Donaldson Air Force Base

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Donaldson Air Force Base


Part of Military Air Transport Service (MATS)
Located near Greenville, South Carolina

25 February 1994


Location of Donaldson Air Force Base
Type Air Force Base
Built 1942
In use 1942-1963
Controlled by United States Air Force

Donaldson Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base located near Greenville, South Carolina. It was operated as a bomber crew training base during World War II. After the war, it served as headquarters for the Military Air Transport Service, and hosted several transport wings.

It was closed in 1963.

Contents

[edit] World War II

The facility was originally built in 1942 as Greenville Army Airfield in support of the wartime effort. The base was used from 1942 to 1945 as a training base for B-25 Mitchell medium bombers and some B-24 Liberator heavy bombers.

[edit] 334th Bombardment Group

The major training unit at Greenville AAF was the 334th Bombardment Group. The group flew North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. The unit consisted of the following squadrons:

  • 470th Bombardment
  • 471st Bombardment
  • 472nd Bombardment
  • 473rd Bombardment

The 334th was assigned to 3rd Air Force with its primary mission being training replacement crews for combat. It was disbanded on 1 May 1944 and replaced by the 128th Army Air Force Base Unit (Combat Crew Training School-Medium).

[edit] 90th Bombardment Group

The 90th Bomb Group (Heavy) trained at Greenville AAF from 21 June through 18 August 1942. It flew Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers. The unit consisted of the following squadrons:

  • 319th Bombardment
  • 320th Bombardment
  • 321st Bombardment
  • 400th Bombardment

With its training completed, the group transferred to Ypsilante AAF, Michigan for follow-on training. In early November 1942, the 90th BG transferred to the Pacific theater, being stationed at Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

[edit] 310th Bombardment Group

The 310th Bomb Group (Medium) trained at Greenville AAF from 18 September through 17 October 1942. It flew North American B-25 Mitchell medium bombers. The unit consisted of the following squadrons:

  • 379th Bombardment
  • 380th Bombardment
  • 381st Bombardment
  • 428th Bombardment

With its training completed, the group went overseas, transferring to Mediouna Air Base, French Morocco.

At the end of World War II, Greenville AAF was deactivated in late 1945.

[edit] USAF Use

In 1947 Greenville Air Force Base was reactivated as the Global Headquarters for the Military Air Transport Services. It remained an administrative facility for several years. In 1951 the base was renamed from Greenville Air Force Base to Donaldson Air Force Base, in honor of local World War I hero, Captain John O. W. Donaldson.

[edit] 375th Troop Carrier Wing

On 16 October 1950 the 375th Troop Carrier Wing [1] was activated at Greenville AFB as a result of the Korean War. the 375th was Air Force Reserve unit based at Greater Pittsburgh Airport.

The 57th Troop Carrier Squadron flew the C-82 and C-45 cargo planes. Between 20 February and 11 April 1952, the unit operated on temporary duty from Brownswood Municipal Airport, performing paratroop drops and other exercises in support of Army maneuvers.

On 14 July 1952, the activated 375th was returned to Reserve status. The aircraft at Donaldson were taken over by the newly activated 17th Troop Carrier squadron.

The 17th TCS flew the C-82s and later C-119s until being inactivated on 21 July 1954

[edit] 443d Troop Carrier Wing

On 16 October 1950 the 433d Troop Carrier Wing was also activated at Greenville AFB. Its squadrons consisted of:

  • 67th Troop Carrier
  • 68th Troop Carrier
  • 69th Troop Carrier

The squadrons flew the C-119 "Flying Boxcar" and flew tactical airlift missions for Tactical Air Command. On 20 July 1951 the wing was traferred to Rhein-Main Air Base West Germany.

[edit] 63d Troop Carrier Wing

On 15 October 1953 the 63d Troop Carrier Wing was transferred from Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma, to Donaldson. The 63d flew the longer-range C-124 "Globemaster II". Its attached units consisted of:

  • 61st Troop Carrier Group (25 August 1954 - 8 October 1959)
  • 63d Troop Carrier Group (15 October 1953 - 18 January 1963)
  • 64th Troop Carrier Group (15 October 1953 - 15 February 1954)

The 63d TCW participated in maneuvers, exercises and the airlift of personnel and cargo to many points throughout the world, helped evacuate Hungarian refugees, supported the construction of the eastern mission test range, and the Distant Early Warning Line sites in the Arctic.

[edit] 21st/54th Special Operations Squadron

These helicopter units, flying the H-21 were assigned to 18th Air Force.

Their mission was for the purpose of providing the US Army with air support in a fashion similar to the TAC Troop Carrier Squadrons. The Army, however, declined all support from the Air Force helicopters, and the 21st/54th Helicopter Squadron turned to fly airlift support, search and recovery missions, and also cooperated with a communications group in an experiment to lay communications lines by helicopter. Prior to inactivation, the unit flew photo, airlift, and radiological survey missions during atomic testing at the Nevada Test Site.

[edit] Closure

In January 1963, the 63d was transferred to Hunter Air Force Base Georgia and Donaldson AFB was deactivated for the last time. In 1967 Hunter AFB was turned over to the Army and the 63d was transferred again to Norton Air Force Base California.

C-141s from the 63d flew into Hanoi North Vietnam in January 1973 to bring home the American Prisoners Of War at the end of the Vietnam War.

The facilities and land of the former Donaldson AFB were returned to the City and County of Greenville, South Carolina and was renamed Donaldson Center. Lockheed-Martin operates a large overhaul facility there, servicing C-130s and P-3s.

Stevens Aviation provides support for Beechcraft products, with both the United States Army and United States Navy as clients.

[edit] External links

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