Air Force Combat Units of WWII

AIR FORCE COMBAT UNITS-GROUPS 315during the invasion of Normandy, droppingparatroops of IoIst Airborne Divisionnear Cherbourg on D-Day and releasinggliders with reinforcements on 7 Jun,being awarded a DUC for carrying outthese missions. Following the operationsin Normandy, the organization transportedcargo in France and the UnitedKingdom until part of the group went toItaly in Jul 1944. In Italy it made scheduledflights between Grosseto and Rome,transporting supplies and evacuating patients.When the Allies invaded southernFrance in Aug 1944 the detachment inItaly dropped troops of 509th ParachuteInfantry Regiment along the Riviera on15 Aug and hauled gliders with reinforcementslater in the day. After the detachedechelon returned to England on 25 Aug,the group resumed its cargo missions, thenmoved to the Continent in Sep 1944 forfurther operations in support of the advancingAllies. Dropped paratroops of82d and 1oIs.t Airborne Divisions nearNijmegen on 17 Sep during the air attackon Holland, and towed gliders with reinforcementson 18 and 23 Sep. In Dec,transported ammunition, rations, medicine,and other supplies to troops of IoIstAirborne Division surrounded by theenemy at Bastogne. Released gliders carryingtroops of 17th Airborne Divisionnear Wesel on 24 Mar 1945 when the Allieslaunched the airborne assault across theRhine. Hauled gasoline to armored columnsin Germany after the Allies crossedthe Rhine. Continually transportedfreight and personnel in the theater whennot participating in airborne operations.Evacuated casualties and prisoners whohad been liberated. Remained overseasafter the war as part of United States AirForces in Europe. Continued to transportpersonnel and equipment, usingC-46, C-47, and C-109 aircraft. Inactivatedin Germany on 30 Sep 1946.Redesignated 441st Troop CarrierGroup (Medium). Allotted to the reserve.Activated in the US on 27 Jun 1949.Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951.Znuctiuated on 14 Mar 1951.SQUADRONS, 32d: 1945-1946. 61st:1945-1946. 99th: 1943-1945; 1949-1951-zooth: 1943-1946; 1g4g-1951. 30zst: 1943-1945; 1949-1951- 302d: 1943-1945; 1949-1951. 306th: 1945-1946.STATIONS. Sedalia AAFld, Mo, I Aug1943; Camp Mackall, NC, 18 Jan 1944;Baer Field, Ind, 22-29 Feb 1944; Langar,England, 17 Mar 1944; Merryfield, England,25 Apr 1944; Villeneuve/Vetrus,France, 8 Sep 1944; St Marceau, France,2 Oct 1944; Dreux, France, 3 Nov 1944;Frankfurt, Germany, c. 12 Aug 1945-30Sep 1946. Chicago-Orchard Aprt, Ill, 27Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951.COMMANDERS. Col Theodore G Kershaw,8 Aug 1943; Col William H Parkhill,24 Nov 1g44-unkn; Lt Col RoswellFreedman, unkn-1946; Col Hoyt L Prindle,1946; Col James E Daniel Jr, unkn-Sep 1946.CAMPAIGNS. Rome-Arno; Normandy ;Northern France; Southern France;Rhineland ; Ardennes-Alsace ; CentralEurope.