66th Troop Carrier Squadron (66th TCS)
U.S. Army Air Force, 403rd Troop Carrier Group (403rd TCG)

Background
On December 7, 1942 constituted as the 66th Troop Carrier Squadron (66th TCS) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). On December 12, 1942 activated in the 403rd Troop Carrier Group (403rd TCG) at Bowman Field in Kentucky. On December 18, 1942 moves to Alliance, Nebraska. On May 3, 1943 moves to Pope Field in North Carolina. On June 18, 1943 moves to Baer Field in Indiana. On July 6, 1943 begins a movement overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
On July 21, 1943 moves to Port Moresby in New Guinea and the same day assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF).

On July 27, 1943 the squadron flies their first aerial transportation in New Guinea.

On August 13, 1943 assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Wing (54th TCW).

On September 25, 1943 moves to Nadzab Airfield in New Guinea.

On November 9, 1943 assigned to the 433rd Troop Carrier Group (433rd TCG).

On May 12, 1944 a detachment begins operating from Tadji Airfield until June 2, 1944 then returns to Nadzab Airfield.

On November 18, 1944 moves to Biak.

On January 18, 1945 begins operating from Hill Field on Mindoro and Dulag Airfield on Leyte in the Philippines.

On February 20, 1945 returns to the 403rd Troop Carrier Group (403rd TCG).

On February 27, 1945 moves to Morotai and the same day is joined by the portion of the squadron that was operating in the Philippines.

On August 15, 1945 the entire squadron moves to Dulag Airfield until the end of the Pacific War.

Postwar
On November 30, 1945 not manned as a squadron. On January 15, 1946 inactivated. On August 3, 1947 activated in the 419th Troop Carrier Group (419th TCG) in the reserves at Roanoke Municipal Airport. On September 18, 1947 becomes part of the U.S. Air Force (USAF). On June 27, 1949 moves to at Portland Municipal Airport and the same day redesignated 66th Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) in the 403rd Troop Carrier Group (403rd TCG). On April 1, 1951 ordered to active service. On April 17, 1951 inactivated.

Awards
Distinguished Unit Citation Philippines April 17, 1945–June 30, 1945
Philippine Presidential Unit Citation

Emblem
The squadron emblem (approved December 15, 1944) was a medium blue disc, a caricatured, golden orange street car, winged of the last, in flight toward dexter, over a white cloud formation in base, driven by a caricatured pilot wearing brown flight suit and red aviator’s helmet, at motorman’s post, and having a caricatured paratrooper hanging out of the window on the side, and another caricatured paratrooper attired, proper, standing on roof in midst of assorted boxes, freight, and bundles red, yellow, and green, and holding a brown gun in the left hand.

References
Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II (1982) pages 249-250 (66th Troop Carrier) [PDF pages 261-262]

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