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	Troop Carrier Groups, Ninth Air Force and the Airborne Troop Carrier and IX Troop Carrier Command
History (sourcs – https:///troopcarrier.org/groups.html ---- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IX_Troop_Carrier_Command)
Troop Carrier Groups in World War II The US Army Air Forces troop carrier mission officially came into existence on April 30, 1942 when the 50th Transport Wing, a unit that had activated at Wright Field, Ohio January 14, 1941, transferred out of the Air Service Command into a new unit named the Air Transport Command. Originally assigned to the Air Corps Maintenance Command, which became the Air Service Command in October 1941, the wing's primary mission was to transport aircraft parts and other technical supplies from the Air Corps depot at Wright Field to air bases throughout the United States and as far north as Alaska and as far south as the Canal Zone. When the Army began developing airborne forces, the 50th Wing was given responsibility for providing aircraft and crews to transport the fledgling paratroopers to their drop zones. The Air Transport Command designation was short-lived. The Chairman of the Civil Aeronautics Board, Mr. Lawrence J. Pogue, was pressing the White House to form a government airline to transport military cargo. In response to the pressure from the CAB, Army Air Forces chief General Henry H. Arnold decided to elevate the Army Ferrying Command to become a military transport command with the dual mission of coordinating military contracts with the commercial airlines and ferrying combat and training aircraft from the factories to operational units. The new organization was named the Air Transport Command and the former unit was re-designated as I Troop Carrier Command. The 50th Wing became the 50th Troop Carrier Wing and its subordinate units were re-designated as troop carrier groups. Included in the reorganization were two squadrons that were already active in combat operations in the Southwest Pacific, the 21st and 22nd Air Transport Squadrons, which had been activated in February and were operating as part of the Air Transport Command of the Far East Air Force in Australia. With the activation of the I Troop Carrier Command, the Army Air Forces established the troop carrier mission as one of the four combat missions of the Army Air Forces - bombardment, pursuit or fighter, reconnaissance and troop carrier. Twenty-eight troop carrier groups were activated for training and combat service overseas. In 1944 three additional groups with a similar mission was activated as combat cargo groups, which were scaled-down troop carrier units with fewer support personnel and whose crews were not trained for paratroop operations. Troop carrier squadrons were formed for assignment to three air commando groups that were established to support British special troops in Burma (one air commando group was assigned to Far East Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific.) 10th Troop Carrier Group: Initially constituted as the 1st Transport Group, the unit was placed on the inactive list until May 20, 1937 when it was consolidated with the 10th Observation Group and activated as the 10th Transport Group, the Army Air Corps premier transport unit. Based at Wright Field, it operated single-engine C-27 and twin-engine C-33 transports on logistic routes in the US and to Alaska and the Canal Zone. On April 30, 1942 it transferred to the I Troop Carrier Command and was re-designated as the 10th Troop Carrier Group. The 10th Group remained in the US as a training organization until it was disbanded in April, 1944. 60th Troop Carrier Group: Activated as the 60th Transport Group on December 1, 1940, it was initially based at Olmsted Air Base, Pennsylvania. The group moved to England in June 1942 with C-47s and was re-designated as the 60th Troop Carrier Group in July. After training in England, the group departed in November 1942 carrying US paratroopers and dropping them at Oran in North Africa. Assigned to Twelfth Air Force, the group remained in the Mediterranean for the duration of World War II and participated in the invasion of Sicily and the liberation of Greece. It supported partisans in the Balkans. The group inactivated in July 1945. It reactivated in Germany on September 30, 1946 and remained in Germany until 1955 when it moved to Evreux, France. It was one of the groups involved in the Berlin Airlift. The group inactivated in 1957. In 1965 when the Military Airlift Command activated, the designation was given to the MAC wing at Travis AFB, California. 61st Troop Carrier Group: Activated at Olmsted Air Base, PA, the group moved several times before it went to North Africa in May 1943 and joined Twelfth Air Force. The 61st TCG remained in the Mediterranean until February 1944 when it moved to England to join IX Troop Carrier Command for the invasion of Normandy. It inactivated after the war, but reactivated in Germany in September 1946. It equipped with C-54s and participated in the Berlin Airlift. The 61st transferred to the US at the outbreak of the Korean War and was assigned to MATS. In December 1950 the 61st transferred to Ashiya AB, Japan and became part of the Korean Airlift from Japan to Korea. Returned to the US in 1952 and was assigned to Tactical Air Command at Donaldson AFB, SC with C-124s. It inactivated in 1959. The lineage now belongs to an air base wing in Los Angeles, California. 62nd Troop Carrier Group: Activated at McClellan AB, California in December 1940 as the 62nd Air Transport Group, the 62nd Troop Carrier Group moved to England in the summer of 1942 then went to Tunisia in November and was assigned to Twelfth Air Force. The 62nd remained in the Mediterranean and participated in the invasion of Sicily, airborne operations in Italy and the invasion of Southern France. It remained in Italy until November 1945, when it inactivated. It reactivated the following September in the US with TAC. The 62nd operated C-54 and C-82 and, finally, C-124 transports. In 1959 the 62nd became part of MATS and transferred to McChord AFB, Washington where it has remained since. The 62nd Airlift Wing is now part of the Air Mobility Command. 63rd Troop Carrier Group: Activated in December 1940 at Wright Field, the 63rd became a training organization at Ft. Benning, Georgia training cadre for new troop carrier groups and never went overseas. It disbanded in April 1944 and the designation was allotted to the reserves. The 63rd reactivated at Floyd Bennet Field, NY in 1949 and transferred first to Altus AFB, OK, then to Donaldson AFB, SC where it was a TAC C-124 unit before all C-124s transferred to MATS. When Donaldson closed, the 63rd transferred to Hunter AFB, SC. When Hunter closed the designation went to a new MAC unit at Norton AFB, California where it remained until inactivation. 64th Troop Carrier Group: The fourth of the four groups that activated in December 1940, the 60th Transport Group was initially assigned to Duncan Field, Texas. The 64th TCG moved to England in August 1942, then to North Africa in November, where it dropped troops at Maison Blanche and in the battle for Tunisia. The 64th remained with Twelfth Air Force, but most of the group was sent on temporary duty to the China-Burma-India from April-June 1944. Inactivated after the war, the 64th remained inactive or without personnel until July 1952 when it was reactivated and assigned to Tactical Air Command at Donaldson AFB, SC with C-119s. The 64th became sort of a bastardized outfit with the designation given to a number of C-130 wings. In 1961 it was assigned to Dyess AFB, Texas with C-130As, but was replaced by the 516th Troop Carrier Wing. When the 314th Troop Carrier Wing transferred to PACAF from Sewart AFB, Tennessee in December 1965, the 64th reactivated at Sewart. It transferred to Little Rock AFB, AR and inactivated in the early 1970s. 89th Troop Carrier Group: Activated on February 1, 1942. As the 89th Troop Carrier Group, it was a training group providing transition training for DC-3 and C-47 pilots. Disbanded in April 1944. Designation allotted to the reserves. Based at Hanscomb Field, MA. Called to active duty in May 1951 and immediately inactivated. Became a reserve fighter/bomber group. 313th Troop Carrier Group: Activated March 2, 1942. Moved to North Africa in May 1943 and was assigned to Twelfth Air Force. Participated in the invasion of Sicily. Dropped troops at Salerno. Transferred to IX Troop Carrier Command in England in February 1944 and remained with Ninth Air Force for the duration of the war. Inactivated in November 1945 but reactivated in the US with TAC the following year. Moved to Germany in October 1948 and joined the Berlin Airlift, which was in progress. The group inactivated in Germany in September 1949, but reactivated in the US in 1953 with C-119s. The wing inactivated in 1955. It was reactivated at Forbes AFB, Kansas in 1964 and equipped with C-130Bs. The wing was inactivated at the end of the Vietnam War. 314th Troop Carrier Group: Activated in March 1942 and moved overseas to North Africa in May 1943. Participated in the invasion of Sicily and dropped paratroops at Gela. Dropped troops and supplies at Salerno. Transferred to England in February 1944 and joined IX Troop Carrier Command for the invasion of Normandy. Transferred to the US without personnel or equipment and was assigned to the Canal Zone 1946-1948. Transferred to Smyrna AFB, Tennessee in 1948 and equipped with C-82s and C-119s. Assigned to Far East Air Forces at Ashiya AB, Japan in September 1950 and remained with 315th Air Division until 1954 operating C-119s into and over Korea. Returned to Sewart AFB, Tennessee in 1954. In 1957 the 314th became the second TAC troop carrier wing to receive C-130s. The 314th remained at Sewart until December 1965 when the headquarters and the 50th Troop Carrier Squadron transferred to 315th Air Division. The 314th Troop Carrier Wing was based at Ching Chang Kuan AB, Taiwan from 1966-1971 when it was replaced by the 374th Tactical Airlift Wing (on paper only.) The 314th designation returned to the US to Little Rock AFB, Arkansas where it replaced the 64th Tactical Airlift Wing. The 314th has remained at Little Rock since, although it has undergone several transitions. It is currently assigned to the Air Force Education and Training Command and provides training for C-130 personnel. 315th Troop Carrier Group: Activated February 1942 and moved to England in October-November. Detained temporarily in Greenland, the group searched for missing aircraft and dropped survival equipment and supplies to stranded airmen. Served primarily in the logistical role in England and the Mediterranean until March 1944 when it began training for airborne operations for the Normandy Invasion. Inactivated in July 1945. Reactivated in Japan in June 1952 and equipped with C-46s. Inactivated in January 1955. Reactivated in Saigon in 1963 as the 315th Air Commando Group operating C-123s. Re-designated as the 315th Tactical Airlift Wing in 1968. Lt. Col. Joe M. Jackson became the only troop carrier crewmember to receive the Medal of Honor for his actions during the evacuation of Kham Duc, when he and his crew landed and picked up three stranded airmen who had been left behind. 316th Troop Carrier Group: Activated February 1942 and moved to the Mediterranean where it began operations in November, 1942. Reassigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in England in February 1944. Returned to the US after the war and remained active, first at Pope Field, NC then at Greenville, SC. Moved to Sewart AFB, Tennessee in 1949. Transferred to Ashiya, Japan in 1954 where it remained until troop carrier units were reorganized in the late 1950s when it was inactivated. The 316th Troop Carrier Wing reactivated at Langley AFB, Virginia in 1966 and remained there until 1975, when the wing was inactivated. The lineage now belongs to a wing based at Andrews AFB, MD. 317th Troop Carrier Group: Activated in February 1942 and was assigned to the Southwest Pacific where it became part of the Fifth Air Force and the 54th Troop Carrier Wing. The group had just arrived in Australia when it was assigned to the resupply of Australian troops at Wau in New Guinea, for which it was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation. In February 1945 the group received a second DUC for dropping troops on Corregidor. The 317th remained in the Far East after World War II until it was transferred to Germany in 1949 to take part in the Berlin Airlift. It was deactivated after the airlift. The 317th Troop Carrier Wing reactivated at Rhine-Main, Germany in 1952. It moved to Neubiberg, Germany in 1953 and was equipped with C-119s. In 1958 the 317th was the first overseas unit to receive C-130s after it transferred to Eveuex-Fauville AB, France. In 1960 the wing participated in the UN operations in the Congo and continued supporting the Congo mission until 1962. In 1963 wing aircrews and aircraft were deployed to India to assist the Indian Air Force in operations into the Assam Valley. In June 1964 the 317th transferred to Lockbourne AFB, OH where it remained until 1972. As Tactical Air Command began deactivating C-130 units, the wing at Lockbourne inactivated and the 317th was transferred without personnel and equipment to Pope AFB, North Carolina. In the early 1990s the 317th inactivated and was replaced by a composite wing. It reactivated at Dyess AFB, Texas in 2000 when all C-130 units returned to the Air Mobility Command. 349th Troop Carrier Group: Activated November 1943, moved to the European Theater in early 1945 and joined the IX Troop Carrier Command with C-46s. Returned to the US after the war and trained Chinese C-46s for a time, then was deactivated in 1946. 374th Troop Carrier Group: Activated in Australia in November 1942 as the parent unit for the 6th, 21st and 22nd Troop Carrier Squadrons, which had been operating in the area since April with a menagerie of aircraft, including C-47s, C-53s, C-60s, LB-30/B-24s and B-17s. The group received three Distinguished Unit Citations and other decorations in World War II and was the most decorated Army Air Forces unit of the war. The 374th remained in the Far East after the war and when the Korean War broke out, it was operating C-54s. The 374th moved to Japan where the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron equipped with C-47s while the 6th and 22nd operated C-54s. In 1952 the 374th C-47s were replaced with C-124s. The 374th remained at Tachikawa AB, Japan with C-54s and C-124s until 1958 when the wing inactivated. The 21st TCS moved to Naha AB, Okinawa where it equipped with C-130s and was assigned primarily to classified missions while the 6th and 22nd squadrons transferred to MATS, but retained their troop carrier identity. The 374th Troop Carrier Wing reactivated at Naha AB, Okinawa in August 1966 and flew C-130As until 1972 when the Naha unit deactivated and the 374th designation transferred to CCK AB, Taiwan where it replaced the 314th Tactical Airlift Wing. In 1973 the 374th TAW transferred to Clark AB, Philippines where it remained until the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo forced the closure of the base. The 374th moved to Kadena AB, Okinawa and from there to Yokota AB, Japan. 375th Troop Carrier Group: Activated in November 1942, moved to New Guinea and became part of the 54th Troop Carrier Wing. Operated C-47s, C-53s and B-17s, then converted to C-46s in 1944 before moving to the Philippines. The 375th moved to Japan after the war and was inactivated in 1946 and assigned to the reserves. It reactivated in 1950 and equipped with C-82s. Deactivated at Pittsburgh, PA in 1952. With the activation of Military Airlift Command in 1966, the 375th reactivated as the 375th Military Airlift Wing at Scott AFB, Illinois. 403rd Troop Carrier Group: Activated in December 1942 and moved to the South Pacific for assignment to Thirteenth Air Force. Remained in the Philippines after the war and ferried troops to Japan. Inactivated in 1946 and assigned to reserves. Reactivated in 1951 and sent to Japan with C-119s. Returned to the reserves in 1953. Now an Air Force Reserve unit at Keesler AFB, Mississippi. 419th Troop Carrier Group: Activated on Guam in January 1945 as part of Seventh Air Force. The group had no aircraft and operated air terminals in the Marianas. Assigned to the reserves after the war, then reactivated at Scott AFB, ILL before moving to Ardmore AFB, Oklahoma where it operated C-123s. Deactivated in 1958 and allocated to the reserves. Became an Air Force Reserve fighter wing in 1982. 433rd Troop Carrier Group: Activated February 1943; moved to New Guinea and joined the 54th Troop Carrier Wing. Moved to Japan in September 1945; deactivated 1946, allocated to the reserves. Called to active duty in 1950 and sent to Germany with C-119s. Deactivated in 1952. Activated as reserve unit at Brooks AFB, Texas. Now assigned to Lackland-Kelly AFB, TX with C-5s. 434th Troop Carrier Group: Activated February 1943; moved to England October 1943. Trained with the 101st Airborne Division for operations in Normandy. Returned to the US after the war and allocated to the reserves. Called to active duty in 1951 with C-47s. Returned to the reserves in 1952. Operated C-119s and C-124s. Became a fighter wing. Now an aerial refueling wing. 435th Troop Carrier Group: Activated in February 1943; moved to England. Assigned to reserves after the war. Recalled to active duty during the Korean War then returned to the reserves. The following groups were all activated in the late spring and summer of 1943 and served in Europe, then were assigned to the reserves. 436th Troop Carrier Group: Activated for one month during the Korean War. Designation given to the Military Airlift Command wing at Dover AFB, Delaware. 437th Troop Carrier Group: Recalled to active duty for the Korean War and assigned to 315th Air Division with C-46s and C-119s. Returned to the reserves. Designation given to the Military Airlift Command wing at Charleston AFB, South Carolina. 438th Troop Carrier Group: Designation given to Military Airlift Command wing at McGuire AFB, New Jersey 439th Troop Carrier Group: Currently assigned to Westover AFB, MA with C-5s. 440th Troop Carrier Group: Currently assigned to Pope AFRB, North Carolina (Ft. Liberty) 441st Troop Carrier Group: Currently inactive 442nd Troop Carrier Group: Currently an Air Force Reserve fighter wing. 443rd Troop Carrier Group: Activated in October 1943; transferred without men or equipment to India. Operated in the CBI for the duration of the war. Assigned to the reserves after the war. Recalled in 1951 and remained active until 1953. Designation given to Military Airlift Command training unit at Altus AFB, OK in December 1965. Inactivated in 1992 Troop Carrier Squadrons in World War II (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Troop_carrier_squadrons_of_the_United_States_Army_Air_Forces) Troop Carrier Groups were composed of several Troop Carrier Squadrons and that were assigned, supplemented, detached and otherwise rearranged throughout the war. Between 1940 and 1946, there were 134 Troop Carrier Squadrons numbering in direct sequence from 1st TCS to 100th TCS and 301st TCS to 334th TCS. IX Troop Carrier Command Constituted as the V (5th) Air Support Command on 21 Aug 1941, activated on 1 Sep 1941, it was re-designated the Ninth (9th) Air Force in April 1942 as one of the 20 numbered Air Forces of the US Army Air Force. The 9th AF moved to Egypt and began operations on 12 Nov 1942, participating in the Allied drive across Egypt and Libya, the campaign in Tunisia, and the invasions of Sicily and Italy. All U.S. tactical air support units in Great Britain were consolidated into the Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943, under the command of Maj. Gen. Lewis H. Brereton. In October 1943, the 9th AF moved to England to become the tactical air force for the invasion of the Continent. The 9th AF was de-activated in Germany on 2 December 1945. Components of the 9th Air Force during World War 2 included: 9th Air Division (formerly IX Bomber Command), 1942 - 1945; IX Air Defense Command, 1944 - 1945; IX Fighter Command, 1942 - 1945; IX Tactical Air Command, 1943-1945; IX Troop Carrier Command, 16 October 1943 - 1944; IX Troop Carrier Service Command. XIX Tactical Air Command, 1944-1945; XXIX Tactical Air Command: 1945. In September, 1944, the IX Troop Carrier Command became part of the 1^st Allied Airborne Army and the ‘AIRBORNE’ flash was added above the wing/glider/parachute emblem of the Troop Carrier Command. Its first headquarters was located at Grantham Lodge, RAF Cottesmore, where it took control of a provisional headquarters established by the Eighth Air Force. It was subsequently transferred to Ascot, Berkshire, its final location in Europe. The IX Troop Carrier Command's original cadre came from Headquarters, 1st Troop Carrier Command (Provisional) established as a provisional headquarters by the Eighth Air Force in September with six officers and three aircraft of the 315th Troop Carrier Group (the remainder of the group's aircraft and squadrons were on detached service in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations). On 1 October 1943, the 434th Troop Carrier Group became part of the provisional command and was the only group assigned. Twelve airfields were designated for the new command, each to house 40 C-47s and a like number of gliders: RAF Fulbeck, RAF Langar, RAF Bottesford, RAF Wakerley, RAF Balderton, RAF North Witham, RAF Barkston Heath, RAF Cottesmore, RAF North Luffenham, RAF Saltby, RAF Folkingham, and RAF Woolfox Lodge. In October, 1943, Brigadier General Benjamin F. Giles became commanding officer. On February 25, 1944, 9th AF commander Gen. Brereton appointed Brig. Gen. Paul L. Williams, experienced in directing airborne operations in North Africa, Sicily and Italy, to take over the IX TCC which, until that time, had been commanded by a “caretaker” commander [name unknown] to organize and train its new units for airborne operations as they arrived in theater. In November, the 435th Troop Carrier Group at RAF Welford was assigned, and command headquarters were moved to Grantham Lodge. RAF Ramsbury, RAF Aldermaston, and RAF Greenham Common also became available as landing areas for tactical training with the 101st Airborne Division and later became troop carrier bases. Its first wing, the 50th Troop Carrier Wing, became operational on 17 October 1943. A second wing, the 52d Troop Carrier Wing, arrived from Sicily on 17 February 1944. Its five groups had participated in the large airborne assault during Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily and had flown combat jumps on a smaller scale in Italy. On 11 March 1944 the final troop carrier wing assigned to the command, the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, arrived from the United States along with five groups that had just completed their operational training. The wings were realigned to provide the 53rd, tasked as the primary unit for glider operations, with the four groups already operational in February 1944 (434th through 437th), while the least experienced groups were assigned to the 50th Wing. The command grew to a total of 14 groups in April 1944 when the 315th was taken off transport duties in the Mediterranean and assigned two additional squadrons (309th TCS and 310th TCS) to bring it up to full table of organization and equipment strength, and when the newly created 442d Troop Carrier Group arrived from the United States. These groups went into training for Operation Overlord, the invasion of France, as they arrived in Britain. The groups of the 50th and 52nd Wings began intensive night formation training that included practice jumps with the airborne divisions assigned to them, which continued through April, when the division commanders decided to stop further unit jump training. The 53rd Wing began training at the beginning of March but had virtually no troop experience until mid-May, when they began a series of mock night operations to raise their level of training. Both the 315th and 442nd groups continued formation training until the end of May. Five groups also conducted training in night glider assaults during both April and May. By 1 June the command had approximately 1,200 C-47s and 1,400 gliders assigned, and 950 crews for each. At the end of February 1944, using equipment and personnel from the 52nd Wing, the command established a training unit for airborne division pathfinders and the aircrews that would deliver them. The Command Pathfinder School was re-designated the 1st Pathfinder Group (Provisional) in August 1944. IX Troop Carrier Command delivered both the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions in the American airborne landings in Normandy on 6–7 June 1944. In August, the command was attached to the First Allied Airborne Army, which, from 17–25 September 1944, landed both the American 82nd and 101st airborne divisions, the British 1st Airborne Division, and the Polish 1st Independent Parachute Brigade in the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden. The 50th Wing moved to bases in France in September as well. In February and March 1945, the 52d and 53rd wings also deployed to bases in France, except for two groups of the 52nd assigned to support British airborne operations. The command carried out extensive formation training for Operation Varsity, an airborne assault across the Rhine River, and executed it on 24 March 1945, delivering the 17th Airborne Division. The groups of the 52nd Wing based in France returned to England to carry the British 6th Airborne Division in the assault. ~ End ~