54th Tactical Fighter Wing: Difference between revisions
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=== Operational History=== |
=== Operational History=== |
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The '''54th Troop Carrier Wing''' commenced air transport and medical air evacuation operations in support of Fifth Air Force on 26 May 1943. advancing as battle lines permitted. |
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==== World War II ==== |
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The wing employed C-47s almost exclusively, but during late 1943 and much of 1944 also used converted 13-17s for armed transport missions in enemy-held territory. The 54th supported every major advance made by the allies in the Southwest Pacific, operating from primitive airstrips carved from jungles and air-dropping cargo where airstrips unavailable. |
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==== Pacific Air Forces ==== |
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THe unit took part in the airborne invasion of Nadzab, New Guinea, in Sep 1943 by dropping paratroopers of the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment as well as Australian engineers and heavy equipment. In Jul 1944, the wing dropped 1,418 paratroopers on Noemfoor Island to aid the allied invasion forces. Then assumed the task of handling all freight and personnel moving in troop carrier aircraft in the Southwest Pacific, in addition to scheduled and unscheduled air movement of cargo and troops, and air evacuation of wounded personnel. |
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Some C-46s began operating within the wing in late 1944, and during 1945 large numbers of C-46s were used in addition to C-47s. By late 1944 and during the early months of 1945, most wing missions were flown to the Philippines. In Feb 1945, the wing flew three more airborne operations, all in the Philippines, to help encircle Japanese concentrations. Wing C-47s dropped napalm on Carabao Island, in Manila Bay, in Mar 1945. |
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When hostilities ended, the wing moved the entire 11th Airborne Division (11,300 personnel) from the Philippines to Okinawa on short notice, and then began transporting occupation forces into Japan. During Sep 1945, the wing also evacuated over 17,000 former prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines. |
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The wing served as part of the occupation forces in Japan from 25 Sep 1945 to about 26 Jan 1946, while con-tinuing routine air transport operations and a scheduled courier service. Beginning in Dec 1945 and continuing into mid-1946, most of the wing's components were reassigned to other units or inactivated, and on 15 Jan 1946 the wing became a component of the Far East (soon, Pacific) Air Service Command. |
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Moving to the Philippines, the wing gained new components and flew scheduled routes between Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and the Hawaiian Islands. Replaced by the 403d Troop Carrier Group on 31 May 1946 and was inactivated. |
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The unit was allocated to the Georgia Air National Guard as the '''54th Fighter Wing''', from Jul 1946 to Oct 1950. Ordered to active service on 10 Oct 1950 and inactivated the following day, with personnel used as fillers in other USAF units. |
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In Jun 1970, as the '''54th Tactical Fighter Wing''', replaced the 354th TFW at Kunsan AB, South Korea. Used attached F-4 squadrons in the Republic of Korea. |
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== References == |
== References == |
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| 54th Tactical Fighter Wing | |
|---|---|
| Active | 20 May 1943 - 31 May 1946 (USAAF) 1 June 1946 - 11 October 1950 (GA ANG) 5 June - 31 October 1970 (PACAF) |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Forces |
The 54th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It's last duty assignment was at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea.
During World War II, the 54th Troop Carrier Wing was a United States Army Air Force Fifth Air Force transport wing that exercised command and control over five combat cargo and troop carrier groups in the South West Pacific theatre.
History
Lineage
- Constituted as 54th Troop Carrier Wing on 26 Feburary 1943
- Activated 26 Feburary 1943
- Inactivated 31 May 1946
- Redesignated 54th Fighter Wing on 1 June 1946
- Assigned to Georgia Air Natinal Guard
- Extended Federal recognition on 2 October 1946
- Inactivated 11 October 1950
- Redesignated 54th Tactical Fighter Wing, 5 June 1970
- Activated 5 June 1970
- Inactivated 31 October 1970
Major Commands
- Fifth Air Force, (1943-1946)
- Pacific Air Service Command ,(1946)
- Georgia Air National Guard, (1946-1950)
- Pacific Air Forces, (1970)
Bases Assigned
- Brisbaine, Australia, 13 March 1943
- Port Moresby, New Guinea, 3 May 1943
- Nadzab, New Guinea, 18 April 1944
- Bisk, 5 October 1944
- Leyte, 14 Feburary 1945
- Clark Field, Luzon, June 1945
- Tachikawa, Japan, September 1945
- Manila, Luzon, 26 January - 31 May 1946
- Marietta AAB (Later Dobbins AFB), Georgia 8 July 1946 - 11 October 1950
- Kusan Air Base, South Korea, 15 June - 31 October 1970
Units Assigned
- World War II
- 2d Combat Cargo Group, (1944-1946)
- 317th Troop Carrier Group, (1943-1946)
- 374th Troop Carrier Group, (1943)
- 375th Troop Carrier Group, (1943-1946)
- 433d Troop Carrier Group, (1943-1946)
- 1st Troop Carrier Squadron (Phillipine Army), 26 January - 31 May 1946
- 9th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 January - 15 Feburary 1946
- 311th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 Feburary - 15 May 1946
- 316th Troop Carrier Squadron, 15 Feburary - 25 March 1946
- Pacific Air Forces
- 16th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June - 7 September 1970
- 478th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 15 June - 2 Septenber 1970
Operational History
The 54th Troop Carrier Wing commenced air transport and medical air evacuation operations in support of Fifth Air Force on 26 May 1943. advancing as battle lines permitted.
The wing employed C-47s almost exclusively, but during late 1943 and much of 1944 also used converted 13-17s for armed transport missions in enemy-held territory. The 54th supported every major advance made by the allies in the Southwest Pacific, operating from primitive airstrips carved from jungles and air-dropping cargo where airstrips unavailable.
THe unit took part in the airborne invasion of Nadzab, New Guinea, in Sep 1943 by dropping paratroopers of the 503d Parachute Infantry Regiment as well as Australian engineers and heavy equipment. In Jul 1944, the wing dropped 1,418 paratroopers on Noemfoor Island to aid the allied invasion forces. Then assumed the task of handling all freight and personnel moving in troop carrier aircraft in the Southwest Pacific, in addition to scheduled and unscheduled air movement of cargo and troops, and air evacuation of wounded personnel.
Some C-46s began operating within the wing in late 1944, and during 1945 large numbers of C-46s were used in addition to C-47s. By late 1944 and during the early months of 1945, most wing missions were flown to the Philippines. In Feb 1945, the wing flew three more airborne operations, all in the Philippines, to help encircle Japanese concentrations. Wing C-47s dropped napalm on Carabao Island, in Manila Bay, in Mar 1945.
When hostilities ended, the wing moved the entire 11th Airborne Division (11,300 personnel) from the Philippines to Okinawa on short notice, and then began transporting occupation forces into Japan. During Sep 1945, the wing also evacuated over 17,000 former prisoners of war from Japan to the Philippines.
The wing served as part of the occupation forces in Japan from 25 Sep 1945 to about 26 Jan 1946, while con-tinuing routine air transport operations and a scheduled courier service. Beginning in Dec 1945 and continuing into mid-1946, most of the wing's components were reassigned to other units or inactivated, and on 15 Jan 1946 the wing became a component of the Far East (soon, Pacific) Air Service Command.
Moving to the Philippines, the wing gained new components and flew scheduled routes between Japan, the Philippines, Australia, and the Hawaiian Islands. Replaced by the 403d Troop Carrier Group on 31 May 1946 and was inactivated.
The unit was allocated to the Georgia Air National Guard as the 54th Fighter Wing, from Jul 1946 to Oct 1950. Ordered to active service on 10 Oct 1950 and inactivated the following day, with personnel used as fillers in other USAF units.
In Jun 1970, as the 54th Tactical Fighter Wing, replaced the 354th TFW at Kunsan AB, South Korea. Used attached F-4 squadrons in the Republic of Korea.
References
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
External Links
Previously: Philippine Department Air Force (1941); Far East Air Force (1941-1942) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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