Constituted as 314th Transport Group on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 2 Mar
1942. Redesignated 314th Troop Carrier Group in Jul 1942. Used C-47's and
C-53's in preparing for duty overseas. Moved to the Mediterranean theater
in May 1943 and assigned to Twelfth AF for participation in two airborne
operations. Flew two night missions during the invasion of Sicily in Jul
1943: released paratroops of 82d Airborne Division near Gela on 9 Jul;
dropped reinforcements in the area on 11 Jul, receiving a DUC for carrying
out this second mission in spite of bad weather and heavy attack by ground
and naval forces. Took part in the invasion of Italy by dropping
paratroops and supplies near Salerno on 14 and 15 Sep 1943. Moved to
England in Feb 1944 for operations with Ninth AF. Trained for the invasion
of western Europe. Dropped paratroops in Normandy on 6 Jun 1944 and flew a
resupply and reinforcement mission the following day, receiving a DUC for
these operations. Released paratroops over Holland during the airborne
attack in Sep and flew follow-up missions to provide reinforcements and
supplies. Moved to France, Feb-Mar 1945. Released gliders carrying troops
and equipment to the Wesel area on 24 Mar 1945 when the Allies launched
the airborne assault across the Rhine. Continually transported freight in
the Mediterranean and European theaters, when neither training for, nor
participating in airborne operations; hauled supplies such as food,
clothing, gasoline, aircraft parts, and ammunition. Also carried wounded
personnel to rear-zone hospitals. After V-E Day, evacuated Allied
prisoners from Germany, and later made scheduled flights to transport
freight and personnel in Europe. Transferred, without personnel and
equipment, to the US in Feb 1946.
Moved to the Canal Zone, Sep-Oct 1946, and assigned to Caribbean Air
Command. Operated air terminals in the Panama and Antilles areas,
Redesignated 314th Troop Carrier Group (Heavy) in Jun 1948. Returned to
the US in Oct 1948 and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Redesignated
314th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) in Nov 1948. Trained with C-47, C-82,
and C-119 aircraft.
Moved to Japan, Aug-Sep 1950, and attached to Far East Air Forces for
duty in the Korean War. Operated primarily with C-119 aircraft.
Transported troops and supplies from Japan to Korea and evacuated wounded
personnel. Participated in two major airborne operations: dropped
paratroops and equipment over Sunchon in Oct 1950 in support of the UN
assault on Pyongyang; dropped paratroops over Munsan-ni during the
airborne attack across the 38th Parallel in Mar 1951. Remained in Japan
after the armistice to transport supplies to Korea and evacuate prisoners
of war.
Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in Nov 1954.
Manned, and equipped with C-119's. Received an AFOUA for an airborne
exercise, Jan-Feb 1955, when the group transported elements of a
regimental combat team from Tennessee to Alaska, dropped paratroops over
the exercise area, and completed the return airlift.
Squadrons. 20th: 1946-1949. 30th: 1942. 31st: 1942. 32d: 1942-1945.
50th: 1942-1946, 1949-. 61st: 1943-1945, 1949-. 62d: 1943-1946, 1949-.
301st: 1945-1946. 302d: 1945-1946. 321st: 1945-1946, 1955-. 323d:
1945-1946. 334th: 1946-1949.
Stations. Drew Field, Fla, 2 Mar 1942; Bowman Field, Ky, 24 Jun 1942;
Knobnoster, Mo, 4 Nov 1942; Lawson Field, Ga, c. 20 Feb May 1943;
Berguent, French Morocco, May 1943; Kairouan, Tunisia, 26 Jun 1943;
Castelvetrano, Sicily, 24 Aug 1943-13 Feb 1944; Saltby England, Feb 1944;
Poix, France, Feb 1945; Villacoublay, France, 15 Oct 1945-15 Feb 1946;
Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb Sep 1946; Albrook Field, CZ, 1 Oct 1946; Curundu
Heights, CZ, 10 Mar-Oct 1948; Smyrna AFB, Tenn, 21 Oct 1948-Aug 1950;
Ashiya, Japan, Sep 1950-15 Nov 1954; Sewart AFB, Tenn, 15 Nov 1954-.
Commanders. 2d Lt L C Lillie, 2 Mar 1942; 2d Lt W Blakeslee, 14 May
1942; Maj Leonard M Rohrbough, 26 Jun 1942; Col Clayton Stiles, 9 Apr
1943; Lt Co Halac G Wilson, 22 Aug 1945; Col Charles W Steinmetz, 29 Nov
1945-c. Feb 1946; Col Richard W Henderson, 8 Oct 1948; Col William H
DeLacey, 27 Aug 1951; Col David E Daniel, 28 Sep 1951; Lt Col Harold L
Sommers, 1 May 1952; Col William H DeLacey, Nov 1954-.
Campaigns. World War II: American Theater; Sicily; Naples-Foggia;
Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. Korean
War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; 1st UN
Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second
Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea
Summer-Fall, 1953.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Sicily, 11 Jul 1943; France,
Jun 1944; Korea, 28 Nov-10 Dec 1950. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit
Citation: 1 Jul 1951-27 Jul 1953. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 11
Jan-14 Feb 1955.
Insigne. Shield: Or, on clouds in fess, azure, two boots passant of the
field, ornamented, gules. Motto: Viri Veniente - Men Will Come. (Approved
17 Aug 1942. This insigne was replaced 17 Jun 1954.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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