1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)

The 1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional) was a temporary United States Air Force airlift organization created in the Pacific shortly after the start of the Korean War. It was established to strengthen the Far East Air Forces' ability to move troops, equipment, passengers, and supplies between Japan and the Korean theater at a time when the available permanent transport units could not meet operational demands. The group was organized at Ashiya Air Base, Japan, on 26 August 1950, and immediately relocated to Tachikawa Air Base. It drew personnel and aircraft resources from several Pacific organizations, including the Thirteenth Air Force in the Philippines, the Twentieth Air Force on Guam, and the Far East Air Materiel Command in Japan. Operationally, it came under the 1st Troop Carrier Task Force (Provisional), while being attached to the 374th Troop Carrier Wing for support. Its provisional character reflected the emergency conditions of the war: it was assembled from existing resources rather than built as a permanent independent formation. The unit's creation was linked to the expanding airlift requirements surrounding United Nations operations in Korea. Planning for the Inchon landing and later airborne and logistics operations demonstrated that the theater needed considerably more transport capacity than the 314th Troop Carrier Group and other units could provide. Far East Air Forces therefore reorganized available assets, including converting the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron's aircraft from Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs to smaller transport aircraft and forming the new provisional group. The group began regular airlift operations on 2 September 1950. Flying primarily Curtiss C-46 Commandos, with Douglas C-47 Skytrains used briefly, its crews moved freight and passengers between Japan and Korea. Its missions expanded as the ground situation changed. On 25 and 26 November 1950, it transported a United States Marine Corps formation to Pyongyang in North Korea. Soon afterward, a major Chinese offensive forced United Nations forces into a difficult withdrawal. The group conducted emergency evacuation flights from forward Korean airfields, including Sinanju and Yonpo, supporting the withdrawal of X Corps from the area around Yonpo Airfield in December. The Yonpo evacuation was particularly demanding. Beginning on 14 December 1950, crews operated continuously for three days until the airfield could no longer be secured. Aircraft departed at intervals of roughly five minutes, often in poor weather, and aircrews helped load passengers and equipment to accelerate the movement. The sustained tempo caused severe fatigue, and several pilots were hospitalized. After leaving its Korean deployment at Kimpo Air Base on 4 January 1951, the group continued only briefly. The 1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional) was discontinued on 25 January 1951 as Far East Air Forces replaced temporary wartime formations with permanent or mobilized reserve airlift organizations. Many of its personnel and resources were transferred to the 86th Troop Carrier Squadron, which was activated to assume related duties and assigned to the mobilized 437th Troop Carrier Group. During approximately five months of operations, the group transported more than 28,000 passengers, about 7,000 air evacuees, and nearly 12,000 tons of cargo. It was therefore not a commercial brand or continuing corporate organization, but a short-lived military aviation unit whose historical significance rests on its contribution to Korean War logistics and evacuation operations.

The 1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional) emerged from the Far East Air Forces' need for additional transport capacity during the Korean War. Before the group was formed, planning for the Inchon operation had exposed a serious mismatch between projected requirements and the number of transport aircraft immediately available in the theater. The 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team and its supporting forces required extensive airlift, including the movement of heavy equipment. The 314th Troop Carrier Group, which was expected to provide much of the airborne support, was still in the United States and could not alone satisfy the projected requirement. Far East Air Forces was also advised that forces established in Korea might require hundreds of tons of air cargo each day on a continuing basis. To address the shortfall, Far East Air Forces reorganized resources already located in the Pacific. The 21st Troop Carrier Squadron of the 374th Troop Carrier Wing was converted from operating Douglas C-124 Globemaster II aircraft to using Douglas C-47 Skytrains, and a new provisional group was assembled from personnel and equipment drawn from the Thirteenth Air Force, the Twentieth Air Force, and the Far East Air Materiel Command. The group was formally organized at Ashiya Air Base on 26 August 1950, then moved immediately to Tachikawa Air Base, which served as its home station for the rest of its existence. The group operated under the 1st Troop Carrier Task Force (Provisional) and was attached to the 374th Troop Carrier Wing for administrative and logistical support. Its squadrons were also provisional formations. The 46th Troop Carrier Squadron served until October 1950, the 47th remained with the group throughout its existence, and the 48th served until January 1951. The group's organization changed as the wider airlift structure was reorganized, and it was later associated with the Far East Combat Cargo Command (Provisional). Operations began on 2 September 1950. The group used Curtiss C-46 Commandos as its principal aircraft and employed C-47 Skytrains for a limited period. Its early work consisted largely of carrying passengers, freight, and courier traffic between Japan and Korea. As the United Nations advance moved north, its responsibilities included moving Marine personnel and equipment. On 25 and 26 November, the group transported a Marine Corps unit to Pyongyang, North Korea. The Chinese intervention transformed the group's mission. When United Nations forces were compelled to retreat, the unit performed emergency air evacuation from forward locations such as Sinanju. The most demanding operation involved the withdrawal of X Corps from Yonpo Airfield. Air evacuation began on 14 December 1950 and continued for three days, ending when the airfield could no longer be held. Aircraft were dispatched at exceptionally short intervals, frequently in bad weather. Crews helped load aircraft in order to maintain the pace of departures, and the prolonged workload caused serious exhaustion among the aircrews, with several pilots eventually hospitalized. After departing Kimpo Air Base on 4 January 1951, the group was discontinued on 25 January. Its dissolution formed part of a broader Far East Air Forces reorganization. The arrival and mobilization of reserve airlift units made it possible to replace provisional formations with more permanent structures. The 86th Troop Carrier Squadron was activated to assume related functions and was assigned to the mobilized 437th Troop Carrier Group. A substantial portion of the provisional group's personnel moved into these successor arrangements. Although it existed for only about five months, the group completed a substantial wartime transportation program. Its recorded totals included more than 28,000 passengers, approximately 7,000 air evacuees, and nearly 12,000 tons of cargo. Its history illustrates the United States Air Force's use of provisional organizations to assemble transport capability quickly during a fluid conflict, especially when evacuation and logistics requirements exceeded the capacity of the standing theater units.

• 1951

  Unit discontinued

  [1]1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)en.wikipedia.org

  The group was discontinued on 25 January as provisional airlift organizations were replaced by permanent and mobilized reserve units.

• 1950

  Provisional group organized

  [1]1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)en.wikipedia.org

  Far East Air Forces organized the 1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional), Medium, at Ashiya Air Base, Japan, on 26 August. It immediately relocated to Tachikawa Air Base.

• 1950

  Regular airlift operations began

  [1]1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)en.wikipedia.org

  On 2 September, the group began moving passengers, freight, and courier traffic between Japan and Korea.

• 1950

  Marine unit transported to Pyongyang

  [1]1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)en.wikipedia.org

  On 25–26 November, the group transported a United States Marine Corps unit to Pyongyang in support of United Nations operations.

• 1950

  X Corps air evacuation

  [1]1st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)en.wikipedia.org

  From 14 to 17 December, the group supported the emergency air evacuation of X Corps from Yonpo Airfield during the Chinese advance.

A provisional wartime airlift formation designed to provide rapidly deployable medium transport capacity for Far East Air Forces during the Korean War.

• Military transport aircraft · 1950

  Curtiss C-46 Commando

  The Curtiss C-46 Commando was the group's principal transport aircraft during its Korean War operations. It supported the movement of passengers, cargo, and military personnel between Japanese bases and Korean forward locations, and was also used for evacuation work during the retreat from North Korea.

• Military transport aircraft · 1950

  Douglas C-47 Skytrain

  Douglas C-47 Skytrains were used briefly by the group after the unit was formed. Their employment reflected the Far East Air Forces' effort to adapt available aircraft to the theater's urgent passenger, cargo, and courier requirements.

• 1950Korean War airlift and evacuation operations

  Korea · Japan

  The group supported United Nations forces by transporting personnel, freight, and passengers between Japan and Korea, carrying a Marine unit to Pyongyang, and conducting emergency evacuation flights from forward bases during the Chinese counteroffensive.

  Outcome. The unit helped sustain theater operations and contributed to the evacuation of wounded personnel and X Corps elements before being replaced by mobilized reserve airlift organizations.

  Source

• 1951

  Discontinuation and transfer of resourcesStrategy

  Background

  The arrival of reserve airlift units made the temporary provisional structure unnecessary.

  Action taken

  The group was discontinued on 25 January, and many personnel and resources were transferred to the 86th Troop Carrier Squadron and the mobilized 437th Troop Carrier Group.

  Aftermath

  A permanent or mobilized-unit structure replaced the provisional group within the Far East Air Forces airlift system.

  Source

• 1950

  Rapid creation of a provisional airlift groupStrategy

  Background

  Far East Air Forces faced a shortage of transport capacity for airborne support, daily cargo requirements, and troop movement in Korea.

  Action taken

  It assembled the group from personnel and equipment drawn from Pacific commands and placed it at Tachikawa under provisional command arrangements.

  Aftermath

  The formation entered operations within days and provided additional capacity until permanent and mobilized reserve units could assume the mission.

  Source

1. 11st Troop Carrier Group (Provisional)en.wikipedia.org
2. 2The USAF in Korea, Campaigns, Units and Stations 1950–1953media.defense.gov