Constituted as 313th Transport Group on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 2 Mar
1942. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group in Jul 1942. Trained for
overseas duty with C-47's and C-53's. Moved to North Africa, Apr-May 1943,
and assigned to Twelfth AF. Trained for the invasion of Sicily and entered
combat on the night of 9 Jul 1943 by dropping paratroops near Gela.
Although attacked by ground and naval forces while carrying reinforcements
to Sicily on the night of 11 Jul, the group completed the mission and
received a DUC for the performance. Transported supplies and evacuated
wounded in the Mediterranean area until late in Aug when the group moved
to Sicily for the invasion of Italy. Dropped paratroops of 82d Airborne
Division south of Salerno on the night of 13 Sep 1943 and flew a
reinforcement mission the following night. Resumed transport activities in
the theater until Feb 1944, and then joined Ninth AF in England. Prepared
for the invasion of France and on D-Day 1944, released paratroops near
Picauville; dropped reinforcements over the same area on 7 Jun, being
awarded second DUC for its part in the invasion. Dropped paratroops near
Arnheim and Nijmegen on 17 Sep during the airborne attack on Holland and
released gliders carrying reinforcements to that area on 18 and 23 Sep.
Moved to France, Feb-Mar 1945, and received C-46's for the airborne
assault across the Rhine; dropped paratroops of 17th Airborne Division
near Wesel on 24 Mar. When not engaged in airborne operations the group
evacuated wounded personnel and ex-prisoners of war, and also transported
cargo such as ammunition, gasoline, medical supplies, and food until after
V-E Day. Returned to the US, Aug-Sep 1945. Inactivated on 15 Nov 1945.
Activated in Austria on 30 Sep 1946. Assigned to United States Air
Forces in Europe and equipped with C-47 and C-54 aircraft. Transferred,
without personnel and equipment, to the US on 25 Jun 1947 and assigned to
Tactical Air Command. Trained with gliders and C-82's. Redesignated 313th
Troop Carrier Group, (Heavy) in Jul 1948. Moved to Germany, Oct-Nov 1948,
and joined United States Air Forces in Europe for participation in the
Berlin airlift. Transported cargo such as coal, food, and medicine into
West Berlin from Nov 1948 to Sep 1949. Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier
Group (Special) in Feb 1949. Inactivated in Germany on 18 Sep 1949.
Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Medium). Activated in the US on
1 Feb 1953. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Trained with C-119's.
Inactivated on 8 Jun 1955.
Squadrons. 29th: 1942-1945; 1946-1949; 1953-1955. 47th: 1942-1945;
1946-1949; 1953-1955. 48th: 1942-1945; 1946-1949; 1953-1955. 49th:
1942-1945.
Stations. Daniel Field, Ga, 2 Mar 1942; Bowman Field, Ky, 21 Jun 1942;
Florence, SC, 4 Aug 1942; Maxton, NC, 13 Dec 1942-24 Apr 1943; Oujda,
French Morocco, 9 May 1943; Kairouan, Tunisia, 16 Jun 1943; Sciacca,
Sicily, 23 Aug 1943; Trapani/Milo Airfield, Sicily, 3 Oct 1943;
Folkingham, England, 4 Feb 1944; Achiet, France, 28 Feb-5 Aug 1945; Baer
Field, Ind, 14 Sep-15 Nov 1945. Tulln AB, Austria, 30 Sep 1946-25 Jun
1947; Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947; Bergstrom Field, Tex, 15 Jul 1947-22
Oct 1948; Fassberg, Germany, 9 Nov 1948-18 Sep 1949. Mitchel AFB, NY, 1
Feb 1953; Sewart AFB, Tenn, 2 Oct 1953-8 Jun 1955.
Commanders. Capt Fred W Nelson 7 Mar 1942; Col James Roberts Jr, 26 Jun
1942; Lt Col William A Filer, 18 Mar 1945; Lt Col Paul W Stephens, 26 Mar
1945; Lt Col Carl W Campbell, c. Aug-15 Nov 1945. Col Clinton W Davies, 30
Sep 1946; Lt Col Walter R Washburn Jr, 15 Aug 1947; Col Frank P Bostrom, 3
Dec 1947; Lt Col Conway S Hall, unkn-Sep 1949. Col Benton R Baldwin, Feb
1953; Col Steward H Nichols, 1 Oct 1953-1955.
Campaigns. American Theater; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno;
Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Sicily, 11 Jul 1943; France,
[6-7] Jun 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Per bend azure and gules, the silhouette of a stylized
winged aircraft or, charged with a mullet of the first between six
mullets, three and three of the third. (Approved 3 Feb 1943.) Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986 |
