1st Ferrying Group

This article is about the 1st Transport Group of World War II. For the 1st Transport Group of 1933–1937, see 370th Air Expeditionary Wing.

1st Ferrying Group (later 1st Transport Group, 431st Military Airlift Training Group)
C-46 Commando flying The Hump
Active	1942–1943
Disbanded	1 December 1943
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Strategic airlift
Part of	Air Transport Command
Engagements	China Burma India Theater

The 1st Ferrying Group was a unit of the Army Air Forces during World War II. It was the first transport group to deploy overseas and the first to fly transport missions over the Hump. It was redesignated the 1st Transport Group, then disbanded in December 1943, when the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command adopted a station organization. The group was reconstituted in 1985 as the 431st Military Airlift Training Group, but has not been active.

History

The 1st Ferrying Group was organized in March 1942 at Pope Field, North Carolina. After briefly training with Douglas C-47 Skytrains, it deployed to India, using the South Atlantic route. On arrival in India, it became part of Tenth Air Force and began flying missions over the Hump to resupply Chinese and American forces in China. Shortly after its arrival, it was transferred to the newly formed India-China Wing, Air Transport Command. It continued to fly transport missions until it was disbanded in December 1943, ^[1] when the India-China Wing reorganized to create a single unit at each of its stations.

The group was reconstituted in July 1985 as the 431st Military Airlift Training Group, but has not been active. ^[1]

Lineage

• Constituted as the 1st Ferrying Group on 3 March 1942

Activated 7 March 1942

Redesignated 1st Transport Group c. 24 March 1943

Disbanded on 1 December 1943 ^[1]

• Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesignated 431st Military Airlift Training Group (not active) ^[1]

Assignments

• Air Force Combat Command, 3 March 1942
• Tenth Air Force, c. 17 May 1942
• India-China Wing, Air Transport Command, July 1942 – 1 December 1943

Components

• 3d Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 3d Ferrying Squadron, 3d Transport Squadron; 7 March 1942 – 1 December 1943 ^[2]
• 6th Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 6th Ferrying Squadron, 6th Transport Squadron; 7 March 1942 – 1 December 1943
• 13th Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 13th Ferrying Squadron, 13th Transport Squadron; 7 March 1942 – 1 December 1943

Stations

• Pope Field, North Carolina, 7 March 1942
• Charleston Municipal Airport, South Carolina, 17–19 March 1942
• New Malir Cantonment, India, 17 May 1942
• Dinjan Airfield, India, c. June 1942
• Chabua Airfield, India, 1942 – 31 December 1943

Campaign

Campaign Streamer	Campaign	Dates	Notes
	India-Burma	2 April 1943 – 1 December 1943	[3]

References

Notes

1. Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations
2. No byline (7 January 2008). "Factsheet 3 Airlift Squadron". Air Force Historical Research Agency. Retrieved 1 August 2018.
3. AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 35

Bibliography

• Historical Branch, Air Transport Command (June 1945). "Administrative History of the Ferrying Command, 29 May 1941-30 June 1942, USAF Historical Study No. 33" (PDF). Assistant Chief of Air Staff Intelligence, Historical Division. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
• "AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits" (PDF). Washington, DC: Department of the Air Force Index. 15 June 1971. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2016.