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158th Liaison Squadron

{{Use American English|date=February 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=158th Liaison Squadron

|image=L-5 Sentinel.jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=L-5 Sentinel, primary airplane flown by the squadron

|dates=1944–1946; 1946–1949

|country={{USA}}

|branch={{air force|USA}}

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|role=aerial reconnaissance and support

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|battles=European Theater of Operations

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|identification_symbol=165px

|identification_symbol_label=158 Liaison Sq emblemApproved 16 December 1944.Maurer, pp. 357-358

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The 158th Liaison Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It served in the European Theater of Operations in the final months of World War II before returning to the United States in 1946, when it was inactivated. Later that year, it was again activated and served in the occupation forces in Japan until inactivating in 1949 in response to the Truman administration budget cuts of that year.

History

=World War II=

The 158th Liaison Squadron was activated in March 1944 at Raleigh-Durham Army Air Field, North Carolina and primarily equipped with Stinson L-5 Sentinels, although it flew a number of other aircraft. Its initial mission was to conduct tactical training and indoctrination for field operations of liaison units and to act as a Replacement Training Unit.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/309.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 158 Liaison Squadron April 1944|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=31 August 2021}}{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/309.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 158 Liaison Squadron May 1944|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=31 August 2021}} However, by the time the squadron was organized, the Army Air Forces (AAF) had already determined that standard military units like the 158th, which were based on relatively inflexible tables of organization, were not well adapted to the training mission.Goss, p. 75 Therefore, in July the squadron began training for deployment overseas. It departed North Carolina in November 1944 for the port of embarkation at Camp Myles Standish, sailing on 2 December and arrived at Nantwich, England in the European Theater of Operations on 13 December.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/313.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 158 Liaison Squadron November-December 1944|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=31 August 2021}}

The squadron once again equipped with the Sentinel, plus a few other types of liaison aircraft, and moved to the continent of Europe in February 1945. It began combat operations from Belgium and Germany the following month, continuing them until V-E Day. Its missions included reconnaissance and light photographic observation, troop and light cargo transport, aeromedical evacuation and command liaison and courier flights.Holley, p. 111 After the German surrender, it moved to France, where it provided support services until February 1946, when it moved to Bolling Field without personnel or equipment. It remained unmanned until it was inactivated at the end of March, shortly after the AAF reorganized into Strategic, Tactical Air Command, and Air Defense Commands.

=Occupation of Japan=

The squadron was activated again on 25 October 1946 at Nagoya Airfield, Japan, where it formed part of the occupation forces. Once again it equipped with the Stinson L-5. Due to personnel shortages, around 1 April 1947, the squadron was reduced to zero manning, although still kept on the rolls. By September, the squadron again received personnel and aircraft. The squadron conducted passenger and light freight transport missions, and carried classified documents between Fifth Air Force bases. It also conducted occasional search and rescue missions.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/326.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 158 Liaison Squadron CY 1948 (1)|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=31 August 2021}} During June and July 1948, the squadron assisted in recovery operations following the Fukui earthquake.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/325.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 158 Liaison Squadron CY 1948 (2)|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=31 August 2021}} It also dropped leaflets to encourage citizens to pay taxes, and engaged in radio reconnaissance missions.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/327.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 158 Liaison Squadron Jan-Mar 1949|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=31 August 2021}}

However, President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget required reductions in the number of units in the Air Force,Knaack, p. 25 and the 158th was inactivated on 1 April 1949.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 158th Liaison Squadron on 23 February 1944

: Activated on 1 March 1944

: Inactivated on 31 March 1946

  • Activated on 25 October 1946

: Inactivated on 1 April 1949

=Assignments=

=Stations=

  • Raleigh-Durham Army Air Field, North Carolina, 1 March – 16 November 1944
  • Nantwich, Cheshire, England, 13 December 1944 – 21 January 1945
  • Somme-Suippe, Lorraine, France, 4 February 1945
  • Celles, Houyet, Belgium, 16 February 1945
  • Ahrweiler, Germany, 17 April 1945
  • Orly Airport (A-47),Station number in Johnson, p. 18. France, 22 July 1945
  • Villacoublay Airfield (Sta 180, A-42),Station numbers in Anderson, p. 23 and Johnson, p. 17. France
  • Bolling Field District of Columbia, 15 February – 31 March 1946
  • Nagoya Airfield, Japan, 25 October 1946 – 1 February 1949Station information in Maurer, pp. 357-358, except as noted.

=Aircraft=

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=Campaigns=

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! Campaign Streamer

! Campaign

! Dates

! Notes

200pxRhineland4 February 1945 – 21 March 1945
200pxCentral Europe22 March 1944 – 21 May 1945
200pxWorld War II Army of Occupation (Japan)25 October 1946 – 1 February 1949

References

=Notes=

; Explanatory notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

; Citations

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=Bibliography=

{{AFHRA}}

  • {{cite book|last=Anderson|first=Capt. Barry|title= Army Air Forces Stations: A Guide to the Stations Where U.S. Army Air Forces Personnel Served in the United Kingdom During World War II|url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Timelines/World%20War%20II/usaaf_bases_in_united_kingdom.pdf?ver=2016-08-30-150752-303 |year=1985|publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center|location=Maxwell AFB, AL|access-date=1 March 2021}}
  • {{cite book|last=Goss|first=William A.|editor1-last=Craven |editor1-first=Wesley F. |editor2-last=Cate |editor2-first=James L. |url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/Nov/05/2001329890/-1/-1/0/AFD-101105-012.pdf |access-date=17 December 2016 |title=The Army Air Forces in World War II|volume=VI, Men & Planes|year=1955|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago, IL|oclc=704158| lccn=48003657|chapter=The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF}}
  • {{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/1-50/AFD-090602-099.pdf |last1=Holley, Jr.|first1=Capt Irving B.|title=Evolution of the Liaison-Type Airplane, 1917-1944, USAF Historical Study No. 44|date=April 1946|publisher=AAF Historical Office, Hq Army Air Forces|access-date=31 August 2021}}
  • {{cite book|last=Johnson|first=1st Lt. David C.|title=U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO) D-Day to V-E Day|url= http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf |year=1988| publisher=Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center| location=Maxwell AFB, AL|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150929064443/http://www.afhra.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-081010-026.pdf |archive-date=29 September 2015|access-date=26 June 2017}}
  • {{cite book|last=Knaack|first=Marcelle Size|title=Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems|url= https://media.defense.gov/2010/May/26/2001330264/-1/-1/0/AFD-100526-026.pdf |access-date=17 December 2016|volume=2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973|year= 1978 |publisher= Office of Air Force History|location= Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-59-5 }}
  • {{cite book|editor1-last=Maurer|editor1-first=Maurer|title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II|orig-year=1969|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |archive-url= https://archive.today/20230820144531/https://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 August 2023 |edition= reprint|access-date= 17 December 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}

External links

  • {{cite news|url= http://als-cannonfield.com/docs/SOPA_No.25_AAF_Liaison_Squadrons_WWII.pdf |last1=Gray|first1=Jim|title=What's a Liaison Squadron?|date=Summer 2014|publisher=The Stinson Owners and Pilot's Association L-5 Newsletter|access-date=31 August 2021}}
  • {{cite web|url= https://taylorastevenson.wixsite.com/stevensoncollection/l-5-98333-details |last1=Stevenson|first1=Taylor|title=Stinson L-5 Sentinel 42-98333 158th Liaison Sqn.|date=2014|publisher=The Stevenson Collection|access-date=31 August 2021}}

{{USAF Pacific Air Forces}}

{{USAAF 9th Air Force UK}}

{{USAAF 3d Air Force World War II}}

Category:Military units and formations established in 1944

Category:Reconnaissance squadrons of the United States Army Air Forces

Category:Reconnaissance squadrons of the United States Air Force