902d Troop Carrier Group

The 902d Troop Carrier Group was a United States Air Force Reserve unit organized at Grenier Air Force Base, New Hampshire, in February 1963. It was assigned to the 94th Troop Carrier Wing and supported the wing’s 732d Troop Carrier Squadron. The group was created during a broad restructuring of the Air Force Reserve’s troop-carrier organization, intended to make dispersed reserve flying units easier to mobilize and support. During the 1950s, Continental Air Command increasingly separated Air Force Reserve squadrons from their parent-wing bases. This detached-squadron arrangement improved recruiting by placing smaller units in local communities and allowed the Reserve to use a wider network of Air Force, Navy, and civilian airfields. It also created operational difficulties. A wing could be mobilized as a complete organization, but assembling the personnel and support elements needed to mobilize an individual squadron was more complicated. The problem became evident during the partial mobilization associated with the Berlin Crisis of 1961. To address this weakness, Continental Air Command began reorganizing reserve wings in 1962 by establishing a troop-carrier group around each flying squadron. These groups included headquarters and dedicated support elements so that a squadron and its associated logistics, maintenance, medical, and administrative capabilities could be deployed in more flexible combinations. The implementation period overlapped with the Cuban Missile Crisis, although the affected reserve units were released from mobilization on 22 November 1962. Units not mobilized during the crisis were generally reorganized into groups in January 1963, while some reorganizations occurred later. The 902d was established as a medium troop-carrier group on 15 January 1963 and organized in the Reserve on 11 February. Its principal flying component was the 732d Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been based at Grenier since 1957 after replacing the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron. The group also included the 902d Combat Support Squadron, 902d Materiel Squadron, and 902d Tactical Dispensary. An aerial port flight was added in February 1964. These components provided the operational and support structure required for reserve airlift missions. Its mission was to recruit, organize, and train Air Force Reserve personnel for the tactical airlift of airborne troops, equipment, and supplies. The unit was prepared to deliver personnel and materiel by airdrop, landing, or cargo-extraction systems. It operated the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, a twin-engine transport used for tactical airlift and airborne-support work. The 902d was one of two C-119-equipped groups assigned to the 94th Troop Carrier Wing in 1963; the other was the 901st Troop Carrier Group at Hanscom Field, Massachusetts. The group remained at Grenier Air Force Base until 25 January 1966, when it was inactivated as reserve flying operations at the installation ended. It is therefore a historical military organization rather than an active commercial brand. Air Force lineage records later redesignated it the 902d Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985, but that redesignation did not restore the group to active service as the 902d Troop Carrier Group.

The 902d Troop Carrier Group emerged from the Air Force Reserve’s effort to solve the operational problems created by dispersed flying squadrons. In the latter half of the 1950s, Continental Air Command moved reserve squadrons away from the bases of their parent wings. The arrangement expanded local recruiting opportunities and placed smaller units at communities that might not have supported a full wing installation. By the end of the decade, reserve wings commonly operated with headquarters and some flying units at one base while other squadrons were distributed across a network of military and civilian airfields. Dispersal had an important weakness during partial mobilization. A complete wing could be activated through its established headquarters, but mobilizing one squadron required the simultaneous provision of maintenance, supply, medical, administrative, and airfield-support capabilities. The difficulty was highlighted by the partial mobilization of reserve units during the Berlin Crisis in 1961. In response, Continental Air Command planned a group structure that would place support organizations alongside each dispersed troop-carrier squadron. The reorganization was developed in 1962 and coincided with another period of reserve mobilization during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Units involved in that crisis were released on 22 November 1962, while the formation of groups for units not mobilized proceeded in early 1963. The 902d Troop Carrier Group was established on 15 January 1963 and formally organized in the Reserve at Grenier Air Force Base on 11 February. It was assigned to the 94th Troop Carrier Wing. The group served as the headquarters organization for the 732d Troop Carrier Squadron. That squadron had been stationed at Grenier since November 1957, when it replaced the 81st Troop Carrier Squadron. The 902d’s initial support structure included the 902d Combat Support Squadron, 902d Materiel Squadron, and 902d Tactical Dispensary. The 902d Aerial Port Flight joined the organization on 15 February 1964. Together, these components were intended to give the flying squadron a more complete and readily mobilizable support framework. The group trained Air Force Reserve personnel for tactical airlift missions. Its responsibilities included transporting airborne forces and their equipment and supplies, and delivering those loads by airdrop, landing, or cargo-extraction methods. The group operated Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars from 1963 through 1966. The C-119 was suited to the unit’s tactical transport role and formed part of the 94th Wing’s reserve airlift capability. The 902d was one of two C-119 groups attached to that wing in 1963, alongside the 901st Troop Carrier Group at Hanscom Field. The organization remained at Grenier Air Force Base until 25 January 1966. It was inactivated when reserve flying operations at Grenier ended. The group’s recorded lineage later included redesignation as the 902d Military Airlift Group on 31 July 1985, but the historical troop-carrier organization itself remained inactive. Its significance lies primarily in the Air Force Reserve’s early-1960s attempt to make dispersed tactical-airlift units more practical to mobilize and sustain.

• 1985

  Later redesignation in lineage records

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was redesignated the 902d Military Airlift Group on 31 July, according to its recorded Air Force lineage.

• 1966

  Inactivation at Grenier Air Force Base

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was inactivated on 25 January as reserve flying operations at Grenier Air Force Base ended.

• 1964

  Aerial port flight added

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 902d Aerial Port Flight was added to the group on 15 February, expanding its cargo-handling and air-mobility support structure.

• 1963

  902d Troop Carrier Group established and organized

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was established on 15 January and organized in the Air Force Reserve on 11 February at Grenier Air Force Base.

• 1963

  Assignment to the 94th Troop Carrier Wing

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 902d became part of the 94th Troop Carrier Wing and supported the wing’s 732d Troop Carrier Squadron.

• 1962

  Continental Air Command plans troop-carrier group reorganization

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Continental Air Command developed a plan to create a support group for each reserve troop-carrier squadron, improving flexibility during mobilization.

• 1961

  Berlin Crisis exposes mobilization difficulties

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The partial mobilization connected with the Berlin Crisis demonstrated the difficulty of assembling support capabilities for individual dispersed reserve squadrons.

• 1955

  Reserve squadrons begin dispersal from parent-wing bases

  [1]902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Continental Air Command began separating Air Force Reserve flying squadrons from their parent-wing locations to improve recruiting and distribute units among smaller installations.

A reserve tactical-airlift organization focused on training personnel and supporting the delivery of airborne forces, equipment, and supplies.

• Military transport aircraft

  Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

  The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar was the group’s operational aircraft from 1963 until its inactivation in 1966. The twin-engine transport supported the 902d’s tactical-airlift mission, including the movement of airborne personnel, equipment, and supplies. The aircraft could support delivery by landing, airdrop, and cargo-extraction methods, matching the group’s role within the 94th Troop Carrier Wing.

• 1966

  End of operations at Grenier Air Force BaseStrategy

  Background

  Reserve flying operations at Grenier Air Force Base were ending as the Air Force Reserve reorganized its flying units and basing arrangements.

  Action taken

  The 902d Troop Carrier Group was inactivated on 25 January.

  Aftermath

  The troop-carrier group ceased active existence, although its lineage was later associated with the 902d Military Airlift Group designation.

  Source

• 1963

  Adoption of the troop-carrier group structureStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force Reserve needed a more practical way to mobilize dispersed flying squadrons after earlier crises showed that squadron-level activation could leave support functions difficult to assemble.

  Action taken

  Continental Air Command established the 902d Troop Carrier Group around the 732d Troop Carrier Squadron and assigned combat-support, materiel, medical, and later aerial-port elements to it.

  Aftermath

  The structure provided a dedicated support framework for the squadron until the group was inactivated in 1966.

  Source

1. 1902d Troop Carrier Groupen.wikipedia.org