- After the Marco Polo Bridge incident in 1937, the Aviation Affairs Commission established the “Special Aviation Group” to perform the increasingly important task of air supply.
- In 1941, the “Special Aviation Group” was disbanded due to the number of damaged aircraft and organizational adjustments. The responsibility for air supply operations was transferred to the “Flight Training School of the Aerial Bombardment Group”, the predecessor of the Airlift Group.
- In 1942, the Aviation Affairs Commission assigned 2 aircraft to a training school to form an airlift squadron. Later in December, the ROCAF established its first official airlift squadron, with Wang Han-syun serving as its first commander.
- On October 1, 1945, the Airlift Squadron was expanded into the Airlift Group, comprising the 1st through 4th Squadrons. Each squadron was equipped with 7 to 8 C-47 transport aircraft and was stationed at Jiulongpo Airport, Chonqing; Baishiyi Airport, Chonqing; Taiping Temple Airport, Chengdu; and Ming Palace Airport, Nanjing, respectively.
- In early 1946, due to the expansion of the airlift forces, the Aviation Affairs Commission renamed the 1st through 4th Squadrons of the Airlift Group as the 101st through 104th Squadrons to avoid possible confusion.The Airlift Group was also renamed as the “1st Airlift Group”.
- In 1947, the 101st and 103rd Squadrons were reoutfitted with the C-46 transport aircraft. Both squadrons became increasingly tasked with air supply and airdrop missions as the Chinese Civil War intensified.
- On January 1, 1948, the 1st Airlift Group was renamed as the 10th Airlift Group to avoid confusion with combat units.
- On August 15, 1949, the 102nd Squadron began receiving C-46 transport aircraft, leaving the 104th Squadron, stationed at Songshan Air Base, as the sole operator of the C-47 transport aircraft.
- In 1950, the Nationalists began evacuating forces from Xichang and Hainan Island as the tide turned against them in Mainland China. The 10th and 20th Airlift Groups, stationed on Hainan Island, were relocated to Taiwan. Given that Taiwan is an island, the 10th Airlift Group was ordered to establish a Rescue Flight to conduct search-and-rescue missions.
- On January 8, 1953, wings were established following organizational adjustments. As a result, the 10th Airlift Group stationed at Chiayi Air Base was reassigned to the 4th Air Wing.
- On February 1, 1954, the 6th Air Wing was established at Shui-nan Air Base at Taichung, comprising the 20th Airlift Group (formerly of the 2nd Air Wing), as well as its base service and aircraft sustainment groups. On July 1, the Rescue Flight of the 10th Airlift Group was expanded into the Air Rescue Squadron and reassigned to the 4th Air Wing. On August 1, the 10th Airlift Group of the 4th Air Wing was reassigned to the 3rd Air Wing as part of the Air Force’s restructuring and subsequently transferred to the Pingtung South Air Base.
- On March 1, 1955, the 104th Squadron, stationed at Songshan Air Base, was disbanded and renamed the “Government Aircraft Squadron”.
- On August 23, 1958, an artillery battle erupted over Kinmen. Aircraft of the 10th Airlift Wing were deployed to Shui-nan Air Base at Taichung, performing air supply missions under heavy enemy fire and successfully completing airdrop operations codenamed “Zhongping”, “Zhongping 2”, and “Shen-ying”.On November 1, an ad hoc transport squadron was established in Tainan, equipped with C-119 transport aircraft received through US military aid.
- In 1959, following the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis, which highlighted the importance of aeromedical evacuation for both military and civilian casualties, the Air Force established the “Aeromedical Evacuation Flight” under the 6th Air Wing on September 1, tasking it with aeromedical evacuation operations for offshore islands. On November 16, under the Air Force Headquarters’ “Operation Yangmingshan”, the 6th Air Wing relocated from Shui-nan, Taichung, to Pingtung Air Base. The 10th Airlift Group, stationed at Pingtung Air Base, was subsequently transferred to the 6th Air Wing.
- On July 16, 1960, the 6th Air Wing established the “Air Transport Base Squadron” to unify command of personnel and supplies concerning air supply, thereby enhancing transport efficiency.
- From April 1, 1966, to April 30, 1970, under operations codenamed “Tien-e 1” to “Tien-e 3”, the Air Force replaced its aging C-46 fleet with C-119s.
- In October 1980, the 101st Squadron of the 10th Airlift Group received four C-123K aircraft from the 34th Squadron, thereby strengthening its air transport capabilities.
- In November 1985, following the US agreement to sell C-130 transport aircraft, the Air Force executed “Operation Taiwu”, sending personnel to receive training on the new aircraft. In the same year, the C-123K was withdrawn from service due to maintenance challenges.
- On July 1, 1986, the 101st Squadron of the 10th Airlift Group was reorganized as the “101st Tactical Troop Transport Squadron”. The 102nd, 103rd, and 2nd Squadrons were also reorganized.
- On June 1, 1995, the 101st Tactical Troop Transport Squadron was reassigned to the 10th Airlift Group, joining the 102nd and 103rd Squadrons.
- In 1998, the former Airlift Squadron was downsized and renamed the “Airdrop Flight”, and reassigned to the 10th Airlift Group.
- On July 1, 2008, the 103rd Squadron of the 10th Airlift Group was disbanded.
Source:
The History of the ROCAF Air Transport Forces. ISBN9789869178921.
History and Operations of the Air Transport Forces, Article 1, Air Force Bimonthly Journal, No.666