| Unit Name: | 50th Troop Carrier Wing |
| Decorations: | Mediterranean Theater of Operations European Theater of Operations |
| Identification Symbol Label: | 50th Troop Carrier Wing emblem[1] [2] |
The 50th Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The wing was formed in 1941 as the 50th Transport Wing, a headquarters for air transport organizations of the Air Corps. In 1942, it became a training organization for troop carrier units deploying overseas. In 1943, it moved overseas, where its units participated in combat in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations. Following V-E Day it remained in Europe until the fall of 1945. Its last assignment was with Third Air Force at Pope Field, North Carolina, where it was inactivated on 31 July 1946. It was redesignated the 50th Air Division in 1959, but was not activated.
The wing was first established as the 50th Transport Wing, then activated at Wright Field, Ohio on 14 January 1941. Although initially assigned directly to the Office, Chief of the Air Corps, it was shortly reassigned to Air Corps Maintenance Command.[2] The wing's mission was to control the air movement of Army materiel within the United States. Within a year, the wing was moving more air freight within the United States than all commercial airlines combined.[3] In March 1942, however, the Army Air Forces directed Air Service Command to increase the use of contracts with airlines to move freight within the United States "in order to free the equipment of the 50th Transport wing for tactical operations with the parachute troops, airborne infantry, the airborne transportation of [government furnished equipment] and supplies, and depot-to-depot operations."[4]
Recognizing this mission change, in July 1942 the wing became the 50th Troop Carrier Wing and formed the core for I Troop Carrier Command, acting as a major training organization until 1943, training subordinate units in the United States prior to overseas deployment.[2]
In October 1943, became a command organization for IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force in England. "Subordinate units began training for the invasion of continental Europe. This training involved airdropping paratroops and towing gliders."[2]
"In June 1944, subordinate units dropped paratroops of the 101st Airborne Division in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies. During the airborne attack on The Netherlands (Operation Market Garden, September 1944), the 50th dropped paratroops, towed gliders, and flew resupply missions. Several of its subordinate units also participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. The 50th supported the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne on 27 December 1944. In addition, its units participated in the air assault across the Rhine River in early 1945 and later flew numerous freight missions to carry gasoline, food, medicine, and other supplies to allied ground forces pushing across Germany."[2]
The wing returned to the United States in September 1945. In 1946 it became a subordinate organization of new Tactical Air Command[2] with responsibility for the theater transport (Troop Carrier) mission. It was inactivated on 31 July 1946.[2]
On 1 September 1959, the USAF redesignated the wing as the 50th Air Division; however, the division was never activated.
Activated on 14 January 1941
Redesignated 50th Troop Carrier Wing on 4 July 1942
Inactivated on 31 July 1946
Redesignated 50th Air Division on 1 September 1959 (Remained inactive)[2]
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Squadrons