1st Air Transport Squadron (Mobile)

RENDEZVOUS AND DEPARTURE POINT FOR OVER-SEAS ASSIGNMENT

 

The rendezvous and departure point for the men and aircraft was Homestead Florida. Here each person was screened, pilots and administrative officers qualifications re-checked and all other things checked that was required for a permanent overseas assignment.  An advance group, consisting of six complete crews and other manpower, proceeded the main contingent to India.  Thirty days lead time was given this group to arrive and set up accommodations for the squadron.  This group was commanded by Major. Coy L. Waxler, later to become the squadron executive officer.      Several days was spent in Homestead, preparing for overseas movement.  The entire squadron and all its complement departed Homestead on the twentieth of April, 1944.  The first leg of the flight was from Homestead Air Base to Natal, Brazil with over-night stops at Borinquen Field, San Juan, Puerto Rico and Atkinson Field, Belem, Brazil.  Most all the group arrived two days later at Natal.  The first leg of the flight was uneventful, with the exception of light damage to-the wing of one aircraft.  The damage was minor, and the crew made it to Natal before the departure of the squadron on the next leg.     Two days was spent at Natal for re-grouping, checking aircraft and preparing for the next leg of the flight to Ascension Island, a tiny "speck" of land (Six miles by six miles square), located about fourteen hundred miles east of Natal.      The Island had one long "up-hill and down-hill" runway cut through two small mountains-with just enough room for the wings of large airplanes to clear.  The flying time of the first leg was approximately seven and one-half hours, with a maximum of eight hours fuel.  The navigation had to be perfect.  After a couple hours for refueling and rest, most of the crews took-off the same day on the second leg of the flight, which was from Ascension Island to Accra in West Africa.  Accra was the Capitol city, on what was termed the Gold Coast of Africa.  The flying time and distance on this leg was about the same as the previous one.      Landing at Accra completed, the long flight over the South Atlantic.  There was no Unusual events or trouble reported on this crossing with the exception, of one crew shortly after take-off developed engine trouble and had to letdown through a severe rain storm and in the-darkest of the night, and return to the base.  A safe landing was made and after a short delay they were soon on their way.  This was the first demonstration of skill that our crews possessed.      Before departing Accra for the next leg of flight from Accra through Central Africa to Karachi India, most crews pulled a one hundred hour inspection on their aircraft.  This took--about twenty four hours and gave a little time for relaxation for the men aboard the aircraft as passengers.      Departure was made from Accra, for most on the twenty seventh of April, with a refueling stop at Kano and an overnight stop at Marduquri, in the central part Africa.  The next stop was El Fasher in central Africa for refueling and a short rest, with an over-night stop at Khartoum, the Capitol of Sudan on the Nile River.  From Khartoum the flight was down the river Nile to Aden, located on the Arabian Sea in Southwest Arabia.  After an over-night stop in Aden the next leg was to Karachi, India with a refueling stop at Masira Island in the Red Sea.  This long flight through Central Africa was uneventful by most all the crews, with the exception of the severe heat and many crews experiencing strong and gusty crosswind landings.  Fortunately no major damage to aircraft occurred.      After completing the long flight over the South Atlantic and through Central Africa and nearing the squadrons destination, the landing at Karachi was a-welcome relief.  With approximately three days at Karachi for regrouping, checking aircraft, manpower and getting a taste of life in India, and receiving orders the departure was made for the-squadrons future home on Kaliakunda air base,  a satellite field located about six miles from headquarters of the Twentieth Air Force and approximately one-hundred seventy miles southwest of Calcutta, India.       With the arrival at Kaliakunda the First Air Transport Bomber Squadron set the first of their many records.  It also became a first for the United States Army Air Force.  This long flight of moving a complete unit of men and equipment one-half way around the world (Twelve Thousand Miles) in record time, and without loss of men and equipment was the first of this type operation to be performed by any group in the military service, and was the fore-runner for this type operation to follow by all the services.  The table of organization of the First ATS called for two extra aircraft and crews, which would be lost in going to destination.  This did not happen, and the experience and skill of those involved began to show.  It is thought that the one contributing factor to the success of this movement was the individuality and freedom of each crew.  There were no flight leaders or formation flying and all decisions were made by the pilot in command of each aircraft.  This same operational theory (pilot-Discretion) was carried on throughout the existence of the squadron.      After arriving at the destination most of the aircraft was-put to work moving equipment, supplies and personnel, around the several air bases of the Twentieth in India.  Several days was involved in this type work and the actual "Hump" flying for most did not begin until the middle of May 1944.     Submitted by Jim Beamon from a History of the 1st Air Transport   Squadron       Copyright 2001

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