2ND COMBAT CARGO GROUP
54TH TROOP CARRIER WING
5TH AIR FORCE, USAAF
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

The 2nd Combat Cargo Group of the 54th Troop Carrier Wing of the 5th Air Force, USAAF comprised:-

The 2nd Combat Cargo Group was constituted on 25 Apr 1944 under the command of Colonel William J. Bell. 

An airdrome squadron was attached to each squadron as follows:-

- 336th Airdrome Squadron
- 337th Airdrome Squadron
- 338th Airdrome Squadron
- 339th Airdrome Squadron

The group was activated on 1 May 1944 and started to train at Syracuse Air Base, NY on C-47 and C-46 aircraft. After a short stay at Baer Field, Ind, (9-27 Oct 1944) they moved to Biak in the Southwest Pacific Area in Oct-Nov 1944. They flew passengers and equipment to Australia, New Guinea, the Admiralties and the Philippines. They also took part in secret operations dropping supplies to US and guerrilla forces in the Philippines.

The 2nd Combat Cargo Group moved to Leyte in May 1945. They moved to Okinawa in August 1945, and then to Japan in September 1945. Major Arthur D Thomas took over as the Commanding Officer of 2nd Combat Cargo Group on 10 December 1945. 

The unit was inactivated on 15 January 1946 and finally disbanded on 8 October 1948.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D Commando
at Darwin, NT on 6 March 1945

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 24 July 2004

This page last updated 24 January 2020