First Active Duty C-130J Squadron

The Air Force reactivated the 48th Airlift Squadron at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas. on 5 December to establish the first active duty C-130J Super Hercules training squadron in the Air Force. The 48th AS is the third flying unit attached to the 314th Airlift Wing. Squadron officials have been training pilots and loadmasters since June 2003 with C-130Js borrowed from the AFRC's 403rd Wing at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. Little Rock's first assigned C-130J will be delivered in spring 2004. The 48th AS was formed as the 48th Transportation Squadron in May 1942 and saw service in World War II, during the Berlin Airlift, and in Korea.

Photo By Lt. Jon Quinlan