72nd Helicopter Squadron


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.

History

World War II

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 in April 1944.
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. 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. In November, it relocated to Marshall Field, Kansas, where it flew observation and visual reconnaissance missions for the Cavalry School. 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. The following year, it added the all metal Stinson L-13 and in 1948, operated the Sikorsky R-6 and Sikorsky H-5 helicopters. 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 3 October 1946
  • Redesignated '''72d Helicopter Flight'''

Assignments

Stations

Aircraft

Awards and campaigns

Campaign StreamerCampaignDatesNotes
Rome-Arno1 July 1944–9 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron
Southern France15 August 1944–14 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron
Northern France25 July 1944–14 September 194472nd Liaison Squadron
Rhineland15 September 1944–21 March 194572nd Liaison Squadron
Ardennes-Alsace16 December 1944–25 January 194572nd Liaison Squadron
Central Europe22 March 1944–21 May 194572nd Liaison Squadron