52d Transport Wing 52d Troop Carrier Wing 52d Fighter Wing (NY ANG) |
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139th Fighter Squadron – North American F-51H Mustang 44-64383, Schenectady County Airport, New York
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Active | 1942–1946; 1946–1950 |
Country | United States |
Branch | United States Air Force |
Type | Wing |
Role | Command and Control |
Engagements |
American Theater of World War II European Theater of World War II |
Insignia | |
52d Troop Carrier Wing emblem |
The 52d Troop Carrier Wing (52 TCW) is a disbanded unit of the United States Air Force. It was last assigned to the New York Air National Guard (NY ANG) as the 52d Fighter Wing, being stationed at Westchester County Airport, New York. It was inactivated on 31 October 1950 and the unit designation withdrawn and returned to the Air Force by the National Guard Bureau. It was disbanded on 15 June 1983.
The wing was established and activated as an airlift unit, the 52d Transport Wing on 15 June 1942. It was a major training organization for I Troop Carrier Command, from 1942 to 1943, training subordinate units in the United States prior to overseas deployment.
The wing deployed to North Africa in 1943 and was assigned to Twelfth Air Force. its units subsequently engaged in combat operations, supporting Fifth Army units in the North African and Tunisian Campaigns. The wing's five groups also carried Army parachutists and towed gliders during Operation Husky. It provided supply transportation during the subsequent Italian Campaign during the balance of 1943
The wing was reassigned to Ninth Air Force and moved to England during February 1944. Its subordinate units began training for the invasion of continental Europe. This training involved airdropping paratroopers and towing gliders. Groups present for the invasion training were the 61st Troop Carrier Group, 313th Troop Carrier Group, 314th Troop Carrier Group, 315th Troop Carrier Group, 316th Troop Carrier Group, 349th Troop Carrier Group, and 434th Troop Carrier Group.