313th Troop Carrier Group
Encyclopedia
The 313th Tactical Airlift Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last assignment was to the 322d Airlift Division
at RAF Mildenhall
, England
. It was inactivated on 1 February 1992.
During World War II
, the group was assigned to both Twelfth and Ninth Air Force
s in North Africa, Italy and Western Europe. The 313 TCG was highly decorated for its combat parachute infantry drops during the Invasion of Sicily
(Operation Husky); Invasion of Italy
(Operation Avalanche); Invasion of France (Operation Overlord
); the airborne invasion of the Netherlands
(Operation Market-Garden); and the airborne crossing of the Rhine River, (Operation Varsity
).
Trained for the invasion of Sicily and entered combat on the night of 9 July 1943 by dropping paratroops near Gela. Although attacked by ground and naval forces while carrying reinforcements to Sicily on the night of II Jul, the group completed the mission and received a DUC for the performance. Transported supplies and evacuated wounded in the Mediterranean area until late in Aug when the group moved to Sicily for the invasion of Italy. Dropped paratroops of 82d Airborne Division south of Salerno on the night of 13 September 1943 and flew a reinforcement mission the following night.
Resumed transport activities in the theater until February 1944, and then joined Ninth Air Force in England. Prepared for the invasion of France and on D-Day 1944, released paratroops near Picauville; dropped reinforcements over the same area on 7 June, being awarded second DUC for its part in the invasion.
Dropped paratroops near Arnheim and Nijmegen on 17 September during the airborne attack on Holland and released gliders carrying reinforcements to that area on 18 and 23 September Moved to France, February–March 1945, and received C- 46's for the airborne assault across the Rhine; dropped paratroops of 17th Airborne Division near Wesel on 24 March When not engaged in airborne operations the group evacuated wounded personnel and ex-prisoners of war, and also transported cargo such as ammunition, gasoline, medical supplies, and food until after V-E Day.
Returned to the US, August–September 1945. Inactivated on 15 November 1945.
on 30 September 1946. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe
Army of Occupation and equipped with C-47 and C-54 aircraft was assigned to Tulln Air Base, becoming host unit.
Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US on 25 June 1947 and assigned to Tactical Air Command
. Trained with gliders and C-82's. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group, (Heavy) in July 1948. Moved to Germany, October–November 1948, and joined United States Air Forces in Europe for participation in the Berlin airlift. Transported cargo such as coal, food, and medicine into West Berlin
from November 1948 to September 1949. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Special) in February 1949. Inactivated in Germany on 18 September 1949.
Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Medium), Activated in the US on February 1953. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with C-119's. Inactivated on 8 June 1955 when 313th Troop Carrier Wing converted to Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all operational components directly to the wing.
Reactivated in 1978 at RAF Mildenhall
, England to manage Military Airlift Command
activities at the aerial port, operating a terminal that handled C-5 Galaxy
and C-141 Starlifter
flights to and from the United States. Also hosted the "Bravo" squadron at Mildenhall that operated 16 C-130E/H Hercules transports on a rotational basis from the Untied States. Inactivated in 1992 as part of the inactivation of MAC, mission taken over by USAFE.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last assignment was to the 322d Airlift Division
322d Airlift Division
The 322d Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-First Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
at RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It was inactivated on 1 February 1992.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the group was assigned to both Twelfth and Ninth Air Force
Ninth Air Force
The Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
s in North Africa, Italy and Western Europe. The 313 TCG was highly decorated for its combat parachute infantry drops during the Invasion of Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
(Operation Husky); Invasion of Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
(Operation Avalanche); Invasion of France (Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord
Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy, the operation that launched the invasion of German-occupied western Europe during World War II by Allied forces. The operation commenced on 6 June 1944 with the Normandy landings...
); the airborne invasion of the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
(Operation Market-Garden); and the airborne crossing of the Rhine River, (Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity
Operation Varsity was a successful joint American–British airborne operation that took place toward the end of World War II...
).
World War II
Trained for overseas duty with C-47's and C-53's. Moved to North Africa, April–May 1943, and assigned to Twelfth Air Force.Trained for the invasion of Sicily and entered combat on the night of 9 July 1943 by dropping paratroops near Gela. Although attacked by ground and naval forces while carrying reinforcements to Sicily on the night of II Jul, the group completed the mission and received a DUC for the performance. Transported supplies and evacuated wounded in the Mediterranean area until late in Aug when the group moved to Sicily for the invasion of Italy. Dropped paratroops of 82d Airborne Division south of Salerno on the night of 13 September 1943 and flew a reinforcement mission the following night.
Resumed transport activities in the theater until February 1944, and then joined Ninth Air Force in England. Prepared for the invasion of France and on D-Day 1944, released paratroops near Picauville; dropped reinforcements over the same area on 7 June, being awarded second DUC for its part in the invasion.
Dropped paratroops near Arnheim and Nijmegen on 17 September during the airborne attack on Holland and released gliders carrying reinforcements to that area on 18 and 23 September Moved to France, February–March 1945, and received C- 46's for the airborne assault across the Rhine; dropped paratroops of 17th Airborne Division near Wesel on 24 March When not engaged in airborne operations the group evacuated wounded personnel and ex-prisoners of war, and also transported cargo such as ammunition, gasoline, medical supplies, and food until after V-E Day.
Returned to the US, August–September 1945. Inactivated on 15 November 1945.
Cold War
Activated in AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
on 30 September 1946. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe
United States Air Forces in Europe
The United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
Army of Occupation and equipped with C-47 and C-54 aircraft was assigned to Tulln Air Base, becoming host unit.
Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US on 25 June 1947 and assigned to Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
. Trained with gliders and C-82's. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group, (Heavy) in July 1948. Moved to Germany, October–November 1948, and joined United States Air Forces in Europe for participation in the Berlin airlift. Transported cargo such as coal, food, and medicine into West Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
from November 1948 to September 1949. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Special) in February 1949. Inactivated in Germany on 18 September 1949.
Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Medium), Activated in the US on February 1953. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with C-119's. Inactivated on 8 June 1955 when 313th Troop Carrier Wing converted to Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all operational components directly to the wing.
Reactivated in 1978 at RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall
RAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, England to manage Military Airlift Command
Military Airlift Command
The Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
activities at the aerial port, operating a terminal that handled C-5 Galaxy
C-5 Galaxy
The Lockheed C-5 Galaxy is a large military transport aircraft built by Lockheed. It provides the United States Air Force with a heavy intercontinental-range strategic airlift capability, one that can carry outsize and oversize cargos, including all air-certifiable cargo. The Galaxy has many...
and C-141 Starlifter
C-141 Starlifter
The Lockheed C-141 Starlifter was a military strategic airlifter in service with the Air Mobility Command of the United States Air Force...
flights to and from the United States. Also hosted the "Bravo" squadron at Mildenhall that operated 16 C-130E/H Hercules transports on a rotational basis from the Untied States. Inactivated in 1992 as part of the inactivation of MAC, mission taken over by USAFE.
Lineage
- Constituted as 313th Transport Group on 28 January 1942
- Activated on 2 March 1942.
- Re-designated 313th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942
- Inactivated on 15 November 1945
- Activated on 30 September 1946
- Re-designated 313th Troop Carrier Group, (Heavy) in July 1948
- Re-designated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Special) in February 1949
- Inactivated on 18 September 1949
- Re-designated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) and activated on 1 February 1953
- Inactivated on 8 June 1955
- Re-designated 313th Tactical Airlift Group and activated on 15 September 1978
- Inactivated on 1 February 1992
Assignments
- I Troop Carrier CommandI Troop Carrier CommandThe I Troop Carrier Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the First Air Force, based at Stout Army Air Field, Indiana.Its primary mission was theater troop and logistics transport training...
, 2 March 1942 – 24 April 1943
- Attached to: 53d Troop Carrier Wing53d Troop Carrier Wing (World War II)The 53d Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the IX Troop Carrier Command, based at Camp Shanks, New York. It was inactivated on 12 August 1945....
, 2 March 1942 – 24 April 1943- Twelfth Air Force, 9 May 1943
- 52d Troop Carrier Wing52d Troop Carrier Wing (World War II)The 52d Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the New York Air National Guard. It was inactivated on 31 October 1950....
, 4 February 1944 – 5 August 1945 - Third Air ForceThird Air ForceThe Third Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Forces in Europe . It is headquartered at Ramstein Air Base, Germany....
, 14 September – 15 November 1945 - United States Air Forces in EuropeUnited States Air Forces in EuropeThe United States Air Forces in Europe is the United States Air Force component of U.S. European Command, a Department of Defense unified command, and is one of two Air Force Major Commands outside of the continental United States, the other being the Pacific Air Forces...
- Attached to: XII Fighter Command, 30 September 1946 – 25 June 1947
- Ninth Air ForceNinth Air ForceThe Ninth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command . It is headquartered at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina....
, 25 June 1947 - 313th Troop Carrier Wing, 28 July 1947 – 18 September 1949; 1 February 1953
- Eighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air ForceEighteenth Air Force is a Numbered Air Force component of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . It was activated on 1 October 2003 and headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois...
, 25 August 1953 – 8 June 1955 - 322d Airlift Division322d Airlift DivisionThe 322d Airlift Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Military Airlift Command, assigned to Twenty-First Air Force, being stationed at Ramstein Air Base, Germany...
, 15 September 1978-1 February 1992
- Ninth Air Force
Stations
- Daniel Field, GeorgiaGeorgia (U.S. state)Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, 2 March 1942 - Bowman Field, KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, 21 June 1942 - Florence Army Airfield, South CarolinaSouth CarolinaSouth Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, 4 August 1942 - Maxton Army Airfield, North CarolinaNorth CarolinaNorth Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, 13 December 1942 – 24 April 1943 - Oujda Airfield, French MoroccoFrench MoroccoFrench Protectorate of Morocco was a French protectorate in Morocco, established by the Treaty of Fez. French Morocco did not include the north of the country, which was a Spanish protectorate...
, 9 May 1943 - Kairouan AirfieldKairouan AirfieldKairouan Airfield is an abandoned military airfield in Tunisia, which is located approximately 11 km south-southeast of Kairouan, 126 km south of Tunis. It was a major Troop Carrier unit base of the United States Army Air Force Twelfth Air Force during the North African Campaign...
, Tunisia, 16 June 1943 - Sciacca Airfield, SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, 23 August 1943 - Trapani/Milo Airfield, SicilySicilySicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, 3 October 1943 - RAF FolkinghamRAF FolkinghamRAF Folkingham is a former World War II Royal Air Force flying station in Lincolnshire, England. The airfield is located south west of Folkingham and due east of Lenton village, approximately due south of county town Lincoln and north of London...
(AAF-484), England, 4 February 1944
- Achiet Airfield (B-54), France, 28 February – 5 August 1945
- Baer Field, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, 14 September – 15 November 1945 - AAF Station Tulln, Austria, 30 September 1946 – 25 June 1947
- Langley Field, VirginiaVirginiaThe Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, 25 June 1947 - Bergstrom Field, Texas, 15 July 1947 – 22 October 1948
- Fassberg RAF StationRAF FassbergThe former Royal Air Force Station Fassberg, more commonly known as RAF Fassberg, was a Royal Air Force airbase in Germany situated in the northern suburbs of Fassberg, Lower Saxony...
, Germany, 9 November 1948 – 18 September 1949 - Mitchel AFB, New York, 1 February 1953
- Sewart AFB, TennesseeTennesseeTennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, 2 October 1953 – 8 June 1955 - RAF MildenhallRAF MildenhallRAF Mildenhall is a Royal Air Force station located at Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Despite its status as an RAF station, it primarily supports United States Air Force operations and is currently the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing...
, England, 15 September 1978-1 February 1992
Components
- 29th Troop Carrier Squadron29th Troop Carrier SquadronThe 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
(27), 2 March 1942 – 22 September 1945; 30 September 1946-18 September 1949; 1 February 1953 – 8 June 1955 - 47th Troop Carrier Squadron47th Troop Carrier SquadronThe 47th Tactical Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 463d Tactical Airlift Wing stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 August 1973.-History:...
(N3), 2 March 1942 – 22 September 1945; 30 September 1946-18 September 1949; 1 February 1953 – 8 June 1955 - 48th Troop Carrier Squadron (5X), 2 March 1942 – 22 September 1945; 30 September 1946-18 September 1949; 1 February 1953 – 8 June 1955
- 49th Troop Carrier Squadron (H2), 2 March 1942 – 22 September 1945; 30 September 1946-18 September 1949; 1 February 1953 – 8 June 1955
Aircraft
- C-47/C-53 Skytrain, 1942–1945; 1946–1947
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1946–1947; 1848–1949 - CG-4 Waco (Glider) 1947–1949
- C-82 PacketC-82 PacketThe C-82 Packet was a twin-engine, twin-boom cargo aircraft designed and built by Fairchild Aircraft. It was used briefly by the United States Army Air Forces and United States Navy following World War II.-Design and development:...
, 1947–1949 - C-46 CommandoC-46 CommandoThe Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando was a transport aircraft originally derived from a commercial high-altitude airliner design. It was instead used as a military transport during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces as well as the U.S. Navy/Marine Corps under the designation R5C...
, 1953 - C-119 Flying BoxcarC-119 Flying BoxcarThe Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was an American military transport aircraft developed from the World War II-era Fairchild C-82 Packet, designed to carry cargo, personnel, litter patients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and troops by parachute...
, 1953–1955