Revised Second Edition. The roots of Tactical Airlift and Air Mobility Command Missions were founded in the Troop Carrier Groups of World War II. Meticulously researched and documented, Col Mark Vlahos' "Men Will Come" A History of the 314th Troop Carrier Group 1942 - 1945, will not only be the definitive history of this unit, but fills a major void in USAAF History. Activated March 9, 1942, the 314th participated in every major Airborne Operation in the Mediterranean and European Theaters of Operations. Through the school of hard knocks, tough lessons were learned as the new Airborne, Air-land, and Glider missions matured in WWII. The 314th played a major role in this evolving process. As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, this book is a must read for anyone interested in WWII Airborne, Troop Carrier Operations and the contribution of our Greatest Generation. -Gen Carlton Everhart II, USAF-Ret, former Commander Air Mobility Command. 327 photos, maps, documents; index. NOTE: This revised second edition includes a small number of typographical corrections but most importantly a number of additions in Appendix 9, specifically a number of aircraft were inadvertently missing from "Operation NEPTUNE #1 Mission Flight Crew Listing, June 5 - 6, 1944" and "Operation NEPTUNE #2 Mission Flight Crew Listing, June 7, 1944". A Merriam Press World War II History.

Leading the Way to Victory is the official history of the 60th Troop Carrier Group, featuring unpublished first-person accounts by participating veterans and expertly written by retired USAF Colonel Mark C. Vlahos, combat veteran and former Vice Wing Commander of 314th Airlift Wing at the Little Rock Air Force Base. The December 7, 1941, surprise attack on Pearl Harbor thrust the United States into World War II. Just six months later in May 1942, flying new C-47 transport aircraft, the 60th Troop Carrier Group led the way as the first U.S. TCG to deploy to England and the European Theater of Operations in World War II. Leading the way to victory, the 60th TCG’s first mission—dropping U. S. paratroopers outside of Oran, North Africa—was not only the first combat airborne mission in U.S. Army history, but also the longest airborne mission of the entire war. This drop spearheaded Operation TORCH, also known as the Invasion of North Africa, by taking key Axis airfields just inland from the amphibious landing zones. The 60th TCG went on to fly some of the first combat aeromedical evacuation missions and the first combat mission towing CG-4A “Waco” gliders during Operation HUSKY—the Invasion of Sicily. As the new airborne, air land, aeromedical evacuation, and glider missions matured in World War II, the 60th TCG continued to play a major role, paying in blood for valuable lessons learned in the school of hard knocks. The group later flew dramatic missions into Yugoslavia, supporting Partisans as part of the secret war in the Balkans, an episode of World War II history still all but unknown today and dropped British paratroops in the airborne invasion of Greece. The Group was inactivated at the end of the war. Drawing on official United States Army Air Forces microfilm records, operational records in the National Archives, photographs from both collections, published historical materials, and many personal accounts, author Mark C. Vlahos’ expertly written and highly readable volume is certain to become the standard history and go-to reference for the 60th TCG. This work offers scholars and lay readers alike an authoritative, informative, and engaging saga of the Group’s battles, adversity, hardships, and triumphs from inception through the Allied victory in Europe.

The 316th Troop Carrier Group, formed at Patterson Field, Ohio in early 1942, consisted of Headquarters, 36th, 37th, 44th, and 45th Squadrons. Staff sergeant pilots flew their C-47s in support of the British 8th Army across North Africa from Egypt to Tunisia, delivering supplies and pioneering in air evacuation. In July 1943 the Group dropped the 82nd Airborne Division into Sicily (operations HUSKY 1 and 2). In February 1944, the 316th moved to Cottesmore, England, its base for participating in the invasions of France (Normandy, D-Day), Holland (MARKET GARDEN), and Germany (VARSITY). After 30-months of overseas duty, the 316th Troop Carrier Group returned to the US in May 1945. Group personnel wore nine battle stars, three Distinguished Unit Citations, Silver Stars, numerous Distinguished Flying Crosses, Air Medals, Purple Hearts, and Soldiers' Medals. The book, based primarily upon official records, also contains personal recollections from members of the Group. It is footnoted, with maps, charts, appendices of Air Echelon and Combat Crews, Bibliography and extensive Roster.

Merriam Press World War 2 History Series. A History of the 316th Troop Carrier Group, 1942-1945. Complete history utilizing the author's personal recollections and those of his comrades along with extensive archival research. Encompasses Headquarters, 36th, 37th, 44th and 45th Squadrons, the Group was part of the 52nd Troop Carrier Wing, Ninth Air Force, participating in the airborne/glider operations in Sicily, Italy, Normandy, Holland and Germany. 91 photos, 30 maps, 13 appendices, 428 footnotes, bibliography, index.