Wings of Victory
Charting the Global Lifelines of World War II Aviation.
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Overview
Strategic Airlift
The Air Transport Command (ATC) was a pivotal command within the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. It served as the strategic airlift component, responsible for the global movement of vital resources.
Dual Mission
ATC's primary missions were twofold: first, to deliver supplies and equipment between the United States and overseas combat theaters; second, to ferry aircraft from manufacturing plants to operational theaters, ensuring timely deployment.
Enduring Legacy
Inactivated in 1948, ATC laid the groundwork for subsequent military airlift organizations, evolving into the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), then Military Airlift Command (MAC), and ultimately the present-day Air Mobility Command (AMC), maintaining a continuous history of long-range airlift.
History
WWII Achievements
ATC's development of a worldwide air transport system was a monumental achievement of the Army Air Forces in World War II. This system enabled unprecedented logistical support, fundamentally changing military operations.
Early Roots
The command's origins trace back to World War I needs for transporting aircraft and materiel. By the 1920s and 1930s, the Air Corps began formally experimenting with air transport, establishing provisional units and routes for distributing spare parts.
Lend-Lease
Allied Needs
Following the outbreak of war in Europe in 1939, Allied nations, particularly Britain, urgently sought military equipment from the United States. This created a demand for efficient delivery methods for aircraft.
Ferrying Innovation
The concept of ferrying aircraft by air emerged as a solution to save vital shipping space and drastically reduce delivery times. This allowed aircraft to reach combat zones in days rather than months.
Neutrality and Support
The Lend-Lease Act of March 1941 formalized U.S. support. Due to neutrality, aircraft purchased by Britain were often "pushed" across the US-Canada border to avoid direct U.S. involvement in transit.
Ferrying Command
Formation
Established on May 29, 1941, the Air Corps Ferrying Command (ACFC) was tasked with delivering lend-lease aircraft overseas. Commanded by Brig. Gen. Robert Olds, its mission expanded rapidly.
Domestic Operations
After Pearl Harbor, ACFC's domestic role grew, managing the ferrying of aircraft within the U.S. It was organized into geographic sectors, each responsible for specific factory deliveries and staging points.
Global Reach
As the war progressed, ACFC took on responsibility for delivering aircraft to global theaters. This necessitated establishing extensive air routes and support infrastructure worldwide.
Operations
Aircraft Fleet
ATC utilized a diverse fleet, including the workhorse C-47 Skytrain, the long-range C-87 Liberator Express, the C-46 Commando, and the powerful C-54 Skymaster, adapting aircraft to specific route requirements.
Scale of Operations
By war's end, ATC operated with nearly 210,000 personnel, including over 3,000 major transports. It ferried over 267,000 aircraft and transported hundreds of thousands of passengers and tons of cargo annually.
Key Leaders
Led by figures like Maj. Gen. Harold L. George and former American Airlines president C. R. Smith, ATC's leadership combined military strategy with civilian aviation expertise, driving its massive expansion.
Routes
Major Arteries
ATC established critical air routes: the North Atlantic Route to Britain, the Northwest Staging Route to Alaska and Siberia, the South Pacific Route to Australia, and the South Atlantic Route via Brazil to West Africa.
Global Network
These routes evolved to include the Mid-Atlantic Route via the Azores, connecting North Africa and Europe. ATC's network spanned continents, supporting operations in the Middle East, India, China, and the Pacific.
The Hump
A critical artery was the India-China Route, flying over the Himalayas ("The Hump"), which transported vital supplies to China. This operation, though challenging, was crucial for the China-Burma-India theater.
Installations
Domestic Hubs
Key domestic bases served as concentration and embarkation points. These included Hamilton Field, California (Pacific Route), Morrison Field, Florida (South Atlantic Route), and Presque Isle Field, Maine (North Atlantic Route).
Training Centers
ATC operated specialized training schools across the U.S. for pilots transitioning to various aircraft types (e.g., C-47, C-54) and for specialized missions like high-altitude flying for "The Hump" operations.
Overseas Stations
ATC maintained a vast network of overseas stations, including Prestwick, Scotland; bases in North Africa and the Middle East; airfields in India and China; and hubs across the Pacific, supporting continuous global operations.
Lineage
Evolution
ATC's lineage began as the Air Corps Ferrying Command in 1941, evolving through the Army Air Forces Ferry Command before becoming the Air Transport Command in July 1942, consolidating diverse air transport responsibilities.
Post-War Future
After World War II, ATC was inactivated in 1948. Its functions were absorbed by the Military Air Transport Service (MATS), continuing its legacy of strategic airlift and troop deployment.
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References
References
- Part I, Organization & Its Responsibilities, Chapter 2, "The AAF": Craven, Wesley and Cate, James, The Army Air Forces In World War II, Volume Six: "Men and Planes". New Imprint by the Office of Air Force History Washington, D.C., 1983
- Baugher, Douglas DB-7 in French Service
- Baugher, Curtiss Hawk with Armee de l'Air
- Curtiss P-40D (Kittyhawk I)
- Administrative History of the Ferrying Command, 29 May 1941 รขยย 30 June 1942. Army Air Forces Historical Studies: No. 33. Prepared by Assistant Chief of Air Staff, Intelligence, Historical Division, HQ USAAF, Washington, D.C., June 1945
- Craven & Cate, Section Four: The Air Transport Command Responsibilities, Chapter 9: "The Early Development of Air Transport and Ferrying"
- Serling, Robert J. "America's Airlines," Flying Magazine, September 1977, Vol. 63 No. 9, p. 229
- Stanley M. Ulanoff, MATS: The Story of the Military Air Transport Service, 1964, The Moffa Press, Inc.
- Shaw, Frederick J. (2014), Locating Air Force Base Sites Historyรขยยs Legacy, Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC, 2004. (Updated Edition, 2014)
- AFHRA Search, Gore Field MT
- AFHRA Document 00172675, Great Falls AAB MT
- AFHRA Search, Hamilton Field CA
- AFHRA Search, Morrison Field FL
- AFHRA Search, Presque Isle ME
- AFHRA Search, Houlton Field ME
- AFHRA Document 00180405 Lunken Field OH
- AFHRA Search New Castle DE
- AFHRA Search Romulus Army Airfield MI
- AFHRA Search Charleston SC
- AFHRA Document 00172776 Greenwood Army Air Base MS
- Part III Recruitment & Training, Chapter 20 Other Training Programs, "Ferry Pilots and Transport Crews"; Craven and Cate, The AAF in World War II
- AFHRA Search Homestead FL
- AFHRA Search Reno Nevada
- AFHRA Search, Wold MN
- Stanley, William R. (1994), Trans-South Atlantic air link in World War II, Professor, Department of Geography, University of South Carolina, Geo Journal, Issue Volume 33, Number 4 / August, 1994 pp. 459รขยย463 ISSN 0343-2521
- Volume VII, Services Around the World. The Army Air Forces in World War II
- Chapter 4, The North Atlantic Route. The Army Air Forces in World War II
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