59th Troop Carrier Squadron

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59th Troop Carrier Squadron

Active| 1942-1945
Country| United States
Branch| United States Air Force

Military unit

The 59th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 61st Troop Carrier Group, based at Waller Field, Trinidad. It was inactivated on 31 Jul 1945.

## History

[edit]

Activated in June 1942 as a I Troop Carrier Command C-47 Skytrain troop carrier squadron, trained in the United States. Assigned to Twelfth Air Force and deployed North Africa during May 1943. The squadron's aircraft flew supplies to front-line units in Algeria and Tunisia during the North African Campaign as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties back to rear area field hospitals.

Squadron engaged in combat operations, dropping airborne units into Sicily during the Operation Husky invasion and later into areas around Anzio, Italy as part of Operation Shingle, the invasion of mainland Italy and the initiation of the Italian Campaign, January 1944. Moved north through Italy, in 1943 in support of Allied ground forces, evacuated wounded personnel and flew missions behind enemy lines in Italy and the Balkans to haul guns, ammunition, food, clothing, medical supplies, and other materials to the partisans and to drop propaganda leaflets.

Was moved to England in February 1944, assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force. Prepared for the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. In June 1944, subordinate units dropped paratroops in Normandy, subsequently flying numerous missions to bring in reinforcements and needed supplies. During the airborne attack on the Netherlands (Operation Market Garden, September 1944), the squadron dropped paratroops, towed gliders, and flew resupply missions. Several of its subordinate units also participated in the invasion of southern France in August 1944. The 50th supported the 101st Airborne Division in the Battle of the Bulge by towing gliders full of supplies near Bastogne on 27 December 1944.

When the Allies made the air assault across the Rhine River in March 1945, each aircraft towed two gliders with troops of the 17th Airborne Division and released them near Wesel. The squadron also hauled food, clothing, medicine, gasoline, ordnance equipment, and other supplies to the front lines and evacuated patients to rear zone hospitals.

In late May 1945, after V-E Day, the squadron was moved to Waller Field, Trinidad and attached to Air Transport Command. From Trinidad, the squadron ferried returning military personnel to Morrison Field, Florida, where they were sent on to other bases or prepared for separation after the war. The squadron was inactivated in place as an administrative unit on 31 Jul 1945.

### Operations and decorations

[edit]

* Combat Operations. Included airborne assaults on Sicily, Normandy, the Netherlands, and Germany; aerial transportation in MTO and ETO.
* Campaigns. Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Central Europe.
* Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citations: Sicily, 11 Jul 1943; France, [6-7] Jun 1944

### Lineage

[edit]

* Constituted 59th Troop Carrier Squadron on 13 Oct 1942

Activated on 23 Oct 1942
Inactivated on 31 Jul 1945

### Assignments

[edit]

* 61st Troop Carrier Group, 23 Oct 1942 – 31 Jul 1945

### Stations

[edit]

* Sedalia Army Air Field, Missouri, 23 Oct 1942
* Lubbock Army Airfield, Texas, 15 Nov 1942
* Pope Field, North Carolina, 26 Feb-30 Apr 1943
* Lourmel Airfield, Algeria, 15 May 1943
* Kairouan Airfield, Tunisia, 21 Jun 1943

* Licata Airfield, Sicily, 3 Sep 1943
* Sciacca Airfield, Sicily, 6 Oct 1943 – 12 Feb 1944
* RAF Barkston Heath (AAF-483), England, 18 Feb 1944
* Abbeville/Drucat Airfield (B-92), France, 13 Mar-19 May 1945
* Waller Field, Trinidad, 29 May-31 Jul 1945

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### Aircraft

[edit]

* C-47 Skytrain, 1942-1945.

## References

[edit]

This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

* Maurer, Maurer, ed. (1982) [1969]. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II (PDF) (reprint ed.). Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History. ISBN 0-405-12194-6. LCCN 70605402. OCLC 72556.

## External links

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

USAAF Ninth Air Force in World War II

Stations|

| Palestine (Mand)|

* Lydda
* Muqueibile
* Ramat David
* St Jean

|

Egypt|

* Abu Sueir
* Ismailia
* El Amiriya
* Daba
* Deversoir
* Fayid
* Kabrit
* * Landing Ground 174
* Payne
* Sidi Haneish

Libya|

* Baheira
* Belandah
* Benina
* Castel Benito
* Berca
* Darragh
* El Adem
* El Assa
* Gambut
* Hamraiet
* Lete
* Martuba
* Tmed El Chel
* Tobruk
* Tripoli
* Sidi Azeiz

Tunisia|

* Ben Gardane
* Bou Grara
* Chekira
* Hani
* Hazbub
* Hergla
* El Djem
* El Haouaria
* Kairouan
* Medenine
* Menzel Heurr
* Sfax
* Soltane

United Kingdom|

* Aldermaston
* Andover
* Andrews Field
* Ashford
* Balderton
* Barkston Heath
* Beaulieu
* Birch
* Bisterne
* Boreham
* Bottesford
* Boxted
* Charmy Down
* Chalgrove
* Chilbolton
* Chipping Ongar
* Christchurch
* Cottesmore
* Earls Colne
* Exeter
* Folkingham
* Fulbeck
* Gosfield
* Great Dunmow
* Greenham Common
* Grove
* High Halden
* Headcorn
* Holmsley South
* Hurn
* Ibsley
* Kingsnorth
* Langar
* Lashenden
* Little Walden
* Lymington
* Matching
* Membury
* Merryfield
* Middle Wallop
* North Witham
* Ramsbury
* Raydon
* Rivenhall
* Saltby
* Scorton
* Staplehurst
* Spanhoe
* Stansted
* Stoney Cross
* Thruxton
* Upottery
* Warmwell
* Welford
* Weston Zoyland
* Wethersfield
* Winkton
* Woodchurch
* Wormingford

Europe|

* Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany too numerous.

Units|

| Commands|

* 9th Air Division (was IX Bomber Command)
* IX Air Defense
* IX Fighter
* IX Tactical Air
* IX Troop Carrier
* XIX Tactical Air
* XXIX Tactical Air

|

Wings|

| Bombardment|

* 97th Bombardment
* 98th Bombardment
* 99th Bombardment

|

Fighter|

* 8th Fighter
* 9th Fighter
* 70th Fighter
* 71st Fighter
* 84th Fighter
* 100th Fighter
* 303d Fighter

Troop carrier|

* 50th Troop Carrier
* 52d Troop Carrier
* 53d Troop Carrier

Groups|

| Bombardment|

* 12th Bombardment
* 98th Bombardment
* 322d Bombardment
* 323d Bombardment Group
* 340th Bombardment Group
* 344th Bombardment Group
* 376th Bombardment
* 386th Bombardment
* 387th Bombardment
* 391st Bombardment
* 394th Bombardment
* 397th Bombardment
* 409th Bombardment
* 410th Bombardment
* 416th Bombardment

|

Fighter|

* 36th Fighter
* 48th Fighter
* 50th Fighter
* 57th Fighter
* 79th Fighter
* 324th Fighter
* 354th Fighter
* 358th Fighter
* 365th Fighter
* 362d Fighter
* 363d Fighter
* 366th Fighter
* 367th Fighter
* 368th Fighter
* 370th Fighter
* 371st Fighter
* 373d Fighter
* 404th Fighter
* 405th Fighter
* 406th Fighter
* 474th Fighter

Troop carrier|

* 61st Troop Carrier
* 64th Troop Carrier
* 313th Troop Carrier
* 314th Troop Carrier
* 315th Troop Carrier
* 316th Troop Carrier
* 349th Troop Carrier
* 434th Troop Carrier
* 435th Troop Carrier
* 436th Troop Carrier
* 437th Troop Carrier
* 438th Troop Carrier
* 439th Troop Carrier
* 440th Troop Carrier
* 441st Troop Carrier
* 442d Troop Carrier
* IX Troop Carrier Pathfinder (Provisional)

Reconnaissance|

* 10th Reconnaissance
* 67th Reconnaissance
* 69th Reconnaissance

Squadrons|

| Liaison|

* 14th Liaison
* 47th Liaison

|

Night fighter|

* 422d Night Fighter
* 425th Night Fighter

* United States Army Air Forces

* First
* Second
* Third
* Fourth
* Fifth
* Sixth
* Seventh
* Eighth
* Ninth
* Tenth
* Eleventh
* Twelfth
* Thirteenth
* Fourteenth
* Fifteenth
* Twentieth

* v
* t
* e

USAAF Twelfth Air Force in World War II

Stations

| Morocco|

* Berguent
* Casablanca
* Guercif
* Louis Gentil
* Marnia
* Médiouna
* Nouasser
* Port Lyautey
* Oujda
* Rabat Sale
* Ras el Ma

|

Algeria|

* Ain M'lila
* Berteaux
* Biskra
* Canrobert
* Chateau-dun-du-Rhumel
* Constantine
* Es Sénia (Oran)
* Maison Blanche (Algiers)
* Matemore
* Montesquieu
* Nouvion
* Orleansville
* Philippeville
* Relizane
* Rerhaia
* Saint-Donat
* Saint-Leu
* Sedrata
* Sainte-Barbe du Tlélat
* Tafaraoui (Oran)
* Tébessa
* Telergma
* Thiersville
* Youks-les-Bains

Tunisia|

* Bizerte
* Dar el Koudia
* Depienne
* Djedeida
* Djilma
* Ebba Ksour
* El Djem
* El Bathan
* Enfidaville
* Goubrine
* Grombalia
* Hergla
* Kairouan
* Korba
* La Marsa
* La Sebala
* Le Sers
* Massicault
* Mateur
* Menzel Temime
* Monastir
* Oudna
* Pont du Fahs
* Protville
* Sainte Marie du Zit
* Souk-el-Arba
* Souk-el-Khemis
* Soliman
* Sousse
* Thelepte

Italy|

* Agrigento (Sicily)
* Bagnoli
* Barcelona LG (Sicily)
* Bari
* Boccadifalco (Sicily)
* Borizzo (Sicily)
* Capodichino (Naples)
* Castel Volturno
* Castelvetrano (Sicily)
* Cassibile (Sicily)
* Cattolica
* Catania (Sicily)
* Cercola
* Comiso (Sicily)
* Ciampino (Rome)
* Cesenatico
* Decimomannu (Sardinia)
* Elmas (Sardinia)
* Falconara
* Fano
* Florence
* Foggia
* Follonica
* Gaudo
* Gerbini (Sicily)
* Gioia
* Grosseto
* Grottaglie
* Iesi
* Le Banca
* Lecce
* Licata (Sicily)
* Manduria
* Marcianise
* Malignano
* Mazzara (Sicily)
* Milazzo (Sicily)
* Messina (Sicily)
* Montalto Di Castro
* Nettuno
* Montecorvino
* Ombrene
* Orbetello
* Paestum
* Pisa
* Pantelleria
* Pignataro Maggiore
* Piombino
* Pomigliano
* Ponte Galeria
* Pontedera
* Pompeii
* Ponte Olivo (Sicily)
* Reggio Calabria
* Rocca Bernardo
* Rosia
* San Pancrazio
* Santa Maria
* Scordia (Sicily)
* Sele
* Serretella
* Tarquinia
* Termini (Sicily)
* Tortorella
* Torrente Comunelli
* Tre Cancello
* Voltone
* Vesuvius

France|

* Aghione (Corsica)
* Amberieu (Y-5)
* Amiens (B-48)
* Clastres (A-71)
* Dijon (Y-9)
* Dôle-Tavaux (Y-7)
* Ghisonaccia (Corsica)
* Gisonochia (Corsica)
* Istres (Y-17)
* La Vallon (Y-18)
* Le Luc
* Luneville (Y-2)
* Loyettes (Y-25)
* Poretta (Corsica)
* Saint-Dizier (A-64)
* Salon de Provence (Y-16)
* Serragia (Corsica)
* Solonzara (Corsica)
* Tantonville (Y-1)
* Toul-Ochey (A-96)

Units

| Commands|

* XII Bomber
* XII Tactical Air
* XXII Tactical Air
* XII Troop Carrier (Provisional)

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Wings|

* 5th Bombardment
* 42d Bombardment
* 47th Bombardment (7th Fighter)
* 51st Troop Carrier
* 52d Troop Carrier
* 57th Bombardment
* 62d Fighter
* 63d Fighter
* 64th Fighter
* 87th Fighter
* 90th Photographic

Groups|

| Bombardment|

* 2d Bombardment
* 12th Bombardment
* 17th Bombardment
* 47th Bombardment
* 97th Bombardment
* 98th Bombardment
* 99th Bombardment
* 301st Bombardment
* 310th Bombardment
* 319th Bombardment
* 320th Bombardment
* 321st Bombardment
* 340th Bombardment
* 376th Bombardment

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Fighter|

* 1st Fighter
* 14th Fighter
* 27th Fighter
* 31st Fighter
* 33d Fighter
* 52d Fighter
* 57th Fighter
* 79th Fighter
* 81st Fighter
* 82d Fighter
* 86th Fighter
* 324th Fighter
* 325th Fighter
* 332d Fighter
* 350th Fighter

Reconnaissance|

* 3d Reconnaissance
* 5th Reconnaissance
* 68th Reconnaissance

Troop carrier

* 60th Troop Carrier
* 61st Troop Carrier
* 62d Troop Carrier
* 64th Troop Carrier
* 313th Troop Carrier
* 314th Troop Carrier
* 316th Troop Carrier

Squadrons|

* 15th Bombardment
* 414th Night Fighter
* 415th Night Fighter
* 416th Night Fighter
* 417th Night Fighter
* 427th Night Fighter

* United States Army Air Forces

* First
* Second
* Third
* Fourth
* Fifth
* Sixth
* Seventh
* Eighth
* Ninth
* Tenth
* Eleventh
* Twelfth
* Thirteenth
* Fourteenth
* Fifteenth
* Twentieth

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