62nd Troop Carrier Group

Constituted as 62nd Transport Group on 20 Nov 1940. Activated on 11 Dec 1940. Transported military freight and supplies in North and South America and trained with C-47 and C-53 aircraft. Redesignated 62nd Troop Carrier Group in Jul 1942. Moved to England, Aug-Sep 1942, and engaged in further training. Assigned to Twelfth AF and moved to North Africa to take part in the battle for Tunisia. Began operations on 29 Nov 1942 by dropping paratroops to attack enemy airdromes in Tunisia. Trained with gliders for several months, then towed gliders to Syracuse and also dropped paratroops behind enemy lines at Catania during the Allied invasion of Sicily in Jul 1943. Operated from bases in Sicily and Italy from Sep 1943 until after the war. Dropped paratroops in northern Italy in Jun 1944 to harass the retreating enemy and to prevent the Germans from destroying bridges over which their forces had withdrawn. Flew two missions in connection with the invasion of Southern France in Aug 1944, releasing gliders and paratroops in the battle area. Transported paratroops and towed gliders to Greece during the Allied assault in Oct 1944. In addition to the airborne operations, the group transported men and supplies in the Mediterranean theater and to the front lines during the campaigns for Tunisia, Italy, and southern France. Also evacuated wounded personnel and flew missions behind enemy lines in Italy and the Balkans to haul guns, ammunition, food, clothing, medical supplies, and other materials to the partisans and to drop propaganda leaflets. Aided in the redeployment of personnel after the war and also hauled freight and mail. Inactivated in Italy on 14 Nov 1945.

Activated in the US on 7 Sep 1946. Redesignated 62nd Troop Carrier Group (Medium) in Jun 1948, and 62nd Troop Carrier Group (Heavy) in Oct 1949. Used C-82, C-54, and C-124 aircraft. Carried out some special missions that included aiding flood-stricken areas in Oregon in 1948, dropping food to cattle snowbound in Nevada in 1949, flying to Japan with mail for troops in Korea in 1952, and participating in the air lift of medical supplies to flooded areas in Pakistan in 1954. Received the AFOUA for transporting French troops and equipment from France to Indochina, Apr-May 1954.

Squadrons. 4th: 1940-1945; 1946-. 7th: 1940-1945; 1946-. 8th: 1940-1945; 1946-. 51st: 1942-1945.

Stations. McClellan Field, Calif, 11 Dec 1940; Kellogg Field, Mich, c. 30 May 1942; Florence, SC, 1 Jul-14 Aug 1942; Keevil, England, Sep 1942; Tafaraoui, Algeria, 15 Nov 1942; Nouvion, Algeria, 24 Dec 1942; Matemore, Algeria, 16 May 1943; Tunisia, Jul 1943; Ponte Olivo, Sicily, 6 Sep 1943; Brindisi, Italy, Feb 1944; Ponte Olivo, Sicily, 20 Mar 1944; Gaudo Airfield, Italy, 8 May 1944; Galera Airfield, Italy, 30 Jun 1944; Malignano Airfield, Italy, 30 Sep 1944; Tarquinia, Italy, 8 Jan 1945; Rosignano Airfield, Italy, 25 May 1945; Naples, Italy, c. 17 Sep-14 Nov 1945. Bergstrom Field, Tex, 7 Sep 1946; McChord Field, Wash, c. Aug 1947; Kelly AFB, Tex, 9 May 1950; McChord AFB, Wash, 27 Jul 1950; Larson AFB, Wash, 9 May 1952-.

Commanders. Lt Col Bernard J Tooher, 11 Dec 1940; Maj Donald E Shugart, unkn; Col Samuel Davis, 1 Jul 1942; Lt Col Aubrey S Hurren, 27 Mar 1943; Col Gordon L Edris, 15 May 1944; Lt Col William M Massengale Jr, 13 Dec 1944; Col Gordon L Edris, 23 Feb 1945; Col Paul A Jones, 27 May 1945; Lt Col Riley B Whearty, 3 Jun 1945; Lt Col Oliver K Halderson, 20 Jul 1945-unkn. Col Donald French, 7 Sep 1946; Col Adriel N Williams, 1 Mar 1948; Col George S Brown, c. Jul 1950; Col Richard Jones, c. Aug 1951-.

Campaigns. Air Combat, EAME Theater; Tunisia; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Rome-Arno; Southern France; North Apennines; Po Valley.

Decorations. Air Force Outstanding Unit Award: 19 Apr-5 May 1954.

Insigne. Shield: Medium blue, in chief, silhouetted land mass argent, in fess a sun, the rays radiating upward all proper, in base a golden winged sword, tip upward, in pale, hilt and pommel or, blade of the second, all between two branches of olive proper. Motto: In Omnia Paratus - In All Things Ready. (Approved 18 Aug 1955.)

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