Altus AFB 730th AMTS Art

The 730th Air Mobility Training Squadron carries a distinguished lineage that began in 1943 with its activation as the 730th Bombardment Squadron, part of the Eighth Air Force in Europe. Flying the B – 17 Flying Fortress, the squadron took part in the strategic bombing campaign against Germany, contributing to major operations that weakened enemy industrial capacity. Its precision and determination earned it a Distinguished Unit Citation for its actions during the 1945 attack on Kaltenkirchen .

Following World War II, the squadron entered the Air Force Reserve and transitioned to the B – 26 Invader. It became one of the first Reserve units mobilized for the Korean War, conducting interdiction, close air support, and reconnaissance missions. Its performance in Korea earned two additional Distinguished Unit Citations, reinforcing its reputation for combat excellence. In the decades that followed, the squadron adapted to evolving Air Force missions, shifting through reconnaissance, bombardment, and troop carrier roles. It later became an early Reserve associate unit, operating the C – 119 and eventually the C – 141 Starlifter. For nearly four decades, the squadron supported global airlift, humanitarian operations, and major contingencies, including Operation Just Cause, before its inactivation in 2005.