315th Operations Group

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315th Operations Group
European Theater of Operations

Korean War

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
Commanders
Current
commander		Colonel Diane Patton
Insignia
315th Operations Group emblem[note 1]
315th Air Commando Group emblem
315th Troop Carrier Group emblem (approved 22 May 1942)[1]

The 315th Operations Group is a

McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III flying squadrons of the 315th Airlift Wing
. It was activated in 1992, when Air Force Reserve Command implemented the Objective Wing organization.

The unit was first activated during

Rhine River, (Operation Varsity
).

The group was reactivated in Japan during the

Brady Air Base ended. The group again was activated in 1962, when it replaced the Combat Cargo Group, Provisional 6492d in managing airlift operations during the Vietnam War
. After being redesignated the 315th Air Commando Group in 1965, the group was inactivated and replaced by the larger 315th Air Commando Wing in 1966, when airlift operations in Vietnam expanded.

Units

The 315th Operations Group includes the following units.[2]

History

For related lineage and history, see 315th Airlift Wing.

World War II

Activation and initial training

The group was constituted as the 315th Transport Group on 2 February 1942 and activated at

group became part of I Troop Carrier Command and began training with Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-53 Skytrooper aircraft.[1][note 2]

In June, the 315th moved to

Hamilton Field.[8] The group and its squadrons became Troop Carrier units in July.[1] Before the group departed for England upon completing its training in October, the 33d Squadron was detached from the group in September, with most of its elements serving in New Caledonia, although it remained assigned to the group for two more months.[3] The 54th Squadron was moved to reinforce Eleventh Air Force in Alaska,[8] and only the 34th and 43d Squadrons moved with the group to Europe.[4][7]

To replace the lost squadrons, the

Sedalia Army Air Field in December 1942, However these squadrons remained in the United States to be trained and were reassigned in March 1943 without ever joining the wing.[9]

Combat in the European Theater

C-47s of the group at Spanhoe in 1944

While flying the

North Atlantic ferry route, the air echelon encountered bad winter weather, causing it to remain in Greenland for about a month. While there it searched for missing aircraft and dropped supplies to downed crews. The ground echelon arrived in England in November 1942 for service with Eighth Air Force.[1]

After the air and ground echelons were united in December, the group began ferrying cargo in the British Isles and training with airborne troops and gliders. In May 1943 a detachment comprising almost all the group aircraft, aircrews, and most support personnel, deployed to North Africa to support

Operation Husky, the invasions of Sicily and Operation Avalanche, the invasion of Italy. Although the group did not participate in the airborne phase of the invasions, it did support those operations by transporting supplies in the theater. In March 1944 the detachment returned to England and rejoined the group, which had been reassigned to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943.[1]

On 7 February 1944, the group moved to

82d Airborne Division commander Matthew Ridgway and his staff.[13] During the drop, the group did not lose any planes as German anti-aircraft fire was sporadic and ineffectual.[14]

The group dropped paratroops of the 82d Airborne Division's

1st Polish Parachute Brigade near Driel, after numerous weather-caused delays. Five aircraft from the group were lost in the drop.[17] On 23 September, the group dropped without loss the 560-strong remainder of the 1st Polish Parachute Brigade[18] on Drop Zone O near Overasselt.[19][20] The group landed at Grave on 26 September to unload paratroops and supplies. It airlifted gasoline and other critical supplies to Antwerp and Liège during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944 and January 1945.[1]

For Operation Varsity, the Allied airborne assault across the Rhine in March 1945, the group staged out of RAF Boreham as a result of the need for shorter flying distances.[21] The group released British paratroops of the 5th Parachute Brigade near Wesel[22] on 24 March. During the operation, the group suffered its heaviest losses of the war, losing nineteen aircraft, with another 36 badly damaged.[23] Following each airborne operation, the group resumed transport activities, hauling cargo and evacuating wounded personnel. The group moved to France in April 1945.[1]

The group transported cargo and evacuated released allied prisoners of war until after

V-E Day. It moved to Trinidad in May 1945 and transported troops returning to the US. The group was inactivated on 31 July 1945.[1]

Cold War

The group was activated at

Langley Field on 19 May 1947, but was not manned or equipped, and was inactivated again on 10 September 1948.[1]

Korean War

C-46Ds in Korea

The group was reactivated in Japan at

Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation.[25] It remained in the Far East after the war to fly transport missions and paratroop training flights. The group flew missions in Japan, Korea, French Indo-China, and other points until December 1954. The group was inactivated in Japan on 18 January 1955.[26]

Vietnam War

Vietnamese paratroopers jump from a group C-123B

The group was organized at

Pope Air Force Base, North Carolina.[29][30]

The group exercised control over USAF airlift resources in Vietnam, primarily flying the

311th Troop Carrier Squadrons.[26][32]

The commander of the group was also the director of the Southeast Asia Airlift System and maintained an airlift control officer in

Vietnamese Air Force C-47s on flare drop missions, using a box on the ramp of their C-123s that was fabricated by the group's maintenance men to dispense the flares.[35] In the first half of 1964, group Providers flew 239 night flare sorties.[33]

Despite planned drawdowns in other areas in 1964,

19th Air Commando Squadron.[37] In December, half of the 310th Troop Carrier Squadron moved to Nha Trang Air Base to replace C-47s that had been operating from that base.[33] The remainder of the squadron would follow in June 1965.[38]

Ranch Hand UC-123B Providers with South Vietnamese markings

Until July 1964, the UC-123Bs of Operation Ranch Hand, spraying defoliants, had operated with Tactical Air Command crews on temporary duty. At that time. the three planes were transferred to the group on permanent status, becoming Detachment 1, 315th Troop Carrier Group. Shortly after the transfer, Ranch Hand began crop destruction missions in addition to the defoliation missions it had flown since 1962.[26][39]

The group began 1965 by airlifting the

315th Air Commando Wing, which was activated in its place.[26]

Reserve associate unit

A group C-17 Globemaster III flies over downtown Charleston

Since 1968, the

437th Military Airlift Wing[43][44] In August 1992, Air Force Reserve Command implemented the Objective Wing organization for its flying units and the group was activated as the 315th Operations Group to control the airlift operations of the 315th Wing. The group continued to operate the Lockheed C-141 Starlifter until around 2000, flying contingency operation, humanitarian airlift missions, and exercises worldwide.[26]

In 1993, the 315th became the first Air Force Reserve group to fly the C-17 Globemaster III. It took part in the first US-Russian joint military exercise in 1994.[26]

Since November 2022, the group has been commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Diane Patton.[45]

Lineage

  • Established as the 315th Transport Group on 2 February 1942
Activated on 14 February 1942
Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 31 July 1945
  • Activated on 19 May 1947
Inactivated on 10 September 1948
  • Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 23 May 1952
Activated on 10 June 1952
Inactivated on 18 January 1955
  • Redesignated 315th Troop Carrier Group, Assault and activated on 9 November 1962 (not organized)
Organized on 8 December 1962
Redesignated 315th Air Commando Group, Troop Carrier on 8 March 1965
Discontinued and inactivated on 8 March 1966
Redesignated 315th Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985 (Remained inactive)
  • Redesignated 315th Operations Group on 1 August 1992
Activated in the reserve on 1 August 1992[26]

Assignments

  • Air Service Command, 14 February 1942
  • 50th Transport Wing
    , 31 March 1942
  • 52d Transport Wing (later
    52d Troop Carrier Wing
    ), 20 June 1942
  • VIII Air Support Command, c. 29 November 1942 (attached to 1 Fighter Division (Provisional), 30 August – 15 October 1943)
  • 50th Troop Carrier Wing, 16 October 1943
  • 52d Troop Carrier Wing, 18 February 1944
  • Caribbean Wing, Air Transport Command, 15 May – 31 July 1945
  • Tactical Air Command, 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948
  • 315th Troop Carrier Wing, 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
  • Pacific Air Forces, 9 November 1962 (not organized)
  • 315th Air Division, 8 December 1962 – 8 March 1966 (attached to
    2d Air Division
    )
  • 315th Airlift Wing, 1 August 1992 – present[46]

Components

World War II
  • 6th Transport Squadron: c. 23 March – June 1942
  • 33d Transport Squadron (later 32d Troop Carrier Squadron): 14 February – 11 November 1942 (detached after 27 September 1942)[3]
  • 34th Transport Squadron (later 34th Troop Carrier Squadron): 14 February 1942 – 31 July 1945
  • 35th Transport Squadron: 14 February – 8 June 1942
  • 43d Transport Squadron (later 43d Troop Carrier Squadron): 15 June 1942 – 31 July 1945
  • 54th Transport Squadron (later 54th Troop Carrier Squadron): 11 June – 22 October 1942[note 5]
  • 61st Troop Carrier Squadron: 26 October 1942 – 14 March 1943 (attached to
    314th Troop Carrier Group
    )
  • 62d Troop Carrier Squadron: 5 December 1942 – 14 March 1943 (attached to
    89th Troop Carrier Group
    )
  • 309th Troop Carrier Squadron: 26 April 1944 – 31 July 1945
  • 310th Troop Carrier Squadron: 26 April 1944 – 31 July 1945[46]
Cold War
  • 34th Troop Carrier Squadron: 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948
  • 43d Troop Carrier Squadron: 19 May 1947 – 10 September 1948[46]
Korean War
  • 19th Troop Carrier Squadron
    : 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
  • 34th Troop Carrier Squadron: 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
  • 43d Troop Carrier Squadron: 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955
  • 344th Troop Carrier Squadron: 10 June 1952 – 18 January 1955 (detached 14 December 1952 – 13 October 1953)[46]
Vietnam War
  • Tactical Air Force Transport Squadron, Provisional, 2: attached 8 December 1962 – 8 July 1963
  • 8th Aerial Port Squadron: 8 December 1962 – 8 March 1966[28]
  • 19th Air Commando Squadron: 8 October 1964 – 8 March 1966
  • 309th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 309th Air Commando Squadron): 1 July 1963 – 8 March 1966
  • 310th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 310th Air Commando Squadron): 8 July 1963 – 8 March 1966
  • 311th Troop Carrier Squadron (later 311th Air Commando Squadron): 8 July 1963 – 8 March 1966
  • 315th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron: 8 December 1962 – 22 August 1969
  • 777th Troop Carrier Squadron: attached 17 April – 30 June 1963, assigned 1 – 8 July 1963
  • 778th Troop Carrier Squadron: 1 – 8 July 1963[46]
Air Force Reserves
  • 38th Aerial Port Squadron, 1 October 1982 – 1 October 2002[47]
  • 31st Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron: 1 August 1992– 1 October 1994[48]
  • 300th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – present[46]
  • 317th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – present[46]
  • 701st Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – present[46]
  • 707th Airlift Squadron: 1 August 1992 – 1 July 2000[26]
  • 315th Operations Support Squadron (later 315th Operations Support Flight, 315th Operations Support Squadron): 1 August 1992 – present
  • 315th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron: 1 October 1994 – present[2]
  • 315th Airlift Control Flight: 1 August 1992 – present[2]
  • 4th Combat Camera Squadron: 3 March 2017 – present

Stations

Aircraft

  • Primarily Douglas C-47 Skytrain, 1942–1945
Included
Lockheed C-60 Lodestar
, 1942
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper, 1942, 1944–1945
Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1945
  • Curtiss C-46 Commando, 1952–1955.
  • Primarily Fairchild C-123B Provider, 1962–1966
Fairchild YC-123, 1963
Fairchild HUC-123B, 1964–1965
Fairchild UC-123B, 1965–1966;
de Havilland Canada CV-2 Caribou, 1963, 1964–1966
Lockheed C-130 Hercules, 1965–1966
  • Lockheed C-141 Starlifter, 1992-c. 2000
  • McDonnell Douglas C-17 Globemaster III, 1993–present[46]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to 315th Troop Carrier Group (United States Army Air Forces).


Notes
  1. ^ The wing uses the 315th Wing emblem with the group designation on the scroll. Bailey, Factsheet, 315 Operations Group.
  2. 314th Transport Group
    . Compare Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 159–160, 163–164.
  3. Pacific Command directed that company be tasked with immediate support of Army corps commanders to take advantage of the Caribou's unique STOL
    capability. Futrell, p. 167.
  4. 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron
    were to turn their planes over to the VNAF, but these plans, too, changed. Futrell, pp. 235–240.
  5. ^ Bailey indicates the squadron was detached, but Maurer and Robertson both indicate it was not. Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 224–225; Robertson, Patsy (16 October 2010). "Factsheet 54 Air Refueling Squadron (AETC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
Citations
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Maurer 1983, pp. 192–193.
  2. ^ a b c "Units". 315th Airlift Wing Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 9 October 2016. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  3. ^ a b c Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 163–164
  4. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 166–167
  5. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 170–171
  6. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 41–42
  7. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 198–199
  8. ^ a b Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 224–225
  9. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 238, 240–241
  10. ^ Buckley, George. "IX Troop Carrier Command". Air Mobility Command Museum. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
  11. ^ Maurer, Combat Squadrons, pp. 375, 376–377
  12. ^ Warren 1956, p. 23.
  13. ^ Balkowski 2005, pp. 146, 149–150.
  14. ^ Warren 1956, pp. 48–51.
  15. ^ Warren 1956, p. 110.
  16. ^ Bowman 2013, p. 94.
  17. ^ Warren 1956, p. 139.
  18. ^ Isby 2012, p. 71.
  19. ^ Zaloga 2007, p. 4.
  20. ^ Warren 1956, p. 144.
  21. ^ Warren 1956, p. 159.
  22. ^ Wright 2008, p. 57.
  23. ^ Bowyer 2005, p. 332.
  24. ^ Maurer 1983, pp. 309–310.
  25. ^ Endicott, ed. 2001, pp. 94–95.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bailey, Carl E. (5 June 2009). "315 Operations Group (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
  27. ^ "Factsheet 315 Air Division". Air Force Historical Research Agency. 12 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 October 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2014.
  28. ^ a b Futrell & Blumenson, p. 112
  29. ^ Futrell, p. 108
  30. ^ Ravenstein, p. 259
  31. ^ Futrell, p. 273
  32. ^ Futrell, pp. 171, 278
  33. ^ a b c d e Futrell, p. 246
  34. ^ Futrell, p. 167
  35. ^ Futrell, p. 182
  36. ^ "No. 35 Squadron RAAF". Australian War Memorial. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  37. ^ Futrell, p.236
  38. ^ Robertson, Patsy (29 January 2015). "Factsheet 310 Airlift Squadron (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2016.
  39. ^ Futrell, pp. 247–248
  40. ^ Futrell, p. 261
  41. ^ Futrell, p. 264
  42. ^ Hannah 2002, p. 11.
  43. ^ Cantwell, p. 325
  44. ^ Butler, William M. (28 December 2007). "Factsheet 437 Airlift Wing (AMC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  45. ^ "Lieutenant Colonel Diane E. Patton". 315aw.afrc.af.mil. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  46. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Lineage, including components, assignments, stations and aircraft in Bailey, Factsheet 315 Operations Group, except as noted.
  47. ^ Lahue, Melissa (9 February 2023). "Factsheet 38 Aerial Port Squadron (AFRC)". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  48. ^ See "Abstract, History 315th Military Airlift Wing". Air Force History Index. Retrieved 27 October 2016. (Listing wing subordinate units).
  49. ^ a b c Station number in Anderson.
  50. ^ Station number in Johnson.

Bibliography

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

Further reading

External links

  • "The 3-1-5 Group". 315th Troop Carrier Group Association, WWII. Retrieved 9 October 2016.