16th Tactical Airlift Training Squadron

 

The history of the 16th Airlift Squadron was constituted on 20 November 1940 as the 16th Transport Squadron, flying C-47's at McClellan Field, California   On 12 June 1941, the 16th Transport Squadron moved to Westover Field, Massachusetts for 45 days of outfitting for the World War II.

While at Westover field, the 16th Transport Squadron was redesignated the

16th Troop Carrier Squadron. In August 1942, the squadron moved to Ramsbury, England. While headquartered at Ramsbury, the squadron operated on detached service out of Maison Blanche, Algeria during November and December 1942.

 

After that, the unit moved its staff, crews, and aircraft to Kairouan,

Algeria, and remained there until June 1943. As the African war front

changed, the 16th moved to Eldjem, Tunisia.

 

In September 1943, the 16th moved to Comiso, Sicily and went on detached

service to India to assist in the re-supply of Brigadier General Merrill and

his men, affectionately known as "Merrill's Marauders". It was during this

Ceylon, Burma, India campaign that the squadron received its first

Distinguished Unit Citation. Just prior to "D" Day, part of the 16th left

India for Italy to tow gliders into France on "D" Day. In July 1944, the

detached unit was joined by the remainder of the 16th TCS at Ciampino, Italy and as the European Theater closed in on Germany, part of the 16th again went on detached service to Rosignano, Italy, operating re-supply missions to Greek Partisans during September to October 1944. At the end of the War, the 16th TCS moved as a unit to Wallerfield, Trinidad, where it stayed until being deactivated on 31 July 1945. On 19 May 1947, the 16th TCS was reactivated at Langley Field, Virginia where it stayed until September 1948.

 

On 19 September 1950 the squadron was redesignated the 16th Troop Carrier Squadron (Assault, Light), and reactivated 5 October 1950 at Sewart AFB, Tennessee in response to the growing tensions in Korea. While at Sewart, the squadron flew the C-119, the YC-122 (the predecessor to the C-123), and was the parent organization to an attached flight of H-5 and H-19 helicopters.

 

The squadron was renamed the 16th Troop Carrier Squadron (Assault, Fixed

Wing) and moved to Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma in November 1954, remaining there until July 1955 when it was again deactivated.

 

The 16th was redesignated the 16th Tactical Airlift Training Squadron on 14

August 1969 and was reactivated six weeks later at Sewart AFB, Tennessee as part of 4442 CCTW. Replaced inactivated 4447 CCTS.

It then moved to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas in March 1970 with the 4442 CCTW, flying and conducting initial upgrade training in the C-130 A and E models.

 

Major command became TAC. On 1 Aug 1971 the 4442 CCTW inactivated and 16 TATS was reassigned to the 314 TAW.

 

18 Feb 72: Mid-air collision between a 16 TATS C-130E (62-1813) and a T-37

three nautical miles NE of Little Rock AFB. All 5 crew members died. 1 Dec

74 the major command became MAC and 1 Dec 91 redesignated AS. 1 Jun 92 major command became AMC.

 

1 Oct 93: Inactivated and personnel and equipment transferred to the 53rd AS

The 76th Airlift Squadron at Charleston AFB, SC was renamed the 16th

Airlift Squadron and carries on the proud legacy to this day.