537th Airlift Squadron

Lineage
Constituted as 537th Fighter Squadron on 24 Sep 1943. Activated on 1 Oct 1943. Disbanded on 10 Apr 1944. Reconstituted, and redesignated as 537th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium), on 26 May 1952. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Jun 1952. Inactivated on 1 Feb 1953. Redesignated as 537th Troop Carrier Squadron, and activated, on 12 Oct 1966. Organized on 1 Jan 1967. Redesignated as 537th Tactical Airlift Squadron on 1 Aug 1967. Inactivated on 31 Aug 1971. Redesignated as 537th Airlift Squadron on 30 Mar 2011. Activated on 29 Apr 2011. Inactivate on 11 Sep 2013.

Assignments
87th Fighter Group, 1 Oct 1943-10 Apr 1944. 87th Troop Carrier Group, 15 Jun 1952-1 Feb 1953. Pacific Air Forces, 12 Oct 1966; 483d Troop Carrier (later, 483d Tactical Airlift) Wing, 1 Jan 1967-31 Aug 1971. 3d Operations Group, 29 Apr 2011-11 Sep 2013.

Stations
Commanders. Unkn, 1-5 Oct 1943; Capt John C. Yancey, 6 Oct 1943-10 Apr 1944. Unkn, 15 Jun 1952-1 Feb 1953. Lt Col Charles C. Smith, 1 Jan 1967; Lt Col John F. Yelton, c. Apr 1967; Lt Col Harold J. Zweifel, 22 May 1967; Lt Col Robert C. Olson, c. Jul 1967; Lt Col Gayle C. Wolf, 1 May 1968; Lt Col George C. Marvin, 18 Feb 1969; Lt Col Donald J. MacFarren, 14 Nov 1969; Lt Col Walter H. Perris, c. Jun 1970; Lt Col Ray Barton, 16 Nov 1979-c. Aug 1971.
 * Richmond AAB, VA, 1 Oct 1943
 * Millville AAFld, NJ, 7 Jan-10 Apr 1944
 * Atterbury AFB, IN, 15 Jun 1952-1 Feb 1953
 * Phu Cat Airfield, Vietnam, 1 Jan 1967-31 Aug 1971
 * Elmendorf AFB, AK, 29 Apr 2011-11 Sep 2013

Aircraft

 * P-47, 1943–1944
 * Unkn, 1952–1953
 * C-7A, 1967–1971
 * C-130H, 2011–2013

Operations
Replacement training, Nov 1943-Apr 1944. Provided intra-theater airlift for free world forces supporting Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV) and provided resupply airlift for combat units, 1967-1971. Earned the Navy Presidential Unit Citation for resupply operations of the 26th Marines, 20 Jan-1 Apr 1968 at Khe Sanh.

Awards

 * Service Streamers. None.
 * Campaign Streamers. Vietnam: Vietnam Air Offensive; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase II; Vietnam Air Offensive, Phase III; Vietnam Air/Ground: 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.
 * Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.

Decorations
Presidential Unit Citations (Vietnam): 21 Jan-12 May 1968; 1 Apr-30 Jun 1970. Navy Presidential Unit Citation: Vietnam, 20 Jan-31 Mar 1968. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards with Combat "V" Device: 1 Jan-30 Apr 1967; 1 May 1967-30 Apr 1968; 1 Jul 1970-28 Aug 1971. Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm: 1 Jan 1967-31 Jul 1971; 1 Aug 1967-31 Aug 1971