Any Troop Carrier fans out there??????
Wed Oct 29, 2008 10:00 pm
Just curious if anyone is a fan of the Troop Carrier Groups? My father was CO of a Troop Carrier HQ Squadron in WWII and was overseas from 1942-45 flying C-47's. He participated in every major invasion from N. Africa to Sicily to D-Day to Arnhem. He was the personal pilot to Gen. Paul Williams and continued under Gen. Williams after WWII. He left the service in 1947 as a Lt. Colonel.
Thu Oct 30, 2008 6:10 am
What squadron/group was he in?
Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:09 am
From what I have found out about our AC-47 is that it was delivered to the 9th AF in August of 1944. I think it was then will the 436th TCG Headquarters squadron. I am trying to find information and pictures of her back then. Perhaps your dad flew her.
Thu Oct 30, 2008 10:21 am
Here is one from my father's days in the AF, slightly newer and bigger than a C-47, a C-133 from about 1958. He flew to and from Korea in Connies, just post war.
Thu Oct 30, 2008 4:05 pm
I will have to check my records. My father graduated Class 41-E (in which a number of Doolittle Raiders were in as well). He started out with the 31st Pursuit Group out of Selfridge flying P-39's. The transferred to Troop Carrier going to Westover Field, the temporary assignment to Patterson Field then back to Westover in 1942. He then went to England, took part in the "longest mass unescorted troop movement" where they dropped paratroopers in N. Africa. Around 1943 he was part of the 60th Troop Carrier, 9th AF. He then became C/O of the IX Troop Carrier HQ SQ, a position he held until the end of the war. I will get some of the other units and post them. His C-47 was named "BIRD IV" and had a green shamrock painted in a white circle underneath the cockpit window. He flew Patton, Bradly, Eisenhower, Clark, Montgomery, Urqhart and many other generals. My father is the one who flew in to pick up Gen. Urqhart after "Operation Market Garden".
Thu Oct 30, 2008 9:36 pm
I have been doing a lot of research on the 39th TCS and the 317th TCG known as the "Jungle Skippers" in the Pacific. I have interviews and some never published photos along with other items. It might take another 2 or 3 years to get it all in book form. Not too much written on the Pacific Theater when it comes to the C-47.
