313th Expeditionary Operations Group

313th Troop Carrier Group
Emblem of the 313th Troop Carrier Group
Active	1942-1945; 1946-1948; 1948-1949; 1952-1955
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Transport

The 313th Troop Carrier Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 313th Troop Carrier Wing at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee. It was inactivated on 8 June 1955.

During World War II, the group was assigned to both Twelfth and Ninth Air Forces in North Africa, Italy and Western Europe. The 313 TCG was highly decorated for its combat parachute infantry drops during the Invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky); Invasion of Italy (Operation Avalanche); Invasion of France (Operation Overlord); the airborne invasion of the Netherlands (Operation Market-Garden); and the airborne crossing of the Rhine River, (Operation Varsity).

History

For additional history and lineage, see 313th Tactical Airlift Wing

Lineage

• Constituted as 313th Transport Group on 28 Jan 1942

Activated on 2 Mar 1942.

Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group in Jul 1942

Inactivated on 15 Nov 1945

• Activated on 30 Sep 1946

Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group, (Heavy) in Jul 1948

Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Special) in Feb 1949

Inactivated on 18 Sep 1949

• Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) and activated on 1 Feb 1953

Inactivated on 8 Jun 1955

Assignments

• I Troop Carrier Command, 2 Mar 1942-24 Apr 1943
• Twelfth Air Force, 9 May 1943
• IX Troop Carrier Command, 4 Feb 1944-5 Aug 1945
• Third Air Force, 14 Sep-15 Nov 1945
• United States Air Forces in Europe

Attached to: XII Fighter Command, 30 Sep 1946-25 Jun 1947

• Ninth Air Force, 25 Jun 1947
• 313th Troop Carrier Wing, 28 Jul 1947-18 Sep 1949; 1 Feb 1953
• Eighteenth Air Force, 25 Aug 1953-8 Jun 1955

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
• RAF Folkingham (USAAF Station 484), England, 4 Feb 1944

• Achiet, France, 28 Feb-5 Aug 1945
• Baer Field, Ind, 14 Sep-15 Nov 1945
• Tulin AB, Austria, 30 Sep 1946-25 Jun 1947
• Langley Field, Va, 25 Jun 1947
• Bergstrom Field, Tex, 15 Jul 1947-22 Oct 1948
• Fassberg RAF Station, Germany, 9 Nov 1948-18 Sep 1949
• Mitchel AFB, NY, 1 Feb 1953
• Sewart AFB, Tenn, 2 Oct 1953-8 Jun 1955.

Components

• 29th Troop Carrier Squadron (27), 2 Mar 1942-22 Sep 1945; 30 Sep 1946-18 Sep 1949; 1 Feb 1953-8 Jun 1955
• 47th Troop Carrier Squadron (N3), 2 Mar 1942-22 Sep 1945; 30 Sep 1946-18 Sep 1949; 1 Feb 1953-8 Jun 1955
• 48th Troop Carrier Squadron (5X), 2 Mar 1942-22 Sep 1945; 30 Sep 1946-18 Sep 1949; 1 Feb 1953-8 Jun 1955
• 49th Troop Carrier Squadron (H2), 2 Mar 1942-22 Sep 1945; 30 Sep 1946-18 Sep 1949; 1 Feb 1953-8 Jun 1955

Aircraft

• C-47/C-53 Skytrain, 1942-1945; 1946-1947
• C-54 Skymaster, 1946-1947; 1848-1949
• CG-4 Waco (Glider) 1947-1949
• C-82 Packet, 1947-1949
• C-46 Commando, 1953
• C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1953-1955

Operations

World War II

Trained for overseas duty with C-47's and C-53's. Moved to North Africa, Apr-May 1943, and assigned to Twelfth Air Force.

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 II 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 7943 and flew a reinforcement mission the following night.

Resumed transport activities in the theater until Feb 1944, and then joined Ninth Air Force 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.

Cold War

Activated in Austria on 30 Sep 1946. Assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe Army of Occupation and equipped with C-47 and C-54 aircraft was assigned to Tullin Air Base, becoming host unit.

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 Feb 1953. Assigned to Tactical Air Com¬mand. Trained with C-119's. Inactivated on 8 Jun 1955 when 313th Troop Carrier Wing converted to Tri-Deputate organization and assigned all operational components directly to the wing.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

• Maurer, Maurer (1983). Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0892010924
• Johnson, David C. (1988), U.S. Army Air Forces Continental Airfields (ETO), D-Day to V-E Day; Research Division, USAF Historical Research Center, Maxwell AFB, Alabama.