302d Troop Carrier Squadron

History

Activated in August 1943 at Sedalia AAF, Missouri as an I Troop Carrier Command C-47 Squadron. After training in Missouri and later North Carolina, was sent to Baer Field, Indiana for final equipping with aircraft, personnel and other equipment. Deployed to Ninth Air Force in England, assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command in March 1944 during the build-up prior to the Invasion of France.

The squadron participated in the D-Day operation, dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg, then carried out re-supply and glider delivery missions the following day.

The squadron's aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to England. On 17 July the air echelon flew to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to England on 24 August.

Squadron moved to France in September 1944 and for the balance of the Northern France Campaign and the Western Allied invasion of Germany was engaged in combat resupply of ground forces, operating from Advanced Landing Grounds in northern France. Delivered supplies to rough Resupply and Evacuation airfields near the front lines, returning combat casualties to field hospitals in rear areas.

Demobilized in France after the end of the European War, was inactivated at Bolling Field, DC in early 1946 as an administrative organization.

Reactivated as a C-46 Commando reserve transport squadron in 1949, activated as part of the Korean War mobilization in 1951. Unit personnel and aircraft were assigned as fillers to active-duty units and the squadron was quickly inactivated afterwards.

Operations and Decorations

Combat Operations. Included airborne assaults on Normandy, southern France, the Netherlands, and Germany, relief of Bastogne, and aerial transportation in ETO and MTO, during World War II.

Campaigns. Rome-Arno; Normandy, Northern France; Southern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944.

Lineage

Constituted 302d Troop Carrier Squadron on 25 May 1943

Activated on 1 Aug 1943 Inactivated on 27 May 1946

Re-designated 302d Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 10 May 1949

Activated in the reserve on 27 Jun 1949 Ordered to active service on 10 Mar 1951 Inactivated on 14 Mar 1951.

Assignments

441st Troop Carrier Group, 1 Aug 1943

314th Troop Carrier Group, 15 May 1945

27th Air Transport Group, 8 Aug 1945

314th Troop Carrier Group, 15 Oct 1945-27 May 1946

441st Troop Carrier Group, 27 Jun 1949-14 Mar 1951

Aircraft

Principally C-47 Skytrain, 1943-1946

C-46 Commando, 1949-1951