312th Troop Carrier Squadron

  October 1943 to September 1946

  United States of America

TYPE: USAAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Sedalia AAF, MO (1943-1944), Alliance AAF, NE (1944), Pope Field, NC (1944-1945), Baer Field, IN (1945), RAF Barkston Heath, UK (1945), Roye-Amy, France (1945), Bergstrom AAF, TX (1945-1946)

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: 312^th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium (when reactivated 1949)

The 312^th Troop Carrier Squadron was constituted on 23 October 1943, and activated on 1 November 1943 at Sedalia AAF, MO. It was assigned through 1951 to the 349^th Troop Carrier Group. It was initially a C-47 Skytrain and C-53 Skytrooper squadron, with the C-46 Commando being introduced in 1944. The squadron spend over a year in the USA, training for troop carrier operations, participating in maneuvers and practicing paratroop drops, glider towing, and flying training, mainly from Pope Field, NC. It was finally deployed to Europe in March 1945, where its mission was the transportation of vehicles, gasoline, and supplies. It did not take part in combat operations, but did transport supplies and equipment to the front-line ground forces primarily into Germany and evacuated casualties to rear areas.

The 312^th moved back home to Bergstrom AAF, TX on 17 September 1945 and was inactivated there a year later on 7 September 1946.

1944 to September 1946

• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: 44-77814