1700th Air Transport Group

The 1700th Air Transport Group was a United States Air Force airlift organization of the early Cold War period. It was created within the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), the organization responsible for long-range logistical air transport for the United States military, and was based at Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. Although it was not a commercial brand, the group operated under a numbered military identity and provided transport capabilities that supported global military logistics, aircraft deployment, passenger movement, and the movement of supplies and equipment. The unit’s institutional origins reached back to 12 June 1947, when Air Transport Command organized the 5th Air Transport Group (Provisional) at Kelly Field. That provisional formation included the 33rd, 34th, 51st, and 52nd Provisional Air Transport Squadrons and operated Douglas C-54 Skymaster four-engine transports. Its location at Kelly was significant because the base hosted major aircraft depot-maintenance and supply facilities. In the aftermath of the Second World War, the group’s aircraft and personnel were positioned to support the rapid expansion of American strategic air transport. The provisional organization was replaced during the creation of MATS. On 1 June 1948, the group was organized as the 518th Air Transport Group, initially under the 518th Air Transport Wing. Two of its squadrons soon deployed to Germany in support of the Berlin Airlift, the major Western effort to sustain West Berlin after Soviet restrictions cut off surface access. Because of this deployment and related organizational changes, the 518th Wing was discontinued shortly afterward and the group was assigned directly to the Continental Division of MATS. On 1 October 1948, MATS implemented a broad renumbering system for its Continental Division units. The 518th Air Transport Group became the 1700th Air Transport Group, while the 1700th Air Transport Wing and associated support organizations were established at Kelly. The 10th Air Transport Squadron, whose mission included aeromedical evacuation, was transferred to the newly organized 1702nd Air Transport Group. The 1700th therefore became part of a numbered structure designed to manage the United States’ expanding strategic and continental airlift system. During the 1950s, the group operated and trained crews for a succession of transport types, including the Douglas C-54 Skymaster, Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, and Douglas C-118 Liftmaster. Its duties included transporting materiel and personnel to destinations throughout the world. The group also functioned as a source of trained squadrons for other MATS organizations: units were formed or reequipped at Kelly and later reassigned as MATS refined its operational structure. In 1952, several numbered air transport squadrons were replaced by historically numbered transport squadrons, including the 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, and 76th Air Transport Squadrons. MATS gradually shifted from a predominantly continental structure toward a system centered on overseas transport and major coastal bases. Several squadrons associated with the 1700th moved away from Kelly during this realignment: the 55th went to Travis Air Force Base in 1953, the 56th followed in 1954, and the 58th moved to McGuire Air Force Base in 1955. The 3rd Air Transport Squadron was briefly assigned to the group in 1957 before moving to Charleston Air Force Base. These transfers reduced the group’s original concentration of operational units at Kelly. The 1700th Air Transport Group was ultimately inactivated on 18 December 1957 as MATS discontinued its Continental Division and reorganized its airlift resources. Its history reflects the postwar transition from provisional transport formations to a permanent strategic airlift system, the logistical demands of the Berlin Airlift, the introduction of larger piston-engine transports, and the eventual consolidation of military air transport around major Atlantic and Pacific operating locations.

The 1700th Air Transport Group developed from the 5th Air Transport Group (Provisional), organized by Air Transport Command at Kelly Field, Texas, on 12 June 1947. The provisional group controlled four provisional transport squadrons equipped with Douglas C-54 Skymasters and operated alongside Kelly’s major aircraft maintenance and supply facilities. When Air Transport Command and Naval Air Transport Service were combined to create Military Air Transport Service on 1 June 1948, the provisional organization was replaced. The unit was formally organized as the 518th Air Transport Group on that date and assigned to the 518th Air Transport Wing. Two squadrons soon deployed to Germany to reinforce the Berlin Airlift. The wing was discontinued on 1 July 1948, and the group came under the direct control of MATS’s Continental Division. A MATS renumbering program took effect on 1 October 1948. The 518th Air Transport Group became the 1700th Air Transport Group, and the 1700th Air Transport Wing was organized as its higher headquarters. The group’s original numbered squadrons were reorganized or transferred, including the movement of the 10th Air Transport Squadron to the 1702nd Air Transport Group because of its aeromedical evacuation role. The group performed worldwide military transport missions throughout the 1950s. It operated C-54s, C-97s, C-124s, and, for part of its history, C-118s. Its responsibilities included moving personnel, supplies, and equipment and preparing transport squadrons for reassignment to other MATS formations. In 1952, MATS replaced many major-command-controlled transport squadron designations with older numbered transport squadrons. The 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, and 76th Air Transport Squadrons consequently became important operational components of the group. MATS subsequently reorganized its transport system around overseas routes and coastal bases. The 55th Squadron moved to Travis Air Force Base in October 1953, the 56th moved there in March 1954, and the 58th moved to McGuire Air Force Base in June 1955. Other units entered and left the organization, including the 3rd Air Transport Squadron in 1957. The group remained associated with Kelly Air Force Base until 1 May 1957 and was inactivated on 18 December 1957 when MATS eliminated its Continental Division. The unit therefore existed for less than a decade but participated in the formation of the postwar American strategic airlift structure.

• 1957

  Inactivation

  [1]1700th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 18 December as MATS discontinued its Continental Division.

• 1952

  Operational squadron redesignation

  [1]1700th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  MATS replaced several numbered transport squadrons with historically numbered units, including the 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, and 76th Air Transport Squadrons.

• 1948

  Formation as the 518th Air Transport Group

  [1]1700th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was organized on 1 June as the 518th Air Transport Group during the creation of Military Air Transport Service.

• 1948

  Redesignation as the 1700th Air Transport Group

  [1]1700th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  MATS redesignated the unit on 1 October during a renumbering of Continental Division organizations.

• 1947

  Provisional predecessor organized

  [1]1700th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Air Transport Command organized the 5th Air Transport Group (Provisional) at Kelly Field, Texas, with four provisional transport squadrons and C-54 aircraft.

A United States Air Force strategic and continental airlift group serving as a transport, training, and organizational hub within Military Air Transport Service.

• Military transport aircraft · 1948

  Douglas C-54 Skymaster

  The C-54 was the group’s principal transport aircraft during its formation and early operations. These four-engine transports supported long-range logistics and were transferred in substantial numbers to Germany for Berlin Airlift operations.

• Military transport aircraft · 1948

  Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter

  The C-97 provided postwar strategic transport capacity during the group’s early years. It was used alongside other piston-engine transports for the movement of personnel, supplies, and equipment across the military air transport network.

• Heavy military transport aircraft · 1952

  Douglas C-124 Globemaster II

  The C-124 became the group’s principal heavy transport from 1952 until inactivation. Its greater payload capacity suited the group’s worldwide logistics role and the movement of bulky military equipment.

• Military passenger and transport aircraft · 1954

  Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

  The C-118 Liftmaster served with the group from 1954 to 1956, adding passenger and medium-transport capability to the organization’s broader airlift fleet.

• 1948Berlin Airlift support

  Germany · West Berlin

  Shortly after the group was organized, two of its squadrons deployed to Germany to augment the Western airlift sustaining West Berlin during the Soviet surface blockade.

  Outcome. The deployment contributed transport personnel and aircraft to the wider Berlin Airlift effort.

  Source

• 1957

  Inactivation during MATS consolidationStrategy

  Background

  Military Air Transport Service was reducing its Continental Division and concentrating transport operations at major Atlantic and Pacific locations.

  Action taken

  The 1700th Air Transport Group was inactivated on 18 December 1957.

  Aftermath

  The group ceased to exist as an active Air Force organization, while its transport functions and associated units were redistributed within the reorganized MATS system.

  Source

• 1952

  Transition to larger and reorganized transport operationsGeneration change

  Background

  MATS sought to replace major-command-controlled squadron designations and modernize the structure supporting its strategic transport mission.

  Action taken

  The group’s flying squadrons were replaced or redesignated, and the C-124 Globemaster II became its principal heavy transport.

  Aftermath

  The group continued worldwide transport and squadron-training duties with a more standardized MATS structure.

  Source

• 1948

  Adoption of the 1700-series organizational structureStrategy

  Background

  MATS assigned numbered blocks to its subordinate organizations as it expanded and standardized its postwar transport system.

  Action taken

  On 1 October, the 518th Air Transport Group was redesignated the 1700th Air Transport Group and placed under the newly organized 1700th Air Transport Wing.

  Aftermath

  The redesignation established the group’s principal identity for the remainder of its service.

  Source

1. 11700th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org