page_title: 48th Airlift Squadron
section_title: European operations
hierarchical_section_title: 48th Airlift Squadron / History / World War II / European operations
caption_attribution_description: English: 47th Troop Carrier Squadron Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando 44-77541, April 1945, Achiet Airfield (B-54), France. Aircraft damaged and w/o in an accident shortly afterwards in April 1945.
context_page_description: The 48th Airlift Squadron is part of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. It operates Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, conducting pilot and loadmaster training for airlift and airdrop operations.
  The squadron was first activated as the 48th Transport Squadron in June 1942. As the 48th Troop Carrier Squadron, it flew Douglas C-47 Skytrains in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations during World War II, earning Distinguished Unit Citations for carrying reinforcements to Sicily despite fire from ground and naval forces in July 1943, and for participation in Operation Overlord in June 1944. It converted to Curtiss C-46 Commandos, with which it took part in Operation Varsity. After V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States, where it was inactivated.
  The squadron was activated in Austria in 1946, but in 1947 was transferred to the United States on paper and began to train with Fairchild C-82 Packets. The following year, the 47th returned to Europe to participate in the Berlin Airlift with Douglas C-54 Skymasters. After the successful completion of the airlift, the squadron was again inactivated in 1949.
context_section_description: In February 1944, the squadron moved to RAF Folkingham, England, where it became part of IX Troop Carrier Command and began training for the assault on the continent of Europe.  On D-Day the squadron dropped paratroopers near Picauville, Normandy and dropped reinforcements the following day.  The squadron's efforts during Operation Overlord earned it a second DUC.
  On 17 September, the squadron participated in Operation Market Garden, the airborne assault on the Netherlands, when it dropped troopers near Arnhem and Nijmegen.  In February 1945, the squadron moved to Achiet Airfield in France, where it began converting to Curtiss C-46 Commandos in preparation for Operation Varsity, the airborne assault across the Rhine.  On 24 March 1945 it dropped elements of the 17th Airborne Division near Wesel.
  The squadron continued to operate from Achiet during 1945, performing transportation of personnel and supplies within Europe.  It evacuated wounded and former prisoners of war and brought gasoline, ammunition to forward areas.  After V-E Day, it continued to transport medical equipment and other supplies.  In September, the squadron's personnel returned to the United States and it was inactivated on arrival at the Port of Embarkation.
caption: 313th Troop Carrier Group C-46 Commando[note 1]
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