313th Troop Carrier Squadron

313th Airlift Squadron
313th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	1943–1945 1957 – present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 446th Airlift Wing 446th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	McChord Air Force Base
Engagements	World War II Cold War
Decorations	Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 313th Airlift Squadron (313 AS) is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 446th Operations Group, stationed at McChord Field, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. It is a corollary unit of the active duty 7th Airlift Squadron, 62d Airlift Wing (62 AW).

The mission of the 313th AS consists of airlift, aerial delivery, and aerial refueling on a worldwide basis, flying the C-17 Globemaster jet transport. The majority of the airlift mission is conducted in the Pacific and Alaska; however, missions are also flown to Europe, Africa, and South America.

Activated in late 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the United States. Was not deployed until the spring of 1945 to England, being assigned to the IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force. Was not used in combat operations, however did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas. Returned to the United States in September 1945 and was a transport squadron for Continental Air Forces until its inactivation in September 1946.

Redesignated as the 313th Troop Carrier Squadron 1 September 1957, the unit transferred to Portland International Airport, Oregon. The squadron flew the C-46 and the C-119 Flying Boxcar, and in September 1958 flew the first Reserve mission outside the continental United States taking a R-33 engine to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. The squadron was ordered to active service for a month in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crisis. It became part of the 939th Troop Carrier Group in 1963 and was redesignated the 313th Tactical Airlift Squadron 1 July 1967.