4440th Aircraft Delivery Group

The 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was to Headquarters, Tactical Air Command, based at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 15 October 1969.

4440th Aircraft Delivery Group
Emblem of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group
Active1958-1969
CountryUnited States
BranchUnited States Air Force
Emblem of the MATS 1708th Ferrying Wing

Mission

Initially established by Military Air Transport Service in 1951 for the worldwide movement of all United States Air Force aircraft, on a worldwide basis. The group planned, surveyed and exercised operational control of all aircraft movements; and controlled obligation and liquidation of all funds allocated for expenditure in connection with ferrying missions. Every type and designation of aircraft not assigned to a specific unit was ferried from one unit assignment to another by this organization, 1951-1969.

History

Missions of the unit included the movement of all Jet Fighters from the United States (F-84F, F-84G, F-86F, T-33) over the North Atlantic Transport Route to United States Air Forces in Europe (USAFE) units and Mutual Defense Assistance Program (MDAP) Recipients in 1953.

It also conducted transfers of F-47 Thunderbolt aircraft from Texas to Central and South American countries under MDAP in 1953; B-57 Canberra aircraft to Far East Air Force in Japan, November 4, 1955.

Mission was transferred to Tactical Air Command 1 January 1958. From Hq TAC at Langley AFB in Virginia, controllers in the command post of the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group monitored and directed ferry movements of Air Force aircraft. Intercommand transfer, flights to overhaul, delivery of military aircraft to foreign governments - all were missions of the 4440th. Aircraft delivered were F-100D/F, KB-50J, F-84F, C-130, SA-16, B-66, C-54, C-119C/G, C-47 and B-57.

In early 1960s, assumed control of 431st Air Refueling Squadron after inactivation of 4505th ARW with KB-50 Tankers. The squadron was inactivated in March 1965. Primary mission during the 1960s was movement of aircraft to South Vietnam and Thailand bases to support Vietnam War. Delivered F-4 Phantom II, F-100 Super Sabre, F-105 Thunderchief, A-37 Dragonfly and various Forward Air Controller O-2 and OV-10 aircraft. Delivered F-4 Phantom II to NATO as well as F-111 and F-105 aircraft.

Flew numerous MDAP aircraft from the United States to Howard AFB, Panama Canal Zone. Unit inactivated in October 1969.

Lineage
  • Activated by MATS as the 1708th Ferrying Group on 16 July 1951
Re-designated as: 1708th Ferrying Wing on 1 December 1955.
Inactivated on 1 January 1958
  • Activated by TAC as the 4440th Aircraft Delivery Group on 1 January 1958
  • Organized on 15 January 1958, assuming personnel and equipment of inactivated 1708th FG.
Inactivated on 15 October 1969

Assignments

Units
Re-designated: 1708-2 Ferrying Group Detachment, Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 1951-1953
Personnel reassigned to 1737th Ferrying Squadron, 1607th Air Transport Group, Dover AFB, Delaware.
  • 1708-3 Ferrying Group Detachment, Great Falls AFB, Montana, 1951-1953
Personnel reassigned to 1701st Air Transport Wing, Brookley AFB, Alabama
  • 1708-4 Ferrying Group Detachment, Goose Bay AFB, Labrador, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-5 Ferrying Group Detachment, Narsarsuaq AB, Greenland, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-6 Ferrying Group Detachment, Keflavík Airport, Iceland, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-7 Ferrying Group Detachment, Prestwick Airport, Scotland, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-8 Ferrying Group Detachment, Dow AFB, Maine, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-9 Ferrying Group Detachment, Fürstenfeldbruck AB, West Germany, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-10 Ferrying Group Detachment, Dover AFB, Delaware, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-11 Ferrying Group Detachment, Robins AFB, Georgia, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-12 Ferrying Group Detachment, Kelly AFB, Texas, (1951-1958)
  • 1708-13 Ferrying Group Detachment,
  • 1708-14 Ferrying Group Detachment,
  • 1708-15 Ferrying Group Detachment,
  • 1708-16 Ferrying Group Detachment,
  • 1708-17 Ferrying Group Detachment,
  • 1708-18 Ferrying Group Detachment,
  • 1738th Ferrying Squadron, Long Beach Airport, California
  • 1739th Ferrying Squadron, Amarillo AFB, Texas
Both Squadrons reassigned to: 1700th Air Transport Group, Kelly AFB, Texas, 2 July 1956-1 March 1958

Stations
  • Westover AFB, Massachusetts, 16 July 1951
  • Kelly AFB, Texas, 1 December 1955
  • Langley AFB, Virginia, 15 January 1958 – 15 October 1969
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References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.

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