6TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON
374TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The Squadron was activated as the 6th Transport Squadron on 14 Oct 1939. They were assigned to the 315th Transport Group in March 1942. Then 63rd Transport (later Troop Carrier) Group in June 1942. They were redesignated as the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron on 4 July 1942.

Between 16 - 23 September 1942, the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, transferred to Dodd Field, San Antonio, Texas, then to McClellan Field, Sacramento, California, for replacement aircraft, and transition training for overseas duty then to Hamilton Field, California for final overseas assignment.

The ground echelon under the command of Captain Frank W. Smith departed Dodd Field on 7 October 1942 and arrived at Camp Stoneman, California on 11 October 1942.

The 6th Troop Carrier Squadron left Hamilton Field as the first mass flight of C-47s across the Pacific Ocean. Their 13 C-47A aircraft started taking off at three minute intervals from midnight on 1 October 1942. Their running lights were off except for the low light level blue formation lights which could only be seen for a short distance away.

The aircraft were fitted with the 800-gallon wing tanks, plus two 400-gallon fuselage tanks mounted just behind the cockpit.

Squadron commander, Captain John Lackey, instructed them to find a suitable power settings to achieve a speed of 130 MPH for best fuel usage.

The fastest flight time to Hickham Field was 13 hours and 45 minutes.

The auxiliary fuel tanks were removed at Hickam Field. They left Hickham and flew via Canton Island, Christmas Island, Samoa, Fiji, New Caledonia, Brisbane, Townsville, and finally Jackson Strip in New Guinea.

On 13 October 1942, their first night in New Guinea, they listened to Tokyo Rose and received her "Welcome to the arrival 6th Troop Carrier Squadron at Jackson Strip." They were the first Troop Carrier Squadron to cross the Pacific by air.

Tokyo Rose promised, and delivered, an air raid on Jackson Strip later that night. Three men were killed, luckily, none from the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron.

When they arrived at Jackson Strip they were briefed as follows:-

"While you're in New Guinea wear your dog-tags and a C-ration can opener around your neck, carry your steel helmet with mosquito head net attached, loaded 45 with a live bullet in the chamber and with at least three full clips of ammo. Bolo knife. full water canton. mirror and compass. Atabrine and salt pills with you at all times, no exceptions. The extra shell in the chamber is for use in the event of capture either by the Japs or headhunters, for neither take prisoners. One tortures. interrogates then kills; the cannibals will also eat you.”

The 6th Troop Carrier Squadron arrived at Jackson Strip on 13 October 1942, the 33rd Troop Carrier Squadron arrived on 10 December 1942. The 22nd Troop Carrier Squadron on 14 February 1943 and the 21st Troop Carrier Squadron arrived on 18 February 1943. The 5th Air Force was activated on 4 September 1942, the 374th Troop Carrier Group was formed on 12 November 1942, and the 54th Troop Carrier Wing was activated on 20 May 1943. The 6th Troop Carrier Squadron was assigned to the 374th Troop Carrier Group on 12 November 1942.

The ground echelon left San Francisco, California on 26 October 1942 with a strength of 11 officers and 155 enlisted men. They stayed in Hawaii for 6 days and arrived in Townsville in north Queensland on 24 November 1942. They remained at Camp Cluden at Cluden Racecourse on the outskirts of Townsville until 1 December 1942. They were then flown in 6th Troop Carrier Squadron aircraft to Ward’s Drome, Port Moresby pursuant to Movement Order No. 41, Headquarters, Air Service Command, Fifth Air Force, dated 6 November 1942. This relocation was completed by 13 December 1942.

For the year that they were in New Guinea they had no maps of New Guinea. Whilst in New Guinea the squadron earned the nickname the “Bully Beef Express” as it carried tons of boiled beef to allied combat troops in Australia and New Guinea.

Photo:- US Archives

C-47 aircraft of the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron
 from Ward's Drome on Wau Airfield in April 1943

The 6th Troop Carrier Squadron relocated to Garbutt Airfield in Townsville on 2 October 1943.

On 19 October 1943 C-47-DL, #41-19466 (C/n 6109), of the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, crashed about 8 miles west of Boomarra Station which is located about 70 miles north of Cloncurry due to bad weather. Crew members killed were:-

Captain John C. Fredrickson,
1st Lt. Fred R. Mentzer, co-pilot
M/Sgt. Michael Kullich, aerial engineer
Sgt. Robert L. Kerr, crew member
Cpl. Marvin D. Middleton, crew member

The five deceased were buried locally on Boomarra Station on 19 October 1943 but they were exhumed on 21 October 1943 and taken to Townsville for burial in the US Cemetery at Belgian Gardens.

The Headquarters Base Section Two, APO 922, Military Telephone Directory for Townsville in May 1944, had the following entries for the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron:-

6th TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON

(374th TROOP CARRIER GROUP)

William E. "Tommy" Thompson, contacted me many years ago and told me that he arrived in Townsville in Oct/Nov 1943 after flying C-47 # 42100476 via Ohio, California, Hawaii, Christmas Island, Fiji Island to Brisbane. His co-pilot was Dale D. Madison, crew chief was Norman L. Trowbridge, and radio operator was Claud E. Fears. His aircraft remained in Brisbane and his crew was flown up to Townsville where they landed at Garbutt Airfield. He was assigned to the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron, 374th Troop Carrier Group. William flew out of Townsville to New Guinea until they were transferred to Nadzab, New Guinea in August 1944. William remembered seeing John Wayne when he stayed at a hotel in Townsville.

The 6th Troop Carrier Squadron relocated to Nadzab, New Guinea on about 26 August 1944 and then relocated to Biak on about 20 October 1944. Their final move during WWII was to Tacloban, Leyte on 12 March 1945.

Aircraft

1940 – 1942     C-33, C-39, C-53
1942 – 1945     C-47
1945 – 1947     C46

Commanding Officers

Maj. John H. Lackey Jr., 17 Feb 1942;
Capt. Frank W. Smith (acted as commanding officer of ground echelon while air and ground echelons were separated), 23 Sep - 1 Dec 1942;
Capt. William D. Wells, 22 May 1943;
Cap.t William A. Peterson, 3 Dec 1943;
Maj. Harry E. Rehrer, c. Feb 1944;
Maj Isaac W. Smith, 15 Sep 1944;
Capt. Donald K. Hartley, 15 May 1945;
Col. John L. Sullivan, unkn;
Lt. Co.l James L. Cole, 19 Jun 1946;

RAAF Pilots who flew with the 6th Troop Carrier Squadron

REFERENCES

“My New Guinea Diary” by Staff Sergeant Pilot Ernest C. Ford

“RAAF aircrew attached to the USAAF in the Pacific Theatre: A study of integrated uni-level air operations in the war against Japan” by Joseph Mack (UNSW Canberra)

Pacific Wrecks - 6th Troop Carrier Squadron

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 12 April 2026

This page last updated 12 April 2026