The organization was formed as the India-China Wing, ATC (ICWATC) from a consolidation of equipment and personnel of former units of the disbanded India-China Ferry Command in December 1942, which had been established in July 1942 by the Tenth Air Force to transport materiel to China over the Himalayan Mountains ("The Hump").

ICWATC became the India-China Division, with its Eastern and Western Sectors redesignated the Assam and India Wings respectively.

Its mission was the air transport of supplies, personnel, equipment and aircraft within India and China during World War II.

The organization began with two stations (Dinjan and Chabua) and three others under construction, operating less than 60 aircraft.

On 29 January 1944 the ICWATC became the first non-combat organization to be awarded the Presidential Unit Citation, at the personal direction of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, for its efforts flying the Hump.