The 27th Air Transport Group and the 31st Air Transport Group were unique in the ETO and operated differently from other US Army Air Force units.

As the war progressed, it became apparent there was not a cohesive structure in place to serve the transportation, medevac and combat cargo needs across the theater. The logistics involved in supplying Patton’s drive across Europe was nothing short of miraculous. The 27th ATG started life in the 8th Air Force to handle ferry and transport services. It ultimately ended up under the 302nd Transport Wing, along with the 31st ATG, under USSTAF, serving the supply and transport needs of the European Theater of Operations (ETO) and beyond. The 31st ATG was formed under the 9th Air Force. The 27th ATG was made up of the 86th, 87th, 320th, and 321st Transport Squadrons, and the 310th, 311th, 312th, 325th and the 2920th (Provisional) Ferrying Squadrons. By late 1944 the 311th and 312th were functioning as C-47 transport squadrons. There were also two Service Squadrons, the 519th and the 520th.