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137th Airlift Squadron
The 137th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard 105th Airlift Wing located at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York. It was first activated during World War II as the 483rd Bombardment Squadron. After converting to fighter aircraft as the 504th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in combat, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and destroying 52 enemy aircraft in air to air combat. Following V-E Day, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in November 1945.
In 1946, it was allotted to the National Guard and in 1948 was activated in the New York Air National Guard as the 137th Fighter Squadron it continued in the fighter role until 1961, when the 137th Tactical Fighter Squadron was replaced by the 137th Aeromedical Transport Squadron. It flew transport and aeromedical evacuation missions until 1969, when the 137th Military Airlift Squadron was replaced by the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron which trained as a forward air control unit until 1983, when it moved from Westchester County Airport to Stewart and resumed the airlift mission.
The squadron operates the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift cargo plane from Stewart Air National Guard Base. The squadron's airmen regularly fly missions providing support to U.S. forces worldwide. Squadron members also deploy as members of air expeditionary wings into operational areas throughout the world. As members of the New York Air National Guard, airmen of the squadron respond to state emergencies when called upon by the Governor of New York.
The first predecessor of the squadron was formed in August 1942 as the 483rd Bombardment Squadron at Hunter Field, Georgia, as one of the original four squadrons of the 339th Bombardment Group. It was equipped with Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers, and also flew a few Curtiss A-25 Shrikes. In July 1943, it moved to Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina, where it re-equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras. The following month, along with all other single engine bomber units of the Army Air Forces (AAF), it was redesignated as a fighter-bomber unit, becoming the 504th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. It moved to Rice Army Air Field, California in September 1943, where in addition to training with its P-39s, it participated in maneuvers. It departed Rice for the European Theater of Operations on 9 March 1944, sailing from the New York Port of Embarkation on the MV Stirling Castle on 22 March.
The squadron landed in England on 4 April and arrived at its combat station, RAF Fowlmere, the next day. Its first airplane arrived on 12 April, a North American P-51B Mustang. It quickly converted to the new fighter, and flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep, on 30 April. In May, it dropped the "Bomber" from its name, becoming the 504th Fighter Squadron. It flew escort for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers during its first five weeks of operations, and afterwards flew escort missions to cover operations of medium and heavy bombers that struck strategic objectives, interdicted enemy lines of communication, and provided air support for ground forces. In June 1954, it began to receive updated P-51D models of the Mustang. The 339th Group was also the first VII Fighter Command unit to be equipped with g-suits, which enabled its fighters to make tighter turns in dogfights.
On D-Day It provided fighter cover over the English Channel and the coast of Normandy for the landing forces. It strafed and dive bombed vehicles, locomotives, marshaling yards, flak batteries, and troops while Allied forces fought to break out of the beachhead in France. It attacked transportation targets during Operation Cobra, the July breakout at Saint Lo, and the subsequent Allied drive across France. It flew area patrols during Operation Market-Garden, the airborne landings attempting to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine in the Netherlands in September.
The squadron frequently strafed airfields and other targets of opportunity while on escort missions. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions on escort missions on 10 and 11 September 1944. On the first day, after escorting bombers attacking a target in Germany, it attacked Erding Airfield, destroying or damaging enemy aircraft despite intense fire from antiaircraft guns and small arms. The following day it escorted a formation of bombers attacking Munich that was attacked by enemy interceptor aircraft, in the strongest defense put up by Luftflotte Reich since May. The squadron shot down fifteen enemy fighters and drove off the remaining attacking aircraft, while other elements attacked an airfield near Karlsruhe, encountering heavy fire, but damaging or destroying numerous aircraft parked on the field.
The squadron escorted bombers to, and flew patrols over the battle area during the Battle of the Bulge, the German counterattack in the Ardennes in December 1944 through early January 1945. In March 1945 it supported Operation Varsity, the assault across the Rhine in Germany, patrolling the area to prevent German air attacks. It flew its last combat mission on 21 April 1945. The squadron was credited with 52 air to air victories during its year in combat.
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137th Airlift Squadron
The 137th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the New York Air National Guard 105th Airlift Wing located at Stewart Air National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York. It was first activated during World War II as the 483rd Bombardment Squadron. After converting to fighter aircraft as the 504th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, the squadron deployed to the European Theater of Operations, where it participated in combat, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation and destroying 52 enemy aircraft in air to air combat. Following V-E Day, it returned to the United States, where it was inactivated in November 1945.
In 1946, it was allotted to the National Guard and in 1948 was activated in the New York Air National Guard as the 137th Fighter Squadron it continued in the fighter role until 1961, when the 137th Tactical Fighter Squadron was replaced by the 137th Aeromedical Transport Squadron. It flew transport and aeromedical evacuation missions until 1969, when the 137th Military Airlift Squadron was replaced by the 137th Tactical Air Support Squadron which trained as a forward air control unit until 1983, when it moved from Westchester County Airport to Stewart and resumed the airlift mission.
The squadron operates the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic airlift cargo plane from Stewart Air National Guard Base. The squadron's airmen regularly fly missions providing support to U.S. forces worldwide. Squadron members also deploy as members of air expeditionary wings into operational areas throughout the world. As members of the New York Air National Guard, airmen of the squadron respond to state emergencies when called upon by the Governor of New York.
The first predecessor of the squadron was formed in August 1942 as the 483rd Bombardment Squadron at Hunter Field, Georgia, as one of the original four squadrons of the 339th Bombardment Group. It was equipped with Douglas A-24 Banshee dive bombers, and also flew a few Curtiss A-25 Shrikes. In July 1943, it moved to Walterboro Army Air Field, South Carolina, where it re-equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobras. The following month, along with all other single engine bomber units of the Army Air Forces (AAF), it was redesignated as a fighter-bomber unit, becoming the 504th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. It moved to Rice Army Air Field, California in September 1943, where in addition to training with its P-39s, it participated in maneuvers. It departed Rice for the European Theater of Operations on 9 March 1944, sailing from the New York Port of Embarkation on the MV Stirling Castle on 22 March.
The squadron landed in England on 4 April and arrived at its combat station, RAF Fowlmere, the next day. Its first airplane arrived on 12 April, a North American P-51B Mustang. It quickly converted to the new fighter, and flew its first combat mission, a fighter sweep, on 30 April. In May, it dropped the "Bomber" from its name, becoming the 504th Fighter Squadron. It flew escort for Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers during its first five weeks of operations, and afterwards flew escort missions to cover operations of medium and heavy bombers that struck strategic objectives, interdicted enemy lines of communication, and provided air support for ground forces. In June 1954, it began to receive updated P-51D models of the Mustang. The 339th Group was also the first VII Fighter Command unit to be equipped with g-suits, which enabled its fighters to make tighter turns in dogfights.
On D-Day It provided fighter cover over the English Channel and the coast of Normandy for the landing forces. It strafed and dive bombed vehicles, locomotives, marshaling yards, flak batteries, and troops while Allied forces fought to break out of the beachhead in France. It attacked transportation targets during Operation Cobra, the July breakout at Saint Lo, and the subsequent Allied drive across France. It flew area patrols during Operation Market-Garden, the airborne landings attempting to secure a bridgehead across the Rhine in the Netherlands in September.
The squadron frequently strafed airfields and other targets of opportunity while on escort missions. It was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions on escort missions on 10 and 11 September 1944. On the first day, after escorting bombers attacking a target in Germany, it attacked Erding Airfield, destroying or damaging enemy aircraft despite intense fire from antiaircraft guns and small arms. The following day it escorted a formation of bombers attacking Munich that was attacked by enemy interceptor aircraft, in the strongest defense put up by Luftflotte Reich since May. The squadron shot down fifteen enemy fighters and drove off the remaining attacking aircraft, while other elements attacked an airfield near Karlsruhe, encountering heavy fire, but damaging or destroying numerous aircraft parked on the field.
The squadron escorted bombers to, and flew patrols over the battle area during the Battle of the Bulge, the German counterattack in the Ardennes in December 1944 through early January 1945. In March 1945 it supported Operation Varsity, the assault across the Rhine in Germany, patrolling the area to prevent German air attacks. It flew its last combat mission on 21 April 1945. The squadron was credited with 52 air to air victories during its year in combat.
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