The Air Force reactivated the 48th Airlift Squadron Dec. 5, to establish the first active-duty C-130J Hercules training squadron in the Air Force. The reactivation of the 48th AS, the third flying unit attached to the 314th Airlift Wing here, will train crews in the newest generation of C-130s.

"The mission of the reactivated 48th Airlift Squadron will be to bring to the active-duty Air Force the C-130J and to join its sister units in producing the world's best C-130 aviators," said Col. Joseph Reheiser, 314th AW commander.

Squadron officials have been training the initial cadre of 14 pilots and 10 loadmasters since June with “borrowed” C-130Js from the Air Force Reserve Command's 403rd Wing at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss.

"Despite the fact (the squadron) had no permanently assigned airplanes, no permanently assigned personnel, no budget and no squadron facility, I am proud to announce, that as of (Dec. 4), the entire C-130J cadre (is) qualified," said Col. Doug Kreulen, 314th Operations Group commander.

Little Rock's first base-assigned C-130J is receiving its final touches in Marietta, Ga., and will be completed in early 2004. It will become the first active-duty C-130J in the Air Force.

The C-130J provides 40-percent more range and flies 24-percent faster than the C-130E and H models. The new model is also capable of taking off on shorter runways and has avionics that allow for better data capability and control. The J models are also larger, with enough room to transport 128 people compared to the 92-troop capacity of earlier models.

The fully automated flight deck allows for a smaller crew of three compared to a crew of five in the E and H models.

The reactivation of the 48th AS at Little Rock marks a historical benchmark for the unit, officials said.

"Just as it did in World War II, the Berlin Airlift and Korea, the 48th will play a significant role in the ongoing fight for freedom," Reheiser said.

The 48th was formed as the 48th Transportation Squadron in May 1942 and was redesignated, inactivated and reactivated numerous times in the past century. [ANN Thanks 2nd Lt. Jon Quinlan, 314th Airlift Wing Public Affairs]

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