1600th Air Transport Group
Encyclopedia
The 1600th Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service
, stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts
. It was inactivated on 19 June 1955.
units of the disbanded Air Transport Command
Atlantic Division at Westover Field in the World War II
postwar era.
Became Military Air Transport Command Atlantic Division's primary strategic transport wing to Europe in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Originally established as 1600th Air Transport Wing, however MATS Atlantic Division took over operational control of Group and Wing reduced to control of ground echelon in 1953. The unit operated large numbers of C-124 Globemaster II heavy transports, as well as C-97 Stratofreighter. Provided passenger service on Navy C-118 Liftmasters (R-6D-1) and supported VIP transportation for MATS Atlantic Division Headquarters at Westover. Also operated aeromedical transports and Air-Sea Rescue Service units.
Inactivated in 1955 when MATS moved its Atlantic Division headquarters to McGuire AFB, New Jersey and Strategic Air Command gained control of Westover AFB.
Note: 1600th Air Base Wing controlled ground echelon, 1 Jul 1953 – 1 Apr 1955
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last was assigned to the Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, stationed at Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. It was inactivated on 19 June 1955.
History
Formed from provisional C-54 SkymasterC-54 Skymaster
The Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
units of the disbanded Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
Atlantic Division at Westover Field in the World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
postwar era.
Became Military Air Transport Command Atlantic Division's primary strategic transport wing to Europe in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Originally established as 1600th Air Transport Wing, however MATS Atlantic Division took over operational control of Group and Wing reduced to control of ground echelon in 1953. The unit operated large numbers of C-124 Globemaster II heavy transports, as well as C-97 Stratofreighter. Provided passenger service on Navy C-118 Liftmasters (R-6D-1) and supported VIP transportation for MATS Atlantic Division Headquarters at Westover. Also operated aeromedical transports and Air-Sea Rescue Service units.
Inactivated in 1955 when MATS moved its Atlantic Division headquarters to McGuire AFB, New Jersey and Strategic Air Command gained control of Westover AFB.
Lineage
- Established as: 1st Air Transport Group (Provisional), 1 Oct 1947
- Redesignated: 520th Air Transport Group, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1600th Air Transport Group, 1 Jul 1948
- Inactivated on 19 Jun 1955
Assignments
- 2d Air Transport Wing (Provisional), 23 Apr 1947
- Redesignated: 520th Air Transport Wing, 2 Jul 1948
- Redesignated: 1600th Air Transport Wing, 1 Jul 1948
- Atlantic Division, Military Air Transport Service, 1 July 1953
- Headquarters, Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, 31 May – 19 Jun 1955
Note: 1600th Air Base Wing controlled ground echelon, 1 Jul 1953 – 1 Apr 1955
Components
- 11th Air Transport Squadron (Provisional), 15 Mar 1947
- Redesignated: 11th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1250th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jul 1948 – 6 Jun 1949 (C-54)
- 12th Air Transport Squadron (Provisional), 15 Mar 1947
- Redesignated: 12th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1251st Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jul 1948 – 20 Jul 1952 (C-54)
- Activated 15th Air Transport Squadron15th Air Transport SquadronThe 15th Air Transport Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1607th Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware...
, Assuming assets of 1251st ATS, 20 Jul 1952 – 20 Apr 1955 (C-124)
- 14th Air Transport Squadron (Provisional), 15 Mar 1947
- Redesignated: 14th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1252d Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jul 1948
- Redesignated: 1255th Air Transport Squadron, 24 May 1950 – 20 Jul 1952 (C-54)
- Activated 20th Air Transport Squadron, Assuming assets of 1255th ATS, 20 Jul 1952 – 20 May 1955 (C-124)
- 15th Air Transport Squadron (Provisional), 15 Mar 1947
- Redesignated: 15th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1253d Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jul 1948
- Redesignated: 1257th Air Transport Squadron, 24 May 1950 – 20 Jul 1952 (C-54)
- Activated 29th Air Transport Squadron, Assuming assets of 1257th ATS, 20 Jul 1952 – 13 Apr 1955 (C-124)
- 16th Air Transport Squadron, 1 Jun 1948 – 1 Sep 1948 (C-54)
- 1732d Air Transport Squadron, 9 Oct 1948 – 19 Jun 1955 (C-131)
- Squadron VR-6 (USN), 3 Aug 1949 – 10 Jun 1955 (R6D-1) (C-118)
- 1259th Air Transport Squadron, 23 Mar 1951 – 24 Dec 1951 (C-97)
- 1282d Air Transport Squadron, 23 Jun 1951 – 1 Sep 1953 (C-97)
- 30th Air Transport Squadron, 20 Jul 1952 – 5 May 1955 (C-118)
- 31st Air Transport Squadron, 20 Jul 1952 – 9 May 1955 (C-124)
Stations
- Westover Field (later AFB), Massachusetts, 23 April 1947 – 19 June 1955
Aircraft
- C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1947–1952 - C-97 StratofreighterC-97 StratofreighterThe Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter was a long range heavy military cargo aircraft based on the B-29 bomber. Design work began in 1942, with the prototype's first flight being on 9 November 1944, and the first production aircraft entered service in 1947. Between 1947 and 1958, 888 C-97s in several...
, 1951–1953 - C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
, 1952–1955 - C-118 Liftmaster, 1949–1955
- C-131 SamaritanC-131 SamaritanThe Convair C-131 Samaritan was an American military transport produced from 1954 to 1956. It is the military version of the Convair CV-240.-Design and development:...
, 1948–1955