WWII Troop Carrier Units

437th Troop Carrier Group (437th TCG) Active Service: 1943 to 1945 Constituted as 437th Troop Carrier Group on 15 Apr 1943. Activated on I May 1943. Trained with C-46 and C-47 aircraft for duty overseas with Ninth AF. Moved to England, Jan-Feb 1944, and began preparing for the Normandy invasion. Released gliders near Cherbourg early on 6 Jun 1944; flew follow-up missions on 6 and 7 Jun, carrying reinforcements of troops, antiaircraft pieces, ammunition, rations, and other supplies for 82nd Airborne Division; received a DUC for these actions in France. A detachment was sent to Italy in Jul 1944 for the invasion of Southern France in Aug; it dropped paratroops over the assault area on 15 Aug, flew a resupply mission on the following day, and then hauled freight to bases in Italy until it returned to England on 24 Aug. During the airborne attack on Holland, 17-25 Sep 1944, the group released gliders carrying troops and equipment, and flew several resupply missions to provide reinforcements. Moved to France in Feb 1945 for action during the air assault across the Rhine; each aircraft towed two gliders over the east bank and released them near Wesel on 24 Mar 1945. Flew numerous missions in Mar and Apr to carry gasoline, food, medicine, and other supplies to ground forces pushing across Germany. When not participating in one of the major airborne operations, the organization continually transported ammunition, rations, clothing, and other supplies, and evacuated wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals. Evacuated prisoners of war and displaced persons to relocation centers after V-E Day. Returned to the US in Aug 1945. Inactivated on 15 Nov 1945

83rd Troop Carrier Squadron (83rd TCS) Sqd. code: T2 1943 to 1945
84th Troop Carrier Squadron (84th TCS) Sqd. code: Z8 1943 to 1945
85th Troop Carrier Squadron (85th TCS) Sqd. code: 9O 1943 to 1945
86th Troop Carrier Squadron (86th TCS) Sqd. code: 5K 1943 to 1945
Headquarters (HQ 437th) 1943 to 1945