73d Troop Carrier Squadron

73d Airlift Squadron
C-40 Clipper as flown by the squadron
Active	9 February 1943 - 31 July 1946 1 August 1947 - 24 March 1954 8 June 1957 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Distinguished Visitor Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 4th Air Force 932nd Airlift Wing 932nd Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Scott Air Force Base
Engagements	Operation Overlord Operation Market Garden Battle of Bastogne
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm French Fourragère Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm
Commanders
Current commander	Lt. Col. Harry Hughes
Insignia
73d Airlift Squadron emblem (approved 14 December 2007)
73d Airlift Squadron emblem (31 July 1996)
73d Aeromedical Airlift Squadron emblem

The 73d Airlift Squadron is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron, assigned to the 932d Operations Group, stationed at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

The squadron operates C-40 Clipper aircraft providing executive airlift for distinguished visitors and their staffs.

Established in early 1943 as a C-47 Skytrain transport squadron under First Air Force, later trained under I Troop Carrier Command in the eastern United States. Deployed to England in late 1943, being assigned to Ninth Air Force in England, IX Troop Carrier Command to participate in the buildup of forces prior to the Allied landings in France during D-Day in June 1944.

Engaged in combat operations by dropping paratroops into Normandy on D-Day (6 June 1944) and releasing gliders with reinforcements on the following day. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation and a French citation for these missions.

After the Normandy invasion the squadron ferried supplies in the United Kingdom. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals. It dropped paratroops near Nijmegen and towed gliders carrying reinforcements during the airborne attack on the Netherlands. In December, it participated in the Battle of the Bulge by releasing gliders with supplies for the 101st Airborne Division near Bastogne.