Origins edit

Prior to the early 1930s, transport aircraft in the Air Corps had been assigned to air depots and to service squadrons, although provisional transport squadrons had been formed for special projects. By 1932 Major Hugh J. Kerr, Chief of the Field Service Section of the Materiel Division, proposed the formation of a transport squadron at each air depot to act as a cadre for the transport wing the Air Corps proposed to support a field army in the event of mobilization. Major General Benjamin Foulois approved the formation of four provisional squadrons in November 1932.^[1]

On 1 October 1933 the 1st Provisional Transport Squadron was constituted. However, there were no funds to equip or pay personnel for the unit, which remained inactive. It was authorized to partially activate in 1935 at the Fairfield Air Depot, Dayton, Ohio in March 1935. The squadron was given a permanent designation as the 1st Transport Squadron in June and fully activated on 15 July 1935 with Bellanca C-27 Airbus aircraft assigned.^[2][3] With enlisted men as pilots, the squadron hauled engines, parts, and other equipment to airfields in their assigned depot area, returned items to the depot, and transferred materiel between depots. They also furnished transportation for maneuvers. The rapid transport of supplies by the squadrons permitted the Air Corps to maintain low levels of materiel at its airfields, relying on replenishment from depot stocks only when needed.^[1]

In May 1937, the squadron was reassigned from the Fairfield Air Depot to the newly activated 10th Transport Group, which assumed command of all four squadrons. The squadron received two-engine Douglas C-33s, the military version of the DC-2 in 1936 and Douglas C-39s (DC-2s with tail surfaces of the DC-3) in 1939 to replace the single engine Bellancas. These, and various other militarized DC-3s remained as the squadron's equipment until the entry of the United States into World War II.^[1][3][4]

World War II edit

After the Pearl Harbor Attack and the entry into World War II, in April 1942, its parent 10th TG was reassigned to the Air Transport Command (later I Troop Carrier Command) (I TCC). The 1st, now redesignated as the 1st Troop Carrier Squadron became an Operational Training Unit and converted to Douglas C-47 Skytrain transports. It moved to General Billy Mitchell Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it joined the 5th Troop Carrier Squadron carrying out operations and transition training for pilots.^[5] In September the 10th transferred to Pope Field, North Carolina, where it continued to be a training squadron for I TCC. In February 1943, the group's 1st and 2d Troop Carrier Squadrons deployed to the CBI Theater and were assigned to Tenth Air Force.^[6]

Upon the squadron's arrival in India, it was assigned to Tenth Air Force Headquarters. Upon its arrival with C-47s, it was decided that the squadron was to be attached to the Air Transport Command units in the Assam Valley of eastern India, to aid in moving supplies to China. The squadron was assigned to Chabua Airfield, and consisted of 13 C-47s, 42 officers and 62 enlisted men. After about a month, the squadron headquarters moved back to New Delhi, and flights of C-47s were sent to several airfields in the Assam Valley to supplement the ATC aircraft flying over "The Hump" into airfields in China. As more and more ATC aircraft arrived for the logistics mission to China, the squadron reformed at Sookerating Airfield in the Assam Valley in March 1943.^[7]

With the squadron's return to Tenth Air Force control, it began combat operations, primarily supporting American and British forces in Burma. The squadron was active carrying commandos who would parachute at low altitude behind enemy lines, and perform their mission. Frequently, the squadron would locate small groups of men in camouflaged areas and drop resupply containers out of the door of the aircraft, usually flying at low level with the aircraft vulnerable to enemy ground weapons fire. In late April 1944 the squadron supported the Allied attack on Myitkyina Airfield in northern Burma. The squadron flew paratroopers and also towed in CG-4A Waco gliders to the airfield during the battle; later moving in combat engineers and equipment to prepare the captured airfield to land reinforcements.^[8]

After the battle ended the squadron continued its combat operations, transporting Allied troops, evacuating wounded personnel, and hauling supplies and material, including gasoline, oil, signal and engineering equipment, medicine rations, and ammunition. The squadron's missions were concerned primarily with support for Allied forces that were driving southward through Burma, but the 1st also made flights to China.^[9]

The squadron was reassigned to Fourteenth Air Force in January and moved to China in August 1945, and received a Distinguished Unit Citation for transporting a Chinese army of more than 30,000 men from Chihkiang to Nanking in September 1945. The squadron returned to the US in December and inactivated on 18 December 1945.^[6]

Strategic Air Command edit

The 1st Air Transport Unit was organized at Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, in July 1946 as part of a reorganization of the 58th Bombardment Wing. Due to its classified nature and mission during World War II, the 509th Composite Group was set up as an independent unit with its own airlift squadron.^[10] With its assignment to Strategic Air Command (SAC) in March 1946, it was decided to convert the 509th into a bombardment group. The 1st Air Transport Unit assumed the mission of the 509th's 320th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was inactivated.^{[11][Note 1]} The 509th was redesignated as the 509th Bombardment Group, Very Heavy.^[6] The new transport unit was assigned directly to the 58th Bombardment Wing, the parent organization of the 509th, although operational control was retained by SAC headquarters.^[11][12]

The 1st continued the logistics support and special air transport mission of the inactivated 320th. In November 1946 the 58th Bomb Wing was assigned to Eighth Air Force and the 1st was also assigned directly to headquarters, Eighth Air Force. Little less than a year later, the unit moved to Fort Worth Army Air Field, headquarters of Eighth Air Force.^[6] As SAC and the Air Force began to expand, the unit supported SAC units in exercises and unit moves and deployment. As the only unit of its kind, it was called on for support in nearly all of these operations, including operations in Germany, Puerto Rico, Panama, Japan and Alaska.^[11] On 1 June 1948 it became the 1st Strategic Support Unit and moved to Biggs Air Force Base.^[13]

In early 1949 the unit participated in Operation Scordo, In this operation the unit transported support personnel and equipment to the four bases in Hawaii, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, and the Azores, that were used by the Boeing KB-29 tankers that supported the first non-stop flight around the world by the Boeing B-50 Superfortress "Lucky Lady II". For this operation the unit received a commendation from the Secretary of the Air Force. It provided similar support for the first deployment of jet fighters from the United States across the Atlantic to Germany.^[11]

During 1949, as the mission load grew, the 1st became the 1st Strategic Support Squadron^[13] and provided the cadre for the new 2d Strategic Support Squadron. As the 2d was organized, the 1st transferred its Douglas C-54 Skymasters to the new squadron and began to re-equip with Boeing C-97 Stratofreighters.^[11] Eventually, a total of four strategic support squadrons, assigned directly to the SAC numbered air forces were organized around the United States.

The wartime mission of the squadron was based on the requirement for SAC's medium bombers to deploy to overseas bases to successfully reach their targets. Even with air refueling, some bombers would only reach a recovery base rather than its original launch base. SAC planned to use the squadron to transport personnel and equipment to recovery bases to perform maintenance and recovery operations. The attitude that SAC could not rely on other sources for this support was partly based in General Curtis LeMay’s experience during World War II when he had to rely on theater commanders for supply and found that theater supply channels could not keep up with the pace of strategic bombing operations. This convinced him that SAC needed total control of all aspects of a nuclear campaign.^[14]

During the postwar years and through the 1950s the squadron carried much classified equipment and personnel to various locations around the world. It was upgraded first to C-97 Stratofreighters in 1949 operating 12 of that type. In 1951 C-124 Globemaster IIs replaced the C-97s, the first C-124A arriving at Biggs on 18 January 1951. It was inactivated on 15 January 1959 when SAC got out of the transport business and the 97th Bomb Wing was transferred from Biggs to Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas.^[6]

Consolidation edit

On 15 January 1985, the Air Force Historical Research Agency consolidated these three units, and designated it as the 971st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron. The 971st was never activated and remains in an inactive status.^[12]

1st Strategic Support Squadron

• Constituted on 10 Jul 1946 as the 1st Air Transport Unit
• Activated on 30 July 1946

Redesignated as 1st Strategic Support Unit on 1 June 1948

Redesignated as 1st Strategic Support Squadron on 14 January 1949

Inactivated on 15 January 1959

• Consolidated with the 1st Troop Carrier Squadron and the 1st Air Transport Squadron as the 971st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on 15 January 1985 (Remained inactive)^[12]

1st Troop Carrier Squadron

• Constituted as the 1st Provisional Transport Squadron on 1 October 1933

Authorized to be partially organized on 1 March 1935

Redesignated 1st Transport Squadron on 25 June 1935

Fully activated on 15 July 1935^[2]

Redesignated 1st Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942

Inactivated on 18 December 1945^[6]

• Consolidated with the 1st Strategic Support Squadron and the 1st Air Transport Squadron as the 971st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on, 15 January 1985 (Remained inactive)^[12]

1st Air Transport Squadron

Constituted as the 1st Air Transport Squadron on 8 May 1969^{[Note 2]}

• Activated on 25 July 1969^[15]

Inactivated on 30 June 1971^[15]

• Consolidated with the 1st Strategic Support Squadron and the 1st Troop Carrier Squadron as the 971st Airborne Warning and Control Squadron on, 15 January 1985 (Remained inactive)^[12]

Assignments edit

1st Strategic Support Squadron

• 58th Bombardment Wing, 30 July 1946
• Eighth Air Force, 1 November 1946 – 15 January 1959.^[12]

1st Troop Carrier Squadron

• V Corps Area, 1 October 1933 (Not Active)^[2]
• Fairfield Air Depot, 15 July 1935
• 10th Transport (later Troop Carrier) Group, 20 May 1937
• Tenth Air Force, c. 2 February 1943

Attached to: India-China Wing, Air Transport Command, 2 February-7 March 1943

Attached to: Troop Carrier Command, Eastern Air Command, 20 December 1943 – 6 March 1944

• 443d Troop Carrier Group, 6 March 1944 – 18 December 1945^[6]

1st Air Transport Squadron

• 1st Composite Wing, 25 July 1969 – 20 June 1971

Stations edit

1st Strategic Support Squadron

• Roswell Army Air Field, New Mexico, 30 July 1946
• Fort Worth Army Air Field (later Griffiss Air Force Base, Carswell Air Force Base), Texas, on 22 September 1947
• Biggs Air Force Base, Texas, on 14 Dec 1948–15 January 1959^[12]

1st Troop Carrier Squadron

1st Air Transport Squadron

• Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 25 July 1969 – 20 June 1971

1st Strategic Support Squadron

• Douglas C-54 Skymaster, 1946–1949
• Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, 1949–1951
• Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, 1951–1959^[12]

1st Troop Carrier Squadron

• Bellanca C-27 Airbus, 1935–1937
• Douglas C-33, 1936–1939

Included Douglas C-39 and various modifications of civilian Douglas DC-3s 1939–1941

• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1942–1945
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945^[6]

• 320th Troop Carrier Squadron
• 2d Strategic Support Squadron
• 3d Strategic Support Squadron
• 4th Strategic Support Squadron

Notes edit

Citations edit

Bibliography edit

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Clay, Steven E. (2011). US Army Order of Battle 1919–1941 (PDF). Vol. 3 The Services: Air Service, Engineers, and Special Troops 1919–1941. Fort Leavenworth, KS: Combat Studies Institute Press. ISBN 978-0-9841901-4-0. LCCN 2010022326. OCLC 637712205. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
• Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1953). "Introduction". The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. V, The Pacific – Materhorn to Nagasaki. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. p. xxxvi. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 7004158.
• Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L, eds. (1955). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158.
• Deaile, Melvin G. (2007). The SAC Mentality: The Origins of Organizational Culture in Strategic Air Command 1946-1962. Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
• Goss, William A. (1955). "The Organization and its Responsibilities, Chapter 2 The AAF". In Craven, Wesley F; Cate, James L (eds.). The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol. VI, Men & Planes. Chicago, Illinois: University of Chicago Press. LCCN 48003657. OCLC 704158.
• Maurer, Maurer (1987). Aviation in the U.S. Army, 1919-1939 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, United States Air Force. ISBN 0-912799-38-2. LCCN 87012257. OCLC 15661556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.
• Mueller, Robert (1989). Air Force Bases, Vol. I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-53-6.
• Merril's Marauders, CMH Publication 100-4. American Forces in Action (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Center of Military History. 1989 [1945]. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015. (Online version is split among several URLs. Listed URL is for title and introduction and includes links to all others.)