58TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
375TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP
54TH TROOP CARRIER WING

The 58th Troop Carrier Squadron was constituted on 12 November 1942 and activated and assigned to the 375th Troop Carrier Group on 18 November 1942.

The 58th Troop Carrier Squadron operated C-47 Dakota aircraft from 1942 to 1945), B-17 Flying Fortresses in 1944 and C-46's from 1944 to 1946. 

The 58th Troop Carrier Squadron took part in the airborne paratroop assault on Nadzab, in New Guinea, on 5 September 1943. 

Jim Moffett was advised by a former glider with the 375th Troop Carrier Group, 58th Troop Carrier Squadron that he flew several CG-4A Gliders to Dobodura. He recalls that they were to be used in the Nadzab invasion and that the gliders were actually loaded the night before as he had helped to load them up. At the last minute, the use of gliders was cancelled and the invasion was to be a paratrooper only operation and the gliders were not used. The gliders eventually rotted away in the humidity.

Two CG-4A gliders assembled by the 81st Air Depot Group in front of
Hangar No. 4 at Eagle Farm airfield in August 1943
(Photo via Jim Moffett)

Gliders in the SWPA during WWII

The 58th Troop Carrier Squadron was posted to the following locations during WWII:-

REFERENCES

"Combat Squadrons of the Air Force World War II" by Maurer Maurer

"58th Troop Carrier Squadron" by Pacific Wrecks

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 30 April 2026

This page last updated 30 April 2026