815th Airlift Squadron
The 815th Airlift Squadron is a flying unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command and part of the 403d Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi. It operates Lockheed C-130J Hercules aircraft providing global airlift.
| 815th Airlift Squadron | |
|---|---|
815th Airlift Squadron C-130J tail showing the Flying Jennies tail band | |
| Active | 1943–1945; 1953–1969; 1973–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Air Force |
| Role | Airlift |
| Part of | Air Force Reserve Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi |
| Nickname(s) | Flying Jennies, Storm Trackers (1976–1987) |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations Korean War |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Combat "V" Device Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| Emblem of the 815th Airlift Squadron | |
| 815th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron emblem | |
| 815th Troop Carrier Squadron emblem | |
| 815th Bombardment Sq emblem (unofficial) | |
During World War II as the 815th Bombardment Squadron, it was one of the last Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber squadrons deployed to Southern Italy as part of the Fifteenth Air Force 483d Bombardment Group in March 1944 The squadron earned two Distinguished Unit Citations in combat over Germany. After the war, it helped transport American soldiers returning to the United States until it was inactivated in Italy.
The squadron was activated as the 816th Troop Carrier Squadron in 1953 in Japan, when it replaced a reserve unit that had been activated for the Korean War. It airlifted troops and materiel in the Pacific until inactivating in 1969.
Four years later, the squadron was activated in the reserves. It has performed airlift and weather reconnaissance missions from Keesler