57th Weapons Squadron The 57 Weapons Squadron is a United States Air Force unit . It is assigned to the USAF Weapons School , stationed at McGuire AFB , New Jersey . The 57th WPS is a Geographically Separated Unit ( GSU ) of the 57th Wing , assigned to Nellis AFB , Nevada . The mission of the squadron is to provide C - 17 Globemaster III instructional flying . History . World War II . Activated in late 1942 under I Troop Carrier Command as a C - 47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron . Deployed to the Southwest Pacific Area ( SWPA ) , being assigned to Seventh Air Force in New Guinea . The ground echelon left Baer Field on June 17 and arrived at Port Moresby on July 31 . The 57th TCS moved on August 2 to Dobodura , New Guinea and two days later flew the first mission to Salamaua . Soon after arriving in New Guinea the squadron received the name " Biscuit Bomber " ( The name Biscuit Bomber comes from the dropping of food and ammunication to forward locations during WWII ) . Transported troops , supplies , and equipment to forward bases on New Guinea , New Britain , the Solomon Islands , and the Admiralty Islands . On September 2 , nine of the 57th ' s planes dropped 90 , 000 pounds of ammunition , food and equipment to allied troops in the area . Until December 23 , 1943 , the unit made flights to several locations in New Guinea , as well as Port Moresby and Australia . After October 16 , the air echelon operated from Port Moresby , with the rest of the squadron moving there on December 20 , 1943 . Flew armed B - 17F Flying Fortress ' s from February to May 1944 for the more hazardous missions that involved landing on fields that were under enemy attack . Took part in the first airborne operation in the Southwest Pacific , seizing enemy bases and cutting supply lines at Nadzab , New Guinea , on 5 September 1943 . They made the first trip to Morotai Island on October 5 , carrying supplies forward and returning with litter patients Moved to the Philippines in February 1945 , and during the next few months most of its missions were supply flights to ground forces on Luzon and neighboring islands . An additional mission took them to Leyte , Philippine Islands on October 31 to haul supplies to the beachhead and return wounded to hospitals . In January 1945 the unit began the transition to C - 46 aircraft . It also moved to San Jose , Mindoro , Philippine Islands , on February 18 ; then to Porac , Luzon on May 19 . C - 46s flew from Clark Field , 15 miles from the squadron ' s camp . Transported cargo to forces in the Ryukyus , June – July 1945 . After the war , the 57th was used to help transport the 11th Airborne Division to Okinawa . Also ferried liberated prisoners from Okinawa to Luzon . Moved to Tachikawa AB near Tokyo Japan in September 1945 , flying supply missions and courier flights . Operations continued in Japan until January 21 , 1946 when the last of the personnel and equipment transferred to other organizations . The 57th Troop Carrier Squadron inactivated on March 25 , 1946 . Cold War . Trained in the Reserve from August 1947 at Greater Pittsburgh Airport , PA , as part of the 375th Troop Carrier Group . The Reservists trained in the C - 46 Commando operations until the unit was reactivated on October 15 , 1950 due to the Korean War . After a period of intensive training , the group supplied airlift for troop movements throughout the United States . Immediately , the unit moved to Greenville ( later , Donaldson ) AFB , SC , and began flying C - 82 Packet aircraft on operational troop carrier missions in November 1950 . Between February 20 and April 11 , 1952 , the unit operated on temporary duty from Brownwood Regional Airport , TX , in support of Army maneuvers . On July 14 , 1952 , the 57th TCS inactivated at Donaldson AFB and activated in the Reserve at Pittsburgh , PA , with new personnel and equipment . The squadron did little training and inactivated on April 1 , 1954 due to budget restraints . Reactivated 1965 as a C - 141 Starlifter training squadron at Tinker AFB , Oklahoma . The 57th MAS trained aircrew members ( Pilots , Navigators , Flight Engineers and Loadmasters ) to fly the C - 141 turbo - jet transport . They frequently carried cargo and passengers to destinations within the United States on the training flights . The unit also transported cargo and passengers overseas to Japan , West Germany , Guam , Puerto Rico , Hawaii , and Alaska , usually on weekend missions . In later years , additional destinations included Egypt , South Korea , Italy , the Philippines , Spain and Africa . On April 21 , 1969 , the squadron relocated to Altus AFB OK . From there , the squadron took part in numerous humanitarian and operational missions . The squadron regularly flew to Southeast Asia in support of U . S . forces there . Crews and aircraft flew in the Israeli airlift , October – November 1973 . In 1975 , the 57th flew its first mission to South America . Occasionally the 57th supported the U . S . Army with airdrop missions of paratroopers and supplies . In December 1979 , the unit received the Air Force ' s first C - 141B , and it was given the name “ the City of Altus . ” In addition to the stretched fuselage , the aircraft was modified for air refueling capabilities . The squadron also supported the Commander in Chief , Military Airlift Command and his staff in the late 1970s and early 1980s . Airlift missions to Beirut , Lebanon began in August 1983 , in support of peacekeeping forces there . During Desert Shield , Desert Storm , 32 aircrews from the squadron flew more than 4 , 300 hours on 640 sorties . Additionally , the squadron flew more than 200 sorties and transported more than 3 , 100 tons of food and supplies in support of the Somalia relief efforts during Operation Restore Hope . Modern era . On July 1 , 1993 the squadron came under the Air Education and Training Command . The squadron was the sole source for initial qualifications and advanced training in C - 141 strategic airlift aircraft . It was selectively manned to train C - 141 aircrew members in airland , aerial delivery and aerial refueling . The 57th flew approximately 2 , 000 sorties and 8 , 500 hours annually to provide specialized flight training to over 900 students . In addition , the squadron maintained world - wide qualification and participates in most national , USTRANSCOM directed airlift operations until the aircraft left the inventory in 2001 . Reactivated at McGuire AFB , NJ , in 2003 as a Geographically Separated component of the USAF Weapons School . Modern era . Reactivated as a weapons training squadron in 2003 as part of the AMC Weapons School at McGuire AFB , New Jersey , conducting training on the C - 17 Globemaster III . School was incorporated into the Nellis AFB USAF Weapons School in 2006 , becoming a GSU of the 57th Wing .