757th Airlift Squadron

757th Airlift Squadron
757th Airlift Squadron Patch
Active	19 May 1943 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Airlift
Part of	Air Force Reserve Command 910th Airlift Wing 910th Operations Group
Garrison/HQ	Youngstown Air Reserve Station
Nickname(s)	Blue Tigers
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm

The 757th Airlift Squadron was a regular U.S. Air Force squadron from the 1940s to 1973. The unit was reassigned to the USAF Reserve in 1973. The unit relocated in 1992 from 907 AW Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio to 910 AW at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Ohio. The mission of the 757th Airlift Squadron is to maintain a large-area fixed-wing aerial application capability to control disease vectors in combat areas and on Department of Defense installations; to maintain a large-area application capability to control vegetation and pests of vegetation on DoD installations; and to provide aerial spray training.

The 757th operates 8 C-130H2 aircraft, four of which are modified to accept the Modular Aerial Spray System. Each MASS has a capacity of 2,000 US gallons (7,600 L); which can be delivered at a flow rate of 232 US gallons (880 L) per minute, at an altitude of 100 feet (30 m) for a total spray-on time of 8 minutes and 30 seconds.

Activated as a B-24 Liberator heavy bombardment squadron in July 1943; assigned to II Bomber Command for training. Primarily trained in Utah and Arizona received deployment orders for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) in September 1943. Moved to Massachusetts where the group flew long-range convoy escort missions over the Newfoundland Banks to Long Island Sound, November–December 1943 while station in Italy was being constructed.

Deployed to Southern Italy in January 1944; entered combat in February, being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force. Engaged in very long range strategic bombing missions to enemy military, industrial and transportation targets in Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Yugoslavia, bombing railroad marshalling yards, oil refineries, airdrome installations, heavy industry, and other strategic objectives. Also carried out some support and interdiction operations. Struck bridges, harbors, and troop concentrations in August 1944 to aid the invasion of Southern France. Hit communications lines and other targets during March and April 1945 to support the advance of British Eighth Army and American Fifth Army in northern Italy.