441st Troop Carrier Group

441st Troop Carrier Wing
Douglas C-47A-80-DL Serial 43-15135 of the 302d Troop Carrier Squadron
Active	1943–1946
Country	United States
Branch	United States Army Air Forces
Role	Troop Carrier
Part of	Ninth Air Force
Garrison/HQ	European Theatre of World War II

The 441st Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve organization. Its last assignment was to the 441st Troop Carrier Wing, stationed at Chicago-Orchard Airport, Illinois, on 14 March 1951.

During World War II, the group was a C-47 Skytrain transport unit assigned to Ninth Air Forces in Western Europe. The 441st TCG group flew combat paratroopers on airborne assaults on Normandy (Operation Overlord); Southern France (Operation Dragoon); Holland (Operation Market-Garden), and Germany (Operation Varsity). It also flew combat resupply missions in the relief of Bastogne in 1945.

Constituted as 441st Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943. Activated on 1 August 1943. Used C-47's to train for overseas duty. Moved to RAF Langar England, February–March 1944, and assigned to Ninth Air Force. The group was assigned to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing, IX Troop Carrier Command. It was scheduled to be assigned to Langar, however it only remained until 25 April until being moved to RAF Merryfield.

From Merryfield, the group participated in the D-Day operation, dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg, then carried out re-supply and glider delivery missions the following day. For its efficiency and achievements during these two days it was, like other troop carrier groups, awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. During these missions, three C-47s and two CG-4A gliders were missing in action.

The group's aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to Merryfield. On 17 July the air echelons of the 99th, 100th and 302nd Troop Carrier Squadrons new to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to Merryfield on 24 August.