442nd TROOP CARRIER GROUP "YEARBOOK"

[riflegreen297]

I recently acquired two yearbooks of the 442nd Troop Carrier Group. One is missing the front and back cover and the other has the front and back cover but the front cover is detached from the book. The book is very nice with great photos of the operations personnel, pilots and ground crew personnel of the Carrier Sqds. It also list what I believe are the officers by their home state in each squadron section. While I have seen quite a bit of WW2 ABN unit yearbooks, I have seen few of the AAC Troop Carriers that got them to their DZs. I was very happy to get these books.

Some history of the 442nd.

 

The 442nd was commanded by COL. Charles M. Smith and was made up of the HQs, the 303d, 304th, 305th, 306th Carrier Squadrons. The 442nd received the PUC for delivering ABN Troops, on 6 JUNE 1944.

 

NORMANDY

On 6JUN1944 the 442nd delivered the 1st/507th PIR in the vicinity of St. Mere Eglise.

 

SOUTHERN FRANCE

Their second operation was the invasion of Southern France where on 15AUG1944 they carried the 509th from Fallonica to the DZ in Le Muy, France. Then again on 15AUG1944 the 442nd performed a glider tow carrying a BN of the 505th to the DZ in Le Muy.

 

HOLLAND

During "MARKET GARDEN" the 442nd conducted two para drops on 17SEP1944 delivering approximately 1400 troops of the 101st near Eindhoven. The units were the 3rd/506th PIR, parts of the 501st and 507th PIRs. On the second day, 18SEP1944 the 442nd staged a glider tow of the 306th Engineers to Eindhoven. On 19SEP1944 during extremely bad weather the 442nd delivered two glider serials from the 101st ABN, the 327 GIR and the 907th FA. Of 81 gliders dispatched only 27 made the landing zones. On the fourth day the 442nd staged a combined para drop and resupply drop near Eindhoven. This section is the largest for photos in the book as it seems this is where the 442nd took a majority of it's losses.

 

BASTOGNE

During the breakthrough the 442nd was alerted to conduct a glider mission, but it was cancelled. They then ferried the 17th ABN from the UK to Liege, Belgium.

 

VARSITY

The fourth and final ABN Operation for the 442nd consisted of two glider tows carrying the 517th Signal Company, HQ DIV ARTY and the 224th Medical Company of the 17th ABN.

 

The 442nd also flew resupply mission to FFI units in the Alps and conducted glider medivacs of wounded soldiers from the Remagen Bridgehead.

 

As you can see this Troop Carrier Group was very busy and took part in all the big operations.

 

[riflegreen297]

More:

[riflegreen297]

MORE:

[riflegreen297]

MORE:

[riflegreen297]

Last one for now:

[patches]

Looks good, what's that last page, the unit roster by native state?

[riflegreen297]

I believe it is the officer/pilot roster broken down by home state. These rosters are at the end of each squadron section.

 

305th GLIDER PILOTS

 

 

[doinworkinvans]

That is a sweet piece! Love the TCG stuff - those guy were/are way under appreciated.

[bmbrzmn101]

Rifle green,

 

I have a friend that flew with the 303rd TCS. Could you PM me? I have some questions.

 

Thanks

 

Chris