314th Troop Carrier Group

Combat Aircraft:
C-47
C-53

Stations

Group COs

Early History:

Constituted as 314th Transport Group on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 2 Mar 1942. Redesignated 314th Troop Carrier Group in July 1942. Used C-47's and C-53's in preparing for duty overseas. Moved to the Mediterranean theater in May 1943 and assigned to Twelfth AF for participation in two airborne operations. Flew two night missions during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943: released paratroops of 82nd Airborne Division near Gela on 9 July; dropped reinforcements in the area on 11 July, receiving a DUC for carrying out this second mission in spite of bad weather and heavy attack by ground and naval forces. Took part in the invasion of Italy by dropping paratroops and supplies near Salerno on 14 and 15 Sep I943-Moved to England in Feb 1944 for operations with Ninth AF. Trained for the invasion of western Europe. Dropped paratroops in Normandy on 6 Jun 1944 and flew a resupply and reinforcement mission the following day. Receiving a DUC for these operations. Released paratroops over Holland during the airborne attack in Sep and flew follow-up missions to provide reinforcements and supplies. Moved to France, Feb-Mar 1945. Released gliders carrying troops and equipment to the Wesel area on 24 Mar 1945 when the Allies launched the airborne assault across the Rhine. Continually transported freight in the Mediterranean and European theaters, when neither training for, nor participating in airborne operations; hauled supplies such as food, clothing, gasoline, aircraft parts, and ammunition. Also carried wounded personnel to rear-zone hospitals. After V-E Day, evacuated Allied prisoners from Germany, and later made scheduled flights to transport freight and personnel in Europe. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in Feb 1946.

Subsequent History:

Moved to the Canal Zone, Sep-Oct 1946, and assigned to Caribbean Air Command. Operated air terminals in the Panama and Antilles areas. Redesignated 314th Troop Carrier Group (Heavy) in Jun 1948. Returned to the US in Oct 1948 and assigned to Tactical Air Command. Redesignated 314th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) in GROUPS Nov 1948. Trained with C-47, C-82, and C-119 aircraft. Moved to Japan, Aug-Sep 1950, and attached to Far East Air Forces for duty in the Korean War. Operated primarily with C-119 aircraft. Transported troops and supplies from Japan to Korea and evacuated wounded personnel. Participated in two major airborne operations: dropped paratroops and equipment over Sunchon in Oct 1950 in support of the UN assault on Pyongyang; dropped paratroops over Munsan-ni during the airborne attack across the 38th Parallel in Mar 1951. Remained in Japan after the armistice to transport supplies to Korea and evacuate prisoners of war. Transferred, without personnel and equipment, to the US in Nov 1954 Manned, and equipped with C-118's. Received an AFOUA for an airborne exercise, Jan-Feb 1955, when the group transported elements of a regimental combat team from Tennessee to Alaska, dropped paratroops over the exercise area, and completed the return airlift.

SQUADRONS. 20th: 1946-1949 30th: 1942. 31st: 1942. 32d: 1942-1945. 50th 1942-1946, 1949- 61st: 1943-1945 1949-. 62d: 1943-1946-1949- 301st: 1945-1946. 302d: 1945-1946 321st: 1945-1946 1955- 323d: 1945-1946 334th: 1946-1949

STATIONS. ; Bolling Field, DC, 15 Feb-Sep 1946; Albrook Field, CZ, 1 Oct 1946; Curundu Heights, CZ, 10 Mar-Oct 1948; Smyrna AFB, Tenn, 21 Oct 1948-Aug 1950; Ashiya, Japan, Sep 1950-15 Nov 1954 ; Sewart AFB, Tenn, 15 Nov 1954-.

COMMANDERS. Col Charles W Steinmetz, 29 Nov 1945-c. Feb 1946; Col Richard W Henderson, 8 Oct 1948; Col William H DeLacey, 27 Aug 1951 Col David E Daniel, 28 Sep 1951 Lt Col Harold L Sommers, I May 1952; Col William H DeLacey, Nov 1954-.

CAMPAIGNS. Korean War: UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; 1st UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea Summer-Fall, 1953

DECORATIONS. Korea, 28 Nov-10 Dec 1950. Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation: 1 Jul 1951-27 Jul 1953. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 11 Jan-14 Feb 1955 .

INSIGNE. Shield: Or, on clouds in fess, azure, two boots passant of the field, ornamented, gules.