00440373 2-6244-1A UNCLASSIFIED 2434379 01-01-1953 2434530 06-01-1953

GROUP/6603/AIR BASE

HISTORY K-GP-AB-6603-HI 12943 K0936 1570 1731 43 2447655 05-08-1989 THE MILITARY AIRFIELD LOCATED AT GOOSE BAY, LABRADOR, WAS ESTABLISHED DURING 1941 AND JOINTLY OPERATED BY THE ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FORCE AND UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES AS AN INTERMEDIATE BASE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC FERRYING ROUTE. AN 8 ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM DETACHMENT HAD THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE FIRST UNITED STATES UNIT ASSIGNED TO GOOSE BAY. THE 29 FERRYING SQUADRON (8 FERRYING GROUP) WAS ASSIGNED TO GOOSE BAY ON 4 AUG 42. ON 16 JUN 43, THE 29 FERRYING SQUADRON WAS REDESIGNATED THE 29 TRANSPORT SQUADRON AND WAS DISBANDED 1 SEP 43 WITH ALL PERSONNEL BEING ASSIGNED TO THE NORTH ATLANTIC WING, AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND. THE NORTH ATLANTIC WING BECAME THE NORTH ATLANTIC DIVISION OF AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND ON 15 JUL 44. DURING AUG 43, THE DIVISION WAS REORGANIZED AND ITS FORMER DETACHMENTS CHANGED TO ARMY AIR FORCES BASE UNITS. ON 31 MAR 46, THE BASE WAS PLACED UNDER THE NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND. ON 1 JUN 48, THE NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE MILITARY AIR TRANSPORT SERVICE (MATS). IN JUN 48, THE 1383 AIR FORCE BASE UNIT WAS DISCONTINUED AND THE 538 AIR BASE GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED. ON 1 AUG 48, THE 538 AIR BASE GROUP WAS REDESIGNATED THE 1227 AIR BASE GROUP. ON 19 OCT 50, THE 1227 AIR BASE GROUP BECAME THE 6603 AIR BASE WING AND ON 1 AUG 52, THE WING WAS CHANGED TO A GROUP. NONE