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The 435th Troop Carrier Group (USAAF) took part in the D-Day landings, the invasion of the south of France, Operation Market Garden and the crossing of the Rhine.
The group was activated in the US on 25 February 1943. The 435th Troop Carrier Group was amongst the second group of units attached to the newly formed Ninth Air Force late in 1943, becoming the third transport group to join the Ninth.
On D-Day the group dropped troops from the 101st Airborne Division near Cherbourg. Later in the day and on 7 July it towed gliders to the same area to bring reinforcements to the paratroops. The group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for its role in Normandy.
After the invasion the group operated as a transport unit, flying supplies into the beachhead and then to the advancing troops. It also flew the wounded back from the front.
The group also took part in three further airborne operations. First came Operation Dragoon, the invasion of the south of France. A detachment from the group was sent to Italy before the invasion, and dropped paratroops over the south of France on 15 August. Later on the same day the group towed gliders to France. It flew a further resupply mission to France on 16 August and then spent the rest of the month operating in Italy.
In September 1944 the group operated with the 82nd and 101st Airborne, dropping paratroops during Operation Market Garden. Later in the battle it towed gliders to the battlefield with reinforcements.
In February 1945 the group moved to France. During the crossing of the Rhine on 24 March each aircraft in the group towed two gliders to the eastern side of the river. During the advance into Germany the group flew supplies to the advancing troops.
After the end of the war the group was used to fly supplies to the occupation forces and evacuate liberated POWs. The group returned to the US in August and was inactivated on 15 November 1945.
Pending
1943-45: Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Douglas C-53 Skytrooper
| 30 Jan 1943 | Constituted as 435th Troop Carrier Group |
| 25 Feb 1943 | Activated |
| Oct-Nov 1943 | To England and Ninth Air Force |
| Aug 1945 | To United States |
| 15 Nov 1945 | Inactivated |
Col Frank J MacNees: 25 Feb 1943-15 Nov 1945
Bowman Field, Ky: 25 Feb
1943
Sedalia AAFld, Mo: 4 May 1943
Pope Field, NC: 2 Jul 1943
Baer Field,
Ind: 6-13 Oct 1943
Langer, England: 3
Nov 1943
Welford Park, England: 25 Jan
1944
Bretigny, Prance: c. 13 Feb-25 Jun
1945
Baer Field, Ind: 5 Aug 1945
Kellogg
Field, Mich: 13 Sep-15 Nov 1945
75th: 1943-1945
76th: 1943-1945
77th: 1943-1945
78th: 1943-1945
1943: 53rd Troop Carrier Wing; US based
1944-45: 53rd Troop Carrier Wing; IX Troop Carrier Command; Ninth Air Force