816th Bombardment Squadron

816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron
C-17 Globemaster III aircraft assigned to the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, sits on the flight line during pre-flight checks prior to an aerial transport of an M1A1 Abrams tank to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on November 28, 2010.
Active	1942-1945; 1953-1960; 2006-present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Engagements	World War II - EAME Theater Korean War Afghanistan Campaign Iraq Campaign
Decorations	Distinguished Unit Citation (2x) Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
Insignia
Emblem of the 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron

The 816th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron (816 EAS) is a provisional United States Air Force unit. It is assigned to the 385th Air Expeditionary Group, stationed at Al Udeid Air Base, Doha, Qatar and has a few detachments. It is currently engaged in combat operations in Southwest Asia.

During World War II as the 816th Bombardment Squadron, it was one of the last 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 816 EAS is equipped with C-17 Globemaster III transports and supports Coalition forces engaging in combat operations as part of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, and also operates in the Horn of Africa.

The mission of the 816th EAS is to provide global strategic airlift, airdrop, aeromedical evacuation and humanitarian relief, to create an air bridge for personnel, equipment and supplies throughout their assigned areas of responsibility.

During a recent deployment of personnel. the aircrews flew about 3,000 sorties in the C-17 Globemaster III, logged more than 8,000 flying hours and airlifted more than 148 million pounds of cargo and more than 37,000 airmen, soldiers, sailors, marines and distinguished visitors throughout Southwest Asia.

Established in late 1943 as a B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombardment squadron, trained under Third Air Force in Florida. Was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO), being assigned to Fifteenth Air Force in Southern Italy. Engaged in long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military, industrial and transport targets, including oil refineries and production oilfields in Italy; France; Southern Germany; Austria and the Balkans. Continued strategic bombardment until German capitulation in May 1945.