180th Airlift Squadron
 | |
|---|---|
 180th Airlift Squadron C-130 Hercules[a] | |
| Active | 1942–1945; 1946–1953; 1953–1969; 1969–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Missouri |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Squadron |
| Role | Airlift |
| Part of | Missouri Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, Missouri |
| Motto(s) | Ecce Signum (Latin for 'Behold the Sign') (World War II)[1] |
| Engagements | Mediterranean Theater of Operations Pacific Ocean Theater of World War II |
| Decorations | Distinguished Unit Citation Air Force Outstanding Unit Award French Croix de Guerre with Palm |
| Insignia | |
| 180th Airlift Squadron emblem |  |
| 180th Bombardment Squadron emblem[b][2] |  |
| 438th Bombardment Squadron emblem[1] |  |
| Tail marking | Gray Stripe "St Joseph" Black Letters |
The 180th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Missouri Air National Guard 139th Airlift Wing located at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Missouri. The 180th is equipped with the C-130H2 Hercules.
The squadron was first activated in June 1942 as the 438th Bombardment Squadron and equipped with the Martin B-26 Marauder. After training in the United States, it deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, where its actions in combat earned it two Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm. In late 1944, it was withdrawn from combat operations and returned to the United States, where it converted to the Douglas A-26 Invader. It moved to Okinawa, where it engaged in combat against Japan. Following V-J Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated.
In 1946, the squadron was allotted to the National Guard and redesignated the 180th Bombardment Squadron. It activated in Illinois and was again iequipped with the Invader, which was called the B-26 after 1948. In 1951, the squadron was called to active duty. It moved to France and supported North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations until January 1953, when it transferred its personnel and equipment to a regular Air Force Unit and was inactivated and returned to state control.
The squadron returned to state control in 1953, in 1957 it became as a fighter aircraft squadron, with an air defense mission. IN 1962, it gained the airlift mission, which it has performed ever since, except for the period from 1968 to 1976, when its mission was air refueling. Prior to 1968, it was a strategic airlift unit, but since 1976 has performed in a tactical role. It flew combat missions during Operation Just Case and members of the squadron and its aircraft participated in Operation Desert Storm
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