347th Tactical Airlift Squadron

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The 347th Tactical Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit that was last part of the 516th Tactical Airlift Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated in June 1972.

Origins and Korean War era
The squadron began in 1949 as the 347th Troop Carrier Squadron in the Air Force Reserve, training at Memphis, Tennessee. In 1951 it was activated for the Korean War and served until 1953, participating in Tactical Air Command airlift operations. In 1952 it converted from the Curtiss C-46 Commando to the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar before being inactivated in January 1953 and replaced by the 774th Troop Carrier Squadron.

Helicopter test program (assault, rotary wing)
The unit was reactivated in 1955 at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee as the 347th Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Rotary Wing. It helped test the Air Force’s ability to support Army helicopter assault operations. It began with Sikorsky H-19 helicopters, then switched to Piasecki H-21s. The squadron took part in Operation Backlash II, a radar site survey and Mid-Canada Line project, and helped test evacuating top personnel from Washington, D.C. in a nuclear attack. The conflict over using Air Force helicopters for Army assault missions led to the squadron’s helicopters being dismantled and transported by air, and the squadron was inactivated in July 1956. The helicopters were moved to the 24th Helicopter Squadron.

Fixed-wing airlift for the Army (C-123 era)
A few months later the squadron was reactivated at Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina as a Fairchild C-123 Provider unit. It trained to airlift troops, equipment and supplies into combat zones, resupply forces, and evacuate casualties. In 1958 the squadron and most of the C-123s at Sewart were transferred to Pope, and its parent wing, the 513th Troop Carrier Wing, was inactivated.

Dyess and C-130 transition
In July 1963 the squadron moved on paper to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, replacing the 18th Troop Carrier Squadron and taking over its mission, equipment and personnel as the 18th moved to Sewart. The 347th continued to fly and deploy regularly, often sending crews and aircraft to Europe and the Pacific.

C-130 era and Vietnam service
The squadron became a C-130 unit and flew missions around the world, including Vietnam, delivering materiel and personnel as part of the war effort. It remained active in various exercises and operations until its inactivation in 1972.

Aircraft history
Over the years the squadron flew several aircraft, including the C-46, C-119, H-19, H-21, C-123 and finally the C-130 Hercules.

Decorations
The unit earned the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm for its Vietnam service.