RETURN to HOMEPAGE		Revised 7/4/2023
			The 309^th Troop Carrier Squadron
	To view the 309th TCS War Diarires, click here: 309th TCS War Diaries
Historical Summary
Commanders:		?????
Assignments:		1st Troop Carrier Command, 15 Feb 1944; 8th Air Force, 21 Apr 1944; 315th Troop Carrier Group, 26 Apr 1944 (activated) - 31 Jul 1945 (deactivated)..
Stations:		Sedalia AAF, MO, 1 Oct 1943; Alliance AAF, NE, 19 Jan 1944; Camp Mackall, NC, 8 Mar - 21 Apr 1944; Spanhoe, England, 26 Apr 1944 (activation);
Operations:		Operation Overlord (invasion of Normandy), Market Garden (Holland), and Varsity (crossing the Rhine).
Campaigns: Decorations:		Normandy, Northern France, Central Europe. Distinguished Unit Citation for France (6 Jun 1944); Presidential Unit Citation.
The Origin. On October 1, 1943, the 443rd Troop Carrier Group, of which the 309th and the 310th Troop Carrier Squadrons were a part, was officially activated at Sedalia Army Airfield, Warrenburg, MO. The same day, ?????????????., was appointed Commanding Officer of the 309th Squadron. The 309th's first C-47 arrived on Oct 26 from the 61st Troop Carrier Wing. On Jan 19, the Squadron was transferred to Alliance, NE, and added ??? new C-47s bringing the total to ??? by mid-????. On Feb 24, 1944, the 443rd TCG was renamed the 1st Provisional Troop Carrier Group. In March, 1944, the 309th moved to Camp Mackall, Hoffman, NC. During the month of April, the Squadron participated in intensive training and paradrops in anticipation of deployment to Europe. Activation. On Apr 26, 1944, pursuant to general Order 116, HQ 9th Air Force, the 310th [along with the 309th] was activated and assigned to the European Theater of Operations (ETO) at USAAF Station 493, Spanhoe, Northamptonshire. Post War. To view the evolution of the 309^th, click on “Next Generation”.
	Gallery (WORK IN PROGRESS)
								(Above) Battle-damaged Luftwaffe JU52 in Blida. Taken by Jack Wilson while he was in the 34^th TCS North Africa echelon in Blida, before joining the 309^th when it was created in May, 1944.
										(Above) 309^th members Sites and Reinstein at Spanhoe.
	(Above) 309^th member Paulus enjoying a little time off.
									(Above) A paradrop (probably training) typical of what the drop at Normandy would have looked like.
											(Above) 309^th members Andracek, Deeker and Wrenger.
	(Right) 309^th member Jack Wilson’s C-47 after landing at Graves, Holland, in resupply effort for Operation Market Garden. Graves was only a few miles from the Arnhem bridge, the ‘bridge too far.’
	(Above) 309^th member Andracek at Spanhoe					(Above) 309^th member McDonough out for a joy ride.
							(Left) CG-4A Waco glider belonging to the 315^th TCG (34^th TCS). Standing if front are 34^th TCS Glider pilot and also Glider Engineering officer Charlie Rex (on the right) and the Glider Engineering section.
	(Right) Tent City at Amiens, France Oh, for the comforts of Spanhoe!
	(Above) A captured Luftwaffe FW190. 309^th Flight Officers Harper in the cockpit and Halverson on wing.
	VICTORY!