905th Tactical Airlift Group
The 905th Tactical Airlift Group was an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit that operated troop and strategic airlift aircraft from 1963 until its inactivation in 1974.
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Overview
The 905th Tactical Airlift Group was a United States Air Force Reserve organization whose lineage covered troop-carrier, military-airlift, and tactical-airlift designations. It was created during a major reorganization of the Air Force Reserve intended to improve the mobilization and support of geographically dispersed flying squadrons. The group was organized at Bradley Field, Connecticut, on 17 January 1963, around the 337th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had been based there since 1957. The unit emerged from the Detached Squadron Concept used by Continental Air Command during the 1950s. Under that arrangement, Reserve flying squadrons were distributed among numerous military and civilian airfields rather than being concentrated with their parent wings. Dispersal helped local recruiting and allowed communities to host smaller units, but it complicated the mobilization of an individual squadron and the support elements required to operate it. The Berlin Crisis mobilization of 1961 exposed some of those difficulties, and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 further influenced the timing and structure of the Reserve reorganization. Initially designated the 905th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, the group included headquarters and support organizations such as a combat support squadron, a materiel squadron, and a tactical infirmary. Its principal operational component was the 337th Troop Carrier Squadron, later redesignated the 337th Tactical Airlift Squadron and then the 337th Military Airlift Squadron. The group's mission was to recruit, organize, and train Reserve personnel for the tactical airlift of airborne forces, equipment, and supplies. Delivery methods included airdrop, landing, and cargo extraction. From 1963 through 1966, the group operated Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars in support of Tactical Air Command airlift requirements. It was one of three C-119-equipped groups associated with the 514th Troop Carrier Wing, alongside the 903rd Troop Carrier Group at McGuire Air Force Base, New Jersey, and the 904th Troop Carrier Group at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. On 1 April 1966, the unit was redesignated the 905th Military Airlift Group and moved from Bradley Field to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Its assignment structure also changed as the group became associated with the emerging Military Airlift Command system. At Westover, it transitioned from the C-119 to the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, an intercontinental transport capable of supporting long-range military airlift. The group subsequently conducted worldwide airlift missions rather than being limited to the shorter-range tactical transport role associated with its earlier aircraft. The unit was redesignated the 905th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 April 1972 and assigned to the 459th Military Airlift Wing. It remained at Westover until 1 April 1974, when it was inactivated in connection with the retirement of the C-124 from service. The organization therefore represents a transitional period in Air Force Reserve airlift history: it began as a dispersed, medium troop-carrier formation equipped with C-119s, adopted the military-airlift designation and C-124 intercontinental transports in the late 1960s, and ended under a tactical-airlift title shortly before its deactivation.
History
The 905th Tactical Airlift Group was established within the United States Air Force Reserve during the early 1960s. Its creation reflected the operational problems produced by the Reserve's Detached Squadron Concept. During the second half of the 1950s, Continental Air Command separated many Reserve flying squadrons from their parent wing locations and distributed them among a network of Air Force, Navy, and civilian airfields. This arrangement supported recruitment and made it easier for smaller communities to host Reserve units, but it made partial mobilization difficult because a flying squadron could require its own command, maintenance, medical, and logistical support. The Berlin Crisis mobilization in 1961 highlighted these weaknesses. Continental Air Command therefore began planning in early 1962 to create a group headquarters and supporting elements for each troop-carrier squadron. The implementation was affected by the Cuban Missile Crisis and the associated partial mobilization of Reserve forces. Units not involved in that mobilization began receiving group structures in January 1963, while other formations followed later. The organization that became the 905th was established as the 905th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, on 28 December 1962, although it was not organized at that time. It was organized in the Reserve at Bradley Field, Connecticut, on 17 January 1963. The group headquarters was built around the 337th Troop Carrier Squadron, which had operated from Bradley Field since November 1957. Supporting components included a combat support squadron, a materiel squadron, and a tactical infirmary. These elements were intended to make the group more self-sufficient and easier to mobilize as a component of a larger wing or as part of a smaller operational package. The group's original mission was to organize, recruit, and train Air Force Reserve personnel for tactical airlift. Its crews and support personnel were responsible for transporting airborne forces, equipment, and supplies and for delivering cargo by airdrop, landing, or cargo extraction systems. The group initially flew Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars and supported Tactical Air Command airlift requirements. It was one of three C-119 groups assigned to the 514th Troop Carrier Wing in 1963; the others were the 903rd Troop Carrier Group at McGuire Air Force Base and the 904th Troop Carrier Group at Stewart Air Force Base. On 1 April 1966, the organization was redesignated the 905th Military Airlift Group. The same date marked its transfer from Bradley Field to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts. It was associated first with the 94th Tactical Airlift Wing and later, after another organizational transition, with the 459th Military Airlift Wing. The move and redesignation coincided with a broader shift in Air Force airlift organization and terminology. At Westover, the group exchanged its C-119s for Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIs. The C-124 was a large intercontinental transport, allowing the Reserve group to participate in worldwide airlift rather than concentrating solely on the shorter-range tactical missions associated with the Flying Boxcar. The group's work during this period formed part of the Air Force Reserve's contribution to global logistics, personnel movement, and transport of military materiel. The group received its final designation, 905th Tactical Airlift Group, on 1 April 1972. It was assigned to the 459th Military Airlift Wing from 25 February 1972 until its inactivation. The group remained at Westover and retained the 337th squadron as its principal operational component. It was inactivated on 1 April 1974, following the retirement of the C-124 from Air Force service. The unit is therefore inactive, but its lineage documents the development of Reserve airlift from dispersed medium troop-carrier operations to global transport capability and back to a tactical-airlift designation.
- 1974
Inactivated
[1]The group was inactivated at Westover Air Force Base on 1 April following the retirement of the C-124 from service.
- 1972
Final designation adopted
[1]The unit was redesignated the 905th Tactical Airlift Group on 1 April and assigned to the 459th Military Airlift Wing.
- 1966
Redesignated and transferred to Westover
[1]On 1 April, the group became the 905th Military Airlift Group and moved from Bradley Field to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts.
- 1966
C-124 transition
[1]The group transitioned from C-119 Flying Boxcars to Douglas C-124 Globemaster II intercontinental transports and began supporting worldwide airlift missions.
- 1963
Reserve organization activated
[1]The group was organized at Bradley Field, Connecticut, on 17 January as the headquarters for the 337th Troop Carrier Squadron and associated support elements.
- 1963
C-119 operations begin
[1]The group began operating Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars for Tactical Air Command airlift requirements.
- 1962
Lineage established
[1]The organization was established as the 905th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, on 28 December, although it was not organized until the following month.
Products and positioning
A United States Air Force Reserve airlift organization focused on training personnel and providing tactical and long-range transport capability for airborne forces, equipment, and supplies.
Military transport aircraft · 1963
Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar
The C-119 Flying Boxcar was the group's initial aircraft from 1963 through 1966. It supported tactical airlift requirements, including the movement and delivery of airborne personnel, equipment, and supplies. Its operational use corresponded to the group's original troop-carrier mission and to its association with Tactical Air Command.
Intercontinental military transport aircraft · 1966
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
The C-124 Globemaster II replaced the C-119 after the group's 1966 move to Westover Air Force Base and redesignation as a military airlift group. The larger transport expanded the unit's role into worldwide airlift, supporting long-range movement of military personnel, equipment, and supplies until the aircraft's retirement led to the group's inactivation in 1974.
Brand decisions
1974
Inactivation after C-124 retirementStrategyBackground
The C-124 Globemaster II was being retired from Air Force service, removing the aircraft around which the group's later airlift role had been organized.
Action taken
The 905th Tactical Airlift Group was inactivated on 1 April 1974.
Aftermath
The group ceased to operate as an Air Force Reserve unit.
1966
Transition from C-119 to C-124 aircraftGeneration changeBackground
The group was redesignated the 905th Military Airlift Group and relocated to Westover Air Force Base as Air Force airlift organizations were being restructured.
Action taken
It replaced its Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars with Douglas C-124 Globemaster II intercontinental transports.
Aftermath
The change enabled the group to conduct worldwide airlift missions and marked a shift from its original medium troop-carrier role toward long-range military transport.
Sources2 sources
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