Constituted as 442d Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 Sep 1943. Trained with C-47's and C-53's. Moved to England in Mar 1944 for duty with Ninth AF. Received additional training with C-47's and C-53's, and later used these aircraft for operations. Flew first missions during the invasion of the Continent, dropping paratroops near Ste-Mere-Eglise on 6 Jun 1944 and flying a resupply mission on 7 Jun, being awarded a DUC for its part in the Normandy invasion. Hauled freight and evacuated casualties during the remainder of the summer. In Jul, however, a detachment flew to Italy where it transported cargo, evacuated casualties, and took part in the invasion of Southern France on 15 Aug by dropping paratroops in the battle area and releasing gliders carrying reinforcements. The detachment returned to England late in Aug, and in Sep the group took part in the airborne attack in Holland by transporting paratroops and towing gliders with reinforcements. Moved to the Continent in Oct 1944, flying resupply missions, hauling freight, and evacuating casualties in support of the Allied effort to breach the Siegfried Line. Continued transport duties until V-E Day but also participated in the airborne assault across the Rhine in Mar 1945 by releasing gliders filled with troops, carried supplies to ground forces in Germany (Apr-May), and evacuated prisoners who had been liberated. Remained in the theater after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe. Inactivated in Germany on 30 Sep 1946.
Redesignated 442d Troop Carrier Group (Medium). Allotted to the reserve. Activated in the US on 27 Jun 1949. Called to active duty on 10 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 12 Mar 1951.
Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 15 Jun 1952.
Squadrons. 301st: 1945. 303d: 1943-1946; 1949-1951; 1952-. 304th: 1943-1946; 1949-1951; 1952-. 305th: 1943-1946; 1949-1951; 1952-1955. 306th: 1943-1946; 1949-1951.
Stations. Sedalia AAFld, Mo, 1 Sep 1943; Alliance AAFld, Neb, Dec 1943; Pope Field, NC, Jan 1944; Baer Field, Ind, c. 2-c. 8 Mar 1944; Fulbeck, England c. 29 Mar 1944; Weston Zoyland, England, Jun 1944; Bonnetable, France, Oct 1944; St-Andre-de-L'Eure, France, Nov 1944; Munich/Riem, Germany, Sep 1945-30 Sep 1946. Fairfax Field, Kan, 27 Jun 1949; Olathe NAS, Kan, May 1950-12 Mar 1951. Olathe NAS, Kan, 15 Jun 1952; Grandview AFB, Mo, Apr 1955-.
Commanders. Col Charles M Smith, Sep 1943; Col John C Kilborn, 25 Sep 1945; Lt Col Paul A Jones, Oct 1945-1946; Col Bertram C Harrison, 1946-nkn.
Campaigns. Rome-Arno; Normandy; Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944.
Insigne. Shield: Light blue, over a silhouetted parachute Air Force yellow, a target pattern, to base, red and white, charged with an elongated arrow red, standing on the target a silhouetted airman, head uplifted toward a stylized aircraft surmounting the upper section of the parachute all black, the aircraft highlighted white. Motto: Si Jeunesse Savait, Si Viellesse Pouvait - If Youth Knew, If Age Were Able. (Approved 6 May 1955.)
Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986
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