsylvania, 2 September 1949
• New Castle County Airport, Delaware, 1 May 1950 – 1 April 1951; 14 June 1952
• Willow Grove Air Reserve Facility (later, Station), Pennsylvania, 20 July 1958 – 30 September 2007

Aircraft operated

• C-47 Skytrain (1944 – 1945)
• C-46 Commando (1949 – 1951, 1952 – 1957)
• AT-7 Navigator (1949 – 1951)
• AT-11 Kansan (1949 – 1951)
• C-119 Flying Boxcar (1957 – 1969, 1970 – 1971)
• C-130 Hercules (1970 – 2007)