1st Ferrying Group

{{about|the 1st Transport Group of World War II|the 1st Transport Group of 1933–1937|370th Air Expeditionary Wing}}

{{Infobox military unit

|unit_name=1st Ferrying Group
{{nobold|(later}} 1st Transport Group{{nobold|,}} 431st Military Airlift Training Group{{nobold|)}}

|image=Air Transport Command C-46 flying The Hump.jpg

|image_size=300

|caption=C-46 Commando flying The Hump

|dates=1942–1943

|country={{Flagu|United States}}

|branch={{air force|USA}}

|type=

|role=Strategic airlift

|size=

|command_structure=Air Transport Command

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|battles=China Burma India Theater

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|disbanded=1 December 1943

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The 1st Ferrying Group was a unit of the Army Air Forces during World War II. It was the first transport group to deploy overseas and the first to fly transport missions over the Hump. It was redesignated the 1st Transport Group, then disbanded in December 1943, when the India-China Wing, Air Transport Command adopted a station organization. The group was reconstituted in 1985 as the 431st Military Airlift Training Group, but has not been active.

History

The 1st Ferrying Group was organized in March 1942 at Pope Field, North Carolina. After briefly training with Douglas C-47 Skytrains, it deployed to India, using the South Atlantic route. On arrival in India, it became part of Tenth Air Force and began flying missions over the Hump to resupply Chinese and American forces in China. Shortly after its arrival, it was transferred to the newly formed India-China Wing, Air Transport Command. It continued to fly transport missions until it was disbanded in December 1943,Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 648q, 31 July 1985, Subject: Reconstitution, Redesignation, and Consolidation of Selected Air Force Organizations when the India-China Wing reorganized to create a single unit at each of its stations.

The group was reconstituted in July 1985 as the 431st Military Airlift Training Group, but has not been active.

Lineage

Constituted as the 1st Ferrying Group on 3 March 1942

: Activated 7 March 1942

: Redesignated 1st Transport Group c. 24 March 1943

: Disbanded on 1 December 1943

Reconstituted on 31 July 1985 and redesignated 431st Military Airlift Training Group (not active)

=Assignments=

Air Force Combat Command, 3 March 1942
Tenth Air Force, c. 17 May 1942
India-China Wing, Air Transport Command, July 1942 – 1 December 1943

=Components=

3d Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 3d Ferrying Squadron, 3d Transport Squadron; 7 March 1942 – 1 December 1943{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/433930/3-airlift-squadron/ |author=No byline|title=Factsheet 3 Airlift Squadron|date=7 January 2008|publisher=Air Force Historical Research Agency|access-date=1 August 2018}}
6th Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 6th Ferrying Squadron, 6th Transport Squadron; 7 March 1942 – 1 December 1943
13th Air Corps Ferry Squadron (later 13th Ferrying Squadron, 13th Transport Squadron; 7 March 1942 – 1 December 1943

=Stations=

Pope Field, North Carolina, 7 March 1942
Charleston Municipal Airport, South Carolina, 17–19 March 1942
New Malir Cantonment, India, 17 May 1942
Dinjan Airfield, India, c. June 1942
Chabua Airfield, India, 1942 – 31 December 1943

=Campaign=

class="wikitable"

style="background:#efefef;"

! Campaign Streamer

! Campaign

! Dates

! Notes

200px

India-Burma

2 April 1943 – 1 December 1943

AF Pamphlet 900-2, p. 35

References

=Notes=

=Bibliography=

{{cite web |url= https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portals/16/documents/Studies/1-50/AFD-090602-073.pdf |author=Historical Branch, Air Transport Command|title=Administrative History of the Ferrying Command, 29 May 1941-30 June 1942, USAF Historical Study No. 33|date=June 1945|publisher=Assistant Chief of Air Staff Intelligence, Historical Division |access-date=June 10, 2019}}
{{cite web |url= http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/AFP900-2Vol1Bk1.pdf |last1= |first1= |title= AF Pamphlet 900-2, Unit Decorations, Awards and Campaign Participation Credits |date= 15 June 1971 |publisher= Department of the Air Force Index |location= Washington, DC |access-date= August 11, 2016 |archive-date= 4 August 2015 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150804134135/http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/AFP900-2Vol1Bk1.pdf |url-status= dead }}

Category:Groups of the United States Army Air Forces

Category:Military units and formations established in 1942

Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1943