The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

434th Troop Carrier Wing

Operator Identification

  March 1947 to April 1959

  United States of America


TYPE: USAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Stout AAF, IN (1947-1949), Atterbury AFB, IN (1949-1952), Lawson AFB, GA (1952-1953), Atterbury AFB , IN (1953-1959)

FORMER NAME: 434th Troop Carrier Group (until inactivated 1946)

SUBSEQUENT NAME: 434th Air Refueling Wing (when reactivated 1992)

Operator History

The 434th Troop Carrier Wing, Medium was reactivated on 15 March 1947 as the follower of a wing that operated Douglas C-47 Skytrains over Europe during World War II. Now equipped with Commandos, it trained in the reserve under the supervision of the 2466th Air Force Reserve Training Center between July 1949 and February 1951. It then joined active duty on 1 May 1951 based at Atterbury AFB at the start of the Korean War. There, it flew airlift missions and participated in tactical exercises. On 23 January 1952, it was reassigned to Lawson AFB, GA, and provided Commando combat crew training in support of Far East requirements from September 1952. The wing was released from active duty on 1 February 1953.

The 434th returned to Atterbury AFB, IN after getting back in the reserve. There, it trained as a Reserve troop carrier wing until October 1958, using the Commando as its primary training aircraft until January 1957 when it re-equipped with C-119s.


The 434th Troop Carrier Wing was composed of the following squadrons:

Commando Operations

1949 to January 1957

Commandos Operated

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

Last edited: 29/03/2020