USAF Reserve unit 301st AS honors Heritage

  • Published
  • By Mr. Ronald Lake and Master Sgt. Wendy Weidenhamer
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It was just another day in the fight against the Axis Powers in World War II for the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron, July 27, 1944. D-Day had just been fought and wounded American soldiers from the battle of Normandy needed to be air evacuated out of the area. Taking up the mission were two C-47 aircraft that left the Royal Air Force Merryfield airfield with the wounded--only one of the aircraft would reach its destination.

History can be a valuable teacher and ten members from the 301st Airlift Squadron took a step to enrich their present by taking a trip June 2-7, into their past, traveling to England and Scotland to honor members from the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron.

"You need to figure out where you came from to figure out where you're going," said Master Sgt. Steve Burke, C-17 loadmaster, 301st Airlift Squadron, Travis Air Force Base, Calif.

The journey into their history started with a mandate to change their squadron patch. Lt. Col. Dave Pavey, currently the 446th Operations Group commander, McChord AFB, Wash., but the aircraft operations officer for the 301st AS at the time, began researching the history of the unit to possibly use a World War II version of the 301st TCS patch for their new patch. But the 301st TCS, along with many other squadrons at that time, was formed so quickly they had little time to adopt a patch.

Although his search for a historical squadron patch had reached a dead end, Lieutenant Colonel Pavey was "fired up" about what he was finding in the history of his unit and continued his research. One of the most exciting things he found was that a previous commander of the troop carrier squadron, Col. Lloyd G. Neblett, now 88 years old, was still alive and living in Oklahoma.

But back then, this commander of the squadron that would eventually become the 301st AS, was Captain Neblett, a 25-year-old C-47 pilot when the D-Day invasion kicked off, June 6, 1944. He and his companions in the 301st TCS were among the many Army Air Force aircrews that flew members of the famed 82nd and 101st Airborne Division paratroopers over the English Channel the night before and dropped them behind German lines in advance of the D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy.

"This trip was full of fond memories and got sad as hell when we got to Scotland," Colonel Neblett recalled as he reflected on the trip and the companions he had left behind. "It was great to see how the modern Air Force works today," he said, adding, "I didn't see anything but professionalism on behalf of the entire crew."

How does he feel about his generation's contributions to maintaining the freedoms we enjoy today? "We did just exactly what you all are doing today," he said simply. As for being a hero, he said with a voice beginning to soften with emotion, "The heroes? We visited them at the Cambridge Cemetery. They're the heroes, not we who survived."

Lieutenant Colonel Pavey, along with Lt. Col. Dave DeGavre, 301st Flight Commander, contacted Colonel Neblett in Oklahoma. Then the idea to retrace their squadron's history while walking the actual path began to form--a trip to the United Kingdom and Scotland with Colonel Neblett accompanying, to pay tribute to members of the 301st Troop Carrier Squadron who died during the war.

Lieutenant Colonel DeGavre was given the task of planning every detail of the trip, a huge task that took four months and included coordinating with three organizations, including arranging training for 349th Air Evacuation Squadron during the trip over and back. The mission also transported the 939th Services Flight, Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., and members of the 512 Memorial Affairs Squadron, Dover AFB, Del., who performed annual tour training at RAF Mildenhall. There was also coordination with members from the 301st sister squadron, the Number 99 Squadron, a Royal Air Force C-17 Globemaster III squadron located at Brize Norton, United Kingdom.

The five-day trip began with a visit to the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Cambridge, England, the only permanent American World War II military cemetery on the British Isles. The solemn ceremony included the echoes of a bugle played by Staff Sgt. Charles Cummings, 301st Loadmaster, and ending with laying flowers on the grave of the 301st TCS member who had died in the crash of the C-47 on that foggy fateful day in history.

The journey back into history continued with a trip to Portpatrick, Scotland, the site of the crash. This historical event has been a big part of Portpatrick's history because their Coast Guard lifeboats were the first to arrive at the crash site and Mr. Jimmy Brown, a member of the community and only 14 years old at the time, heard the crash in the fog and was the first to reach the crash site.

It was a sunny day at this rocky coastal town when United States Air Force Reservists in their dress blues arrived and were greeted by many curious eyes, all familiar with the area's history. Children, who were given the day off from school to attend the event, presented members of the 301st AS with a scrapbook of memories they had made. During the ceremony Mr. Jimmy Brown played "The Flowers of Scotland' on the bagpipes. The tune periodically faded and tears rolled down his cheeks as emotion choked his throat while he remembered that tragic moment so long ago.

The trip ended with a visit to RAF Merryfield Airfield where the 301st TCU was stationed.

For the members of the 301st it was an emotional moment, remembering their fallen brothers.

"It was so peaceful, the sea and wind were calm, it gave me time to reflect on how far we've come." said Lieutenant Colonel DeGavre. "I feel fortunate in having the opportunity recognize the World War II generation, while still alive, in the place they served."

And for Col. Stephen Rickert, 301st AS Commander, "I enjoyed seeing the smile on Colonel Neblett's face at Merryfield during the ceremony; it was like he was home." He added, "The significance of having Lloyd back at that field from where he flew to Normandy so long ago was of paramount importance to the history of the squadron."

Wanting to know if he owed anything to the squadron for the trip, Colonel Neblett said, "I'm no freeloader, I'll make my contribution."

With a look of gratitude and a pleasant smile, Colonel Rickert looked at this gentle warrior and said, "You contribution was made 63 years ago."

"I feel the trip was a great success," said Colonel Rickert. "Everyone did a great job including the 349th Air Evacuation Squadron, and crew chiefs from both the 945th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and the 860th AMXS. I want to thank everyone for their hard work and dedication. I'm also grateful for the support of our leadership, Brig. Gen. Thomas Gisler, 349th Air Mobility Wing Commander and Maj. Gen. Robert Duignan, 4th Air Force Commander and also the 60th AMW."

Now, all these years after D-Day and the Allies' defeat of the Axis Powers of Fascism and Nazism, the Air Force mission to fly and fight for freedom is the same--only the aircraft are different.