2d Troop Carrier Squadron
Encyclopedia
The 2d Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force
unit. It was last assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Group. It was inactivated at Mitchel Air Force Base
, New York on 1 April 1953.
in May 1941. Performed aerial mapping primarily over the northwestern United States prior to the Pearl Harbor Attack using P-39 Aircobra sub-variants (F-2) which were equipped for the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles. After the United States entry into World War II, flew aerial mapping missions over Western Canada and the Alaska Territory
, mapping uncharted territory to support the building of the Alaska Highway
. Deployed to South America in 1942–1943; mapping locations in British Guiana
and Brazil
for locations of emergency airfields as part of the development of the South Atlantic Transport Route. Flew very long reconnaissance range missions from the Aleutian Islands over the Japanese Kuril Islands
in the North Pacific, the squadron's aircraft being some of the first United States aircraft over Japanese soil after the 1942 Doolittle Raid
.
Reassigned to Far East Air Forces in late 1944; engaged in long-range mapping and reconnaissance over combat areas in support of seaborne landings in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) and the liberation of the Philippines. Remained in the Western Pacific after the Japanese. Unit largely demobilized in the Philippines
, Inactivated in early 1946.
Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve after the war; becoming the first flying unit assigned to Rome Army Airfield, New York in 1946; later being redesignated as a Troop Carrier squadron in 1952, although not re-equipped. Inactivated in 1952 due to budget reductions.
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. It was last assigned to the 65th Troop Carrier Group. It was inactivated at Mitchel Air Force Base
Mitchel Air Force Base
Decommissioned in 1961, Mitchel Field became a multi-use complex currently home to the Cradle of Aviation Museum, Nassau Coliseum, Mitchel Athletic Complex, Nassau Community College and Hofstra University.-Origins:...
, New York on 1 April 1953.
History
Established under the 1st Photographic Group1st Photographic Group
The 1st Photographic Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado. It was inactivated on 5 October 1944.-History:...
in May 1941. Performed aerial mapping primarily over the northwestern United States prior to the Pearl Harbor Attack using P-39 Aircobra sub-variants (F-2) which were equipped for the ground-attack and reconnaissance roles. After the United States entry into World War II, flew aerial mapping missions over Western Canada and the Alaska Territory
Alaska Territory
The Territory of Alaska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 24, 1912, until January 3, 1959, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alaska...
, mapping uncharted territory to support the building of the Alaska Highway
Alaska Highway
The Alaska Highway was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous U.S. to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon...
. Deployed to South America in 1942–1943; mapping locations in British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
for locations of emergency airfields as part of the development of the South Atlantic Transport Route. Flew very long reconnaissance range missions from the Aleutian Islands over the Japanese Kuril Islands
Kuril Islands
The Kuril Islands , in Russia's Sakhalin Oblast region, form a volcanic archipelago that stretches approximately northeast from Hokkaidō, Japan, to Kamchatka, Russia, separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the North Pacific Ocean. There are 56 islands and many more minor rocks. It consists of Greater...
in the North Pacific, the squadron's aircraft being some of the first United States aircraft over Japanese soil after the 1942 Doolittle Raid
Doolittle Raid
The Doolittle Raid, on 18 April 1942, was the first air raid by the United States to strike the Japanese Home Islands during World War II. By demonstrating that Japan itself was vulnerable to American air attack, it provided a vital morale boost and opportunity for U.S. retaliation after the...
.
Reassigned to Far East Air Forces in late 1944; engaged in long-range mapping and reconnaissance over combat areas in support of seaborne landings in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) and the liberation of the Philippines. Remained in the Western Pacific after the Japanese. Unit largely demobilized in the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, Inactivated in early 1946.
Reactivated in the Air Force Reserve after the war; becoming the first flying unit assigned to Rome Army Airfield, New York in 1946; later being redesignated as a Troop Carrier squadron in 1952, although not re-equipped. Inactivated in 1952 due to budget reductions.
Lineage
- Constituted 2d Photographic Squadron on 15 May 1941
- Activated on 10 June 1941
- Redesignated: 2d Mapping Squadron on 13 January 1942
- Redesignated: 2d Photographic Mapping Squadron on 9 June 1942
- Redesignated: 2d Photographic Charting Squadron on 11 August 1943
- Redesignated: 2d Reconnaissance Squadron (Long Range, Photographic) on 15 June 1945
- Redesignated: 2d Reconnaissance Squadron (Very Long Range, Photographic) on 20 November 1945
- Inactivated on 31 March 1946
- Redesignated 2d Reconnaissance Squadron (Photographic) on 11 March 1947
- Activated in the reserve on 6 October 1947
- Inactivated on 27 June 1949
- Redesignated 2d Troop Carrier Squadron (Medium) on 26 May 1952
- Activated in the reserve on 14 June 1952
- Inactivated on 1 April 1953
Assignments
- 1st Photographic (later Mapping; Photographic Charting) Group1st Photographic GroupThe 1st Photographic Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 311th Photographic Wing, stationed at Buckley Field, Colorado. It was inactivated on 5 October 1944.-History:...
, 10 June 1941 - 311th Photographic (later Reconnaissance) Wing311th Air DivisionThe 311th Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command, being stationed at Forbes Air Force Base, Kansas...
, 5 October 1944 – 31 March 1946
- Attached to Far East Air Forces, 20 October 1944 – 4 February 1946
- 65th Reconnaissance Group, 6 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
- 65th Troop Carrier Group, 14 June 1952 – 1 April 1953
Stations
- Gray Army AirfieldGray Army AirfieldGray Army Airfield , also known as Gray AAF, is a military airport located at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington, USA. It is located within Fort Lewis.It should not confused with Robert Gray Army Airfield at Fort Hood in Texas.-Overview:...
, Washington, 10 June 1941 - Geiger Field, Washington, 2 January 1942;
- Felts Field, Washington, 1 February 1942
- Peterson FieldPeterson FieldPeterson Field is a public-use airport located three nautical miles northeast of the central business district of Plains, a city in Sumter County, Georgia, United States. It is privately owned by G. Thomas Peterson.- Facilities and aircraft :...
, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 5 January 1944 - Buckley Field, ColoradoColoradoColorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, 2 July – 2 September 1944 - Hollandia Airfield Complex, New GuineaNew GuineaNew Guinea is the world's second largest island, after Greenland, covering a land area of 786,000 km2. Located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, it lies geographically to the east of the Malay Archipelago, with which it is sometimes included as part of a greater Indo-Australian Archipelago...
, 20 October 1944
- Wama Airfield, MorotaiMorotaiMorotai Island Regency is a regency of North Maluku province, Indonesia, located on Morotai Island. The population was 54,876 in 2007.-History:...
, Netherlands East Indies, 13 December 1944 - Puerto Princesa Airfield, PalawanPalawanPalawan is an island province of the Philippines located in the MIMAROPA region or Region 4. Its capital is Puerto Princesa City, and it is the largest province in the country in terms of total area of jurisdiction. The islands of Palawan stretch from Mindoro in the northeast to Borneo in the...
, Philippines Commonwealth, 5 May 1945 - Clark Field, LuzonLuzonLuzon is the largest island in the Philippines. It is located in the northernmost region of the archipelago, and is also the name for one of the three primary island groups in the country centered on the Island of Luzon...
, Philippines Commonwealth, 22 January – 4 February 1946 - Rome Army Airfield, New York, 6 October 1947 – 27 June 1949
- Mitchel AFB, New York, 14 June 199 – 1 April 1953
Aircraft
- P-39/F-2 Aircobra, 1941–1942
- A-29 Hudson, 1942–1943
- A-20/F-3 Havoc (Night Reconnaissance), 1942
- B-25/F-10 Mitchell, 1943–1944
- B-24/F-7 Liberator, 1944–1946