| 4th Airlift Squadron | |
|---|---|
 4th Airlift Squadron Patch | |
| Active | 1 March 1935 - Present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Type | Airlift |
| Part of |
Air Mobility Command 18th Air Force 62d Airlift Wing 62d Operations Group |
| Garrison/HQ | McChord Air Force Base |
| Nickname(s) | Fighting Fourth |
| Decorations |
 DCU  MUA  AFOUA  ROK PUC  RVGC w/ Palm |
The 4th Airlift Squadron (4 AS) is part of the 62d Airlift Wing at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. It operates C-17 Globemaster III aircraft supporting the United States Air Force global reach mission world wide.
Mission[]
Provide services and support, which promote quality of life and project global power through combat-proven airlift and airdrop.
History[]
During World War II the 4th actions included airborne assaults on Sicily, Myitkyina, Burma, and on Southern France. It support of partisans in Northern Italy and the Balkans. It also conducted aerial transportation in Mediterranean Theater of Operations and, briefly, in China-Burma-India Theater. In all the 4th earned nine campaign ribbons during operations in both the European and China-Burma-India theaters in the Second World War.
When the Korean War broke out the 4th conducted aerial transportation from the U.S. to Japan, and subsequently between Japan and Korea in the period 1 December 1950 – 16 November 1951.
As did all the other Air Force airlift squadrons, the 4th flew constant C-141 missions into Vietnam during the years of conflict, staging from Clark AB, Philippines, and Yokota AB, Japan. However, some of the 4th's earliest missions to Indo-China were unpublicized, and involved using C-124s to bring supplies to the French forces at Dien Bien Phu in 1954.
The 4th also airdropped heavy equipment and personnel during the invasion of Panama on 20 December 1989. It assisted in the evacuation of U.S. personnel from the Philippines following the June 1991 eruption of Mt. Pinatubo. Subsequently the 4th has conducted aerial delivery of rations to towns and villages in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom and conducted airlift operations worldwide in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Operations[]
- World War II
- Korean War
- Operation Just Cause
- Operation Desert Storm
- Operation Deep Freeze
- Operation Enduring Freedom
- Operation Iraqi Freedom
Previous designations[]
- 4th Provisional Transport Squadron (1935)
- 4th Transport Squadron (1935–1942)
- 4th Troop Carrier Squadron (1942–1948)
- 4th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (1948–1949)
- 4th Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy (1949–1962)
- 4th Air Transport Squadron, Heavy (1962–1966)
- 4th Military Airlift Squadron (1966–1991)
- 4th Airlift Squadron (1991 – Present)
Assignments[]
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Bases stationed[]
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Aircraft operated[]
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External links[]
- 4th Airlift Squadron Home Page
- 4th AS Facebook Page - Current and Alumni 4th Airlift Squadron members
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The original article can be found at 4th Airlift Squadron and the edit history here.