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72nd Helicopter Squadron

{{use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

{{use American English|date=January 2022}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=72nd Helicopter Squadron

|image=AirExpo 2019 - Huey (48352820101).jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=UH-1 Huey as flown by the squadron

|dates=1943–1946; 1946–1949; 1991–1995

|country={{Flagu|United States}}

|branch={{air force|USA}}

|type=

|role=light transport, reconnaissance and search and rescue

|size=

|command_structure=

|garrison=

|garrison_label=

|nickname=

|motto=

|mascot=

|battles=European Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of OperationsMaurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 266–267

|anniversaries=

|decorations=Army Meritorious Unit Commendation
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

|commander1=

|commander1_label=

|

|notable_commanders=

|identification_symbol=165px

|identification_symbol_label=72d Liaison Sq emblemApproved 6 November 1943.

|identification_symbol_2=165px

|identification_symbol_2_label=72d Helicopter Sq emblemApproved 19 July 1993{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433579/72-helicopter-squadron/ |title=Factsheet 72 Helicopter Squadron (ACC)|date=April 9, 2008|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=January 8, 2022}}

}}

The 72nd Helicopter Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last active as a flight, then as a squadron from 1991 to 1995 at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, where it provided light transport and assisted with search and rescue operations.

The squadron was first activated as the 72nd Liaison Squadron. After training in the United States with various liaison aircraft, the unit initially deployed to North Africa but did not receive any aircraft until arriving in Italy in July 1944, mostly liaison and courier services for the Fifth Army. Two flights of the squadron were transferred to Southern France in August and attached to the Seventh Army. The 72nd eventually earned an Army Meritorious Unit Commendation for its wartime service. It briefly served in the occupation of Germany, before returning to the United States for inactivation. The squadron was again active from 1946 to 1949.{{cite book |last1=Maurer |first1=Maurer & |title=Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, WWII |date=1982 |publisher=Office of Air Force History |isbn=9780892010974 |pages=266 |url=https://archive.org/details/CombatSquadronsOfTheAirForceWWII/mode/2up |ref=Internet Archive}}

History

=World War II=

File:Stinson L-5B Sentinel ‘298758’ “Gayle Ann” (N1156V) (49363955778).jpg

The squadron was first activated in April 1943 at New Cumberland Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, where it was assigned to the 26th Reconnaissance Group. Two months later, it moved to join the 26th at Reading Army Air Field, Pennsylvania. It was equipped with a variety of liaison aircraft, including the Stinson L-1 Vigilant, Piper L-4 Cub, Stinson L-5 Sentinel and Interstate L-6 Cadet. It was also assigned a few obsolete Douglas RA-24 Banshee dive bombers. In July, it moved to Camp Mackall Army Air Field, North Carolina, where it was soon reassigned to the I Air Support Command. The unit completed its training at several bases in the Southeastern United States. It then staged at Camp Patrick Henry and sailed from Norfolk, Virginia for the North African Theater of Operations aboard the {{USS|General W. A. Mann (AP-112)}} in April 1944.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/119.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, May 1944|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}}{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/120.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Jun 1944|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}}

The squadron arrived in Oran, Algeria, its first station in the Mediterranean, on 14 June 1944. It re-equipped with L-5s and moved to Italy, where it began combat operations and preparation for Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France. The squadron moved to Saint-Tropez, France on 19 August 1944, five days after the initial amphibious assault. it moved north with Seventh Army, providing courier and light reconnaissance support.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/124.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Feb 1945|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}} By V-E Day, the squadron was located in Augsburg Airfield, and briefly served with the occupation forces.

The squadron returned to the United States without personnel or equipment in August 1945, initially to the 3rd Air Force Assembly and Processing Station at Drew Field, Florida. In September, it moved to Muskogee Army Air Field, Oklahoma, where it began to be manned and equipped with L-5G aircraft.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/128.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Sep–Dec 1945|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}} In November, it relocated to Marshall Field, Kansas, where it flew observation and visual reconnaissance missions for the Cavalry School.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/130.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr 1946|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}} It moved to Brooks Field, Texas in October 1946 and was inactivated there in December.

=Postwar operations=

The squadron was again activated a few months later at Langley Field, Virginia, again equipped with the L-5 Sentinel. It also had detachments at other Tactical Air Command bases.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/131.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Jan–Mar 1947|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}}{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/132.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr–Jun 1947|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}} The following year, it added the all metal Stinson L-13 and in 1948, operated the Sikorsky R-6 and Sikorsky H-5 helicopters.{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/136.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr–Jun 1948|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}} However, after 1948, it only operated Sentinels. The squadron was inactivated in April 1949

=Helicopter operations=

The squadron was redesignated the 72d Helicopter Flight and activated at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia on 1 November 1991, when it absorbed the personnel, and equipment of the 4401st Helicopter Flight, which had been activated at Langley on 15 March 1987. In October 1992, it was expanded to become the 72d Helicopter Squadron. The unit transported personnel and equipment and provided search and rescue assistance until inactivating in December 1995. It was awarded an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its performance between 1992 and 1994.

Lineage

  • Constituted as the 72d Liaison Squadron on 2 April 1943

: Activated on 11 April 1943

: Inactivated on 31 March 1945

  • Activated on 3 October 1946

: Inactivated on 1 April 1949

  • Redesignated 72d Helicopter Flight

: Activated 1 November 1991

: Redesignated 72d Helicopter Squadron on 1 October 1992

: Inactivated on 30 December 1995Lineage, including assignments through October 1992 in Factsheet, 72 Helicopter Squadron.

=Assignments=

=Stations=

{{div col|colwidth=40em}}

  • New Cumberland Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, 11 April 1943
  • Reading Army Air Field, Pennsylvania, 7 June 1943
  • Camp Mackall Army Air Field, North Carolina, 29 July 1943
  • Knollwood Field, Tennessee, 13 September 1943
  • [https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/TN/Airfields_TN_C.htm#skyharbor Sky Harbor Airport], Tennessee, 18 October 1943
  • Raleigh-Durham Army Air Field, North Carolina 27 February – 24 April 1944
  • Oran, Algeria, 14 June 1944
  • Santa Maria Airfield, Italy, 1 July 1944 (flight operated from Caserta Airfield, Italy c 38 July – c. 1 September 1944)
  • Saint-Tropez, France 19 August 1944
  • Brignoles, France, 21 August 1944
  • Grenoble, France, 2 September 1944
  • Lons-le-Saunier, France, 8 September 1944
  • Vesoul, France, 18 September 1944
  • Epinal, France, 30 September 1944
  • Buhl, Bas-Rhin, France, 1 December 1944 (detachment at Strassbourg, France c. 8 December 1944 – 1 January 1945)
  • Epinal, France, 2 January 1945
  • Buhl, France, 11 March 1945
  • Sarreguemines, France, 22 March 1945
  • Kaiserslautern, Germany, 26 March 1945
  • Darmstadt Airfield (Y-76),Station number in Johnson, p. 32. Germany, 1 April 1945
  • Kitzingen Airfield (R-6),Station number in Johnson, p. 35. Germany, 13 April 1945
  • Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany 27 April 1945{{cite web |url= http://www.airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/063/126.xml |last1=|first1=|title=Abstract, History 72 Liaison Squadron, Apr 1945|date=|publisher=Air Force History Index|access-date=January 9, 2022}}
  • Augsburg Airfield (R-84),Station number in Johnson, p. 41. Germany, 2 May 1945
  • Darmstadt Airfield (Y-76), Germany, June – c. 2 July 1945
  • Drew Field, Florida, 4 August 1945
  • Muskogee Army Air Field, Oklahoma, 1 September 1945
  • Marshall Field, Kansas, 1 November 1945 – 31 March 1946
  • Brooks Field, Texas, 3 October 1946
  • Langley Field (later Langley Air Force Base), Virginia, 20 December 1946 – 1 April 1949
  • Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, 1 November 1991 – 30 December 1995Station information through October 1992 in Factsheet, 72 Helicopter Squadron, except as noted.

{{div col end}}

=Aircraft=

{{div col|colwidth=40em}}

  • Stinson L-1 Vigilant, 1943–1944
  • Piper L-4 Cub, 1943–1944
  • Stinson L-5 Sentinel, 1943–1945, 1945–1946, 1946–1949
  • Interstate L-6 Cadet, 1943–1944
  • Douglas RA-24 Banshee, 1943–1944
  • Stinson L-13, 1947–1948
  • Sikorsky R-6, 1948
  • Sikorsy H-5, 1948
  • Bell UH-1 Huey, 1991–1995Aircraft information through October 1992 in Factsheet, 72 Helicopter Squadron, except as noted.

{{div col end}}

=Awards and campaigns=

{{unit awards table

|award_image1=USA MUC

|award_name1=Army Meritorious Unit Commendation

|award_date1=15 August 1944 – 31 December 1944

|award_notes1=72nd Liaison Squadron

|award_image2=AF OUA

|award_name2=Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

|award_date2=1 May 1992 – 30 April 1994.

|award_notes2=72nd Helicopter Flight (later 72nd Helicopter Squadron)

}}

class="wikitable"
style="background:#efefef;"

! Campaign Streamer

! Campaign

! Dates

! Notes

200pxRome-Arno1 July 1944–9 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron
200pxSouthern France15 August 1944–14 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron (with arrowhead device)
200pxNorthern France25 July 1944–14 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron
200pxRhineland15 September 1944–21 March 194572nd Liaison Squadron
200pxArdennes-Alsace16 December 1944–25 January 194572nd Liaison Squadron
200pxCentral Europe22 March 1944–21 May 194572nd Liaison Squadron

References

=Notes=

; Explanatory notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

; Citations

{{reflist|40em}}

=Bibliography=

{{AFHRA}}

  • {{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=September 29, 2015|access-date=June 26, 2017}}
  • {{cite book|editor=Maurer, Maurer|title=Air Force Combat Units of World War II|orig-year= 1961|url= http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180735/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/21/2001330256/-1/-1/0/AFD-100921-044.pdf|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 December 2016|access-date= December 17, 2016|edition=reprint|year=1983|publisher= Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-912799-02-1|lccn=61060979}}
  • {{cite book|editor=Maurer, 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://web.archive.org/web/20161220180455/http://media.defense.gov/2010/Dec/02/2001329899/-1/-1/0/AFD-101202-002.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 December 2016 |edition= reprint|access-date= December 17, 2016|year=1982|publisher=Office of Air Force History|location=Washington, DC|isbn=0-405-12194-6|oclc=72556|lccn=70605402}}

Category:Helicopter squadrons of the United States Air Force