315th Troop Carrier Group

Constituted as 315th Transport Group on 2 Feb 1942 and activated on 14 Feb. Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group in Jul 1942. Trained for combat operations with C-47's and C-53's. Departed the US, Oct-Nov 1942, for assignment to Eighth AF in England. Encountering bad weather while flying the North Atlantic route, the air echelon was detained for about a month in Greenland, where it searched for missing aircraft along the east coast and dropped supplies to crews. After the air and ground echelons were united in England in Dec, the group began ferrying cargo in the British Isles and training with airborne troops and gliders. A detachment was sent to Algeria in May 1943, and although not participating in the airborne phase of the invasions of Sicily and Italy, it did support those operations by transporting supplies in the theater. In Mar 1944 the detachment returned to England and rejoined the group, which had been assigned to Ninth AF in Oct 1943. Prepared for the invasion of the Continent, and dropped paratroops near Cherbourg early on D-Day in Jun 1944, receiving a DUC for its action in the Normandy invasion. Dropped paratroops of 82d Airborne Division on 17 Sep 1944 when the Allies launched the air attack on Holland; flew reinforcement missions on succeeding days, landing at Grave on 26 Sep to unload paratroops and supplies. Released British paratroops near Wesel during the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945. Following each airborne operation, the group resumed transport activities, hauling cargo such as medical supplies, signal equipment, rations, and gasoline, and evacuating wounded personnel. Moved to France in Apr 1945. Transported cargo and evacuated prisoners of war until after V-E Day. Moved to Trinidad in May 1945 and assigned to Air Transport Command. Used C-47's to transport troops returning to the US. Inactivated in Trinidad on 31 Jul 1945.

Activated in the US on 19 May 1947. Apparently was not manned. Inactivated on 10 Sep 1948.

Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group (Medium). Activated in Japan on 10 Jun 1952. Assigned to Far East Air Forces for operations in the Korean War. Used C-46 aircraft to participate in the airlift between Japan and Korea. Transported cargo such as vegetables, clothing, ordnance supplies, and mail; evacuated patients and other personnel. Remained in the theater after the armistice and continued to fly transport missions until 1955. Inactivated in Japan on 18 Jan 1955.

Squadrons. 19th: 1952-1955. 33d: 1942. 34th: 1942-1945; 1947-1948; 1952-1955. 35th: 1942. 43d: 1942-1945; 1947-1948; 1952-1955. 54th: 1942. 309th: 1944-1945. 310th: 1944-1945. 344th: 1952-1955.

Stations. Olmsted Field, Pa, 14 Feb 1942; Bowman Field, Ky, 17 Jun 1942; Florence, SC, 3 Aug-11 Oct 1942; Aldermaston, England, c. 1 Dec 1942; Welford, England, 6 Nov 1943; Stanhoe, England, 7 Feb 1944; Amiens, France, 6 Apr-May 1945; Waller Field, Trinidad, May-31 Jul 1945. Langley Field, Va, 19 May 1947-10 Sep 1948. Brady AB, Japan, 10 Jun 1952-18 Jan 1955.

Commanders. Capt Thomas J Schofield, 14 Feb 1942; Col Hamish McLelland, 17 Apr 1942; Col Howard B Lyon, 27 Sep 1944; Lt Col Robert Gibbons, 27 Mar 1945-unkn. Unkn, May 1947-Sep 1948. Lt Col Jack L Crawford, 10 Jun 1952; Lt Col Gene I Martin, 5 Dec 1952; Col Kenneth L Glassburn, 11 Aug 1953; Lt Col Jacob P Sartz Jr, 9 Nov 1954-18 Jan 1955.

Campaigns. World War II: American Theater; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe. Korean War: Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6] Jun 1944. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: [10 Jun 1952]-27 Jul 1953.

Insigne. Shield: Azure, a winged packing box bend sinisterwise or. Motto: Adveniam - I Will Arrive. (Approved 22 May 1942.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986