cvijay12
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| Joined: 05 Apr 2014 |
| Total Posts: 47 |
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| 29 Mar 2016 08:19 AM |
The 313th Troop Carrier Group (USAAF) was a transport unit that took part in the invasion of Sicily, the Salerno landings, the D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden and the crossing of the Rhine.
The group was activated in the US in Mach 1942 and trained with a mix of C-47 Skytrains and C-53 Skytroopers. It moved to North Africa in April-May 1943, too late for the campaign in Tunisia. Instead it began to train for the upcoming invasion of Sicily.
The group's combat debut came on 9 July 1943 when the group dropped paratroops near Gela. It was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for pressing on through friendly fire during a second mission on 11 July. After these first landings the group was used to evacuate the wounded from Sicily.
In September the Allies landed at Salerno on the Italian mainland. The Germans mounted a determined counterattack against the Salerno beachhead. On 13 September the 313th took part in Operation Giant, dropping part of the 504th Paratroop Regiment, US 82nd Airborne Division, in a drop zone just south of the Sele River. The group carried out a similar mission on the following day, then resumed more normal transport duties.
In February 1944 the group left the Mediterranean and joined the Ninth Air Force in Britain, ready to take part in the D-Day campaign. On D-Day itself it dropped paratroops at Picauville, and flew reinforcements to the same area on 7 June. The group was awarded a second Distinguished Unit Citation for its part in the invasion.
The group took part in Operation Market Garden, dropping paratroops at Arnhem and Nijmegen on 17 September. It then flew reinforcements into the battle on 18 September and 23 September.
In February 1945 the group moved to France, where it converted to the Curtiss C-46 Commando. It used its new aircraft during the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945, dropping paratroops near Wesel on 24 March.
The group returned to the US in August-September 1945 and was disbanded on 15 November 1945.
Aircraft
1942-45: Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-53 Skytrooper 1945: Curtiss C-46 Commando
Timeline
28 January 1942 Constituted as 313th Transport Group March 1942 Activated July 1942 Redesignated 313th Troop Carrier Group April-May 1943 To North Africa and Twelfth Air Force 9 July 1943 Combat Debut February 1944 To Britain and Ninth Air Force Aug-Sept 1945 To United States 15 November 1945 Inactivated Commanders (with date of appointment)
Capt Fred W Nelson: 7 Mar 1942 Col James J Roberts Jr: 26 Jun 1942 Lt Col William A Filer: 18 Mar 1945 Lt Col Paul W Stephens: 26 Mar 1945 Lt Col Carl W Campbell: c. Aug-15 Nov 1945
Main Bases
Daniel Field, Ga: 2 Mar 1942 Bowman Field, Ky: 21 Jun 1942 Florence, SC: 4 Aug 1942 Maxton, NC: 13 Dec 1942-3 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 Folkingham, England: 4 Feb 1944 Achiet, France: 28 Feb-5 Aug 1945 Baer Field, Ind: 14 Sep-15 Nov 1945.
Component Units
29th: 1942-1945 47th: 1942-1945 48th: 1942-1945 49th: 1942-1945
Assigned To
1942: 52nd Troop Carrier Wing 1942: 53rd Troop Carrier Wing 1942-April 1943: 52nd Troop Carrier Wing; US Based April 1943-February 1944: 52nd Troop Carrier Wing; Twelfth Air Force 1944-45: 52nd Troop Carrier Wing; IX Troop Carrier Command; Ninth Air Force.
Thank you, By an loyal member of the 313th. |
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