728th Airlift Squadron The 728th Airlift Squadron ( 728 AS ) is a United States Air Force Reserve squadron , assigned to the 446th Operations Group , stationed at McChord Field , Joint Base Lewis - McChord , Washington . It is a corollary unit of the active duty 8th Airlift Squadron , 62d Airlift Wing ( 62 AW ) . Overview . The mission of the 728th AS is to provide mission - ready aircrews for operational support for strategic and tactical airlift , combat airdrop and aeromedical evacuation in support of U . S . Air Force , Air Force Reserve Command and gaining major command objectives . History . The 728th was initially activated June 1 , 1943 , as the 728th Bombardment Squadron at Geiger Field located near Spokane , WA . The 728th , equipped with the B - 17 Flying Fortress , flew its first combat mission to France in 1944 in support of Allied Forces during World War II . The squadron flew numerous bombardment missions during the Battle of the Bulge and supported the airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945 . Following several European post - war missions , the 728th was inactivated in the United States in August 1945 . In April 1947 , the 728th was reactivated as a Reserve unit at Long Beach , CA . The squadron began transition training in the Douglas B - 26 Invader in February 1949 . Ordered to active duty in August 1950 , the squadron left its training station at George AFB , CA , and headed for Japan October 12 , 1950 . The 728th flew its first combat mission of the Korean War on November 12 , 1950 . The squadron later moved to South Korea in May 1951 to fly close air support , interdiction and reconnaissance missions against North Korea . These combat missions continued until May 1952 when the squadron returned to the United States . Designated as the 728th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in June 1952 , 728th aircrews began transition training to T - 33 and F - 80 Shooting Star aircraft . In May 1955 , the 728th was re - designated as a tactical bombardment squadron and again flew the B - 26 Douglas Invader . In July 1957 , the squadron was again re - designated as a troop carrier unit and began to fly C - 46 Commando aircraft . One year later the squadron transitioned to the C - 119 Flying Boxcar . During the Cuban Missile Crisis from October to November 1962 , the 728th provided airlift support for the Continental Air Command and the Strategic Air Command . In August 1965 , the squadron received its first C - 124 Globemaster II aircraft and four months later was designated the 728th Military Airlift Squadron in January 1966 . The 728th MAS flew regular missions in the Pacific and Far East theaters . After seven years as a C - 124 unit , the 728th MAS was relocated at Norton AFB , CA , and became an associate Reserve squadron in the 445th Military Airlift Wing . In January 1972 , the 728th MAS began transition training to fly the C - 141 Starlifter . The 728th participated in Operation Homecoming , bringing home the POWs from Southeast Asia , and Operation New Life which supported the evacuation of orphans and other refugees from Vietnam to the United States . In 1989 the 728th flew many missions in support of Operation Just Cause in Panama and , as a Reserve squadron , voluntarily flew numerous airlift missions into Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991 . On January 1 , 1992 the 728th MAS was officially transferred from the 445th Military Airlift Wing at Norton AFB , CA , to the 446th Military Airlift Wing at McChord AFB , WA . The relocation of the squadron was a result of the closure of Norton AFB as part of the DOD ' s Base Realignment and Closure program . The 728th was renamed the 728th Airlift Squadron ( AS ) on February 1 , 1992 following the reorganization of the 446th Airlift Wing and was joined its two sister squadrons , the 97th Airlift Squadron and 313th Airlift Squadron , within the newly formed 446th Operations Group . Because of its service throughout its history , the 728th has earned numerous awards and decorations . The squadron received 13 campaign streamers and six decorations for its service during World War II and the Korean War . The squadron earned three Distinguished Presidential Unit Citation s for 1945 , 1951 , and 1952 . The Republic of Korea Presidential and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm are also key awards highlighting the 728th ' s dedicated service . The 728th also received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its contributions from September 1 , 1985 to August 31 , 1987 . Since arriving at McChord AFB in January 1992 , the 728th has participated in numerous real world contingency , peacekeeping , and humanitarian relief missions . In addition , the 728th provides active support for Phoenix Banner , Copper and Silver missions . The 728th ' s highest priority missions assist in the support of the president and vice president as well as secret service operations . These frequent missions are ongoing in nature . In January 1997 , a 728th AS crew repatriated the remains of five U . S . service members form Beijing , China , members of the B - 24J Liberator bomber crew that crashed near Liuchouw , China in August 1944 after returning from a bombing mission . A new chapter began at the 728th with the squadron ’ s selection as the first of three Associate Reserve squadrons to transition to the newest aircraft in the Air Mobility Command Fleet , the C - 17 Globemaster III . The first C - 17 was delivered McChord July 30 , 1999 . The squadron ' s first operational C - 17 mission in November 1999 was a repatriation mission to Hanoi , Vietnam , where 11 American servicemen , from the Korean War and the Vietnam War , were repatriated at the same time — the first time remains from two separate wars were repatriated on the same mission . On February 14 , 2003 , the 728th AS was activated to support Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom . From February 2003 until February 13 , 2005 , 728th aircrews flew numerous combat airlift missions into Iraq and Afghanistan , performing engine running onloads / offloads of troops and equipment and flying aeromedical evactuation missions of critically wounded personnel . Members from the 728th also participated in the combat airdrop of the 173d Airborne Brigade over northern Iraq on March 26 , 2003 . The 728th AS received the Air Force Meritorious Unit Award for its support of OEF and OIF from February 2003 to February 2005 .