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The 1st Combat Cargo Group was a transport squadron that operated over Burma and China from 1944 until the end of the Second World War. The group was formed in the United States in April 1944 and moved to India in August.
The group entered combat during the battle of Imphal in September 1944, airlifting reinforcements into battle and carrying out casualty evacuations. At this point it formed part of the Combat Cargo Task Force, alongside the 1st Air Commando Group and No.177 Transport Wing, RAF. After the battle of Imphal was over the group was used to support the Allied advance into Burma, flying in both troops and supplies, helping construct and operate airfields, dropping paratroops on Rangoon at the start of May 1945.
At the same time part of the group was based in China. Here its main role was again carrying supplies, although it was also used to evacuate the US airbase at Kweilin when that was threatened by the Japanese in September 1944 and to transport Chinese troops. The group also flew a number of missions over the 'Hump', flying supplies into China. After the fall of Rangoon two squadrons from Burma section of the group were allocated to the 'Hump', helping to carry a record amount of cargo over that route.
The group returned to the US in September 1945 (as the 512th Troop Carrier Group) but was inactivated on 24 December.
To Follow
1944-June 1945: Douglas C-47 Skytrain
June-December 1945: Curtiss C-46 Commando and Douglas C-47 Skytrain
| 11 April 1944 | Constituted as 1st Combat Cargo Group |
| 15 April 1944 | Activated |
| August 1944 | to CBI theatre |
| September 1945 | Redesignated 512th Troop Carrier Group |
| December 1945 | To United States |
| 24 December 1945 | Inactivated |
Lt Col Robert J Rentz:
21 Apr 1944
Lt Col Walter P Briggs: 28
Apr 1945
Maj Samuel B Ward: 18 Aug
1945
Maj Maurice D Watson: 9 Sep 1945
Maj Wilbur B Sprague: 18 Sep 1945
Col
J H Snyder: 9 Nov 1945
Capt Dixon M
Jordan: 29 Nov-c. 24 Dec 1945.
Bowman Field, Ky: 15 Apr-
5 Aug 1944
Sylhet, India: 21 Aug 1944
Tulihal, India: 30 Nov 1944
Tsuyung,
China: 20 Dec 1944
Dohazari, India: 30
Jan 1945
Hathazari, India: 15 May 1945
Myitkyina, Burma: Jun 1945
Liuchow,
China: 30 Aug 1945
Kiangwan, China: 9 Oct-3 Dec 1945
Camp Anza, Calif: 23-
24 Dec 1945.
1st Combat Cargo Squadron: 1944-45
2nd Combat Cargo Squadron: 1944-45
3rd Combat Cargo Squadron: 1944-45
4th Combat Cargo Squadron: 1944-45
Combat Cargo Task Force