2nd Air Commando Group

Constituted as 2nd Air Commando Group on 11 Apr 1944 and activated on 22
Apr. Trained for operations with P-51, C-47, and L-5 aircraft. Moved to
India, Sep-Nov 1944. Between Nov 1944 and May 1945 the group dropped supplies
to Allied troops who were fighting the Japanese in the Chindwin Valley in
Burma; moved Chinese troops from Burma to China; transported men, food,
ammunition, and construction equipment to Burma; dropped Gurkha paratroops
during the assault on Rangoon; provided fighter support for Allied forces
crossing the Irrawaddy River in Feb 1945; struck enemy airfields and
transportation facilities; escorted bombers to targets in the vicinity of
Rangoon; bombed targets in Thailand; and flew reconnaissance missions. After
May 1945 the fighter squadrons were in training; in Jun the group's C-47's
were sent to Ledo to move road-building equipment; during Jun-Jul most of its
L-5's were turned over to Fourteenth AF. The group returned to the US during
Oct-Nov 1945. Inactivated on 12 Nov 1945. Disbanded on 8 Oct 1948.

Squadrons. 1st Fighter: 1944-1945. 2nd Fighter: 1944-1945. 127th
Liaison: 1944-1945. 155th Liaison: 1944-1945. 156th Liaison: 1944-1945.
317th Troop Carrier: 1944-1945.

Stations. Drew Field, Fla, 22 Apr-28 Sep 1944; Kalaikunda, India, 12 Nov
1944-4 Oct 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 11-12 Nov 1945.

Commanders. Capt L H Couch, 22 Apr 1944; Col Arthur R DeBolt, 1 May
1944; Col Alfred Ball Jr, 15 May 1945-unkn.

Campaigns. India-Burma; Central Burma.

Decorations. None.

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