--The Big Time --
The Big Time is published by the Rhodes Publishing Company, Franklin, Indiana, as a civilian enterprise in the interest of the personnel of Atterbury Air Force Base under the provisions of AFR 34-4.  The newspaper is not  to be regarded in any sense as n official publication of Atterbury Air Force Base, no is the appearance of paid advertising herein to be considered as constituting an endorsement by military authorities.  Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of Air Force.

News matter pertaining to Atterbury Air Force Base, is furnished by the Atterbury Air Force Base Information and Education Office, is available for  general release.  Armed Forces Press Service (AFPS) material appearing in The Big Time may not be reprinted without written permission of tThe Armed Forces Press Service.

All advertising correspondence should be directed to The Big Time, Robert A. Rhodes, Publisher, P. O. Box 29, Franklin, Indiana.  National Representative: Co-operative Publishing Company, Advertising Agency, 114 Lincolnway West, Mishawaka, Indiana. Phone 5-4448

10/21/1952

Wing Given Name of "Air Lifters" - The Hoosier, 87th Troop Carrier Wing, has chosen the name of "Air Lifters" as theirs for as long as they are activated.  So, from here on in the boys who originated the famous battle cry "Reisooh" will be called the "Air Lifters".

Inventory of 87th Reservists Conducted at this Base.

Base nursery operating on regular schedule.  The Base Nursery, located in the old WAF quarters, is available for the children of military personnel of this base.  Mrs. Harriet Gilsenan, a registered nurse ois on duty during nursery hours.  A charge of 25 cents for the first child and 5 cents for each additional child per hour will be made. 

Hoosier farmer gets "the Old Bird".  It all hinges on the fact that when the full moon is right, at a certain time of the year, the Canadian Honkers get in the moon for their yearly migration to warmer climes.  Since Atterbury AFB is on the main line south, the sky is full of big birds.  Consequently, Saturday night at 2100 hours, Lt. Robert L. Conley, B Flight Commander, tangles with the number two man of Goosy-Gander Flight B, and dropped him in the back porch of farmer Zeke Brown, R. R. 3, Garden City, Indiana.

Colonel William S. Pocock, base commander, offers the use of he log cabin on the base to the local Boy Scouts.

12/04/1952

The Flying Boxcars of Atterbury Air Force Base opened their season with a bang, by snowing under 2nd Air Reserve District 72 to 41.

12/24/1952

The White House, Washington, Christmas 1952.
To the Armed Forces of the United States:
Another Christmas finds so very many of you far from home on battle station or standing guard for the protection of our country, and I want you to know how proud we all are of your unselfish devotion to the great undertaking in which we are engaged.  The task you have set for yourselves is nothing less than the salvation of the world.  Mankind will lay no finer tribute upon the alter this Christmas than the courage and loyalty you are showing in this bitter struggle for world peace.  The thoughts and prayers of all of us at home are with you on this day.  Your victory in the fight for freedom is our hope, and indeed the hope of the world, for that day when Christmas will again b a season for peaceful rejoicing.
Signed, Harry S. Truman

Atterbury AFB headquarters for "Wheels" - Editor's note: This story is the first of a series written especially to acquaint reserve and base personnel with the jobs of the many sections it takes to make a base run.  "Could I have a vehicle at building 54 right away?"  Pick up the phone call 118 and transportation is yours for the asking (provided that it's for official business). Sounds easy, doesn't it? And that is just about the extent of knowledge of the base motor pool that most personnel can lay claim to.  Dig in a little bit and you'll find a complicated but smoothly functioning set up.  Actually the motor pool is responsible for every military vehicle on the tit- base. That includes refueling trucks through fork lifts.  Daily duties of some motor pool driver might include anything from hauling around food and material through a sightseeing tour for members of the 87th through the Allison plant in Indianapolis Just last Wednesday one of the d]rivers had to haul two 90-foot telephone poles down from Indianapolis. Can you imagine getting through "Naptown" traffic with a  couple of those things in tow? And what about that last sharp curve just before you come into the air base.   Children and garbage are among the items hauled by our  motor pool. The children during tile Kiwanis Kids Day last Fall and the garbage daily.  Busses are furnished to the ROTC cadets at near-by Universities too, and with them go the drivers. The Air Force Exhibits at the Indiana State Fair last summer were delivered compliments of out, drivers.  Driving is a small part of the overall mission of the motor pool, though.  Even though small it is important. Think you could wheel one of those long trailer jobs around the corners or through traffic hereabouts? With driving goes courtesy of the road and the base drivers have this drummed into them every day by the NCO's and '*brass." "Courtesy is contagious the saying goes. A driver's School is run by the motor pool and those who can't drive (the number would surprise you) are taught how.  Remember the State Trooper that lectured here riot long ago? The Motor pool arranged for that too.  The base funeral details travel throughout the state of Indiana compliments of the motor pool.  Second Air Reserve District and many of the Universities in the area have their vehicles serviced at our base motor pool. Each motor pool driver is thoroughly versed in the art of first echelon or preventative maintenance and upon them falls the burden of keeping vehicles in shape, internally as well as externally.  The Maintenance section handles major repairs. "We take care of everything with the exception of major body repairs," MSgt. Bill Wulfers of the Maintenance section said. Vehicle utilization, a high sounding phrase that means that each vehicle is used to the utmost, is another job of the motor pool. Frequent checks are made of the. various sections assigned permanent vehicles to make sure that they receive full usage. And do the vehicles of our motor pool get full usage? Consider the 27,351 official miles run up last September according to T-Sgt  Leader, NCOIC, and that's about average for any month. If you could drive a car continuously at 50 MPH without stopping for gas and oil and red lights you would have to drive for over twenty-three clays to rack up that many miles. 

01/14/1953

Snow storm hits Atterbury.  C-46's on the base ramp sit idle as the snowstorm temporarily halts Reserve flying operations.

Rain is Predicted Only Not made Here

Base weather forecasters check over latest weather map coming in on facsimile machine. Left to right are, Lt. Gordon Eide, T-Sgt. Edgar Inman, and Captain Norman Heilman, C.O. of base weather detachment.  (Editor's note: This story is one in a series written especially to acquaint reserve and base personnel with the jobs of the many sections it takes to make a base run.)

Neither wind. rain. sleet nor snow will keep these men from making their appointed rounds. to paraphrase an old saying about postmen. Add to this, 24 hours a day and the fact that weather is the business of these men and you hake a summary of the base weather men.  Members of the 21st Weather Detachment. a MATS unit attached To Atterbury Air Force Base. work around the clock to provide information about weather throughout the country to pilots at the air base.  Flight crews know the importance of this vital information and are familiar with weather station procedures, but the average layman is pretty much in the dark as to just who goes on in the little building surrounded by towers and crammed with odd looking instruments.  Primarily, there are two major jobs for personnel at the weather station. The first is observation. The other forecasting.  Observers take readings on the weather hourly. or more frequently during changeable weather , throughout the day and night. Among other things they read the temperature. measure precipitation. check the barometer, sky conditions. including height and type of clouds and the wind direction and speed.  This information is sent out immediately after the observation each hour to other stations throughout the nation via teletype. By the same token all the other MATS weather stations in the country do the same thing - the end result being that each station has up to the minute weather information for all other areas in the country.  In addition. the observers plot their information and. the information that comes in from other stations on an overall weather map giving both weather men and flight crews the "big picture" of the weather situation throughout the country.  The forecasters analyze weather maps. both surface and upper air types. They issue daily forecasts and check the weather along flight routes with pilots telling them what they can expect on the way. On occasion (during the balmier periods of the year )they have been known to assist base personnel with some "picnic predictions!"   Biggest gripe among forecasters is the fact that old mother nature won't always cooperate with them Forecasts up to 24 hours in advance average 85 per cent correct The forecasters also give out weather predictions up to five days in advance but the rate of accuracy goes down when they get away from the 24 hour variety.  While we were talking to Master Sergeant Edgar Innian Jr., the station chief. Captain Norman G Hellman. weather officer: and Lieutenant Gordan R. Eide. 2 forecaster. they mentioned jet streams."  Innocently, we asked, "You don't
have to worry about them do you? We don't have any jets here. Laughing at our naiveté, they informed us that a "jet stream"  is a thin stream of fast moving air located "below the tropopause.  What's a tropopause?" We asked.  "That's located between the stratosphere and the troposphere. they replied.  After watching the dull look on our faces for a full minute anD
realized that our pride wouldn't let us appear any dumber than we already seemed they took pity and told us, the troposphere is "What you're living in now."  Do you guys have many words like that?" we asked.  Then one of the observers walked over and said. "Hey, what's this about the pseudeoadiabatic charts being replaced by Skew T log p diagrams?" (apologies here to the Linotype man!)  We decided to say "So-Long' and hunt up a place where they spoke English the next time.

02/12/1953

Colonel Herbert O. Hamilton New Base Commander, succeeding Colonel William S. Pocock, Jr., who has been base CO for the past two years.

An Ingenious Lot - The Aircraft Maintenance Crew
(This Is the fourth In a series of articles published by the Big Time to acquaint base personnel with the various sections on the bass.)
The overall mission of Aircraft Maintenance is to repair and maintain aircraft of 'he C46 style mostly. To them falls the job of seeing that everyone of the C-46's is in good working order. If something goes wrong with one of the planes they have to go out, regardless of the weather, and fix, it so that plane can carry out its mission. Though seemingly, not a glamorous job, Aircraft Maintenance is the section that keeps the Air Force moving.  Aircraft Maintenance has invented some very interesting and useful things. In the welding section they've made crew chief stands. They were unable -to get these through Supply, so they made them. The stands are done except for- the wheels which are still being made. The wheels are made from an old cast iron pipe. Then, after the wheel is cut, a piece of steel is welded onto the wheel, and in the end you have the finished product. Once the wheels are added, to) the already constructed frame, it is sent to the paint shop for several coats of yellow paint and later on it will be put to use.  Over in the engine build-up you'll find several interesting things. This is the department where the C-46 engines are really given a going over. They have devised here, a method of saving time when rebuilding an engine. Instead of taking the engine out of a C-46, then taking some of the accessories off the old engine and transferring them to the new one, they build the new engine up and when it comes time to take the old one out, all they have to do is take the old one out and put the new one in. This method has saved quite a bit of time in man hours.  Also, in the engine build-up department they, have several time saving inventions which they made themselves. One is used for cleaning aircraft. It's in the form of an old hot water tank. They made an intake valve and an outlet valve on it. In the tank itself they put a cleaning solvent which is used to clean the aircraft. On the intake valve they connect an air hose that will build up enough pressure, so when another hose is connected to the outlet valve there is enough pressure in the tank to force the solvent at such a force it takes the dirt and grease off with ease.  Their other invention is also. a cleaning apparatus.  It's a tank containing cleaning solvent that is used in cleaning smaller parts of an engine.  In the tank itself they have a coil which has air going through it to circulate the solvent.   All they have to do is put the part or parts into the tank and connect the air compressor to the coil and leave it on over night. In the morning the part, or parts, will be cleaned and ready for use.  They also have an engine that has been cut away to show how an engine operates. They use this for training the Reserves when they are here on weekends. They connected a motor to the engine, so when it is turned on, it will show to the reserves all the moving parts of an aircraft engine.  Over in hanger No. I there's a trailer on which the various things used in an aircraft are kept. An air compressor with an additional boast on it, a starter for the planes which need it, a metal box containing hydraulic fluid, and a small barrel of isaproply alcohol, will all be found on this trailer. It's a time saving device, and saves "lugging" it out to the night line when needed. Ali they have to do is hook the trailer to a tug, and take the whole thing out to the plane.
Still another invention of Aircraft Maintenance is a wood block used in front and back of the main wheels when a plane is not in use.  Officer-In-Charge is Chief Warrant Officer Clarence Norton and MSgt Kuyhendall is NCOIC.

02/25/1953

87th TCW Gets New Designation - Is Now 434th Troop Carrier Wing
The Hoosier number has returned!  As of February 1st, the 87th Troop Carrier Wing has been the 434th Troop Carrier Wing, it was recently announced.  The change is occasioned by the fact that the 434th number has always been an Indiana designation.  Formerly the 434th TCW had trained and been called to active service at Atterbury Air Force Base.  A year ago, the 434th was shipped to Lawson AFB, Georgia where it was consolidated under 18th Air Force.  It was recently inactivated, since many of the outfit had served their reserve obligations and were being separated.  So, reservists, you are now members of the 434th Troop Carrier  Wing.  As such, you retain all of its history and colors.  In World War IIa the 434th was one of the outfits that conducted paradrops in Holland and Normandy shortly after D-Day in France.

Word has been received that barracks No. 48 will be converted into a chapel.  Plans call for a steeple to be put on the barracks which will contain a bell that was donated by the Pennsylvania Railroad.  Word has been received that a Chaplain has been assigned to this base.  He is 1st Lt. Walters.  He is expected to arrive shortly after Easter.

03/11/1953

11 Bail Out Safely in Atterbury C-46 Crash - One injured, nine take first jumps into raging snow storm near Avon.  On a routine navigational flight from Lowry AFB, Colorado, an Atterbury AFB C-46 crashed and burned near Avon, Indiana, after passengers and crew members had parachuted to safety.  Capt. Robert L. Conley, Bedford, Indiana, pilot, ordered the jump after the C-46 developed engine trouble and the gasoline ran out.  Capt. Conley, a reservist with the 434th Troop Carrier Wing, and co-pilot 1st Lt. H. V. Frame, of Bloomington, accredit the safe jump to the aid of their crew chiefs, SSgt, George Ransburg and SSgt Gibson Dixon, both members of the 2466th AFRCTC.  SSgt Patrick Tripp was also on board.  Lt. J. H. Yetto, was injured seriously after being dragged along the ground by the wind for some distance.  He is responding to treatment in Veterans Hospital, Indianapolis. 

04/08/1953

434th "Operation Ferret" set for weekend - Exercise to provide valuable training - Mostly on paper.

Summer camp dates changed - Active duty tour of Reserve Wing set for 5-19 July.  Following the 434th at Atterbury AFB will be the 438th Fighter-Bomber Wing of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

04/22/1953

To the Officers and Airmen of Atterbury Air Force Base.
Friday, 8 May 1953, is Atterbury Day.  It's really your day - each of you, officers and airmen, since you are the ones who will benefit by the improvements derived from this event.  Initiated by your NCOs, this project has as its aim the improvement of the areas of the base;  the construction of recreational facilities such as a golf driving range and miniature golf course, and the beautification of the Base where you live and work.  It is all an outside job.  Everyone has signified a desire to help in making our Base better.  One afternoon of concerted effort by all of you, I am sure, will get more done than could be accomplished piecemeal in a year.  Atterbury Day will call for your sincere cooperation - all of you.  An afternoon spent in this manner, plus your enthusiasm, should make this the biggest thing that has happened to this Base since it opened.  It'll be a lot of hard work.  When the afternoon is over, however, and we all stand back and look at what's been done, I am sure that each of us will experience a satisfaction that comes from improving our home.

Colonel Bradshaw Named 434th TCW Commanding Officer.  Replaces Col. George C. Riley.

"Operation Ferret" rated a success - Indiana's 434th TCW got a real workout during their weekend training last Saturday and Sunday as they went through their first big training exercise.

First Squadron dance will be held in Hangar 3.

The main duty, the books say, of, Atterbury AFB's Instrument Trainer section, is to train pilots in the art and procedures of instrument flying.  But to those who work in the section, it's regarded as a "life-saving' course.  The instrument training section, with four airmen and one officer, has been giving this instruction to, not only base and attached pilots, but has been teaching members of the 87th the finer points of such things as radio range procedures, radio compass procedures, -instrument. landing procedures (OLS, GCA), and general -instrument familiarization.  Actually, there are two types of trainers available. The first is the 1942 version well known to everyone -- the Link. The others (there are two of them) are simulators, -commonly called the PC. Both types get a full-time workout daily.  Training consists of a considerable number of lectures on the background of these things, and then, when they feel that the student knows how the devices work, there is more checkout in flying procedures.  Working in the section are TSgt. Warren Hilt, A1C Ray Keibler, A1C Arnold Engel, and A2C James W. Gray. In charge of the section is Captain James A. Smith, acting operations officer. These men work in pleasant surroundings, since the building is air conditioned in the summer time. But wait--before you say, "what a deal," don't, think that this air conditioning is only for the pleasure of those working in there. It's there to control the dust and humidity. This air conditioning has saved Uncle Sam a good many dollars in repairs by keeping the temperature, air, and humidity just right.  The P-2s offer the biggest maintenance problem to those working in the section. When you get more than 130 tubes in a trainer like the P-2, It's a touch and go proposition to keep all of fern in working order. Most of the electrical circuits are built to tolerances of .0025.  There is no way of knowing how many pilots have been saved from accidents by the training received in the section, or even how many have practiced up in the trainers. The peak month of operation since the section opened with the base in June of 1949 was June of 1951, when the old 434th TCW logged more than 550 hours.  One of the projects,. now, under way In the section is to run flight engineers through the same courses of instrument training that pilots get.' This doesn't mean that the engineers will learn to fly; just that they will have a better working knowledge of what the pilot is doing at all times.  Right now the section Is trying to clear the decks for action, to train many Civil Air Patrol wings, in the summertime an important part of their duties.  They have helped train wings from as far west as Kansas City, and as far east was Wilmington, Delaware. This includes wings from Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, and Delaware.  As one of the more interesting spots on the base, the section often gets many visitors, including boy and girl scouts, civic organizations, and CAP members.

05/27/1953

Armed Forces Day Is Washout - Literally.  The rains came - the people didn't.

Atterbury Days Prove Their Worth
Among the projects completed: a skeet range rejuvenated; picnic area near completion; softball diamond; salvage yard cleaned up; tent area cleaned; gravel paths refurbished throughout most of the base; base Nursery fence and play equipment panted; base trash cans painted; grass cut and the transient and VIP billets cleaned up.

First Hoosier POW Returns Home !
On May 8 at 10:20 a.m., Atterbury AFB was the scene of a special "Welcome Home" ceremony.  A1C William A. Hillycord, a native of Columbus, Indiana, arrived here on the last lap of a trip that brought him from a North Korean prison camp.  A1C Hillycord was the first Indiana man to be returned home.  He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Hillycord, Sr., 1714 Cottage Avenue, Columbus.  HIllycord was forced to bail out  of his B-26 bomber after it was hit by flak over North Korea.  He was injured in the jump, and will, after a 30-day furlough with his family, be returned to the Camp Atterbury Hospital for further medical treatment.  He arrived at Atterbury AFB via a C-47 from Scott AFB, Illinois.

06/11/1953

Bus Schedule - Weekdays: leaves Motor Pool: 1800,2100,2300.  Last run from Columbus Post Office will be 2345 daily.  Saturday & Sunday: Leaves Motor Pool: 1300, 1500, 1800, 2100, 2300.  Sunday Church runs: Leaves Motor Pool 0730 & 0930.  Base Bus Stops: Motor Pool, NCO Mess, Service Club, BOQ, Base Hdqts., Ball Diamond, Main Gate.  Columbus Bus Stops: Donner Center, Train Depot, Bus Station, Servicemen's Center, Post Office, Donner Center

06/25/1953

"Old" 434th TCW Has First Reunion - Members of the 434th TCW Association, former members of the 434th TCW, a reserve unit trained and activated at this base and transferred to Lawton AFB, Georgia for duty, held their first reunion last weekend at the Antlers Hotel in Indianapolis.  Among the dignitaries present were, the former commander of the 434th and present honorary president of the association, Brig. Gen. Lacy V. Murrow, the Atterbury AFB commander, Colonel Herbert O. Hamilton, and the commander of the present day 434th Reserve Troop Carrier Wing, reactivated here after its deactivation at Lawton last year, Colonel John Bradshaw.

07/09/1953

434th Processes Sunday for Two Weeks Training - Outstanding Performance Awards presentation to be July 18.  The processing line was set up in the hangar with C-46s hovering in the background.

Troop Carrier Demonstration and Static Display set for Friday, July 10.  Aircraft seldom seen here will include a C-124 Globemaster, a C-82 Boxcar, three C-119s and an H-19 helicopter.  In the afternoon a demonstration of paradropping will be by the 324th.

07/18/1953

Saturday Ceremonies to End 434th Camp.  10AF Commander General Grussedorf to view parade.

The picture was taken during a demonstration by the 314th TCW of Sewart AFB, Tennessee.  It shows the evacuation of wounded by C-119.  A H-10 helicopter circles overhead.

434th Journeys to Bangor, Maine.  "Operation Lobster" climaxes camp.  Nine C-46's made the 900 mile-plus trip.  Three of the nine C-46s pass over the Niagara River in route to Dow AFB, Bangor, Maine.

Six pilots of the 434th TCW earned their instrument cards during the training, the 2466th flight training section announced.

07/31/1953

C-46s Change to Mustangs; 438th Arrives for Camp - The "Flying Badger Wing", the 438th Fighter-Bomber Wing, flying P-51s and T-6 trainers arrives for summer training, July 26 thru August 8. On August 3, 4 and 5, the 438th will move to Camp Atterbury to test their proficiency on 45s and carbines.

"We're Celebrating" - Happy Anniversary!  This issue will mark our "1st" anniversary as a newspaper.  The Big Time is published by the Rhodes Publishing Company and is printd by the Franklin Printing Service.  Copy, make-up, layout and art work are done by personnel of the Reserve Information Office and Base Photo Lab.

11/15/1953

434th TCW On The Way Up !  All-Hoosier Air Force Reserve Wing membership continues to increase.  "Operation Roundup", a drive by the 434th to acquaint young men and women with the activities and benefits make the wing the top manned AF Reserve Wing in the U. S.

Colonel Herbert O. Hamilton assumed command of the 2466th AFRCombat Training Center, at Atterbury AFB in February 1953.

Colonel John O. Bradshaw assumed command of the all-Hoosier 434th TCW in April 1953

History of Atterbury AFB

Atterbury Air Force Base, although actually located 14 miles south of Camp Atterbury, was named after the Camp in February, 1942. Camp Atterbury was named in honor of Brigadier General W. W. Atterbury, a native of New Albany, Indiana, born in 1866. During World War 1, General Atterbury was in command of transportation and supplies in Europe. A graduate of Yale University, he later became president of Pennsylvania Railroad.  During World War II, before the USAF became a separate military service, and while it was still known as the Army Air Corps, Atterbury AB was used in the training of Troop Carrier groups. Shortly after the war the base was deactivated.  From 1946 until 15 May 1949, the base was permitted to slowly deteriorate under the Indiana weather. In 1948 the Air Force was established as a separate service and in May 1949, orders were received by the 2466th Air Force Reserve Combat Training Center, based at Stout Field, Indianapolis, to assist in forming a cadre of men to rehabilitate Atterbury AFB. By June 20, 1949, the rehabilitation was sufficiently completed to permit the 2466th AFR based at Stout Field, Indianapolis,
to assist in forming a cadre of men to rehabilitate Atterbury AFB. By June 20, 1949, the re-habilitation was sufficiently completed to permit the 2466th AFR CTC, to start. moving in.  This unit quickly moved down U. S. highway 31 into its now home. The move was scarcely completed when the first of the Air Force Reserve Wings, the 434th Troop Carrier Wing, started training.  Atterbury Air Force Base was reborn.  Shortly after the start of the Korea war the 434th was called to active duty, trained, at Atterbury AFB firs,. then moved to Lawton AFB,, Georgia. A new reserve wing was organized. the 923rd Troop Carrier Wing, later redisignated the 87th TCW. When the original 434th had completed its tour of active duty and was deactivated. the 434th title reverted back to Indiana.
Presently, Atterbury AFB is the only active AF base in the state of Indiana. It serves as a refueling point for many military. transient aircraft. Its primary mission remains the training of the all Indiana 434th Troop Carrier Wing.  Atterbury AFB is located 2 miles north of Columbus, Indiana, about 45 miles south of Indianapolis, and about 65 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky.

History of the 434th TCW

The 434th Troop Carrier Wing (Reserve) received its designation from the 434th Troop Carrier Group, Medium, a World War II unit constituted 30 January 1943, at an Army Base in Alliance, Nebraska.  It participated in Troop Carrier and aerial supply missions over Europe where it earned battle credits for Normandy, Southern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. It also earned the Distinguished Unit Citation in France for actions performed 5-7 June 1944.  The 434th TCW was activated as an all-Hoosier AF Reserve unit in 1949, and trained at Atterbury AFB, Columbus Indiana, until shortly after the Korean War. On May 1, 1951, it was called to active duty after a short stay at Atterbury AFB, where the. unit was equipped, the 434th moved to Lawton AFB, Georgia.  On February 1, 1953, the original 434th TCW was deactivated, most of its personnel completed their military service requirements, and the wing designation was given to the new reserve wing which had been established at Atterbury AFB, the then 87th Troop Carrier Wing.  Presently, the 434th Troop Carrier Wing is again training at Atterbury AFB, one weekend a month. The unit is well on the way to becoming one of the top-manned Air Force Reserve Wings in the United States.  The 434th is now a non-designated unit, which means that it could only be called to active service by an Act of Congress, something which should only happen in the event of an all out war.  At this time, the 434th flies C-46 Curtis Commando type transport aircraft. Because the 434th is made up of Hoosiers it has been given he nickname, The Hoosier Wing.--

Wing Represents AF in Motion Picture
A motion picture team from the Department of Defense visited Atterbury AFB on the weekend of the 14th-15th of November to shoot film footage for a motion picture to be released early next year on the reserve forces of the United States.  The 434th TCW furnished the "actors" and "extras" for the production.  Although complete information was not available at this writing, it was anticipated that the photo team would follow an air crew through training.  Pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator, engineer and crew chief plus an instructor pilot were to make up the probable crew.  The team was to cover classroom work and actual on-the-job training as well as other phases of the reserve training program.  The 434th was also to make actual paradrops, the first for the unit, during the movie making and fly low in formation.

Troop Carrier Operations Varied - Can Transport Almost Anything
The 434th, Indiana's Wing, is a Troop Carrier Wing, an Air Force Reserve unit. During World War II, the 434th Troop Carrier Group, from which the Wing gets its name, dropped paratroops and supplies on a number of fronts in Europe, including Normandy.
The role of Troop Carrier operations is varied. Briefly, they transport troops and supplies. During World War II, Patton's "Right Hook" across France was stalled for lack of fuel until air transport aircraft flew it to him. In Korea aerial supply and re-supply became so frequent as to become commonplace. G r o u n d units cut off by land were airlifted to safety or reinforced from the air. Food, ammunition and other supplies were brought in to them either through "strip landing" or air drop. A complete bridge was dropped to one unit in Korea, section by section. Air transport aircraft carry wounded - from the actual battlefield back as far as the United States - a factor responsible for saving any lives by saving time.  Entire divisions have been dropped by parachute and once dropped. they can be supplied by tile air. An entire city was supplied by airlift. Berlin. Modern cargo aircraft of the Air Force carry almost anything-men. machines, artillery. trucks, food. fuel, mail, blood.  Should this country be attacked, our major cities besieged, members of the "Hoosier Wing" could swing into almost immediate action transporting food and medical supplies into besieged areas and evacuating wounded, or they could transport troops and supplies to an established front; or fly paratroopers and Infantry units to specific areas to establish a front. At the summer encampment of tile 434th in 1953, the Wing carried out such an operation, transporting the entire Wing to Bangor, Me., and back on short notice. During weekend training sessions, the Hoosier Wing's air crews get similar problems to carry out preparing them for any future eventuality.