The Curtiss Commando Page
The Curtiss Commando Page

345th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium

Operator Identification

  May 1949 to January 1953

  United States of America


TYPE: USAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Memphis Municipal, TN

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: 345th Troop Carrier Squadron, Assault, Rotary Wing (when reactivated 1954)

Operator History

The 345th Troop Carrier Squadron, Medium was constituted on 10 May 1949 as part of the Korean War buildup. It was activated in the reserve in Memphis, TN as part of the 516th Troop Carrier Group, which absorbed most of the reservists from the inactivating 95th Bombardment Group. There, it trained under the supervision of the 2584th Air Force Reserve Training Center until April 1951. The 345th was called to active duty that same month and, along with other reserve troop carrier organizations, it was mobilized by the Tactical Air Command during the Korean War, forming the new Eighteenth Air Force. It participated in tactical exercises and worldwide airlift. It converted from the Commando to the Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar in 1952. The 345th was inactivated and replaced in its role by the 772nd Troop Carrier Squadron in January 1953.

Commando Operations

1949 to 1952

Commandos Operated

  • Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: 42-96607

Last edited: 03/11/2020