 The wing's mission was to control the air movement of Army materiel within the United States.Within a year, the wing was moving more air freight within the United States than all commercial airlines combined.In March 1942, however, the Army Air Forces directed Air Service Command to increase the use of contracts with airlines to move freight within the United States "in order to free the equipment of the 50th Transport wing for tactical operations with the parachute troops, airborne infantry, the airborne transportation of [government furnished equipment] and supplies, and depot-to-depot operations."