457th Tactical Airlift Squadron

 

The 457th Troop Carrier Squadron was formed from the former Army 134th Aviation Company at Can Tho on 1 January 1967.  The squadron was initially based Cam Ranh Bay, with a Detachment of 2 aircraft at Bangkok, Thailand.  Robert Blaylock managed to pry the information about the reactivation of the 457th out of Bill Higgins and get some information on the early commander, as shown below.

 

Commanders

Late 1966 — LTC Earnest Rickard (Senior USAF officer during Operation Red Leaf)

1 Jan 1967 — ???? — LTC Henry Glover
LTC Col Vernal C. Addington  ??? — ? 1970
? 1970 — July 1971 — James I. Granger, BGen (ret.)

 

The following history of the 457th was compiled by Robert Blaylock:

457th Airlift Squadron — Lineage & History
The 457th Squadron’s history spans six decades and encompasses a variety of missions in combat and peacetime theaters. A rich legacy is the hallmark of the 457th with campaign participation and decorations earned in World War II, the Vietnam War, and the Persian Gulf War. From its inception as a bomber training unit for the US Army Air Corps in World War II through its present mission providing superior airlift support to US armed forces leadership, the 457th Squadron reflects the best in Air Force tradition.
1 Jul 1942-1 Apr 1944: 457th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
  • Aircraft- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator
  • Assignment- 330th Bombardment Group
  • Stations-Salt Lake AAB, Utah 6 Jul 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 1 Aug 1942; Biggs Field, Texas, c. 2 Sep 1942; Alamogordo, NM, 
29 Nov 1942; Biggs Field, Texas, 5 Mar 1943-1 Apr 1944
  • Operations-Replacement training
  • Service Streamers-World War II American Theater
1Apr 1944-27 Dec 1945: 457th Bombardment Squadron (Very Heavy)
  • Aircraft-Boeing B-29 Superfortress
  • Assignment-330th Bombardment Group
  • Stations-Walker AAFld, Kansas, 1 Apr 1944; Dalhart AAFld, Texas, 25 May 1944; Walker AAFld, Kansas, 1 Aug 1944-7 Jan 
1945; North Field, Guam, 18 Feb 1945-21 Nov 1945
  • Operations-Combat in the Western Pacific
  • Campaign Streamers-World War II: Air Offensive, Japan, Western Pacific
  • Decorations-Distinguished Unit Citations: Japan 3-9 Jul 1945; Tokyo, Japan, 8 Aug 1945
16 May 1949-16 Jun 1951: 457th Bombardment Squadron (Medium)
  • Aircraft-Unknown
  • Assignment-Activated in the Reserve on 27 Jun1949; Ordered to active service on 1 May 1951; Inactivated on 16 June 1951
  • Stations-March AFB, California 27 Jun 1949-16 June 1951
26 May 1952- 14 Jul 1952: 457th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium)
  • Aircraft-Unknown
  • Assignment-Activated in the Reserve on 14 Jun 1952, Inactivated on 14 Jul 1952
  • Station-Greater Pittsburgh Airport, PA, 14 Jun-14 Jul 1952
12 Oct 1966- 30 Apr 1972: 457th Troop Carrier Squadron
(later Tactical Airlift Squadron)
  • Aircraft-DeHavilland C-7A Caribou
  • Assignment-483rd Troop Carrier (later Tactical Airlift, later Composite) Wing, 1 Jan 1966-30 Apr 1972
  • Stations-Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, Detachment at Don Maung Apt, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Operations-Intratheater airlift in Southeast Asia, including airland and airdrop assault missions, 1967-1972
  • Campaign Streamers-Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air/Ground 1968; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase IV; TET 69/ Counteroffensive; Vietnam Summer-Fall 1969; Vietnam Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Southwest Monsoon; Commando Hunt V; Commando Hunt VI; Commando Hunt VII
  • Decorations-Presidential Unit Citations (Southeast Asia) 21 Jan-12 May 1968; 1 Apr-30 Jun 1970; Navy Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnam, 20 Jan-1 Apr 1968; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat “V” Device 1 Jan-30 Apr 1967; 1 May 1967-30 Apr 1968; 1 Jul 1970-31 Dec 1971. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jan 1967-30 Apr 1972
  • Inactivated-30 Apr 1972
1 Apr 1975- 1 Dec 1991: 1402nd Military Airlift Squadron
(later consolidated and redesignated 457th Airlift Squadron)
  • Aircraft-CT-39 Sabreliner, 1975-1984; VC-131, 1975-1977; Beechcraft C-12 Huron 1976-1977, 1984-; Gates C-21 Learjet, 1984-present
  • Assignment-89th Military Airlift Wing,1 Apr 1975; 375th Aeromedical (later 375th Military Airlift) Wing
  • Stations-Andrews AFB, MD 1 Apr 1975
  • Operations-Pilot readiness training, 1975-1984 and administrative airlift, 1975-1991
  • Decorations-Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards-1 Jul-31 Dec 1975; 1 Jan 1976-31 Jan 1977; 1 Jun 1981-31 May 1982; 1 Jun 1982-30 Jun 1983; 1 Jun 1986-31 Jul 1988
1 Dec 1991-Present: 457th Airlift Squadron
  • Aircraft-Gates C-21 Learjet
  • Assignment: 89th Operations Group
  • Stations: Andrews AFB, MD (main base)
  • Operations: Intratheater airlift in Southwest Asia, Aug 1990-Apr 1991; Airlift support for high-ranking dignitaries of the US and foreign governments, 1993-present
  • Geographically Separated Units: The 457th Airlift Squadron consolidated with three flights—the 12th Airlift Flight at Langley AFB, VA; the 47th Airlift Flight at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio; and the 54th Airlift Flight at Maxwell AFB, AL in April, 1997.

 

Revised:
25 Apr 2017 02:10 PM