overseas, primarily with airborne forces of the United States Army. In March 1955, the 456th Troop Carrier Wing reorganized, and the squadron was assigned directly to wing headquarters as the 456th Group and all wing support organizations were inactivated, while the squadron formed a detachment with eight C-119L aircraft. In October, the squadron moved with the wing to Shiroi Air Base, Japan, but the flying detachments of the wing were located at various points between Okinawa and Alaska. The squadron took part in Project Drag Net, recovering instrument packages from high altitude research or reconnaissance balloons. The project was terminated in May 1956 due to its low success rate, although the squadron earned an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its participation. The squadron returned to the United States and Ardmore Air Force Base, Oklahoma, where it was inactivated in July 1956 and its assets transferred to the 340th Troop Carrier Squadron. Expeditionary operations The squadron was converted to provisional status as the 745th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron in June 2002. It was activated as a Lockheed C-130 Hercules airlift squadron as part of the Global War on Terrorism at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. The squadron is a "rainbow" unit, made up of aircraft and personnel deployed from a number of different units. In October 2005, the squadron flew humanitarian relief supplies to Chaklala, Pakistan following an earthquake there. In 2005, the squadron deployed a plane and crew to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan to provide quick reaction airlift for United States Marine and United States Army expeditionary troops assisting Afghan Forces with security prior to elections. Lineage Constituted as the 745th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 14 May 1943 Activated on 1 June 1943 Redesignated 745th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy c. 5 March 1944 Redesignated 745th Bombardment Squadron, Very Heavy on 5 August 1945 Inactivated on 17 October 1945 Activated in the reserve on 12 July 1947 Inactivated on 27 June 1949 Redesignated 745th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium on 15 October 1952 Activated on 1 December 1952 Inactivated on 9 July 1956 Redesignated: 745th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron converted to a provisional unit on 12 June 2002 Activated after 2002 Assignments 456th Bombardment Group, 1 June 1943 – 17 October 1945 456th Bombardment Group, 12 July 1947 – 27 June 1949 456th Troop Carrier Group, 1 December 1952 456th Troop Carrier Wing, 1 March 1955 – 9 July 1956 Air Mobility Command to