Imphal, The Hump and Beyond Imphal, The Hump and Beyond
U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Groups of the Second World War
8th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2nd Combat Cargo Group
Organization and Training
| The 8th
Combat Cargo Squadron was one of four Squadrons of the 2nd Combat Cargo Group. The 2nd
Combat Cargo Group was activated May 1, 1944 at the Syracuse Army Air Base, Syracuse, New
York, under the command of Colonel William J. Bell. The Group was comprised of the
5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Combat Cargo Squadrons. Each squadron had an attached Airdrome
Squadron, the 336th, 337th, 338th and 339th respectively. Upon completion of its training, the Group was to be deployed to the China, Burma, India Theatre to fly the "Hump" from India to China. The 8th Combat Cargo Squadron was organized under the command of Captain Joe L. Moody, who was designated Commanding Officer May 5, 1944 The Squadron nucleus was experienced pilots transferred from Troop Carrier Command and B-25 and B-26 Transition Schools. Recent graduates from AAF Pilot Schools supplemented the experienced personnel. The Squadron consisted of 20 aircraft crewed with a pilot, co-pilot, crew chief and radio operator. The 8th Combat Cargo Squadron Organization: Commanding Officer: Captain Joe L. Moody. Promoted to Major, September, 1944. Operations Officer: Captain Travis M. Allison. Promoted to Major, September, 1944. Flight Surgeon: Captain LeRoy E. Walter, May, 1944. Captain DuBose Egleston. October, 1944. Adjutant: 2nd Lt. James W. Davidson. Engineering Officer: 1st Lt. James C. Cobb. Communications Officer: 1st Lt. Mel W. Crosson. Intelligence Officer: 1st Lt. Bernard Singer. Captain Raymond L. Shores was Designated Commanding Officer of the 339th Airdrome Squadron. 2nd Lt. James A. Allen, Adjutant. The squadron began training in Douglas C-47, "Gooney Birds", transport aircraft. Glider towing, paratroop and cargo drops, formation, instrument, navigation and night flying accounted far most of our flying time. Link trainers and schooling consumed most of our ground time; Syracuse and environs our nights and weekends. Buzzing, although prohibited, was an ongoing challenge that provided a break in the flying routine. Farmers frequent complaints attested to the practice. The worst case was Curt Altman, whose legacy is a C-47 ditched in Lake Ontario. Either he was too low or a wave too high. The props bent under and with loss of power he had to ditch. Glider towing was practiced at Wheeler Sack Field, Pine Camp, Watertown, New York. A field bivouac complete with field kitchen, mess kits, pup tents and slit trenches provided our housing and sustenance. Because of complaints from glider pilots concerning towing procedure and speed, 1st pilots were ordered to fly a glider so they would have an understanding of the glider pilots problems. Other crew members, when not towing, rode as passengers for the experience. Roaring noise and tranquil silence are sensations experienced in gliders. The take-off on the runway sounds like a runaway train. At lift-off and under tow the air noise makes it impossible to have a conversation. At release there is no sound only a serene, peaceful, quiet calm. In mid-August Army Air Corps General Henry "Hap" Arnold made an inspection visit to the Group. A paratroop and cargo drop mission demonstration was scheduled for the General's review. A 32 plane formation dropped troops and cargo packs from 500 feet. Colonel Bell was informed during the visit that the C-47 was to be replaced with the C46 Curtiss Commando and the deployment to the China, Burma, India Theatre was changed to the South Pacific. Familiarization with the C-46 and replicating the C-47 training began and continued through early October, 1944. The C-46 was powered by 2 Pratt and Whitney R-2800 engines of 2000 hp each. Maximum speed 245 mph, cruising speed 175 mph. Range 1200 miles. Service ceiling 27,600 ft. Wing span 10S ft. Length 76 ft. Height 22 ft. Maximum weight 51,000 lbs. Lt. Emil J. Modla, 8th Combat Cargo Squadron, 2nd Combat Cargo Group. From his manuscript 'History of the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron History, 2nd Combat Cargo Group.' This short History of the 8th Combat Cargo Squadron, no way tells the entire Squadron history. It's sole purpose is to give one an idea of what the Squadron endured during it's time during the Second World War. For a more detailed report on the the Squadrons History, one needs to access the records of the 2nd Combat Cargo Group and it's individual Squadrons at the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Center at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery, AL. These records are available in microfilm. |
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I am looking for former members of the 3rd Combat Cargo Group, 1st, Combat Cargo Group, 2nd Combat Cargo Group and the 4th Combat Cargo Group. In fact I would like to hear from anyone who flew over the Hump during WW II, or flew any Combat Cargo Missions at any time (Berlin Air-Lift, Korea, etc) Please e-mail comment, suggestions, corrections,etc to: bill@comcar.org Imphal, the Hump and Beyond Copyright © 1999 Bill Bielauskas All rights reserved. Notice to all Viewers: All stories and images within "Imphal, The Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F Combat Cargo Units of the Second World War", are Copyright ©1999, to the Veteran who submitted the text and/or photographs and to Bill Bielauskas, Webmaster at "Imphal, the Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Units of the Second World War". All rights reserved. No part of this page, or those connected via links, either text, or images may be used for any purpose other than personal use. Storage, reproduction, modification on a retrieval system or transmission, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior written permission of the Copyright © holder(s) is prohibited. This includes storage on another Internet Website other than "Imphal, the Hump and Beyond, U.S.A.A.F. Combat Cargo Groups of the Second World War" Bill Bielauskas 10 Cayuga Trail, Wayne, NJ. 07470-4406 |