31st Airlift Squadron

31st Airlift Squadron
C-5 Galaxy aircraft unloading during Operation Desert Storm
Active	1942–1943; 1952–1969; 1989–1994
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Airlift
Mottos	Temporem Ubique Latin Anytime, Anywhere
Insignia
Patch with 31st Airlift Squadron emblem
Patch with 31st Air Transport Squadron emblem

"31st Transport Squadron" redirects here. For the 31st Transport Squadron (later 31st Troop Carrier Squadron), see 31st Troop Carrier Squadron.

The 31st Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 436th Operations Group, Air Mobility Command, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware. It was inactivated on 14 January 1994.

History

The unit was first activated during World War II as a ferrying organization. It operated on the North Atlantic Ferrying Route until 1943, when it was disbanded and replaced by Station 19, North Atlantic Wing, Air Transport Command, as part of a broader reorganization of the Air Transport Command.

In 1952, the unit was reactivated as a C-124 Globemaster II heavy airlift squadron. During this period, it conducted long-range strategic airlift missions worldwide for the Military Air Transport Service, which later became the Military Airlift Command. The squadron remained active until 1969, when it was inactivated following the retirement of the C-124 aircraft.

The unit was reactivated once again in 1989 as a C-5 Galaxy strategic airlift squadron, coinciding with the beginning of C-5B production. It carried out global transport missions, delivering equipment and personnel across the world until it was inactivated after the end of the Cold War.

Lineage

• Constituted as the 31st Ferrying Squadron c. 9 July 1942

Activated on 25 July 1942

Redesignated 31st Transport Squadron c. 24 March 1943

• Disbanded on 1 September 1943
• Reconstituted as the 31st Air Transport Squadron, Heavy on 20 June 1952

Activated on 20 July 1952

Redesignated 31st Troop Carrier Squadron, Heavy on 1 June 1965

Redesignated 31st Military Airlift Squadron on 8 January 1966

Inactivated on 8 April 1969

Reactivated on 1 October 1989

Redesignated as: 31st Airlift Squadron on 1 December 1991

Inactivated on 14 January 1994

Assignments

• 8th Ferrying Group (later 8th Transport Group), 25 July 1942 – 1 September 1943
• 1600th Air Transport Group, 20 July 1952
• 1607th Air Transport Wing, 1 July 1955
• 436th Military Airlift Wing, 8 January 1966 – 1 April 1969
• 436th Military Airlift Wing, 1 October 1989
• 436th Operations Group, 1 December 1991 – 14 January 1994

Stations

• Presque Isle Army Air Field, Maine, 25 July 1942
• Meeks Field, Iceland, August 1942 – 1 September 1943
• Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, 20 July 1952
• Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 19 June 1955 – 1 April 1969
• Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, 1 October 1989 – 14 January 1994

Aircraft

• C-124 Globemaster II, 1952–1966, 1966–1969
• C-5 Galaxy, 1989–1994

References

Bibliography

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947–1977. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9.
• Ulanoff, Stanley M. (1964). MATS: The Story of the Military Air Transport Service. New York, NY: Franklin Watts, Inc. ISBN 978-1-19908-768-3. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)