330th Troop Carrier Squadron

Restored C-46 Commando taking off

The squadron was activated in India along with other elements of the 3d Combat Cargo Group in June 1944. It was initially equipped with Douglas C-47 Skytrains available within the theater. It flew missions to support Allied ground forces during the battle for northern Burma and the subsequent drive to the south. It flew personnel and materiel to the front and transported gasoline, oil, vehicles and signal equipment, airdropping or landing them as conditions permitted. It also flew aeromedical evacuation missions on return flights to India.[1][2]

In March 1945, the squadron replaced its C-47s with the more capable Curtiss C-46 Commando.[3] Operating from Myitkyina Airfield, Burma after June 1945, it flew gasoline and other supplies to bases in western China, flying over The Hump. Following V-J Day, the squadron moved to Kiangwan Airfield, near Shanghai, China. At Shanghai it flew Chinese Nationalist troops to locations in China.[4] It was inactivated there in April 1946, as the American presence in mainland China was reduced to a minimal force.[1][2] Most of its aircraft were transferred to the Chinese Nationalist Air Force or Civil Air Transport.

C-54 landing at Tempelhof 1948

Shortly after the beginning of the Berlin Airlift, the United States Air Force began to augment the C-47s that had been used at the beginning of the airlift with Douglas C-54 Skymasters.[5] C-54s drawn from various Military Air Transport Service (MATS) were formed into the 1422nd Air Transport Group (Provisional) at Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany on 1 August 1948. On 19 November 1948, the provisional group was replaced by the 513th Troop Carrier Group,[2] and the 330th was reactivated as one of the group's squadrons.[1] The squadron transported food, coal and other supplies to Berlin.[2] Transport of coal posed particular problems, because it eroded equipment, increasing maintenance requirements to keep up the airlift's demanding schedule.[6] Airlift operations officially ended on 30 September 1949.[7] The end of the airlift coincided with President Truman's reduced 1949 defense budget, which required a reduction in the number of groups in the Air Force to 48.[8] The squadron's C-54s were also needed elsewhere. While its planes were on loan for the airlift, MATS had only been able to meet 60% of its air transport obligations apart from the airlift.[9] As a result, the 330th was inactivated on 16 October 1949.[1]

The squadron was reactivated at Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee on 8 November 1955. On 8 October 1957, the 513th Troop Carrier Wing activated to replace the 513th Group. Until it could equip with Fairchild C-123 Provider, it temporarily flew Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars. The squadron continued to maintain proficiency in assault airlift operations and participated in exercises under Tactical Air Command until its personnel were withdrawn on 15 September 1958. Inactivation followed on 1 December.[1][10]

The squadron was reactivated in the spring of 1993 at McClellan Air Force Base, California, where it flew C-21 Learjets until inactivating on 1 October 1993

• 3d Combat Cargo Group (later 513th Troop Carrier Group), 5 June 1944 – 15 April 1946
• 513th Troop Carrier Group, 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949
• 513th Troop Carrier Group, 18 November 1955
• 513th Troop Carrier Wing, 8 October 1957 – 1 December 1958[11]
• 652d Air Base Group, c. 31 May 1993 – 1 October 1993

• Sylhet Airfield, Insia, 5 June 1944
• Moran Airfield, India, 12 July 1944
• Warazup Airfield, Burma, 27 December 1944
• Myitkyina Airfield, Burma, 3 June 1945
• Kiangwan Airfield, China, 7 October 1945 – 15 April 1946
• Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, 19 November 1948 – 16 October 1949
• Sewart Air Force Base, Tennessee, 8 November 1955 – 1 December 1958[11]
• McClellan Air Force Base, California, c. 31 May 1993 – 1 October 1993

• Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1944-1945
• Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945-1946
• Douglas C-54 Skymaster, 1948-1949
• Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, 1955-1956
• Fairchild C-123 Provider, 1956-1958[11]
• C-21 Learjet], 1993

Explanatory notes

Citations

• Haulman, Daniel L. (2000). "Berlin Airlift: Operation Vittles". In Warnock, A. Timothy (ed.). Short of War: Major USAF Contingency Operations 1947-1997 (PDF). Maxwell AFB, AL: Air University Press. ISBN 978-0-16050411-2. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
• Knaack, Marcelle Size (1978). Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems (PDF). Vol. 2, Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-59-5. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1983) [1961]. Air Force Combat Units of World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-02-1. LCCN 61060979. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
• Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977 (PDF). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-912799-12-9. Retrieved 17 December 2016.