WWII Troop Carrier Units

442nd Troop Carrier Group (442nd TCG) Active Service: 1943 to 1946 Constituted as 442d Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 Sep 1943. Trained with C-47s and C-53s. Moved to England in Mar 1944 for duty with Ninth AF. Received additional training with C-47s and C-53s, and later used these aircraft for operations. Flew first missions during the invasion of the Continent, dropping paratroops near Ste- Mere-Eglise on 6 Jun 1944 and flying a resupply mission on 7 Jun, being awarded a DUC for its part in the Normandy invasion. Hauled freight and evacuated casualties during the remainder of the summer. In Jul, however, a detachment flew to Italy where it transported cargo, evacuated casualties, and took part in the invasion of Southern France on 15 Aug by dropping paratroops in the battle area and releasing gliders carrying reinforcements. The detachment returned to England late in Aug, and in Sep the group took part in the airborne attack in Holland by transporting paratroops and towing gliders with reinforcements. Moved to the Continent in Oct 1944, flying resupply missions, hauling freight, and evacuating casualties in support of the Allied effort to breach the Siegfried Line. Continued transport duties until V-E Day but also participated in the airborne assault across the Rhine on 24 Mar 1945 by releasing gliders filled with troops, carried supplies to ground forces in Germany. During Apr-May conducted resupply missions and evacuated prisoners who had been liberated. Remained in the theater after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe. Inactivated in Germany on 30 Sep 1946

303rd Troop Carrier Squadron (303rd TCS) Sqd. code: J7 1943 to 1946
304th Troop Carrier Squadron (304th TCS) Sqd. code: V4 1943 to 1946
305th Troop Carrier Squadron (305th TCS) Sqd. code: 4J 1943 to 1946
306th Troop Carrier Squadron (306th TCS) Sqd. code: 7H 1943 to 1946
Headquarters (HQ 442nd) 1943 to 1946
301st Troop Carrier Squadron (301st TCS) 1943 to 1946