581st Air Resupply Group

The 581st Air Resupply Group was a United States Air Force organization created during the early Cold War for specialized air resupply, unconventional-warfare support, and psychological-warfare missions. It was constituted on 9 July 1951 as the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Group and activated on 23 July 1951 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The group formed part of the broader 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing, an organization developed to support missions requiring the movement of personnel and materiel into areas where conventional military logistics were difficult or politically sensitive. Its original structure included four squadrons. The 581st Air Resupply and Communications Squadron, later known simply as the 581st Air Resupply Squadron, was the group's only flying component. The 581st Airborne Materials Assembly Squadron prepared equipment and supplies for aerial delivery, while the 581st Holding and Briefing Squadron and the 581st Reproduction Squadron supported the handling of personnel, mission preparation, and production of psychological-warfare materials. The group's operational concept included the infiltration, resupply, and extraction of guerrilla-type personnel, as well as the aerial distribution of leaflets and related propaganda material. In July 1952, the wing and group moved from Mountain Home to Clark Air Base in the Philippines and came under Thirteenth Air Force. Before or around the deployment to Clark, the group was reduced largely to paper status, with its squadrons attached directly to wing headquarters. This administrative arrangement continued until the wing was inactivated in September 1953. At that point, the group was redesignated the 581st Air Resupply Group, lost the Holding and Briefing and Reproduction Squadrons, and gained a maintenance squadron. In practical terms, the former wing headquarters became the group headquarters, leaving a substantially smaller organization centered on flying and support functions. Although associated with specialized resupply and psychological-warfare missions, the group's C-119 aircraft also performed conventional logistical work. During 1952, at the direction of the 315th Air Division commander, the aircraft provided limited airlift support for Far East Command operations connected with the Korean War. From 1953, the unit's aircraft were increasingly used in Southeast Asia to support French forces during the First Indochina War. Cargo delivered to Haiphong included ammunition, vehicles, and barbed wire. Because overt American escalation in Indochina was politically constrained, the organization also participated in discreet arrangements involving aircraft markings, crew activity, and training. Refurbished C-119 aircraft were flown into Indochina by 581st crews while carrying French markings, and French C-119s were transported to Clark for depot-level repair. Personnel from the group also trained Civil Air Transport crews employed by the Central Intelligence Agency in C-119 operations. These activities supported the French war effort but did not prevent the defeat of French forces at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954, an event that ended French colonial rule in Indochina. In October 1954, the group moved from Clark Air Base to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. It continued reduced operations there for approximately two years. The group was inactivated on 12 October 1956. It is therefore not an active commercial brand or operating business; its historical significance lies in the development of postwar United States air-force special operations, air resupply, covert logistics, and psychological-warfare capabilities.

The 581st Air Resupply Group originated in the United States Air Force's early Cold War effort to organize air units capable of supporting unconventional military activity. It was constituted on 9 July 1951 and activated on 23 July at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, as the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Group. The group operated within the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing and initially contained four squadrons: the flying-oriented 581st Air Resupply and Communications Squadron, the 581st Airborne Materials Assembly Squadron, the 581st Holding and Briefing Squadron, and the 581st Reproduction Squadron. The group's mission combined physical logistics with information operations. Its air-resupply squadron was tasked with infiltrating, resupplying, and extracting guerrilla-type personnel. It also delivered psychological-warfare materials, including leaflets and similar printed matter. The other squadrons provided preparation, personnel-handling, briefing, and reproduction functions needed to support these missions. Of the four components, the Air Resupply Squadron was the only one primarily dedicated to flying operations. The organization moved to Clark Air Base in the Philippines in July 1952, where it was assigned to Thirteenth Air Force. Around the time of this deployment, the group was reduced to paper status and its squadrons were attached directly to the wing headquarters. The arrangement reflected the changing administrative relationship between the group and its parent wing rather than the disappearance of its operational responsibilities. During 1952, the group's C-119 aircraft performed limited airlift support for Far East Command activities associated with the Korean War. After the Korean Armistice and the subsequent inactivation of the wing in September 1953, the group was reorganized. It was redesignated the 581st Air Resupply Group on 8 September 1953. The Holding and Briefing Squadron and Reproduction Squadron were inactivated, while a maintenance squadron was added. The resulting organization was about half the size of the former wing and consisted principally of a flying squadron and a support or maintenance element. The group's work expanded into Southeast Asia during the First Indochina War. Beginning in 1953, its C-119 aircraft transported supplies for French operations. Deliveries to Haiphong included ammunition, vehicles, and barbed wire. Political limitations on openly increasing United States involvement encouraged discreet support practices. Refurbished C-119s were flown into Indochina by 581st crews under French markings, while French aircraft were flown to Clark Air Base for depot repair. Group instructors also trained C-119 crews working for Civil Air Transport, a civilian organization employed by the Central Intelligence Agency. The French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954 ended the immediate colonial war in Indochina, but the 581st continued to operate in a reduced form. In October 1954, it relocated from Clark to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, where it remained associated with the 313th Air Division and was supported administratively by other Air Force formations. Its last duty assignment was at Kadena. The group was inactivated on 12 October 1956, ending its existence as an active Air Force organization.

• 1956

  Inactivation

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 12 October 1956 after approximately two years of reduced operations from Okinawa.

• 1954

  Move to Kadena Air Base

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  In October 1954, the group relocated from Clark Air Base to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa.

• 1953

  Redesignation as the 581st Air Resupply Group

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  On 8 September 1953, following the inactivation of the parent wing, the organization was redesignated the 581st Air Resupply Group and reorganized with fewer components and a maintenance capability.

• 1953

  Expanded support for Indochina operations

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group's C-119 aircraft began increasingly supporting French operations in Indochina, delivering supplies and participating in discreet aircraft and crew arrangements.

• 1952

  Relocation to Clark Air Base

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  In July 1952, the group and its parent wing moved to Clark Air Base in the Philippines and came under Thirteenth Air Force.

• 1951

  Group constituted

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was constituted on 9 July 1951 as the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Group.

• 1951

  Activation at Mountain Home

  [1]581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was activated on 23 July 1951 at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, as part of the 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing.

A Cold War-era United States Air Force group positioned for specialized air resupply, unconventional-warfare support, psychological-warfare delivery, and limited tactical airlift in the Western Pacific and Southeast Asian theaters.

• Military airlift

  C-119 transport aircraft operations

  The group's principal flying activity centered on Fairchild C-119 transport aircraft. These aircraft supported limited airlift requirements connected with the Korean War, transported ammunition and other supplies to Indochina, and participated in discreet arrangements involving French-marked aircraft and aircraft sent to Clark Air Base for repair. The C-119 fleet also served as the platform for training support provided to Civil Air Transport crews.

• Information operations · 1951

  Psychological-warfare aerial delivery

  The group was organized to deliver psychological-warfare materiel from the air, particularly leaflets and related printed materials. This capability was supported by the group's reproduction and materials-assembly functions before those components were later inactivated during reorganization.

• Special operations support · 1951

  Guerrilla support and personnel movement

  A core mission included the infiltration, resupply, and exfiltration of guerrilla-type personnel. The capability combined air transport with briefing, holding, materials preparation, and other support functions within the original group structure.

• 1953First Indochina War support

  French Indochina · Philippines

  Beginning in 1953, the group's C-119s supported French operations in Indochina by delivering ammunition, vehicles, and barbed wire to Haiphong. The group also supported aircraft maintenance and trained Civil Air Transport crews employed by the CIA.

  Outcome. The support did not prevent the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu in May 1954, which ended French colonial rule in Indochina.

  Source
• 1952Korean War airlift support

  Korean Peninsula · Far East Command

  At the direction of the 315th Air Division commander, the group's C-119 aircraft provided limited airlift support for Far East Command operations during the Korean War period.

  Outcome. The group's Korean-related support continued during 1952; the broader conflict entered an armistice in 1953.

  Source

• 1954

  Relocation to OkinawaStrategy

  Background

  After the group's Clark Air Base period and its reorganization, the Air Force reassigned the unit within the Western Pacific structure.

  Action taken

  The group moved from Clark Air Base to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, in October 1954.

  Aftermath

  It continued reduced operations from Kadena until its inactivation in October 1956.

  Source

• 1953

  Post-wing reorganizationStrategy

  Background

  The 581st Air Resupply and Communications Wing was inactivated in September 1953 after the Korean Armistice, requiring the group to continue under a smaller structure.

  Action taken

  The organization was redesignated the 581st Air Resupply Group, its Holding and Briefing and Reproduction Squadrons were inactivated, and a maintenance squadron was added.

  Aftermath

  The group continued reduced operations as a smaller flying and support organization, first under revised Far East assignments and later from Okinawa.

  Source

1. 1581st Air Resupply Groupen.wikipedia.org