439th Troop Carrier Group
The 439th Troop Carrier Group and its four squadrons arrived in England on 10 March 1944 and were based at RAF Balderton, Nottinghamshire, England. The group was equipped with about 70 Douglas C-47 Skytrains and was assigned to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command, Ninth Air Force. The group's four squadrons and their fuselage codes were:
The group moved to RAF Upottery on 26 April and trained for the invasion of France. On D-Day, 6 June 1944, the four squadrons dropped paratroopers of the U.S. 101st Airborne Division; on the following day, they released gliders with reinforcements. The group received two decorations for these actions: a U.S. Distinguished Unit Citation and a French Croix de Guerre with Palm.
After the Normandy invasion, the group ferried supplies in the United Kingdom until the air echelons of three squadrons, the 91st, 92d and 94th Troop Carrier Squadrons, began operating from Orbetello Airfield, Italy from 18 July to 24 August. Their mission was to transport cargo to Rome and evacuate wounded personnel. During the invasion of Southern France on 15 August, the three squadrons dropped paratroops of the U.S. 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment along the Riviera, and later towed gliders to provide reinforcements. The group was awarded a second French Croix de Guerre for these missions.
The 93d Troop Carrier Squadron had remained in England but operated from RAF Ramsbury, England on 7–16 August, and RAF Membury, England, on 16–22 August.
After the air echelon returned to England on 25 August, the group resumed its cargo missions until 8 September, when the group deployed to Juvincourt Airfield, France, also known as Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-68.
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