1701st Air Transport Wing
Encyclopedia
The 1701st Air Transport Wing is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. Its last was assigned to the Western Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service
, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base
, Alabama
. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957.
after Great Falls Army Airfield, Montanta was taken over from II Bomber Command
. Mission of the unit was to coordinate Lend-Lease
shipments of equipment including P-39, C-47, B-25, and A-20 aircraft. B-25 Mitchell Bombers arrived by rail and were assembled on base, others were flown in by both military and Women Airforce Service Pilots
(WASPs). These aircraft were later flown by U.S. pilots by way of the Alaskan-Siberian Route (ALSIB) through Canada, to Fairbanks
, Alaska
, and transferred to Russian pilots who in turn flew them into Siberia
. A total of 1,717,712 pounds of cargo containing aircraft parts, tools miscellaneous equipment, explosives and medical supplies were shipped through Great Falls Army Air Base to Russia. Aircraft shipments to the Soviet Union stopped in September 1945, when World War II ended, with approximately 8,000 aircraft having been processed in a 21-month period. Following the war, the unit assumed a support mission for military personnel assigned to Alaskan military
installations.
On June 25, 1948 Operation Vittles, the strategic airlift of supplies to Berlin
's 2,000,000 inhabitants, was initiated. The 547th (later 1701st) ATW played a critical role in assuring the success of this vital operation. Officials selected Great Falls AFB as the only replacement aircrew training site for Berlin Airlift-bound C-54s, officially activating the 517th Air Transport Wing. Using radio beacons, Great Falls AFB was transformed to resemble Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany. Hundreds of pilots and Flight Engineers many of whom were recalled to active duty, were qualified on the C-54 aircraft and on flight procedures to and from Berlin by practicing on ground mock-ups and flying simulated airlift missions.
Later, the 517th Air Transport Wing was redesginated the 1701st Air Transport Wing. This wing’s primary
mission was the routing and scheduling of flights throughout the Pacific Ocean region and in support of allied forces in the Korean War
. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) reopened the C-54 Flight Training School as the 1272d Medium Transition Training Unit in May 1950, one month before the Korean War began.
The 1701st ATW was later replaced by the 1300th Air Base Wing was moved to Brookley AFB, Alabama in a name-only transfer, assuming control of the 1703d Air Transport Group
supporting the Mobile Air Material facilities. At Brookley, the 1703d was redesignated as a Heavy Transport Wing, controlling a C-124 Globemaster II
strategic airlift squadron as well as the United States Air Force C-74 Globemaster
fleet of very heavy lift aircraft.
Throughout the 1950 and 1960s the 1701 ATW flew strategic airlift missions on a worldwide scale with its C-124 fleet after the retirement of the C-74 until 1957 when Brookley AFB was reassigned to Air Material Command.
Squadrons
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
unit. Its last was assigned to the Western Transport Air Force, Military Air Transport Service
Military Air Transport Service
The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base
Brookley Air Force Base
Brookley Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force base located in Mobile, Alabama. After it closed in 1969, it became Mobile Downtown Airport.- History :...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. It was inactivated on 18 June 1957.
History
Formed in mid-1944 by Air Transport CommandAir Transport Command
Air Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
after Great Falls Army Airfield, Montanta was taken over from II Bomber Command
II Bomber Command
The II Bomber Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Second Air Force, based at Fort George Wright, Washington. It was inactivated on 6 October 1943....
. Mission of the unit was to coordinate Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease was the program under which the United States of America supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, China, Free France, and other Allied nations with materiel between 1941 and 1945. It was signed into law on March 11, 1941, a year and a half after the outbreak of war in Europe in...
shipments of equipment including P-39, C-47, B-25, and A-20 aircraft. B-25 Mitchell Bombers arrived by rail and were assembled on base, others were flown in by both military and Women Airforce Service Pilots
Women Airforce Service Pilots
The Women Airforce Service Pilots and its predecessor groups the Women's Flying Training Detachment and the Women's Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron were pioneering organizations of civilian female pilots employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the United States Army Air Forces...
(WASPs). These aircraft were later flown by U.S. pilots by way of the Alaskan-Siberian Route (ALSIB) through Canada, to Fairbanks
Fairbanks
Fairbanks may refer to:Places in the United States*Fairbanks, Alaska, city*Fairbanks, California, unincorporated community in El Dorado County*Fairbanks, Mendocino County, California, former settlement*Fairbanks, Indiana, unincorporated community...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, and transferred to Russian pilots who in turn flew them into Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
. A total of 1,717,712 pounds of cargo containing aircraft parts, tools miscellaneous equipment, explosives and medical supplies were shipped through Great Falls Army Air Base to Russia. Aircraft shipments to the Soviet Union stopped in September 1945, when World War II ended, with approximately 8,000 aircraft having been processed in a 21-month period. Following the war, the unit assumed a support mission for military personnel assigned to Alaskan military
installations.
On June 25, 1948 Operation Vittles, the strategic airlift of supplies to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
's 2,000,000 inhabitants, was initiated. The 547th (later 1701st) ATW played a critical role in assuring the success of this vital operation. Officials selected Great Falls AFB as the only replacement aircrew training site for Berlin Airlift-bound C-54s, officially activating the 517th Air Transport Wing. Using radio beacons, Great Falls AFB was transformed to resemble Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, Germany. Hundreds of pilots and Flight Engineers many of whom were recalled to active duty, were qualified on the C-54 aircraft and on flight procedures to and from Berlin by practicing on ground mock-ups and flying simulated airlift missions.
Later, the 517th Air Transport Wing was redesginated the 1701st Air Transport Wing. This wing’s primary
mission was the routing and scheduling of flights throughout the Pacific Ocean region and in support of allied forces in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
. The Military Air Transport Service (MATS) reopened the C-54 Flight Training School as the 1272d Medium Transition Training Unit in May 1950, one month before the Korean War began.
The 1701st ATW was later replaced by the 1300th Air Base Wing was moved to Brookley AFB, Alabama in a name-only transfer, assuming control of the 1703d Air Transport Group
1703d Air Transport Group
The 1703d Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1701st Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base, Alabama...
supporting the Mobile Air Material facilities. At Brookley, the 1703d was redesignated as a Heavy Transport Wing, controlling a C-124 Globemaster II
C-124 Globemaster II
The Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
strategic airlift squadron as well as the United States Air Force C-74 Globemaster
C-74 Globemaster
The Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a United States heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California.The Globemaster was developed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The long distances across the Atlantic, and especially the Pacific Ocean to the combat...
fleet of very heavy lift aircraft.
Throughout the 1950 and 1960s the 1701 ATW flew strategic airlift missions on a worldwide scale with its C-124 fleet after the retirement of the C-74 until 1957 when Brookley AFB was reassigned to Air Material Command.
Lineage
- Established as: 1455th AAF Base Unit, and activated on 1 Aug 1944
- Redesignated: 517th Air Transport Wing, 1 Jun 1948
- Redesignated: 1701st Air Transport Wing, 1 Oct 1948
- Redesignated: 1701st Air Transport Wing, Heavy 1 May 1953
- Inactivated 18 June 1957.
Assignments
- Alaskan Division, Air Transport CommandAir Transport CommandAir Transport Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its mission was to meet the urgent demand for the speedy reinforcement of the United States' military bases worldwide during World War II, using an air supply system to supplement surface transport...
, 1 August 1944 - Continental Division, Air Transport Command, 1 October 1945
- Pacific Division, Air Transport Command, 1 July 1946
- Pacific Division, Eastern Pacific Wing, Air Transport Service, 1 January 1947
- Pacific Division, Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, 1 July 1948 - Continental Division, Military Air Transport Service, 1 May 1953-18 June 1957
Components
Groups- 517th Air Transport Group, 1 July 1948
- Redesignated 1701st Air Transport Group, 1 October 1948-1 June 1953
- 1703d Air Transport Group1703d Air Transport GroupThe 1703d Air Transport Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last was assigned to the 1701st Air Transport Wing, Military Air Transport Service, stationed at Brookley Air Force Base, Alabama...
, 1 May 1953 – 18 June 1957
Squadrons
- 5th Air Transport Squadron, 1 June 1948
- Redesignated: 1270th Air Transport Squadron, 1 October 1948 – 23 April 1949
- 6th Air Transport Squadron, 1 June 1948
- Redesignated: 1271st Air Transport Squadron, 1 October 1948 – 20 July 1952
- Personnel and equipment assigned to: 75th Air Transport Squadron (Reactivated), 20 July 1952 – 16 May 1953
- 7th Air Transport Squadron, 1 June 1948
- Redesignated: 1272d Air Transport Squadron, 1 October 1948
- Redesignated: 1741st Air Trasport Squadron, 1 January – 6 April 1953
- 1290th Air Transport Squadron, 16 July 1951 – 20 July 1952
- Personnel and equipment assigned to: 84th Air Transport Squadron (Reactivated), 20 July 1952 – 16 May 1953
- 1287th Air Transport Squadron, 24 January – 20 July 1952
- Personnel and equipment assigned to: 85th Air Transport Squadron (Activated), 20 July 1952 – 16 May 1953
- 20th Air Transport Squadron (Provisional), 5 May 1947 – 1 June 1948
- 1740th Air Transport Squadron (Provisional), 27 July 1950 – 14 September 1950
Stations
- Great Falls AFB, Montana, 1 August 1944
- Brookley AFB, Alabama, 1 May 1953 – 18 June 1957
Aircraft
- Transient Lend-Lease Aircraft, 1944–1945
- C-47 SkytrainC-47 SkytrainThe Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport aircraft that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day.-Design and...
, 1945–1953 - C-54 SkymasterC-54 SkymasterThe Douglas C-54 Skymaster was a four-engined transport aircraft used by the United States Army Air Forces and British forces in World War II and the Korean War. Besides transport of cargo, it also carried presidents, British heads of government, and military staff...
, 1945–1953 - C-124 Globemaster IIC-124 Globemaster IIThe Douglas C-124 Globemaster II, nicknamed "Old Shakey", was a heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California....
, 1953–1957 - C-74 GlobemasterC-74 GlobemasterThe Douglas C-74 Globemaster was a United States heavy-lift cargo aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company in Long Beach, California.The Globemaster was developed after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The long distances across the Atlantic, and especially the Pacific Ocean to the combat...
, 1953–1955