177th Airlift Squadron

177th Airlift Squadron
177th Airlift Squadron
	177th Airlift Squadron C-21 Learjet in Iraq, 2009
Active	1 March 2008 – Present
Country	United States
Allegiance	North Dakota
Branch	Air National Guard
Type	Squadron
Role	Airlift
Part of	North Dakota Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	Fargo Air National Guard Base, North Dakota.
Tail Code	Red tail stripe, "Happy Hooligans" in white letters
Insignia
177th Airlift Squadron emblem

The 177th Airlift Squadron (177 AS) is a unit of the 119th Wing of the North Dakota Air National Guard, stationed at Fargo Air National Guard Base, North Dakota. The 177th is equipped with the C-21A Learjet.

Overview

The 177th Airlift Squadron accomplishes several missions including operational support airlift, transportation of distinguished visitors, and a responsive aeromedical airlift system to move eligible patients.

History

The squadron was authorized in 2008 and activated at Fargo Air National Guard Base when the 178th Airlift Squadron of the 119th Airlift Wing was equipped with MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicles. The 178th was redesignated the 178th Reconnaissance Squadron and the C-21A Learjets it formerly operated being were transferred to the new 177th Airlift Squadron. Support equipment and personnel from the 178th were also reassigned to the 177th.

In 2009, the 177th deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the first deployment into a combat zone for a unit of the North Dakota Air National Guard. The squadron transported more than 400 service members during their two-month-long rotation in theater. They accomplished this by flying more than 200 sorties during 90 missions as part of the 379th Expeditionary Operations Group.

Lineage

Designated 177th Airlift Squadron, and allotted to North Dakota ANG, 2008

Extended federal recognition and activated, 1 March 2008

Assignments

119th Operations Group, 1 March 2008 – present

Stations

Fargo Air National Guard Base, North Dakota, 1 March 2008 – present

Aircraft

C-21A Learjet, 2008–Present

References

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency