143rd Air Resupply Squadron

  November 1955 to present

  United States of America

TYPE: USAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Warwick, RI & Quonset ANGB, RI

OTHER NAMES: 143^rd Air Resupply Squadron (1955-1958), 143^rd Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) (1958-1963), 143^rd Air Commando Squadron (1963-1968), 143^rd Special Operations Squadron (1968-1975), 143^rd Tactical Airlift Squadron (1975-1992), 143^rd Airlift Squadron (since 1992)

The 143rd Air Resupply Squadron was activated by the Rhode Island Air National Guard (RIANG) and received Federal recognition on 19 November 1955. The bulk of its manpower came from the Rhode Island-based 152^nd Fighter Squadron. Its mission was unconventional and psychological warfare, involving single-ship, low-level flying in and out of remote airstrips both day and night. Fighter pilots had to be rerained for that new mission, which was organized for a cadre team at Camp Peary, VA - a CIA training facility known as "the Farm". There, they underwent two weeks of an intensive training course in the skills necessary to fly and survive behind enemy lines.

Having completed the training, the cadre team returned to Rhode Island to pass on their knowledge to other crews. The squadron initially operated a fleet of Commandos, which were largely phased out by 1958. Later aircraft operated by the unit were the Grumman SA-16 & HU-16, the U-10 Helio Courrier, the Fairchild C-119 and finally the Lockheed C-130A, E & J. While the squadron's organization and name changed through time, its mission remains largely unchanged to this day.

November 1955 to March 1958*

The 143^rd was equipped with a fleet of C-46D's, until they were replaced by the Grumman SA-16 Albatross.

• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: 44-77618, 44-77687