374th Troop Carrier Group, Heavy

  August 1948 to July 1957

  United States of America

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TYPE: USAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Harmon AFB, Guam (1948-1949), Tachikawa AB, Japan (1949-1957)

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: 374^th Tactical Airlift Wing (reactivated 1966 and redesignated 1967)

The 374^th Troop Carrier Group was established on 10 August 1948, and activated on 17 August 1948 at Harmon AFB, Guam. As the only air transport group assigned to the 5th Air Force, its duty was to ensure troop carrier operations in the Pacific and Far East, mainly using Douglas C-54 Skymasters but also C-47's, C-119's, C-124's and Commandos. The Group moved to Japan in 1949 and assumed control over Tachikawa AB in Tokyo.

By early September 1950, the 374^th was attached to the 1st Troop Carrier Task Force (Provisional) and then on 10 September to the FEAF Combat Cargo Command (Provisional). From 25 January 1951, it was reassigned to the 315^th Air Division (Combat Cargo), and it served with that division for the entire Korean War. The group flew a variety of aircraft including C-54's, C-46's, C-47's, C-119's and C-124's, performing combat airlift, airdrops, and aeromedical evacuations throughout the war. It also flew courier flights throughout the Pacific area. It transported the first of several groups of repatriated prisoners of war from Korea to Japan in April 1953 (Operation Little Switch), and subsequently transported United Nations prisoners of war (Operation Big Switch) from North Korea.

Following hostilities, the wing resumed its normal troop carrier and airlift operations in the Far East and Pacific area, including participation in tactical exercises and humanitarian missions. It operated in French Indochina in 1954, flying in observers, maintenance personnel and liaison officers and evacuating wounded French troops. It also trained Commando pilots of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force between November 1954 and May 1955.

On 1 July 1957, the Group was transferred to Military Air Transport Service and inactivated, replaced in part by the 1503^rd Air Transport Wing.

1948 to 1957

Only Commandos belonging to an unknown squadron within the group are listed here. When the squadron is identified, the Commando is listed under that squadron only.

• Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando: 44-77459