The Curtiss Commando Page
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81st Troop Carrier Squadron

Operator Identification

  April 1943 to November 1945, July 1947 to April 1951 & August 1955 to November 1957

  United States of America

TYPE: USAF unit

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: RAF Membury, England (1944-1945), Mourmelon-le-Grand, France (1945), Baer Field, IN (1945), Malden AAF, MO (1945), Evansville, IN (1947-1949), Godman AFB, KY (1949-1950), Louisville International, KY (1950-1951), Grenier AFB, NH (1955-1957)

ASSIGNMENTS: 436th Troop Carrier Group (1943-1948), 434th Troop Carrier Group (1948-1949), 436th Troop Carrier Group (1949-1957)

FORMER NAME: Nil

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Nil

Operator History

The 81st Troop Carrier Squadron was formed in April 1943. It trained and equipped at various bases in the USA until the end of the year, then it deployed to England with IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force in January 1944, during the Allied buildup prior to the invasion of France. It was equipped with C-47 Skytrains, along with Wago & Horsa gliders. It participated in the D-Day operation, dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops. It then flew to Italy to support the invasion of southern France.

In the summer of 1944, it moved to France to support the invasion of Germany. It dropped airborne forces during Operation Market-Garden in September 1944 into the Netherlands. The squadron slowly re-equipped with Commandos starting in 1945. It was inactivated in November 1945 after returning to the USA.

Postwar, the 81st was activated in the air force reserve in 1947, operating Commandos for Tactical Air Command's Eighteenth Air Force. It was activated during the Korean War in 1951, its aircraft and personnel being used as fillers for active duty units, then inactivated.

It was finally reactivated as a reserve Commando squadron at Grenier AFB in 1955, and inactivated in 1957 due to budget reductions.

Commando Operations

1945 to 1946, 1949 to 1951 & 1953 to 1957

81st Squadron Commandos probably did not see active service during the last days of the war in Europe. They flew mostly in the reserve post-war.

Commandos Operated

  • Curtiss C-46A-5-CU Commando: 41-12304 (probable)
  • Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando: 41-12381
  • Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando: 42-96729

Last edited: 08/04/2020