1703d Air Transport Group
Encyclopedia
The 1703d Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the 1701st Air Transport Wing
, Military Air Transport Service
, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base
, Alabama
. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957.
very heavy airlift unit, providing worldwide transport missions from Brookley until the aircraft was retired in 1955.
Initially two C-74 squadrons (17th and 19th) formed from provisional units, later redesignated 1258th and 1260th Air Transport Squadrons. With establishment of Military Air Transport Service (MATS) on 1 June 1948, Group was assigned to the Atlantic Division. It had operational jurisdiction over the East Coast of the United States, across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe and North Africa. Also, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean were included in the Atlantic Division.
Sent one C-74 (42-65414) to Frankfurt, Germany Rhein-Main Airfield on 14 August 1948 to support Berlin Airlift Operations. On 18 September, the C-74 flew a total of six round trips to Tempelhof Central Airport
, Berlin. The single C-74 was instrumental in helping build Tegel Airfield in the French sector of Berlin, hauling in heavy construction equipment that had been dismantled into components. The aircraft operated as part of the airlift for six weeks, but it was simply too heavy for the Templehof runways. There are also stories that the Soviets complained that it might be used as a bomber because of its hoist well in the belly.
Support for the Berlin Airlift was maintained by the 1703d ATG by flying regularly scheduled flights between the United States and Germany. Transported C-54 engines and parts for use in the airlift. Other flights were made between Brookley and Albrook Field, Balboa, Canal Zone
and from Brookley to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico
. In May, a C-74 carried 75 passengers plus a crew of 12 to England, at the time the largest military passenger load to fly the Atlantic. Six months later, on 25 November 25, C-74 414, flew the Atlantic with a record 103 people aboard to RAF Marham
, England.
During the Korean War, the Group logged over 7000 hours in flights to Hawaii hauling troops and high priority cargo westward toward the combat area and returning eastward with wounded personnel. During the seven months between July 1950 and January 1951, the Globemasters transported 2,486 patients, 550 passengers, and 128,000 pounds of cargo from Hawaii to the U.S. while hauling just under a million pounds of cargo westward.
Activated 1281st Air Transport Squadron in November 1951, initially equipped with C-54 Skymasaters, upgraded to new C-124C Globemaster II heavy lift strategic transports in 1952.
Reorganized in July 1952, the 1258th, 1260th, 1281st ATS became 3d, 6th and 13th Air Transport Squadrons, respectively. With the small number of C-74s in service, maintenance was an increasing headache as time went on and spares became harder to obtain. In 1955, the C-74's maintenance man-hour requirements were so high that a two-hour-a-day utilization rate was requested and approved. During the Spring, a program was begun to cross-flow C-74 pilots and engineers to the C-124 in preparation for the C-74's retirement. The 6th ATS flew 45 scheduled and special trips during their last six months. Their destinations included Europe, North Africa, South America, and the Middle East carrying over six million pounds of cargo, nearly one million pounds of mail, and 1,750 passengers.
However, deterioration of the C-74's components were progressing more rapidly than predicted. Plans were made for the eventual retirement of the Air Force's only fleet of Globemasters. Aircraft were withdrawn from service in late 1955, with 3d and 6th ATS being inactivated.
Continued operations of C-124s until 1957 when unit was inactivated when control of Brookley AFB was reassigned to Air Materiel Command.
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 1701st Air Transport Wing
1701st Air Transport Wing
The 1701st Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Western Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base, Alabama. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957.-History:...
, 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 Brookley Air Force Base
Brookley Air Force Base
Brookley Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Mobile, Alabama. After it closed in 1969, it became Mobile Downtown Airport.- History :...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957.
History
The organization was formed at Brookley AFB, Alabama in 1947 as a consolidation of the provisional Air Transport Service units at Morrision Army Airfield, Florida when that facility was closed on 1 July 1947. It was the United States Air Force's only C-74 GlobemasterC-74 Globemaster
The Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a United States heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California.The Globemaster was developed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The long distances across the Atlantic, and especially the Pacific Ocean to the combat...
very heavy airlift unit, providing worldwide transport missions from Brookley until the aircraft was retired in 1955.
Initially two C-74 squadrons (17th and 19th) formed from provisional units, later redesignated 1258th and 1260th Air Transport Squadrons. With establishment of Military Air Transport Service (MATS) on 1 June 1948, Group was assigned to the Atlantic Division. It had operational jurisdiction over the East Coast of the United States, across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe and North Africa. Also, the Mediterranean and the Caribbean were included in the Atlantic Division.
Sent one C-74 (42-65414) to Frankfurt, Germany Rhein-Main Airfield on 14 August 1948 to support Berlin Airlift Operations. On 18 September, the C-74 flew a total of six round trips to Tempelhof Central Airport
Tempelhof Central Airport
Tempelhof Central Airport was a United States Military airfield in West Berlin, Germany between 1945 and 1994.During its operational life, it was garrisoned by the United States Air Force, with units of the United States Army Berlin Brigade located within the facility...
, Berlin. The single C-74 was instrumental in helping build Tegel Airfield in the French sector of Berlin, hauling in heavy construction equipment that had been dismantled into components. The aircraft operated as part of the airlift for six weeks, but it was simply too heavy for the Templehof runways. There are also stories that the Soviets complained that it might be used as a bomber because of its hoist well in the belly.
Support for the Berlin Airlift was maintained by the 1703d ATG by flying regularly scheduled flights between the United States and Germany. Transported C-54 engines and parts for use in the airlift. Other flights were made between Brookley and Albrook Field, Balboa, Canal Zone
Panama Canal Zone
The Panama Canal Zone was a unorganized U.S. territory located within the Republic of Panama, consisting of the Panama Canal and an area generally extending 5 miles on each side of the centerline, but excluding Panama City and Colón, which otherwise would have been partly within the limits of...
and from Brookley to Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In May, a C-74 carried 75 passengers plus a crew of 12 to England, at the time the largest military passenger load to fly the Atlantic. Six months later, on 25 November 25, C-74 414, flew the Atlantic with a record 103 people aboard to RAF Marham
RAF Marham
Royal Air Force Station Marham, more commonly known as RAF Marham, is a Royal Air Force station; a military airbase, near the village of Marham in the English county of Norfolk, East Anglia....
, England.
During the Korean War, the Group logged over 7000 hours in flights to Hawaii hauling troops and high priority cargo westward toward the combat area and returning eastward with wounded personnel. During the seven months between July 1950 and January 1951, the Globemasters transported 2,486 patients, 550 passengers, and 128,000 pounds of cargo from Hawaii to the U.S. while hauling just under a million pounds of cargo westward.
Activated 1281st Air Transport Squadron in November 1951, initially equipped with C-54 Skymasaters, upgraded to new C-124C Globemaster II heavy lift strategic transports in 1952.
Reorganized in July 1952, the 1258th, 1260th, 1281st ATS became 3d, 6th and 13th Air Transport Squadrons, respectively. With the small number of C-74s in service, maintenance was an increasing headache as time went on and spares became harder to obtain. In 1955, the C-74's maintenance man-hour requirements were so high that a two-hour-a-day utilization rate was requested and approved. During the Spring, a program was begun to cross-flow C-74 pilots and engineers to the C-124 in preparation for the C-74's retirement. The 6th ATS flew 45 scheduled and special trips during their last six months. Their destinations included Europe, North Africa, South America, and the Middle East carrying over six million pounds of cargo, nearly one million pounds of mail, and 1,750 passengers.
However, deterioration of the C-74's components were progressing more rapidly than predicted. Plans were made for the eventual retirement of the Air Force's only fleet of Globemasters. Aircraft were withdrawn from service in late 1955, with 3d and 6th ATS being inactivated.
Continued operations of C-124s until 1957 when unit was inactivated when control of Brookley AFB was reassigned to Air Materiel Command.
Lineage
- Established as 521st Air Transport Group, 1 July 1947
- Redesignated 1601st Air Transport Group on 1 October 1948
- Redesignated 1703d Air Transport Group on 1 October 1949
- Inactivated on 18 June 1957
Assignments
- Atlantic Division, Air Transport Service, 1 July 1947
- 1701st Air Transport Wing1701st Air Transport WingThe 1701st Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the Western Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base, Alabama. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957.-History:...
, 1 May 1953 – 18 June 1957
Units
- 17th Air Transport Squadron, 1 July 1947
- Redesignated: 1258th Air Transport Squadron, 1 October 1948
- Redesignated: 3d Air Transport Squadron, 1 July 1952 – 1 November 1955
- 19th Air Transport Squadron, 1 July 1947
- Redesignated: 1260th Air Transport Squadron, 1 October 1948
- Redesignated: 6th Air Transport Squadron, 1 July 1952 – 30 June 1955
- Note: Unit originated as: 6th Ferrying Squadron, constituted c. 18 February 1942, activated 7 March 1942
- Re-designated 6th Transport Squadron 29 March 1943, disbanded 1 December 1943
- Assigned to: 1st Ferrying Group/Transport Group, India-China Wing, Air Transport Command.
- 1281st Air Transport Squadron, 1 November 1951 – 18 July 1952
- Assets to: 13th Air Transport Squadron13th Air Transport SquadronThe 13th Air Transport Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 2d Aircraft Delivery Group, Air Force Logistics Command, stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base, Georgia. It was inactivated on 30 September 1970....
(reactivated), 18 July 1952 – 18 June 1957- Note: Unit originated as: 13th Air Corps Ferry Squadron constituted c. 18 February 1942, activated 7 March 1942
- Re-designated: 13th Transport Squadron 24 March 1943, disbanded 1 December 1943
- Assigned to: 1st Ferrying Group/Transport Group, India-China Wing, Air Transport Command.
- 1735th Airlift Squadron (Air Evacuation), 30 June 1954 – 18 June 1957
Stations
- Brookley Army Airfield (later AFB), Alabama, 1 July 1947 – 18 June 1957
Aircraft
- C-74 GlobemasterC-74 GlobemasterThe Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a United States heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California.The Globemaster was developed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The long distances across the Atlantic, and especially the Pacific Ocean to the combat...
, 1947–1955 (3d, 6th ATS) - 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:...
, 1954–1957 (1735th AS) - 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...
, 1951–1952 (13th ATS) - 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....
, 1952–1957 (13th ATS)