G Williamson Introduction

Graduated from Class 44-E from Douglas, AZ, as a 2^nd Lt. With a twin engine pilot rating. All of us hot pilots supposedly were in training for twin engine fighters, but the guys who were running the show informed us there was a need for cargo pilots at this time. So off we went to Syracuse, NY. to get ready to fly the C-47. After about 200 hours of training in the C-47 they decided the C-46 was better for the type of cargo we would be transporting, whatever it might be, with the C-46 having twice as much cargo capacity (weight wise).

After 100 hour of C-46 training at Louisville Ky. was all we needed. Then if was off the Fort Wayne, Ind. to pickup new C-46’s and all the necessary combat equipment, then proceeding to West Palm Beach, Fl for the final indoctrination for the flight overseas. As you can imagine this was great adventuresome stuff for a bunch of 22-year-old guys.

I took off from West Palm Beach (Morrison Field) with sealed orders that were not to be opened until a specified amount of time had elapsed on the first flight overseas. It was pretty much excitement time when the destination read, Sylhet, India. After 11 days of hopping country to country, that took up half way around the world we arrived in Karachi, India and then on to Sylhet the groups assigned base.

It didn’t take long to start hauling supplies all over India and Burma. Seldom did I carry the same commodity twice in a row, until the move was made to Myitkyina, Burma where it was pretty much a steady hauling of 100 octane gas in 55 gallons drum over the Hump to China – not the safest thing to be carrying. It was enough to make anybody run for cover when the natives started off loading the drums, literally turning them over and letting them roll down a ramp from the cargo door to tarmac.

After 12 months of this experience in this far away land the war had come to an end and my flying hours were high enough so that I was one of the first pilots in our 14^th ComCar Sqd. To be returned to the states

Who could ever imagine graduating from High School, enlisting in the Air Corps, receiving an Officers commission and pilot rating, then going on to these exotic countries you only read about, flying your airplane assigned to you by the government. When I look back it was almost like a dream you would fanaticize about. Yes, the Air Corp (Air Force now) years was an exciting 3 years in my life and I will never have any regrets for having had the experience. The only regret I have is that so many lives were lost in a war that took so many lives

Submitted by Lt. George 'Bud' Williamson 14th Combat Cargo Squadron. 4/1/99

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

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