WWII Air Transport Command Wings

[Gregory]

Because I am holding a brief here for all forgotten and underestimated WWII era airmen (glider, transport, liaison etc.) I can not act out of character

 

Many times the forumers ask about various airmen badges and to whom they belonged. This time the Air Transport Command badges can be seen. These are the insignia of Air Carrier Contract Personnel. It is an original ATC chart of 1942 or 1943.

 

[pconrad02]

If you are interested here are some real examples of the insignia:

 

http://www.conradwings.com/images/wwii/358.jpg

 

http://www.conradwings.com/images/wwii/atc2.jpg

 

http://www.conradwings.com/images/wwii/atc1.jpg

 

http://www.conradwings.com/images/wwii/73_1.jpg

 

All are period pieces.

[Gregory]

Paul -- thank you very much. Excellent "appendix" to my post and beautiful wings. It ought to be informative and useful for the USMF.

 

Thanks, best regards

 

Greg

[craig_pickrall]

That is an interesting chart. Is it from a sales catalog from the WW2 period?

[Gregory]

That is an interesting chart. Is it from a sales catalog from the WW2 period?

What can be interesting the BuAer published it in 1943 in one of its bulletins and with information that the chart has been prepared by the American Airlines, Inc.

 

Regards

 

Greg

[Gregory]

Let's add two ATC planes because they are not-so-oftenly-seen with their fuselage-painted ATC emblems. If I may advise -- look also at this link for official and unofficial emblem of the Air Transport Command.

 

Below -- C-46 and C-47.

[dustin]

American Airlines was quite invloved with the AAF,They helped in many aspects of transporting goods and providing personnel for the cause.B-4 life vests contracted under TC contract numbers 535-TC-289/288 ,off the top of my head, were contracted for american airlines and other respective airlines involved under the ATC/AAF.

American airlines alsoo providing a role into research and development of air sea rescue equipment for the AAF.American airlines institute printed many publications on this subject for use by the AAF.

[Gregory]

Air Transport Command in action continued.

[Gary Cain]

Great chart and follow up info!

 

Gary

[Gregory]

Great chart and follow up info!

 

My tribute to Ernest K. Gann, the ATC pilot, highly-talented writer and author of my favourite book "Fate Is the Hunter". One of the best aviation book in the history of aviation literature.

 

Best regards

 

Greg

[General Apathy]

Let's add two ATC planes because they are not-so-often-seen with their fuselage-painted ATC emblems. If I may advise -- look also at this link for official and unofficial emblem of the Air Transport Command.

 

Below -- C-46 and C-47.

 

 

Hi Gregory, thanks for posting the photo of the GMC 6 x 6 backed up to the ATC aircraft, ten years ago I had the exact same model truck and loved driving it. This model of truck has a really tuneful exhaust note, try listening to one as they toot along a highway, or at a military vehicle show, a really distinctive note.

 

Thanks again ( Lewis )

[Gregory]

Hello Ken,

 

Even Joseph Stalin admired GMC 6x6 and he told after WWII that the US won the war thanks to them.

 

One more picture from the ATC wartime life.

 

Regards

 

Greg

[Wailuna]

ATC C-54 out for a drive at La Guardia Field New York (1946/47?)

 

[Gregory]

Thank you very much!

The ATC-operated C-54 is not so oftenly seen.

[Wailuna]

....Because I am holding a brief here for all forgotten and underestimated WWII era airmen (glider, transport, liaison etc.)...This time the Air Transport Command badges can be seen....

Would you mind, Greg, expanding your topic a bit beyond WWII to the Berlin Air Lift? Here are a couple of good scenes from National Geographic illustrating this legendary ATC mission in 1948/49.

 

First shows ATC C-54s on the ramp at the British-controlled Gatow airport in Berlin. The tail of the aircraft in the center is marked "Pacific Division" and the one just beyond it to the right is marked "Troop Carrier" on the fuselage above the windows. Sorry, but no markings on the others are legible. That's a nice collection of vintage Volkswagens in the foreground, however.

The next shows German laborers loading sacks of coal into an ATC C-54 at RAF Fassberg in the British Zone. The ATC insignia on the plane still carries the words "Army Air Forces" although the picture was made in 1948. The sign on the front of the lorry says: "THIS LOAD IS FOR OUR 100TH SKYMASTER" and a few other illegible words underneath that.

 

If you want to see some fascinating footage of the ATC in action watch "The Big Lift" (open the link to stream the entire film):

 

"The Big Lift" was released in 1950 and it tells the story of two U.S. Air Force sergeants who serve together during the Berlin Air Lift (played by Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas, well known Hollywood stars of those times). The film was shot on location in Berlin and obviously was made with the full cooperation and support of the USAF, even to the extent of casting, according to this credit shown at the beginning of the film: "With the exception of Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas, all military personnel appearing in this film are actual members of the U.S. Armed Forces on duty in Germany." The final scene of the movie shows 20 or so of the Air Force "actors" with their actual ranks and names. They were not great actors (or even good ones) but the realism of this film puts most modern military cinema to shame -- "Pearl Harbor" anyone?

[Plant#4]

Would you mind, Greg, expanding your topic a bit beyond WWII to the Berlin Air Lift? Here are a couple of good scenes from National Geographic illustrating this legendary ATC mission in 1948/49.

 

First shows ATC C-54s on the ramp at the British-controlled Gatow airport in Berlin. The tail of the aircraft in the center is marked "Pacific Division" and the one just beyond it to the right is marked "Troop Carrier" on the fuselage above the windows. Sorry, but no markings on the others are legible. That's a nice collection of vintage Volkswagens in the foreground, however.

The next shows German laborers loading sacks of coal into an ATC C-54 at RAF Fassberg in the British Zone. The ATC insignia on the plane still carries the words "Army Air Forces" although the picture was made in 1948. The sign on the front of the lorry says: "THIS LOAD IS FOR OUR 100TH SKYMASTER" and a few other illegible words underneath that.

 

If you want to see some fascinating footage of the ATC in action watch "The Big Lift" (open the link to stream the entire film):

 

"The Big Lift" was released in 1950 and it tells the story of two U.S. Air Force sergeants who serve together during the Berlin Air Lift (played by Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas, well known Hollywood stars of those times). The film was shot on location in Berlin and obviously was made with the full cooperation and support of the USAF, even to the extent of casting, according to this credit shown at the beginning of the film: "With the exception of Montgomery Clift and Paul Douglas, all military personnel appearing in this film are actual members of the U.S. Armed Forces on duty in Germany." The final scene of the movie shows 20 or so of the Air Force "actors" with their actual ranks and names. They were not great actors (or even good ones) but the realism of this film puts most modern military cinema to shame -- "Pearl Harbor" anyone?

Notice that the new owners of that lorrie havent quite removed all the markings from the front fender. Although they did make a cover for the anti-aircraft station. That movie is awsome, showing a lot of uniforms and equipment that was being used at the time. A friend found a copy of that movie (DVD) in a pawn shop for me.

[Wailuna]

....the new owners of that lorrie havent quite removed all the markings from the front fender. Although they did make a cover for the anti-aircraft station. That movie is awsome, showing a lot of uniforms and equipment that was being used at the time....

Yes, I noticed that this truck was a veteran of the War, as I suspect the stevedores were too. WH vehicle markings are way off my turf but I assume this survivor was recalled to duty for the airlift and obviously put to good use. "The Big Lift" is an exceptionally good film and I recommend it to anyone interested in occupation era history....I sent a copy to my dad who is a veteran of Operation Vittles.

[Gregory]

Hello,

 

Adding to this topic famous Berlin Airlift thread was very good idea. Unfortunately "The Big Lift" movie is unknown in Poland. The closest shops offering this movie are in Germany. And no wonder -- the Germans know and remember what the USAAF and ATC did for them.

 

Because we are in the topic dediated mainly to uniform aspects maybe somebody is able to comment what, if only, changed at the ATC uniform at the end of its history? Were the ATC airmen decorated for the Berlin Airlift or were there any additional patches to honor them for their efforts to supply the Berliners?

 

Best regards

 

Greg

[Wailuna]

...Were the ATC airmen decorated for the Berlin Airlift or were there any additional patches to honor them for their efforts to supply the Berliners?

You don't need to buy the video, Greg. "The Big Lift" is available on Guba.com, a free service that allows you to stream the movie on Internet (link here). At Guba home page, search for "The Big Lift" and you will find it (running time approx. 2 hours in 6 20-minute segments).

 

As for the militaria content of this film, you will not be disappointed. It is highly realistic, so you will see detailed renderings of exactly how the airmen serving on Berlin Airlift appeared, with many variations of uniform and insignia. Here are a couple of clips taken from the last few minutes of the film, when actual USAF cast members formed next to a 19th Troop Carrier Squadron C-54. You can clearly see a mix of old Army and new Air Force uniforms and insignia (this scene was filmed in 1950). Corporal Neild even appears to be wearing the ATC SSI (but maybe not? ATC was officially disbanded in June 1948, even though it is clear period photography that the ATC insignia was in use throughout the Berlin Airlift.)

 

Finally, there was a medal for this operation: Medal for Humane Action (link here). There is also a Berlin Airlift Device (a miniature C-54) for wear on the WWII Occupation Medal and service ribbon (link here).

[Gregory]

Dear Wailuna,

 

Thank you very much -- you did good job here for all forumers.

 

Best regards

 

Greg