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16th Combat Cargo Squadron

Operator Identification

  June 1944 to December 1945

  United States of America

TYPE: USAAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Syracuse AAB, NY (1944), Bowman Field, KY (1944), Sylhet, Bengal, India (1944), Agartala, Tripura, India (1944-1945) , Chittagong, Bengal, India (1945), Namponmao, Burma (1945), Ledo, Assam, India (1945), RAF Ondal, Bengal, India (1945)

FORMER NAME: 16th Ferrying Squadron (disbanded April 1944)

SUBSEQUENT NAME: 16th Special Operations Squadron (when reactivated September 1985)

16th combat cargo squadron 1

Operator History

The 16th Combat Cargo Squadron was one of the 4th Combat Cargo Group's four squadrons during World War II. It served in the China-Burma-India theatre where it transported personnel and supplies, primarily to forward areas, and evacuated casualties. The squadron was initially equipped with Douglas C-47 Skytrains, but transitioned to the Commando in August 1944 as it moved to Bowman Field, KY.

The squadron moved to India during the month of November 1944 and began operations in December. It transported material and equipment for the construction of the Ledo Road. Until May 1945, it focused on transporting materiel and reinforcements for forces operating in Burma. In February 1945, it transported "men, mules and boats" as forces crossed the Irrawaddy River. In May, the 16th dropped Gurkha paratroopers during the assault on Rangoon. In June 1945, the squadron moved to Namponmao, Burma and transported supplies and personnel over the Hump to China. The squadron returned to India in November and was inactivated in late December 1945.

Commando Operations

August 1944 to December 1945

The 16th Combat Cargo Squadron operated a total of 25 Commandos, all C-46Ds. 22 of them ferried to Sylhet, Bengal, India via Karachi, Sindh, India for operation in the China-Burma-India theatre, leaving Morrison Field, FL on 18 November 1944 according to Special Order No.322.

Commandos Operated

Last edited: 18/09/2020