Northwest African Troop Carrier Command
Encyclopedia
The Northwest African Troop Carrier Command (NATCC) was a sub-command of the Northwest African Air Forces
which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command
(MAC). These new Allied
air force organizations were created at the Casablanca Conference in January of 1943 to promote cooperation between the British Royal Air Force
(RAF), the American United States Army Air Force (USAAF), and their respective ground and naval forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations
(MTO). Effective February 18, 1943, the NATCC and other MAC commands existed until December 10, 1943 when MAC was disbanded and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
(MAAF) were established. Brigadier General Paul Williams
was the commander of NATCC.
The components of NATCC at the time of the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) on July 10, 1943 are illustrated below.
Northwest African Troop Carrier Command
Brigadier General Paul L. Williams
Note:
In mid-1943, to facilitate transport and supply operations for Operation Husky, the USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th & 43rd Squadrons) was sent from England to Tunisia and assigned to the Mediterranean Air Transport Service which along with NATCC, was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command
.
A tragedy occurred over the Farello Airstrip, when American anti-aircraft gunners mistook American troop carrier transports for enemy planes. On the night of July 11, 1943, 23 of 144 aircraft failed to return to Tunisia. Another 37 planes were badly damaged. The aircraft loss ratio was very high, ~16%. Brigadier General Charles L. Keerans, Jr., the assistant division commander was aboard one of the planes that did not return. The 504th Combat Team suffered a total of 229 casualties on the night of 11 July 1943: 81 dead, 132 wounded, and 16 missing.
Northwest African Air Forces
Northwest African Air Forces was the principal sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command created when the Allied air forces in North Africa and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations were reorganized in February of 1943...
which itself was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command
Mediterranean Air Command
The Mediterranean Air Command was the official Allied air force command organization in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations between February 18 and December 10, 1943. MAC was commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder whose headquarters were established next to those...
(MAC). These new Allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
air force organizations were created at the Casablanca Conference in January of 1943 to promote cooperation between the British Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
(RAF), the American United States Army Air Force (USAAF), and their respective ground and naval forces in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army was originally called North African Theater of Operations and is an American term for the conflict that took place between the Allies and Axis Powers in North Africa and Italy during World War II...
(MTO). Effective February 18, 1943, the NATCC and other MAC commands existed until December 10, 1943 when MAC was disbanded and the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
Mediterranean Allied Air Forces
The Mediterranean Allied Air Forces was the major Allied air force command organization in the Mediterranean theater from mid-December 1943 until the end of the Second World War.-Formation:...
(MAAF) were established. Brigadier General Paul Williams
Paul L. Williams (US general)
Paul Langdon Williams was a United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force general. As head of the IX Troop Carrier Command during World War II, he was responsible for the airlift of the airborne landings in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Normandy, southern France, Holland and...
was the commander of NATCC.
The components of NATCC at the time of the Allied invasion of Sicily (Operation Husky) on July 10, 1943 are illustrated below.
Northwest African Troop Carrier Command
Brigadier General Paul L. Williams
| 51st Troop Carrier Wing 51st Troop Carrier Wing (World War II) The 51st Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the United States Air Forces in Europe. It was inactivated on 5 January 1948.... Brig. Gen. Ray Dunn |
52nd Troop Carrier Wing 52d Troop Carrier Wing (World War II) The 52d Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the New York Air National Guard. It was inactivated on 31 October 1950.... Brig. Gen. Harold Clark |
RAF Detachment |
|---|---|---|
| 60th Troop Carrier Group Lt. Col. Frederick Sherwood ---- 10th Squadron, C-47 11th Squadron, C-47 12th Squadron 12th Troop Carrier Squadron The 12th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 322d Air Division stationed at Dreux-Louvilliers Air Base, France... , C-47 28th Squadron, C-47 |
61st Troop Carrier Group Colonel Willis Mitchell ---- 14th Squadron, C-47 15th Squadron, C-47 53rd Squadron, C-47 59th Squadron, C-47 |
No. 38 Wing Air Commodore William Primrose ---- No. 295 Squadron No. 295 Squadron RAF No 295 Squadron RAF was an airborne forces and transport squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was the first unit to be equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle transport and glider tug aircraft.-With the Airborne Forces:... (Det.), Halifax No. 296 Squadron No. 296 Squadron RAF No. 296 Squadron RAF was an airborne forces squadron of the Royal Air Force during World War II. With sister squadrons 295 and 297 it formed 38 Wing, which later expanded to create No. 38 Group RAF.-With the Airborne Forces:No... , Albermarle - - |
| 62nd Troop Carrier Group Lt. Col. Aubrey Hurren ---- 4th Squadron, C-47 7th Squadron, C-47 8th Squadron, C-47 51st Squadron, C-47 |
313th Troop Carrier Group 313th Troop Carrier Group The 313th Tactical Airlift Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to the 322d Airlift Division at RAF Mildenhall, England. It was inactivated on 1 February 1992.... Colonel James Roberts Jr. ---- 29th Squadron 29th Troop Carrier Squadron The 29th Tactical Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 316th Tactical Airlift Wing stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia... , C-47 47th Squadron 47th Troop Carrier Squadron The 47th Tactical Airlift Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 463d Tactical Airlift Wing stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. It was inactivated on 1 August 1973.-History:... , C-47 48th Squadron, C-47 49th Squadron 49th Troop Carrier Squadron The 49th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with the 313th Troop Carrier Group stationed at Camp Myles Standish, Massachusetts... , C-47 |
|
| 64th Troop Carrier Group Colonel John Cerny ---- 16th Squadron, C-47 17th Squadron, C-47 18th Squadron, C-47 35th Squadron, C-47 |
314th Troop Carrier Group Colonel Clayton Stiles ---- 32nd Squadron, C-47 50th Squadron, C-47 61st Squadron, C-47 62nd Squadron, C-47 |
|
| 316th Troop Carrier Group Colonel Jerome McCauley ---- 36th Squadron, C-47 44th Squadron, C-47 45th Squadron, C-47 |
||
Note:
In mid-1943, to facilitate transport and supply operations for Operation Husky, the USAAF 315th Troop Carrier Group (34th & 43rd Squadrons) was sent from England to Tunisia and assigned to the Mediterranean Air Transport Service which along with NATCC, was a sub-command of the Mediterranean Air Command
Mediterranean Air Command
The Mediterranean Air Command was the official Allied air force command organization in the North African and Mediterranean Theater of Operations between February 18 and December 10, 1943. MAC was commanded by Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Tedder whose headquarters were established next to those...
.
A tragedy occurred over the Farello Airstrip, when American anti-aircraft gunners mistook American troop carrier transports for enemy planes. On the night of July 11, 1943, 23 of 144 aircraft failed to return to Tunisia. Another 37 planes were badly damaged. The aircraft loss ratio was very high, ~16%. Brigadier General Charles L. Keerans, Jr., the assistant division commander was aboard one of the planes that did not return. The 504th Combat Team suffered a total of 229 casualties on the night of 11 July 1943: 81 dead, 132 wounded, and 16 missing.