Description
Computer made/mounted on velcro 3.0 inch-77mm
434th OPERATIONS GROUP (AFRC)
Lineage. Established as the 434 Troop Carrier Group on 30 Jan 1943. Activated on 9 Feb 1943. Inactivated on 31 Jul 1946. Activated in the Reserve on 15 Mar 1947. Redesignated 434 Troop Carrier Group, Medium on 1 Jul 1949. Ordered to Active Service on 1 May 1951. Relieved from Active Duty, and inactivated, on 1 Feb 1953. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Feb 1953. Inactivated on 14 Apr 1959. Redesignated: 434 Tactical Fighter Group on 31 Jul 1985; 434 Operations Group on 1 Aug 1992. Activated in the Reserve on 1 Aug 1992.
Assignments. I Troop Carrier Command, 9 Feb 1943; 50 Troop Carrier Wing, Feb 1943; 53 Troop Carrier Wing, 15 Apr 1943; IX Troop Carrier Command, 16 Oct 1943; 50 Troop Carrier Wing, 18 Oct 1943; 53 Troop Carrier Wing, 3 Mar 1944; I Troop Carrier Command, Jul 1945; 52 Troop Carrier Wing, 4 Oct 1945; 50 Troop Carrier Wing, 5 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Eleventh Air Force, 15 Mar 1947; 323 Troop Carrier Wing (later, 323 Air Division), 17 Oct 1947; 434 Troop Carrier Wing, 1 Jul 1949-1 Feb 1953. 434 Troop Carrier Wing, 1 Feb 1953-14 Apr 1959. 434 Wing (later, 434 Air Refueling Wing), 1 Aug 1992-.
Components. Squadrons. 71: 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946; 15 Mar 1947-1 Feb 1953; 1 Feb 1953-14 Apr 1959. 72 Troop Carrier (later, 72 Airlift): 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946; 1 Aug 1947-1 Feb 1953; 1 Feb 1953-14 Apr 1959; 1 Aug 1992-. 73: 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946; 1 Aug 1947-1 Jul 1948; 1 Jul 1949-1 Feb 1953; 1 Feb 1953-24 Mar 1954; 8 Jun 1957-14 Apr 1959. 74: Troop Carrier (later, 74 Airlift): 9 Feb 1943-31 Jul 1946; 15 Mar 1947-2 May 1951; 1 Aug 1992-. 80: 1 Jul 1948-27 Jun 1949. 81: 1 Jul 1948-27 Jun 1949.
Stations. Alliance AAFld, NE, 9 Feb 1943; Baer Field, IN, 3 Sep-Oct 1943; Fulbeck, England, 7 Oct 1943 (air echelon), c. 13 Nov 1943 (ground echelon); Welford Park, England, Nov 1943 (air echelon), 10 Dec 1943 (ground echelon); Fulbeck, England, 10 Jan 1944; Aldermaston, England, 3 Mar 1944; Mourmelon-le-Grand, France, Mar-24 Jul 1945; Baer Field, IN, 5 Aug 1945; Alliance AAFld, NE, 15 Sep 1945; George Field, IL, 11 Oct 1945; Greenville AAB, SC, 2 Feb-31 Jul 1946. Stout Field, IN, 15 Mar 1947; Atterbury AFB, IN, 1 Jul 1949; Lawson AFB, GA, 23 Jan 1952-1 Feb 1953. Atterbury (later, Bakalar) AFB, IN, 1 Feb 1953-14 Apr 1959. Grissom AFB (later ARB), IN, 1 Aug 1992-.
Aircraft. C-47, 1943-1946; Horsa gliders, 1944-1945; CG-4 gliders, 1944-1945; C-46, 1945-1946. Unkn, 1947-1948; T-7, 1949-1952; T-11, 1949-1952; C-47, 1949; C-46, 1949-1953. T-6, 1953; T-11, 1953; C-45, 1953-1957; C-46, 1953-1957; C-119, 1957-1959. KC-135, 1992-.
Operations. Trained in the U.S., moving to England, late Sep-Oct 1943, for operations with Ninth Air Force. Trained with 101st Airborne Division in preparation for the invasion of northern France. Towed gliders carrying troops to Normandy on 6 Jun 1944 and flew follow-up missions later on D-Day and on 7 Jun to provide reinforcements of troops, vehicles, and ammunition. Received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for action during the invasion. Dropped paratroops in the assault area and towed gliders with reinforcements during the airborne operation in Holland, 17-25 Sep 1944. Transported reinforcing ground troops in the St Lo area during the breakthrough in Jul 1944; provided supplies for Third Army during its drive across France in Aug; and resupplied troops at Bastogne in Dec in the effort to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes. Participated in the airborne assault across the Rhine, dropping paratroops over the east bank on 24 Mar 1945. Also engaged in numerous transport missions, hauling mail, food, clothing, and other supplies from England to bases in France and Germany, and evacuating Allied wounded. After V-E Day, transported gasoline to Allied forces in Germany and evacuated former Allied prisoners of war to relocation centers in France and Holland. Trained with airborne troops after moving to South Carolina in Feb 1946. Activated in the Reserve in Mar 1947, but possibly not manned from Mar 1947 until Jul 1949, after creation of the 434th Troop Carrier Wing. Called to active duty during the Korean War. Airlifted and exercised with Army paratroops, May 1951-Jan 1953. Also provided C-46 combat crew training in support of Far East requirements, Sep 1952-Jan 1953. Remanned in the Reserve in Feb 1953. Trained, using C-46s as primary training aircraft to Jan 1957 and C-119s until 1959. Performed air refueling missions worldwide since Aug 1992. Deployed personnel and aircraft periodically since late 1993 to Italy and other western European locations in support of NATO operations in the Balkans.
Service Streamers. World War II American Theater.
Campaign Streamers. World War II: Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.
Armed Forces Expeditionary Streamers. None.
Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: France, [6-7] Jun 1944. Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 Aug 1992-31 Aug 1993; 1 Sep 1994-31 Aug 1996. French Croix de Guerre with Palm: 6-7 Jun 1944; 20-28 Aug 1944. French Fourragere.
Emblem. Group will use the wing emblem with the group designation in the scroll.