USAF Patch Airlift USAFE b 37 e TAS Tactical Airlift Squadron Rhein Main a

USAF Patch USAFE 37 TAS Tactical Airlift Squadron MAC 1977 C 130 Hercules Rhein Main AB West Germany Fully embroidered cut edge 97mm by 76mm three and thirteen sixteenth inches by three inches.

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History   

Following its war time airborne assault service in Europe during WWII 37 Troop Carrier Squadron relocated to Pope Field North Carolina in May 1945 assigned to 316 Troop Carrier Group equipped with C 47 Skytrain moving to Greenville AAB South Carolina on 30 July 1946 and added C 46 Commando transport aircraft to its fleet. The Squadron transitioned to C 82 Packet transports in 1947 and was redesignated 37 Troop Carrier Squadron Medium on 23 June 1948. 37 TCSM was redesignated 37 Troop Carrier Squadron Heavy on 8 October 1949 and relocated to Smyrna AFB Tennessee on 4 November 1949. 

37 TCS was redesignated 37 Troop Carrier Squadron Medium on 28 January 1950 and reequipped with C 119 Flying Boxcar transports in 1950. The Squadron was attached to 314 TCG on 21 August 1950 and relocated to Ashiya AB Japan on 11 September 1950. During the Korean War undertook the airborne assaults at Sukchon Sunchon and Munsan ni in Korea in addition to its aerial transportation duties between Japan and Korea.  

The Squadron was inactivated on 8 May 1952 at Ashiya AB and reactivated the same day at Sewart AFB Tennessee assigned to 316 TCG equipped with C 119 Flying Boxcars. The Squadron relocated to Ashiya AB Japan on 15 November 1954 providing cargo and troop transportation services before it was inactivated at Ashiya AB on 18 June 1957.  

The Squadron was reactivated as 37 Troop Carrier Squadron on 17 May 1966 at Langley AFB Virginia under Tactical Air Command and was organized on 1 October 1966 assigned to 316 TCW equipped with C 130 Hercules transport aircraft deploying to the Pacific and Europe for rotational DTYs for intra theatre troop carrier and airlift support of PACAF and mainly USAFE NATO and UN operations and exercises as well as humanitarian missions. 37 TCS was redesignated 37 Tactical Airlift Squadron TAS on 1 May 1967 while deployed in Taiwan and deployed to RAF Mildenhall England from 24 November 1968 to 26 February 1969 then Rhein Main AB West Germany from 13 July to 26 September 1969 RAF Mildenhall England from 24 February to 11 May 1970 Rhein Main AB West Germany from 7 February to 13 April 1971 RAF Mildenhall England from 13 January to 14 March 1972.  

During its deployment to Ching Chaun Kang AB Taiwan from 6 December 1972 the Squadron undertook a mission to Hanoi on 17 February 1973 in support of Operation Homecoming the repatriation of American POWs prisoners of war and transported them to Clark AB Philippines on 5 March 1973 returning from Taiwan on 15 March 1973. 37 TAS deployed to RAF Mildenhall England from 31 August to 1 October 1973 and then to Rhein Main AB West Germany from 5 April to 15 June 1975. 

37 TAS was reassigned to 317 Tacrtical Airlift Wing TAW on 15 September 1975. The Squadron relocated to Rhein Main AB West Germany and was reassigned to 435 TAW on 1 October 1977 providing Rhein Main with its own dedicated C 130 transport Squadron for USAFE and NATO operations to reduce the need for rotational TDY units. 37 TAS took part in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Southwest Asia from 14 August 1990 to 29 March 1991 remaining in theatre to airdrop humanitarian supplies to Kurds in northern Iraq for Operation Provide Comfort from April to May 1991.  

37 TAS was redesignated 37 Airlift Squadron AS and was reassigned to 435 Operations Group OG on 1 April 1992 and began airlift and airdrop missions to Bosnia Herzegovina for Operation Provide Promise commencing in July 1992.

37 AS relocated to Ramstein AB Germany and was reassigned to 86 Operations Group 86 Wing on 1 October 1994. The Squadron transitioned to C 130J Super Hercules on 7 April 2009. 

This patch dates from 1977.