39AS claims 'No. 1' title for AMC

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 39th Airlift Squadron was awarded the General Joseph Smith Trophy in a ceremony Nov. 4, acknowledging them as the No. 1 Airlift Squadron in Air Mobility Command for 2007. 

At the same ceremony, they were given the General James Doolittle Trophy. The purpose of the General James H. Doolittle Trophy is to identify and recognize the most outstanding AMC aircrew that best characterizes and epitomizes qualities and traits for which General Doolittle is famous. The award is based on aircrew professionalism, courage, leadership and extremely meritorious service. Part of the honor of the Gen. Doolittle Award includes a perpetual trophy on permanent display at the Society of Experimental Test Pilots headquarters.

"Competition for the General Joseph Smith trophy is fierce," said Col. Bernard Mater, 317th Airlift Group commander. "The 39th Airlift Squadron was No. 1 out of 38 Airlift Squadrons in AMC in 2007, and while that gives testament to their leadership and ability to foster teamwork, their accomplishment is a product of every member in the 317th Airlift Group." 

The group's other active flying unit, the 40th Airlift Squadron, won the award in 2004 and 2006. 

"A large credit is also due to the maintainers in the 317th AG for providing reliable airplanes day-in and day-out," Colonel Mater said. "This award requires absolute excellence, and the 39th Airlift Squadron and the 317th Airlift Group as a whole represent this." 

The purpose of the General James H. Doolittle Trophy is to identify and recognize the most outstanding AMC aircrew that best characterizes and epitomizes qualities and traits for which General Doolittle is famous, according to the commander, and is based on "aircrew professionalism, courage, leadership and extremely meritorious service." 

The aircrew received a nameplate on the AMC trophy, miniature trophies for each aircrew member, and a letter of commendation from the AMC Commander. 

"The aircrew earned the trophy for actions during a combat mission in Operation Enduring Freedom," Colonel Mater said. "Following General Doolittle's example of exploiting new technology to gain a decided advantage over enemy forces and flying bravely into known enemy fire, this crew's distinctive accomplishments reflect credit upon themselves, Dyess Air Force Base, Air Mobility Command, and the United States Air Force." 

Any time a unit wins a command-level award, it sets a precedent for performance, Colonel Mater said. "As long as the 317th Airlift Group provides support both here and abroad on-time, safely and by-the-book we will be competitive for awards such as this."