1705th Air Transport Group

The 1705th Air Transport Group was a United States Air Force airlift unit assigned to the Military Air Transport Service (MATS). It was organized at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, in January 1952 as the 1705th Air Transport Group, Heavy, and remained at that base until its discontinuation on 18 June 1960. The group was responsible for heavy strategic air transport across the Pacific and into South Asia, supporting the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies over long distances during the early Cold War. The group operated within the MATS organizational structure, initially under the Continental Division and subsequently under the Western Transport Air Force. Its activation followed the earlier existence of the similarly named 1705th Air Transport Wing, which had been organized in August 1950 and discontinued on 1 October 1951. Despite their shared designation and McChord location, the wing and the later group were separate organizational entities rather than continuous versions of the same unit. Upon activation, the group began receiving Douglas C-124C Globemaster II aircraft and completed its transition to operational status in July 1952. The C-124 provided the heavy-lift capacity needed for MATS missions involving bulky cargo and long-range transport. The group also operated Douglas C-118 Liftmaster aircraft, particularly after the mid-1950s, when passenger and transport responsibilities were redistributed among its squadrons. Its operational structure included the 32d, 33d, and 34th Air Transport Squadrons, along with several temporary or transitional squadrons during the group's formation. The 33d Air Transport Squadron began MATS passenger service to aerial ports in Hawaii and Japan in 1955 using C-118 aircraft transferred from the inactivated 34th Air Transport Squadron. The 34th Squadron itself was inactivated in July 1955 in the context of budget reductions. The group also maintained air-terminal, maintenance, and periodic-maintenance organizations, including the 1705th Air Traffic Squadron, later redesignated the 1705th Air Terminal Squadron. The group's service covered a broad Pacific-oriented network that included Hawaii and Alaska, as well as routes extending toward Japan and South Asia. Its responsibilities reflected MATS's role as the Air Force's principal organization for strategic transport, passenger movement, and logistical support before later changes in the service's command structure. The 1705th Air Transport Group was discontinued on 18 June 1960. Its inactivation occurred after the 62d Troop Carrier Wing moved to McChord from Larson Air Force Base, Washington, following Strategic Air Command's assumption of control over Larson. The group's squadrons were inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to units associated with the 62d Wing. The group therefore represents a Cold War-era Air Force transport formation rather than a commercial brand or ongoing operating enterprise.

The 1705th Air Transport Group emerged from the postwar expansion and reorganization of United States military air transport. In July 1950, the Military Air Transport Service organized the North Pacific Air Transport Wing, Provisional, at McChord Air Force Base, Washington. On 24 August 1950, MATS established the 1705th Air Transport Wing within its Continental Division. The wing drew personnel and equipment from the provisional organization and used the 61st Troop Carrier Group as its operational group. That group had recently moved from Germany to McChord after the Berlin Airlift and operated Douglas C-54 Skymaster aircraft on missions carrying equipment and supplies to Ladd Air Force Base and Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska. Beginning in December 1950, the 61st Troop Carrier Group was detached to the Far East Air Forces. The 1705th Air Transport Wing was discontinued on 1 October 1951. A distinct 1705th Air Transport Group, Heavy, was designated and organized on 24 January 1952. It was assigned to the Continental Division of MATS, later operating under the Western Transport Air Force. The group was again based at McChord and was built around the long-range heavy-transport requirements of the early Cold War. It received Douglas C-124C Globemaster II aircraft upon activation and transitioned to operational flying by July 1952. The C-124 was designed to carry large and heavy military loads and became the principal aircraft associated with the group's strategic airlift role. During its formation, the group incorporated a changing collection of transport squadrons. The 1286th, 1289th, 1291st, and 1740th Air Transport Squadrons were associated with the group during its early organization, while the 1280th and 1284th squadrons were present during part of the transition period. The 32d and 33d Air Transport Squadrons became core operational elements from July 1952, while the 34th Air Transport Squadron served until July 1955. The 77th Air Transport Squadron was associated with the group from September 1952 to November 1953. The group's mission extended throughout the Pacific and into South Asia. Its routes included Hawaii and Alaska, and its passenger responsibilities later reached aerial ports in Hawaii and Japan. In 1955, the 33d Air Transport Squadron began MATS passenger service using Douglas C-118 Liftmaster aircraft transferred from the 34th Squadron. The 34th Squadron was inactivated in July of that year amid budget restraints. The group consequently combined heavy cargo operations using C-124Cs with passenger and transport work performed by C-118s. Supporting these flying units were the 1705th Maintenance Squadron, later redesignated the 1705th Field Maintenance Squadron, and the 1705th Periodic Maintenance Squadron. The 1705th Air Traffic Squadron, organized on 1 February 1953 and later renamed the 1705th Air Terminal Squadron, operated McChord's personnel aerial port and passenger terminal. These organizations allowed the group to sustain aircraft, process passengers, and manage the ground infrastructure required for a large strategic transport operation. The group remained at McChord until a wider Air Force realignment in 1960. The 62d Troop Carrier Wing moved to McChord from Larson Air Force Base after Strategic Air Command assumed control of Larson. As part of this change, the 1705th group's squadrons were inactivated and its assets were transferred to units of the 62d Wing. The 1705th Air Transport Group was discontinued on 18 June 1960. The earlier 1705th Air Transport Wing and the later group shared a location and a similar name but were separate organizational entities.

• 1960

  Group discontinued

  [1]1705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was discontinued on 18 June after its assets were transferred during the 62d Troop Carrier Wing's move to McChord.

• 1955

  Passenger transport expanded

  [1]1705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 33d Air Transport Squadron began MATS passenger service to aerial ports in Hawaii and Japan using C-118 Liftmaster aircraft.

• 1953

  Air-terminal squadron established

  [1]1705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 1705th Air Traffic Squadron was organized to operate McChord's personnel aerial port and passenger terminal.

• 1952

  Group organized and equipped

  [1]1705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 1705th Air Transport Group, Heavy, was organized on 24 January and began transitioning to C-124C Globemaster II aircraft, becoming operational in July.

• 1951

  Wing discontinued

  [1]1705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The separately organized 1705th Air Transport Wing was discontinued on 1 October.

• 1950

  1705th Air Transport Wing organized

  [1]1705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org

  MATS organized the 1705th Air Transport Wing at McChord Air Force Base as part of its Continental Division.

A Cold War United States Air Force heavy-airlift organization within the Military Air Transport Service, focused on long-range cargo, passenger, and logistical transport across the Pacific and South Asia.

• Heavy military transport aircraft · 1952

  Douglas C-124C Globemaster II

  The C-124C was the group's principal heavy-airlift aircraft after its activation in 1952. It supported the movement of bulky cargo, equipment, and supplies over the Pacific and other long-distance routes. The aircraft gave the group the capacity expected of a heavy strategic transport formation within MATS.

• Military passenger and transport aircraft · 1955

  Douglas C-118 Liftmaster

  The C-118 Liftmaster was used by the group's transport squadrons during the second half of the 1950s. It supported passenger and general transport missions, including MATS service to aerial ports in Hawaii and Japan. Aircraft were reassigned within the group after the 34th Air Transport Squadron was inactivated.

• Military transport aircraft · 1950

  Douglas C-54 Skymaster

  The C-54 Skymaster was associated with the earlier 1705th Air Transport Wing in 1950–1953. It was used for transport of equipment and supplies to Alaskan bases, including Ladd and Elmendorf, during the wing's initial period.

• 1960

  Transfer of assets to the 62d Troop Carrier WingStrategy

  Background

  The 62d Troop Carrier Wing moved to McChord after Strategic Air Command assumed control of Larson Air Force Base.

  Action taken

  The 1705th group's squadrons were inactivated and its personnel and equipment were transferred to units of the 62d Wing.

  Aftermath

  The 1705th Air Transport Group was discontinued on 18 June 1960.

  Source

• 1955

  Reallocation of transport and passenger capacityStrategy

  Background

  MATS adjusted the group's squadron structure amid budget restraints and changing transport requirements.

  Action taken

  The 34th Air Transport Squadron was inactivated, while C-118 Liftmaster aircraft were reassigned to the 33d Air Transport Squadron, which began passenger service to Hawaii and Japan.

  Aftermath

  The group continued operating a mix of heavy C-124 cargo aircraft and C-118 passenger and transport aircraft.

  Source

1. 11705th Air Transport Groupen.wikipedia.org