Constituted as 2nd Combat Cargo Group on 25 Apr 1944.
Activated on 1 May
1944. Trained with C-46 and C-47 aircraft. Moved to
the Southwest Pacific,
Oct-Nov 1944, and assigned to Fifth AF. Operated
from Biak to fly passengers
and cargo to US bases in Australia, New
Guinea, the Admiralties, and the
Philippines. Also dropped supplies to
US and guerrilla forces in the
Philippines. Moved to Leyte in May 1945.
Maintained flights to bases in
Australia, New Guinea, and the
Philippines; transported personnel and supplies
to the Ryukyus, and
evacuated casualties on return flights. Moved to Okinawa
in Aug 1945.
Transported personnel and equipment of the occupation forces to
Japan
and ferried liberated prisoners of war to the Philippines. Moved
to
Japan in Sep 1945. Inactivated on 15 Jan 1946. Disbanded on 8 Oct
1948.
Squadrons. 5th: 1944-1946. 6th: 1944-1946. 7th: 1944-1946.
8th:
1944-1946.
Stations. Syracuse AAB, NY, 1 May 1944; Baer Field, Ind,
9-27 Oct 1944;
Biak, Nov 1944; Dulag, Leyte, May 1945; Okinawa, c. 20
Aug 1945; Yokota,
Japan, c. 22 Sep 1945-15 Jan 1946.
Commanders. Col William Bell, May 1944; Maj Arthur D Thomas,
10 Dec
1945-unkn.
Campaigns. Air Offensive, Japan; New Guinea; Western
Pacific; Leyte;
Luzon; Southern Philippines; Ryukyus.
Decorations. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
