1st Combat Cargo Group

Constituted as 1st Combat Cargo Group on 11 Apr 1944 and activated on 15
Apr. Equipped with C-47's. Moved to the CBI theater in Aug 1944. Began
operations in Sep 1944 by transporting supplies and reinforcements to and
evacuating casualties from Imphal, Burma. Continued to support Allied
operations in Burma, flying in men and supplies from India, moving equipment
required to construct and operate airstrips, dropping dummy cargoes to lead
the enemy away from Allied offensives, dropping paratroops for the assault on
Rangoon (May 1945), and evacuating prisoners of war who were freed by Allied
advances. Meanwhile, part of the group had been sent to China, and for a
short time (Dec 1944-Jan 1945) the group's headquarters was located there.
Operations in China included helping to evacuate the air base at Kweilin
during a Japanese drive in Sep 1944, moving Chinese troops, and flying many
supply missions, some of which involved ferrying gasoline and materiel over
the Hump from India. The group, partially re-equipped with C-46's in Jun
1945, engaged primarily in transporting men, food, arms, and ammunition until
the end of the war. Redesignated 512th Troop Carrier Group in Sep 1945.
Returned to the US in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 24 Dec 1945.

Redesignated 512th Troop Carrier Group (Medium) and allotted to the
reserve. Activated on 2 Sep 1949. Equipped with C-46's. Ordered to active
service on 15 Mar 1951. Inactivated on 1 Apr 1951.

Allotted to the reserve. Activated on 14 Jun 1952. Equipped with
C-46's.

Squadrons. 1st (later 326th): 1944-1945; 1949-1951; 1952-. 2d (later
327th): 1944-1945; 1949-1951; 1952-. 3rd (later 328th): 1944-1945;
1949-1951; 1952-. 4th (later 329th): 1944-1945; 1949-1951.

Stations. Bowman Field, Ky, 15 Apr-5 Aug 1944; Sylhet, India, 21 Aug
1944; Tulihal, India, 30 Nov 1944; Tsuyung, China, 20 Dec 1944; Dohazari,
India, 30 Jan 1945; Hathazari, India, 15 May 1945; Myitkyina, Burma, Jun 1945;
Liuchow, China, 30 Aug 1945; Kiangwan, China, 9 Oct-3 Dec 1945; Camp Anza,
Calif, 23-24 Dec 1945. Reading Mun Aprt, Pa, 2 Sept 1949; New Castle County
Aprt, Del, 1 May 1950-1 Apr 1951. New Castle County Aprt, Del, 14 Jun 1952-.

Commanders. Lt Col Robert Rentz, 21 Apr 1944; Lt Col Walter P Briggs, 28
Apr 1945; Maj Samuel B Ward, 18 Aug 1945; Maj Maurice D Watson, 9 Sep 1945;
Maj Wilbur B Sprague, 18 Sep 1945; Col H Snyder, 24 Nov 1945; Capt Dixon M
Jordan, 29 Nov-c. 24 Dec 1945.

Campaigns. India-Burma; China Defensive; Central Burma; China Offensive.

Decorations. None.

Insigne. Shield: On a shield azure, over a sphere argent, with shading
of the field, a stylized aircraft gules, with highlights of the second, its
road-like jet stream encircling the sphere or, shaded gules, with center
dash-like markings and all outlines of the first. (Approved 21 Jan 1958.)

Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986