IX Troop Carrier Command

Official Twitter feed for the A Breathtaking Spectacle book series. Three volumes to be released on the three U.S Troop Carrier Wings of WWII.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

Hans and I would like to provide the following update on the release of Vol 2 of our book series. If you'd like more regular updates please subscribe to my page!

https://t.co/VYgACdPLuK

[Adam Berry @Agrbez]

I apologise for not posting about the anniversary of Operation Varsity, I'm a poorly boy and have been feeling very sorry for myself. But, that said, let's look at the Operation in numbers, proper numbers, not just estimates, from a IX Troop Carrier Command perspective. /1

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

@Adam_Lunney @Agrbez Awesome, thanks for sharing. I know guy working on a book to include the 62nd TCG, he'd be interested in this.

[Adam Berry @Agrbez]

So, I've started a business with a friend which will be launched later this year. We're both passionate about aviation and drink a lot of coffee, so have started an aviation themed coffee and apparel Company. It may sound random, but blends are being meticulously researched /1

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

@JamboDes Ahhh fantastic! Thank you for buying one.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

@msjmcglynn Thank you for sharing. It looks like he kept as much as he could from his time with the Group.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

I need to add, that I said I would cover the air-landing of the 17th Abn Div in France as part of these tweets, but I simply haven't had the time to collate the data and schedule the tweets. I apologise.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

@291stECB Not bad eh

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

Stats continued:

This amounts to a quite mind-blowing 1,796,507lbs of supplies delivered by air to the 101st Abn Div and 106th Inf Div, or just shy of 815 tonnes. Perhaps more incredibly, only 3,598lbs is unaccounted for!

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

flak to make that defense possible. Not that it was in doubt by that point, but they had once again proven their tactical value to the war effort.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

To summarise. A lot has been said about the 101st Abn Div not needing to be rescued, but what can be said with certainty is that without the tools to do the job they would not have been able to defend Bastogne. From the 23rd od December, IX TCC braved the poor weather and the /1

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

@HistoryBryan Many thank you's again Bryan.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

More stats:

1,263,007lb of Ammunition are dropped over 4 days, in addition to 8,626 Gallons of Gasoline, 113,825lbs of Explosives & Mines, 177,411lbs of Rations, 142,564lbs of combat equipment, 38,000lbs of signal equipment, 61,700lbs of Medical Supplies.

Conitnued.....

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

OTD 1944: The final resupply missions to the besieged 101st Abn Div at Bastogne are complete. Who's for some stats?

837 individual sortes were flown by a/c of IX Troop Carrier Command.

10 a/c are lost, either shot down or crash landed.

141 a/c have 1st or 2nd echelon damage.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

At this very moment 76 years ago: 42 a/c of the 435th TCG flying out of RAF Welford Park drop their supplies to the 101st Abn Div at Bastogne. It represents the final drop of the Operation REPULSE. 3 a/c are damaged by flak.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

At this very moment 76 years ago: 49 a/c of the 436th TCG flying out of RAF Membury begin dropping supplies to the 101st Abn Div at Bastogne. The mission is a great success, all a/c drop their supplies and not a single one is damaged.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

At this very moment 76 years ago: The final resupply drop to the 101st Abn Div at Bastogne begins, but it starts poorly of the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, with 49 a/c of the 434th TCG and 48 of the 438th TCG are grounded by poor weather.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

At this very moment 76 years ago: 41 a/c of the 437th TCG take off from RAF Ramsbury to drop supplies to the 101st Abn Div at Bastogne. 39 make the drop, with one belly-landing shortly after take-off.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

belly-landed the aircraft in an area held by the 321st Glider Field Artillery Battalion. The Glider, piloted by F/O Albert Barton, landed a mile within 101st lines carrying 155mm Howitzer ammunition. Had Turner released his Glider early, it would have landed in German lines.

[IX Troop Carrier Command @ix_tcc]

One of the most famous photographs to come out of WWII of a C-47 wreck is this one, showing "Ain't Miss-Behavin", flown by Captain Ernest Turner of the 94th TCS. He was hit by flak with his glider still in tow, but held until the last minute before release. Turner successfully /1