441st Troop Carrier Wing The 441st Troop Carrier Wing is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve organization . Its last assignment was to the 441st Troop Carrier Wing , stationed at Chicago - Orchard Airport , Illinois , on 14 March 1951 . During World War II , the group was a C - 47 Skytrain transport unit assigned to Ninth Air Force s in Western Europe . The 441st TCG group flew combat paratroopers on airborne assaults on Normandy ( Operation Overlord ) ; Southern France ( Operation Dragoon ) ; Holland ( Operation Market - Garden ) , and Germany ( Operation Varsity ) . It also flew combat resupply missions in the relief of Bastogne in 1945 . History . World War II . Constituted as 441st Troop Carrier Group on 25 May 1943 . Activated on 1 August 1943 . Used C - 47 ' s to train for overseas duty . Moved to RAF Langar England , February – March 1944 , and assigned to Ninth Air Force . The group was assigned to the 50th Troop Carrier Wing , IX Troop Carrier Command . It was scheduled to be assigned to Langar , however it only remained until 25 April until being moved to RAF Merryfield . From Merryfield , the group participated in the D - Day operation , dropping 101st Airborne Division paratroops near Cherbourg , then carried out re - supply and glider delivery missions the following day . For its efficiency and achievements during these two days it was , like other troop carrier groups , awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation . During these missions , three C - 47s and two CG - 4A gliders were missing in action . The group ' s aircraft flew supplies into Normandy as soon as suitable landing strips were available and evacuated casualties to Merryfield . On 17 July the air echelons of the 99th , 100th and 302nd Troop Carrier Squadrons new to Grosseto airbase in Italy to prepare for operations connected with the invasion of southern France returning to Merryfield on 24 August . Meanwhile , the 301st TCS remained active on the Normandy shuttle while supplies were urgently needed for the advancing Allied armies , although operating from RAF Ramsbury from 7 August until the other squadrons returned . Soon afterwards word was received that the 50th Troop Carrier Wing would move to France , the 441st being one of the first two groups , with headquarters leaving Merryfield on 6 September for its Advanced Landing Ground ( ALG ) at Villeneuve ( ALG A - 63 ) . From France the group dropped paratroops of 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions near Nijmegen on 17 September during the air attack on Holland , and towed gliders with reinforcements on 18 and 23 September . In December , the group transported ammunition , rations , medicine , and other supplies to troops of 101st Airborne Division surrounded by the enemy at Bastogne . Released gliders carrying troops of 17th Airborne Division near Wesel on 24 March 1945 when the Allies launched the airborne assault across the Rhine . Hauled gasoline to armored columns in Germany after the Allies crossed the Rhine . Continually transported freight and personnel in the theater when not participating in airborne operations . Evacuated casualties and prisoners who had been liberated . The 441st remained overseas after the war as part of United States Air Forces in Europe , performing occupation duty from Frankfurt Germany . It continued to transport personnel and equipment , using C - 46 , C - 47 , and C - 109 aircraft . The 441st Troop Carrier Group was inactivated at Frankfurt Germany on 30 September 1946 . Cold War . The 441st Troop Carrier Wing ( Medium ) was reactivated as a reserve unit in May 1949 . Assigned C - 46 Commando aircraft , the wing was inactivated in March 1951 when its equipment and personnel were transferred to active duty units during the Korean War . Components . Group Squadrons