Return to Aviation
Historical Chronology
WORLD WAR II 1940-1945
Thirty years after the Navy had acquired its first airplane, and
only 19 years after it had acquired its first aircraft carrier,
naval aviation faced the supreme test of war. When it was called
upon to carry the fight to the enemy, it not only carried out
its tasks, but forged ahead to become the very backbone of fleet
striking power.
If it had not already been shown in combat before the United States
entered the war, all doubts as to the potency of naval air power
were removed by the infamous, yet skillfully executed attack on
Pearl Harbor, when Japanese carrier aircraft in one swift stroke
devastated our principal naval base in the Pacific and eliminated
a major portion of the Navy's heavy surface power. That our own
forces had the kernel of a similar potential was demonstrated
on a much smaller scale as carrier forces struck the first retaliatory
blows.
The geographic position of the United States put it squarely between
two wars that had little in common. Air operations on the Atlantic
side, except for participation in three amphibious operations,
were essentially a blockade and a campaign to protect ships delivering
raw materials to our factories and war munitions and reinforcements
to our Allies. In the Pacific, it was a matter of stopping an
enemy advance which, in a few short months, had spread over all
the western and parts of the south and central Pacific, and then
carrying out the bitterly contested task of driving him homeward
across the broad expanse of an island-dotted sea.
The country was hardly ready for either campaign. The Navy and
Marine Corps air arms could muster only 7 large and 1 small aircraft
carriers, 5 patrol wings and 2 Marine aircraft wings, 5,900 pilots
and 21,678 enlisted men; 5,233 aircraft of all types including
trainers, and a few advanced air bases. But aided by its distance
from the enemy and fortunate in its industrial power, the United
States built the ships, planes and equipment, and trained the
land, sea and air forces that ultimately beat down the enemy,
drove him from strategically located bases, cut off his raw materials,
and placed the allied forces in position to launch final air and
amphibious offensives against his homeland--offensives that were
made unnecessary as the awesome destructive power of the atom
was released upon Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
For the first time in history, naval engagements were fought entirely
in the air without opposing surface forces sighting each other.
New words and phrases entered the aviator's lexicon; words like
air support, hunter-killer, JATO, CIC, CAP, bogie, scramble and
splash. Radar lighted the night and gave new eyes to the fleet;
advances in technology, particularly in electronics, improved
the defense and added power to the offense. The scientist contributed
directly to the war effort in both the development of specialized
equipment and in the application of scientific principles to operational
tactics. Logistics took on new importance. Refueling and replenishment
at sea were developed to a high art and increased the mobility
and staying power of fleet forces.
In the course of the war, Navy and Marine pilots destroyed over
15,000 enemy aircraft in the air and on the ground, sank 174 Japanese
warships, including 13 submarines, totaling 746,000 tons, sank
447 Japanese merchant ships totaling 1,600,000 tons and, in the
Atlantic, destroyed 63 German U-boats. (In combination with other
agents, Navy and Marine air helped sink another 157,000 tons of
war and 200,000 tons of merchant ships and another six Japanese
and 20 German submarines.) It was a creditable record, but the
Navy's air arm did not play an entirely independent role. It operated
as it had developed, as an integral part of naval forces, contributing
its full share to the power of the fleet and to the achievement
of its mission in controlling the sea.
Many have said that World War II witnessed the full development
of aviation, but generalities are often misleading. Many of the
opinions expressed before the war on the effect of air power on
naval operations were shown up as misconceived, if not false,
theories. The bombing tests of the 1920's proved to some that
navies were obsolete and that no ship could again operate within
the range of land-based air, but carrier task force operations
in the war gave a lie to such conclusions. Advocates of independent
air power questioned both the possibility and the usefulness of
close air support for troops, but such support was proved not
only possible but indispensable. Those who questioned the importance
of the airplane to navies were equally off the mark. The disappointment
of naval officers who visualized fleet engagements in the tradition
of Trafalgar and Jutland was no doubt as great as that of the
air power theorists who had seen their predictions go awry. By
test of war it had become exceedingly clear that neither an Army
nor a Navy could either survive or achieve an objective in war
without first achieving superiority in the air. It had also become
clear that neither could exert as much force by itself as it could
with the aid of air striking power. Aviation had indeed come of
age.
JANUARY
4--Project Baker was established in Patrol Wing 1 for the purpose
of conducting experiments with blind landing equipment.
FEBRUARY
15--The Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet, noting that reports on
air operations in the European War stressed the need of reducing
aircraft vulnerability, recommended that naval aircraft be equipped
with leak-proof or self-sealing fuel tanks and with armor for
pilots and observers. Although the Bureaus of Aeronautics and
Ordnance had been investigating these forms of protection for
two years, this formal statement of need gave added impetus and
accelerated procurement and installation of both armor and self-sealing
fuel tanks.
24--The Bureau of Aeronautics issued a contract for television
equipment, including camera, transmitter, and receiver, that was
capable of airborne operation. Such equipment promised to be useful
both in transmitting instrument readings obtained from radio-controlled
structural flight tests, and in providing target and guidance
information necessary should radio-controlled aircraft be converted
to offensive weapons.
27--Development of the "Flying Flapjack", a fighter
aircraft with an almost circular wing, was initiated with notice
of a contract award to Vought-Sikorsky Aircraft for the design
of the V-173--a full-scale flying model (as distinguished from
a military prototype). This design, based upon the research of
a former NACA engineer, Charles H. Zimmerman, was attractive because
it promised to combine a high speed of near 500 m.p.h. with a
very low takeoff speed.
29--The Bureau of Aeronautics initiated action that led to a contract
with Professor H. O. Croft, University of Iowa, to investigate
the possibilities of a turbojet propulsion unit for aircraft.
MARCH
19--To assist in the identification of U.S. aircraft on the Neutrality
Patrol, Fleet activities were authorized to apply additional National
Star Insignia on the sides of the fuselage or hull of aircraft
so employed.
22--Development of guided missiles was initiated at the Naval
Aircraft Factory with the establishment of a project for adapting
radio controls to a torpedo-carrying TG-2 airplane.
APRIL
23--Commander D. Royce was designated to represent the Navy on
an Army Air Corps Evaluation Board for rotary-wing aircraft. This
board was established incidental to legislation directing the
War Department to undertake governmental development of rotary-wing
aircraft.
25--Wasp was commissioned at Boston, Captain J. W. Reeves,
Jr., commanding.
MAY
20--The Commanding Officer of the destroyer Noa (DD 343) reported
on successful operations conducted off the Delaware Capes in which
an XSOC-1, piloted by Lieutenant G. L. Heap, was hoisted over
the side for takeoff and was recovered by the ship while underway.
As an epilogue to preliminary operations conducted at anchor on
15 May, Lieutenant Heap made an emergency flight transferring
a stricken seaman from the Noa in Harbor of Refuge, Del., to the
Naval Hospital, Philadelphia.
27--The Secretary directed that six destroyers of the DD 445-Class
be equipped with catapult, plane, and plane handling equipment.
DD's 476-481, Pringle, Stanly, Hutchins, Stevens, Halford,
and Leutze, were subsequently selected. Shortcomings in
the plane hoisting gear led to removal of the aviation equipment
from the first three ships prior to their joining the fleet in
early 1943. In October 1943, after limited aircraft operations
by the Stevens and the Halford, aviation equipment
was ordered removed from them and plans for its installation on
the Leutze were canceled.
JUNE
14--The Naval Expansion Act included authorization for an increase
in aircraft carrier tonnage of 79,500 tons over the limits set
17 May 1938, and a revision of authorized aircraft strength to
4,500 useful airplanes.
15--Congress revised its previous action and set the aircraft
ceiling at 10,000 useful airplanes, including 850 for the Naval
Reserve, and not more than 48 useful airships.
25--The Aeronautical Engineering Duty Only (AEDO) designation
was abolished and all men appointed to that special duty were
designated for Engineering Duty Only (EDO).
25--The Chief of Naval Operations promulgated plans for an expanded
flight training program calling for the assignment of 150 students
per month beginning 1 July, and a regular increase to an entry
rate of 300 per month within a year.
27--The President established a National Defense Research Committee
to correlate and support scientific research on the mechanisms
and devices of war. Among its members were officers of the War
and Navy Departments appointed by the respective Secretaries.
Although research on the problems of flight was specifically excluded
from its functions, this organization made substantial contributions
in various fields of importance to naval aviation, including airborne
radar.
JULY
14--The initial meeting of what became the National Defense Research
Committee's Division 14, or Radar Division, was attended by Alfred
L. Loomis, Ralph Bowen, E. L. Bowles and Hugh H. Willis. In this
and subsequent meetings with other scientists, this group defined
its mission as "to obtain the most effective military application
of microwaves in minimum time." In carrying out this mission,
Division 14 developed airborne radar used in the Navy for aircraft
interception, airborne early warning and other more specialized
applications.
19--Authorization for a further expansion of the Navy provided
an increase of 200,000 tons in the aircraft carrier limits set
the previous month, and a new aircraft ceiling of 15,000 useful
planes. The act also allowed further increases in aircraft strength
on Presidential approval.
AUGUST
5--The Chief Of Naval Operations established general ground rules
for exchange of scientific and technical information with a British
mission, generally known as the Tizard Mission after its senior
member Sir Henry Tizard. In general, free exchange of information
was expected on matters concerning aviation, including the field
later called radar. The degree of exchange actually achieved surpassed
expectations so that the coming of the Tizard Mission served as
a benchmark in the interchange of scientific and technical information
regarding World War II weaponry.
12--The Bureau of Ordnance informally requested the National Defense
Research Committee to sponsor development, on a priority basis,
of proximity fuzes with particular emphasis on anti-aircraft use.
Such fuzes had been under consideration for some time and the
decision to undertake development followed receipt from the Tizard
Mission of reports of British progress.
17--Section T (so called for its Chairman, Dr. Merle A. Tuve)
of Division A, National Defense Research Committee, was established
to examine the feasibility of various approaches to developing
a proximity fuze. Eight days later, a contract was issued to the
Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington,
for the research that culminated in the radio VT fuze for anti-aircraft
guns and both radio and photoelectric VT fuzes for bombs and rockets.
29--The exchange with the British Tizard Mission of scientific
and technical information concerning radar began at a conference
attended by Sir Henry Tizard, two of his associates, and representatives
of the U.S. Army and Navy including Lieutenant J. A. Moreno of
the Bureau of Aeronautics. The initial conference dealt primarily
with the British techniques for detecting German bombers but touched
upon means of identifying friendly aircraft. In follow-on meetings,
British developments of shipboard and airborne radar were also
discussed. A British disclosure growing out of this exchange of
particular importance for airborne radar application was the cavity
magnetron, a tube capable of generating high power radio waves
of a few centimeters in length.
SEPTEMBER
2--In exchange for 50 four-stack destroyers, Great Britain, by
formal agreement ceded to the United States for a period of 99
years, sites for naval and air bases in the Bahamas, Jamaica,
St. Lucia, Trinidad, Antigua, and British Guiana, and extended
similar rights freely and without consideration for bases in Bermuda
and Newfoundland. Acquisition of these sites advanced our sea
frontiers several hundred miles and provided bases from which
naval ships and aircraft could cover strategically important sea
approaches to our coast and to the Panama Canal.
OCTOBER
3--The Chief of Naval Operations requested the Naval Attache at
London to obtain samples of a variety of British radio echo equipments
(radar) including aircraft installations for interception (AI),
surface vessel detection (ASV) and aircraft identification (IFF).
5--The Secretary of the Navy placed all divisions and aviation
squadrons of the Organized Reserve on short notice for call to
active duty and granted authority to call Fleet Reservists as
necessary. On the 24th the Bureau of Navigation announced plans
for mobilizing the aviation squadrons, which called for one third
to be ordered to active duty by 7 November and all by 1 January
1941.
9--The Secretary approved a recommendation by the General Board,
that 24 of the authorized submarines be equipped to carry aviation
gasoline for delivery to seaplanes on the water. This was in addition
to Nautilus (SS 168) which had demonstrated her ability to refuel
patrol planes and had conducted a successful test dive to 300
feet with aviation gasoline aboard; and to Narwhal (SC 1) and
Argonaut (SF 7) which were being altered to carry 19,000 gallons
of aviation gasoline each.
11--The Technical Aide to the Secretary of the Navy, Rear Admiral
Harold G. Bowen, proposed a program for development of radio ranging
equipment (radar) which formed the basis for the Navy's pre-war
development program. In addition to identification equipment and
ship-based radar, this program included an airborne radar for
surface search.
23--Within the Atlantic Squadron, an administrative command was
set up for carrier aviation entitled, "Aircraft, Atlantic
Squadron."
24--An administrative command for patrol aviation in the Atlantic
Squadron was set up under the title, "Patrol Wings, Atlantic
Squadron."
28--The Chief of Naval Operations reported that aircraft with
some form of armor and fuel protection were just beginning to
go into service use, and that within a year all fleet aircraft,
except those assigned Patrol Wing 2, would have such protection.
NOVEMBER
1--A reorganization of the Fleet changed the administrative organization
of aviation by dividing the forces between two oceans which was
the beginning of the independent development of forces according
to strategic requirements. In the Atlantic, aviation was transferred
from Scouting Force to Patrol Force, which was formed in place
of the Atlantic Squadron as a fleet command parallel to Scouting
Force, and set up under Commander Aircraft Patrol Force and Commander
Patrol Wings Patrol Force. In the Pacific, Patrol Wings remained
attached to Scouting Force under the combined command Commander
Patrol Wings U.S. Fleet and Commander Aircraft Scouting Force.
11--The first general meeting of the Radiation Laboratory was
held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The Radiation
Laboratory, as principal scientific and developmental agency of
Division 14 of NDRC, was to become instrumental in many aspects
of airborne radar development.
15--The seaplane tender Curtiss first of two ships of her class,
was commissioned at Philadelphia, Commander S. P. Ginder commanding.
15--Naval air operations began from Bermuda. First to operate
were the planes of Patrol Squadron 54 based on George E. Badger.
16--The Bureau of Aeronautics established a catapult procurement
program for Essex class carriers. One flight deck catapult and
one athwartships hangar deck catapult were to be installed on
each of 11 carriers.
18--The Chief of Naval Operations authorized use of the abbreviation,
"RADAR", in unclassified correspondence and conversation
and directed that the phrase, Radio Detection and Ranging Equipment,
be used in lieu of terms such as Radio Ranging Equipment, Radio
Detection Equipment, Radio Echo Equipment, or Pulse Radio Equipment.
DECEMBER
30--The Bureau of Aeronautics directed that fleet aircraft be
painted in non-specular colors. Ship-based aircraft were to be
light gray all over; patrol planes were to be light gray except
for surfaces seen from above which were to be blue gray.
FEBRUARY
1--The Atlantic and Pacific Fleets were established, completing
the division begun the previous November and changing the titles
of aviation commands in the Atlantic Fleet to "Aircraft,
Atlantic Fleet" and "Patrol Wings, Atlantic Fleet."
No change was made in the Pacific Fleet aviation organization
at this time.
10--As an initial step in training patrol plane pilots to make
blind landings, using radio instrument landing equipment which
was being procured for all patrol aircraft and their bases, a
one-month course of instruction began under Project Baker. This
was attended by one pilot from each of 13 squadrons; by one radioman
from each of five patrol wings; and by two radiomen from each
of five Naval Air Stations.
26--An extensive modification of aircraft markings added National
Star Insignia to both sides of the fuselage or hull and eliminated
those on the upper right and lower left wings; discontinued the
use of colored tail markings, fuselage bands and cowl markings;
made removal of vertical red, white and blue rudder stripes mandatory;
and changed the color of all markings, except the National Insignia,
to those of least contrast to the background.
MARCH
1--Support Force, Atlantic Fleet, was established for operations
on the convoy routes across the North Atlantic. Its component
patrol squadrons were placed under a Patrol Wing established at
the same time.
11-The President was empowered by an Act of Congress to provide
goods and services to those nations whose defense he deemed vital
to the defense of the United States, thus initiating a Lend-Lease
program under which large quantities of the munitions and implements
of war were delivered to our allies. The Archer (BAVG 1)
transferred on 17 November 1941, as the first of 38 escort carriers
transferred to the United Kingdom during the war.
17--The Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics approved a proposal
for establishing a special NACA committee to promptly review the
status of jet propulsion and recommend plans for its application
to flight and assisted takeoff.
28--The Commanding Officer of Yorktown after five months
operational experience with the CXAM radar, reported that aircraft
had been tracked at a distance of 100 miles and recommended that
friendly aircraft be equipped with electronic identification devices
and carriers be equipped with separate and complete facilities
for tracking and plotting all radar targets.
APRIL
19--Development of a Glomb (Glider Bomb) of a guided missile was
initiated at the Naval Aircraft Factory. The Glomb was a glider
designed to be towed long distances by a powered aircraft, released
in the vicinity of the target, and guided by radio control in
its attack. It was equipped with a television camera to transmit
a view of the target to the control plane.
20--The first successful test of electronic components of a radio-proximity
fuze was made at a farm in Vienna, Va., as a radio oscillator,
or sonde, which had been fired from a 37-mm pack howitzer, made
radio transmissions during its flight. The demonstration, that
radio tubes and batteries could be constructed sufficiently rugged
to withstand firing from a gun, led Section T of the National
Defense Research Committee to concentrate upon the radio-proximity
fuze for anti-aircraft guns.
26--The Naval Aircraft Factory project officer reported that an
unmanned O3U-6 airplane under radio control had been successfully
flight-tested beyond the safe bounds of piloted flight and that
the information thus obtained had been of great value in overcoming
flutter encountered at various speeds and accelerations.
28--Pocomoke, first of two seaplane tenders of her class,
was commissioned at Portsmouth, Va., Commander J. D. Price commanding.
30--In the initial step towards establishing a glider development
program, the Naval Aircraft Factory was requested to undertake
preliminary design of a personnel and equipment transport glider.
As work progressed and requirements were further clarified, development
was initiated for 12- and 24-place amphibian gliders constructed
of wood or plastic by firms not already engaged in building military
aircraft.
30--The Commanding Officer NAS Lakehurst directed that the metal-clad
airship, ZMC-2, be salvaged and the car complete with engines,
instruments and appurtenances be assigned to the Lighter-Than-Air
Ground School at Lakehurst. The ZMC-2, completed in August 1929,
had been flown over 2,250 hours.
MAY
2--Fleet Air Photographic Unit, Pacific, was established under
Commander Aircraft Battle Force, preceding by one day the establishment
of a similar unit in the Atlantic Fleet under Commander Patrol
Wings, Atlantic.
3--Project Roger was established at the Naval Aircraft Factory
to install and test airborne radar equipment. Its principal assignment
involved support of the Radiation Laboratory at the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and the Naval Research Laboratory in various
radar applications including search and blind bombing and in radio
control of aircraft.
8--The establishment of Aviation Repair Units 1 and 2 was directed
to provide a nucleus of aircraft repair and maintenance personnel
ready for overseas deployment as advanced bases were established.
10--The Naval Aircraft Factory reported that it was negotiating
with the Radio Corporation of America for the development of a
radio altimeter suitable for use in radio-controlled assault drones.
15--The seaplane tender Albemarle arrived at Argentia,
Newfoundland, to establish a base for Patrol Wing, Support Force
operations and to prepare for the imminent arrival of VP-52, the
first squadron to fly patrols over the North Atlantic convoy routes.
21--The Bureau of Aeronautics requested the Engineering Experiment
Station, Annapolis, Md., to undertake development of a liquid-fueled
assisted takeoff unit for use on patrol planes. This marked the
Navy's entry into the field that later came to be called JATO,
and was the Navy's first development program, other than jet exhaust
from reciprocating engines, directed towards utilizing jet reaction
for aircraft propulsion.
27--The President proclaimed that an unlimited national emergency
confronted the country, requiring that its military, naval, air,
and civilian defenses be put on the basis of readiness to repel
any and all acts or threats of aggression directed toward any
part of the Western Hemisphere.
JUNE
2--Long Island, first escort carrier of the U.S. Navy,
was commissioned at Newport News, VA., Commander D. B. Duncan
commanding. Originally designated AVG 1, the Long Island
was a flush-deck carrier converted in 67 working days from the
cargo ship Mormacmail.
4--The Naval Aircraft Factory reported that development of airborne
television had progressed to the point that signals transmitted
by this means could be used to alter the course of the transmitting
plane.
11--An Aircraft Armament Unit was formed at NAS Norfolk with Lieutenant
Commander W. V. Davis as Officer in Charge, to test and evaluate
armament installations of increasing complexity.
28--To strengthen the provisions for utilizing science in war,
the President created the Office of Scientific Research and Development
and included in its organization the National Defense Research
Committee and a newly established Committee on Medical Research.
30--Turboprop engine development was initiated as a joint Army-Navy
project, with a Navy contract to Northrop Aircraft for the design
of an aircraft gas turbine developing 2,500 hp. at a weight of
less than 3,215 pounds.
JULY
1--The first landing, takeoff, and catapult launching from an
escort carrier were made aboard Long Island, by Lieutenant Commander
W. D. Anderson, Commanding Officer of VS-201.
1--The Test, Acceptance and Indoctrination Units that had been
established at San Diego and Norfolk in May to fit out new patrol
aircraft and to indoctrinate new crews in their use, were expanded
and set up as separate commands. The San Diego Unit, which retained
its original name, was placed under Commander Aircraft Scouting
Force, and the Norfolk unit became Operational Training Squadron
under Commander Patrol Wings, Atlantic.
1--Patrol Wing, Support Force, was redesignated and established
as Patrol Wing 7, Captain H. M. Mullinnix commanding.
3--The Seaplane tender Barnegat, first of 26 ships of her
class was commissioned at Bremerton, Commander F. L. Baker commanding.
4--Planes of Patrol Squadron 72, based on Goldsborough,
flew protective patrols from Reykjavik, Iceland, until the 17th,
to cover the arrival of Marine Corps garrison units from the United
States.
7--The First Marine Aircraft Wing, composed of a Headquarters
Squadron and Marine Air Group 1, was organized at Quantico under
command of Lieutenant Colonel Louis E. Woods. It was first of
its type in the Marine Corps and the first of five wings organized
during the war period.
8--Patrol Wing 8 was established at Norfolk, Commander J. D. Price
commanding.
12--The Naval Research Laboratory was transferred from the Office
of the Secretary to the cognizance of the Bureau of Ships, and
a Naval Research and Development Board was established in the
Office of the Secretary composed of representatives of the Chief
of Naval Operations and the Bureaus of Aeronautics, Ordnance,
Ships, and Yards and Docks, and led by a civilian scientist with
the title Coordinator of Research and Development. Dr. J. C. Hunsaker
served as coordinator until December when he was relieved by Rear
Admiral J. A. Furer.
17--The organization for development of proximity fuzes was realigned
so that Section T could devote its entire effort to radio-proximity
fuzes for anti-aircraft projectiles. Responsibility for photoelectric
and radio fuzes for bombs and rockets was transferred to Section
E of the National Defense Research Committee at the National Bureau
of Standards.
18--Commander J. V. Carney, Senior Support Force Staff Officer,
reported that British type ASV radar has been installed in one
PBY-5 each of VP-71, VP-72, and VP-73 and two PBM-1's of VP-74.
Initial installation of identification equipment (IFF) was made
about the same time. In mid-September radar was issued for five
additional PBM-1's of VP-74 and one PBY-5 of VP-71, and shortly
thereafter for other aircraft in Patrol Wing 7 squadrons. Thereby
the Wing became the first operational unit of the U.S. Navy to
be supplied with radar-equipped aircraft. Its squadrons operated
from Norfolk, Quonset Point and advanced bases on Greenland, Newfoundland
and Iceland during the last months of the neutrality patrol.
18--Aviation was given representation on the highest of the Army
and Navy boards as membership of the Joint Board was revised to
include the Deputy Chief of Staff for Air and the Chief of the
Bureau of Aeronautics.
21--The requirement that all students assigned to the carrier-plane
phase of flight training be given time in each of the three basic
aircraft types was abolished, and the practice of assigning students
to specialized training in either fighters, scout bombers or torpedo
planes began.
25--Thirty P-40's and three primary training planes of the 33rd
Pursuit Squadron, Army Air Forces, were loaded aboard Wasp
at Norfolk for transport to Reykjavik, Iceland.
28--To establish a continuing organization for training flight
crews, the Chief of Naval Operations directed that action be taken
as expeditiously as practicable to provide additional gunnery
and tactical training in the pilot training program; to establish
within the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets at Norfolk and San Diego,
Advanced Carrier Training groups to indoctrinate newly designated
Naval Aviators in the operation of current model carrier aircraft;
and to assign a number of patrol squadrons in each fleet the primary
task of providing familiarization, indoctrination, advanced gunnery
and tactical training for new flight crews.
28--The Operational Training Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet, and
the Test, Acceptance and Indoctrination Unit of the Pacific Fleet
were redesignated Transition Training Squadron, Atlantic and Pacific
respectively.
29--The Secretary of the Navy approved the installation of a Radar
Plot aboard carriers as "the brain of the organization"
protecting the fleet from air attack. The first installation was
planned for the island structure of the Hornet.
AUGUST
1--A Microwave (AI-10) radar developed by the Radiation Laboratory
and featuring a Plan Position Indicator (or PPI) was given its
initial airborne test in the XJO-3 at Boston Airport. During the
test flights, which continued through 16 October, Radiation Laboratory
scientists operated the radar and devised modifications while
naval personnel from Project Roger (usually Chief Aviation Pilot
C. L. Kullberg) piloted the aircraft. During the tests, surface
vessels were detected at ranges up to 40 miles; radar-guided approaches
against simulated enemy aircraft were achieved at ranges up to
3.5 miles. Operational radars which were developed from this equipment
were capable of searching a circular area and included the ASG
for K-type airships and the AN/APS-2 for patrol planes.
1--The Bureau of Aeronautics requested the Naval Research Laboratory
to develop radar guidance equipment for assault drones, both to
relay target information to a control operator and to serve as
automatic homing equipment. This marked the initiation of radar
applications to guided missiles.
6--Patrol Squadrons 73 and 74 initiated routine air patrols from
Reykjavik, Iceland, over North Atlantic convoy routes.
6--In recognition of the radical change which radar was causing
in the method of using fighters to protect the fleet, the Chief
of Naval Operations issued a "Tentative Doctrine for Fighter
Direction from Aircraft Carriers" and directed that carriers
and other ships equipped with radar immediately organize fighter
direction centers.
7--The Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics issued a preliminary plan
for installing radar in naval aircraft. Long range search radar
(British ASV or American ASA) was to be installed in patrol planes.
Short range search radar (British Mk II ASV modified for Fleet
Air Arm or American ASB) was to be installed in one torpedo plane
in each section commencing with the TBF while space needed for
search radar was to be reserved in new scout-dive-bombers and
scout-observation planes. Interception equipment, when available,
would be installed in some F4U's and a British AI Mk IV radar
was being installed in an SBD with a view to its use as an interim
interceptor. The plan also included installation of appropriate
radio altimeters in patrol and torpedo planes, and recognition
equipment in all service airplanes.
SEPTEMBER
5--Artemus L. Gates, Naval Aviator No. 65 and member of the First
Yale Unit of World War I, took the oath of office as Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Aeronautics; the first to hold the office
since the resignation of David S. Ingalls in 1932.
9--The Bureau of Aeronautics requested the National Defense Research
Committee and the Naval Research Laboratory to develop an interceptor
radar suitable for installation in single engine, single seat
fighters such as the F4U.
OCTOBER
1--The Aviation Supply Office was established at Philadelphia,
under the joint cognizance of the Bureau of Aeronautics and the
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, to provide centralized control
over the procurement and distribution of all aeronautical materials
regularly maintained in the general stock.
8--Organizational provision for guided missiles was made in the
fleet by the establishment of "Special Project Dog"
in Utility Squadron 5, to test and operate radio-controlled offensive
weapons and to train personnel in their use. VJ-5 was also directed
to develop a radio-controlled fighter plane--"aerial ram"
or "aerial torpedo"--to be flown into enemy bomber formations
and exploded.
13--The Bureau of Aeronautics directed that all fleet aircraft
be painted non-specular light gray except for surfaces seen above
which were to be blue-gray. In late December, this color scheme
was extended to shore based airplanes except trainers.
20--Hornet was commissioned at Norfolk, Captain Marc A. Mitscher
commanding.
21--In tests with MAD gear (Magnetic Airborne Detector), a PBY
from NAS Quonset Point, located the submarine S-48. The tests
were carried out in cooperation with the National Defense Research
Committee.
29--Patrol Squadron 82 received the first of a planned full complement
of PBO-1's at NAS Norfolk. Assignment of these aircraft, actually
destined for the British and painted with British markings, was
the beginning of what became an extensive use of land planes by
patrol squadrons during the war and, although it was not yet apparent,
was the first move toward the eventual elimination of the flying
boat from patrol aviation.
NOVEMBER
1--By Executive Order the President directed that, until further
orders, the Coast Guard operate as a part of the Navy subject
to the orders of the Secretary of the Navy.
18--Doctor L. A. DuBridge of the Radiation Laboratory reported
that the initial design of a 3-cm aircraft intercept radar was
completed.
26--Kitty Hawk, first of two aircraft ferries, was commissioned,
Commander C. E. Rogers commanding.
DECEMBER
1--Patrol Wing 9 began forming at Quonset Point with Lieutenant
Commander T. U. Sisson as prospective Commanding Officer.
7--Japanese carrier aircraft launched a devastating attack on
ships at Pearl Harbor and on the military and air installations
in the area. The three aircraft carriers of the Pacific Fleet
were not present. Saratoga, just out of overhaul, was moored
at San Diego. Lexington was at sea about 425 miles southeast
of Midway toward which she was headed to deliver a Marine Scout
Bombing Squadron. Enterprise was also at sea about 200
miles west of Pearl Harbor, returning from Wake Island after delivering
a Marine Fighter Squadron there. Her Scouting Squadron 6, launched
early in the morning to land at Ewa Airfield, arrived during the
attack and engaged enemy aircraft.
9--The Secretary of the Navy authorized the Bureau of Ships to
contract with the RCA Manufacturing Company for a service test
quantity of 25 sets of ASB airborne search radar. This radar had
been developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (under the designation
XAT) for installation in dive bombers and torpedo planes.
10--Aircraft from Enterprise attacked and sank the Japanese submarine
I-70 in waters north of the Hawaiian Islands. This was
one of the submarines used to scout the Hawaiian area in connection
with the Pearl Harbor attack and the first Japanese combatant
ship sunk by United States aircraft during World War II.
10--Antisubmarine patrols over the South Atlantic were initiated
by Patrol Squadron 52, equipped with Catalinas operating from
Natal, Brazil.
12--The Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) was established under
the Chief of Naval Operations to provide rapid air delivery of
critical equipment, spare parts, and specialist personnel to naval
activities and fleet forces all over the world.
14--Patrol Wing 10 departed Cavite and, with its two patrol squadrons
and four seaplane tenders, began withdrawal from the Philippines.
Before reaching Australia it operated from various bases along
the way, including Balikpapan, Soerabaja, and Ambon in the Netherlands
East Indies.
15--Patrol Wing 8 transferred from Norfolk to Alameda for duty
on the west coast.
16--The Secretary of the Navy approved an expansion of the pilot
training program from the existing schedule of assigning 800 students
per month to one calling for 2,500 per month thereby leading to
a production of 20,000 pilots annually by mid-1943.
17--The Naval Research Laboratory reported that flight tests in
a PBY of radar utilizing a duplexing antenna switch had been conducted
with satisfactory results. The duplexing switch made it possible
to use a single antenna for both transmission of the radar pulse
and reception of its echo; thereby, the necessity for cumbersome
"yagi" antenna no longer existed, a factor which contributed
substantially to the reliability, and hence the effectiveness,
of World War II airborne radar.
17--Seventeen SB2U-3 Vindicators of VMSB-231, led by a PBY of
Patrol Wing 1, arrived at Midway Island from Oahu, completing
the longest mass flight by single-engine aircraft then on record
in 9 hours, 45 minutes. It was the same squadron that was en route
to Midway on 7 December aboard Lexington when reports of
the attack on Pearl Harbor forced the carrier to turn back short
of her goal.
18--Two-plane detachments from Patrol Wings 1 and 2, based in
Hawaii, began scouting patrols from Johnston Island.
25--Two-plane detachments from squadrons at Pearl and Kaneohe
began patrols from Palmyra Island, a principal staging base to
the South Pacific.
JANUARY
2--The first organized lighter-than-air units of World War II,
Airship Patrol Group 1, Commander George H. Mills commanding,
and Airship Squadron 12, Lieutenant Commander Raymond F. Tyler
commanding, were established at NAS Lakehurst.
5--A change in regulations, covering display of National Insignia
on aircraft, returned the star to the upper right and lower left
wing surfaces and revised rudder striping to 13 red and white
horizontal stripes.
7--Expansion of naval aviation to 27,500 useful planes was approved
by the President.
11--Saratoga while operating at sea 500 miles southwest
of Oahu, was hit by a submarine torpedo and forced to retire for
repairs.
11--Patrol Squadron 22, with PBY-5 Catalinas, joined Patrol Wing
10 at Ambon, the first aviation reinforcements from the Central
Pacific to reach southwest Pacific Forces opposing the Japanese
advance through the Netherlands East Indies.
14--The formation of four Carrier Aircraft Service Units (CASU)
from four small Service Units, previously established in the Hawaiian
area, was approved.
16--To protect the advance of Task Force 8 for its strike against
the Marshall and Gilbert Islands, planes of Patrol Squadron 23
began daily search of the waters between their temporary base
at Canton Island and Suva in the Fijis. These were the first combat
patrols by aircraft in the South Pacific.
23--The first naval aircraft to operate in the Samoan Islands,
OS2Us of VS-1-D14, arrived with Marine Corps reinforcements from
San Diego.
29--Five-inch projectiles containing radio-proximity fuzes were
test fired at the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, and 52 percent
of the fuzes functioned satisfactorily by proximity to water at
the end of a 5-mile trajectory. This performance, obtained with
samples selected to simulate a production lot, confirmed that
the radioproximity fuze would greatly increase the effectiveness
of anti-aircraft batteries and led to immediate small scale production
of the fuze.
30--The Secretary authorized a glider program for the Marine Corps
consisting of small and large types in sufficient numbers for
the training and transportation of two battalions of 900 men each.
FEBRUARY
1--The Secretary of the Navy announced that all prospective naval
aviators would begin their training with a three months' course
emphasizing physical conditioning and conducted by Pre-Flight
Schools to be established at universities in different parts of
the country. The training began at the Universities of North Carolina
and Iowa in May, the University of Georgia and St. Mary's College,
Calif., in June, and at Del Monte, Calif., in January 1943.
1--First U.S. Carrier Offensive--Task Forces 8 (Vice Admiral W.
F. Halsey) and 17 (Rear Admiral F. J. Fletcher), built around
the carriers Enterprise and Yorktown, bombed and bombarded enemy
installations on the islands of Wotje, Kwajalein, Jaluit, Makin,
and Mili in the Marshall and Gilbert Islands.
12--The Chief of Naval Operations promulgated an advanced base
program using the code names "Lion" and "Cub"
to designate major and minor bases, and in July added "Oaks"
and "Acorns" for aviation bases. This was the beginning
of a concept of functional components which developed as the war
progressed and which provided planners and commanders with a means
of ordering standardized units of personnel, equipment, and material
to meet any special need in any area, in much the same manner
as ordering from a mail-order catalogue.
16--A Navy developed Air-Track blind landing system was in daily
use in Iceland for landing flying boats. Other blind-landing systems
were in various phases of development, and work on the Ground
Controlled Approach system had progressed to the point that Navy
personnel had made talk-down landings at the East Boston (Commonwealth)
Airport.
17--The Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet authorized removal of athwartships
hangar deck catapults from Wasp, Yorktown, Enterprise,
and Hornet.
21--The seaplane tender Curtiss and Patrol Squadron 14
arrived at Noumea, New Caledonia, to begin operations from what
became a principal Navy base in the South Pacific during the first
year of the war.
23--The Bureau of Aeronautics outlined a comprehensive program
which became the basis for the wartime expansion of pilot training.
In place of the existing 7-months course, the new program required
11 months for pilots of single or twin-engine aircraft and 12
months for four-engine pilots; and was divided into 3 months at
Induction Centers, 3 months in Primary, 3 months in Intermediate
and 2 or 3 months in Operational Training, depending on type aircraft
used.
24--First Wake Island Raid--A striking force, (Vice Admiral W.
F. Halsey) composed of the carrier Enterprise with cruiser
and destroyer screen, attacked Wake Island.
26--The Navy's Coordinator of Research and Development requested
the National Defense Research Committee to develop an expendable
radio sonobuoy for use by lighter-than-air craft in antisubmarine
warfare.
27--The seaplane tender Langley, formerly first carrier of the
U.S. Navy, was sunk by enemy air attack 74 miles from her destination
while ferrying 32 AAF P-40's to Tjilatjap, Java.
MARCH
1--Carrier Replacement Air Group 9 was established at NAS Norfolk
under command of Commander William D. Anderson. It was the first
numbered Air Group in the Navy and marked the end of the practice
of naming air groups for the carriers to which they were assigned.
1--Ensign William Tepuni, USNR, piloting a Lockheed Hudson, PBO,
of VP-82 based at Argentia, attacked and sank the U-656
southwest of Newfoundland; the first German submarine sunk by
U.S. forces in World War II.
2--Regularly scheduled operations by the Naval Air Transport Service
were inaugurated with an R4D flight from Norfolk to Squantum.
4--First Raid on Marcus--Enterprise, as part of Task Force
16 (Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey), moved to within 1,000 miles of
Japan to launch air attacks on Marcus Island.
7--Patrol Wing 10 completed withdrawal from the Philippines and
the Netherlands East Indies, and established headquarters in Perth,
for patrol operations along the west coast of Australia.
7--The practicability of using a radio sonobuoy in aerial anti-submarine
warfare was demonstrated in an exercise conducted off New London
by the K-5 blimp and the S-20 submarine. The buoy could detect
the sound of the submerged submarine's propellers at distances
up to three miles, and radio reception aboard the blimp was satisfactory
up to five miles.
8--Inshore Patrol Squadron VS-2-D14, which had arrived at Bora
Bora on 17 February, inaugurated air operations from the Society
Islands.
9--VR-1, the first of 13 VR squadrons established under the Naval
Air Transport Service during World War II, was established at
Norfolk, Commander C. K. Wildman commanding.
10--A carrier air strike, launched from the Lexington and Yorktown
in the Gulf of Papua, flew over the 15,000-foot Owen Stanley Mountains
on the tip of New Guinea to hit Japanese shipping engaged in landing
troops and supplies at Lae and Salamaua. One converted light cruiser,
a large minesweeper, and a cargo ship were sunk and other ships
damaged.
10--A contract with the Office of Scientific Research and Development
became effective whereby the Johns Hopkins University agreed to
operate a laboratory which became known as the Applied Physics
Laboratory. This was one of several important steps in the transition
of the radio-proximity fuze from development to large scale production.
Other steps taken within the next 6 weeks included the organizational
transfer of Section T from the National Defense Research Committee
directly to the Office of Scientific Research and Development
and the relocation of most of the Section T staff from the Carnegie
Institution of Washington to the Applied Physics Laboratory at
Silver Spring, Md.
26--Unity of command over Navy and Army air units, operating over
the sea to protect shipping and conduct antisubmarine warfare,
was vested in the Navy.
29--The forward echelon of Marine Fighter Squadron 212 arrived
at Efate to construct an air strip from which the squadron initiated
operations in the New Hebrides on 27 May.
APRIL
6--The administrative command Aircraft, Atlantic Fleet, was redesignated
Carriers, Atlantic Fleet.
7--To provide aviation maintenance men with special training required
to support air operations at advanced bases, Aircraft Repair Units
1 and 2 were merged to form the Advanced Base Aviation Training
Unit (ABATU) at Norfolk.
9--A radio controlled TG-2 drone, directed by control pilot Lieutenant
M. B. Taylor of Project Fox, made a torpedo attack on the destroyer
Aaron Ward steaming at 15 knots in Narragansett Bay. Taylor utilized
a view of the target obtained by a television camera mounted in
the drone, and directed the attack so that the torpedo was released
about 300 feet directly astern of the target and passed under
it.
10--A reorganization of the Pacific Fleet abolished the Battle
and Scouting Forces and set up new type commands for ships and
aviation. With the change, titles of the aviation
type commands became Carriers, Pacific, and Patrol Wings, Pacific.
18--Raid on Tokyo--From a position at sea 668 miles from Tokyo,
the carrier Hornet launched 16 B-25's of the 17th AAF Air
Group led by Lieutenant Colonel J. H. Doolittle, USA, for the
first attack on the Japanese homeland. The Hornet sortied from
Alameda 2 April, made rendezvous with Enterprise and other ships
of Task Force 16 (Vice Admiral W. F. Halsey) north of the Hawaiian
Islands, and proceeded across the Pacific to the launching point
without making port.
18--A night Fighter Development Unit was established to be located
at NAS Quonset Point. This unit, originally named Project Argus
was renamed Project Affirm to avoid confusion with the electronic
element (Argus Unit) of an advanced base. Project Affirm's official
purpose was development and test of night fighter equipment for
Navy and Marine Corps aircraft; in addition it developed tactics
and trained officers and men for early night fighter squadrons
and as night fighter directors.
19--Two tests of the feasibility of utilizing drone aircraft as
guided missiles were conducted in Chesapeake Bay. In one, Utility
Squadron VJ-5, utilizing visual direction, crash-dived a BG-1
drone into the water beyond its target, the wreck of San Marcos
(LSD 25) and a live bomb exploder in the drone failed to detonate.
The second and more successful test was conducted by Project Fox
from CAA intermediate field, Lively, Va., using a BG-2 drone equipped
with a television camera to provide a view of the target. Flying
in a control plane 11 miles distant, Lieutenant M. B. Taylor directed
the drone's crash-dive into a raft being towed at a speed of 8
knots.
20--Wasp on special ferry duty out of Glasgow, Scotland, entered
the Mediterranean and launched 47 Spitfires of the RAF to Malta.
When the operation was duplicated on 9 May, it was the occasion
for Winston Churchill's message, "Who says a Wasp cannot
sting twice?"
24--A new specification for color of naval aircraft went into
effect. The color of service aircraft remained non-specular light
gray with non-specular blue-gray on surfaces visible from above.
Advanced trainers were to be finished in glossy aircraft gray
with glossy orange yellow on wing and aileron surfaces visible
from above while primary trainers were to be finished glossy orange-yellow
with gray landing gear.
30--The Air Operational Training Command was established with
headquarters at Jacksonville, Fla. Four days later the Naval Air
Stations at Jacksonville, Miami, Key West, and Banana River and
their satellite fields were assigned to the new command.
MAY
4-8--Battle of the Coral Sea--In the first naval engagement of
history fought without opposing ships making contact, United States
carrier forces stopped a Japanese attempt to land at Port Moresby
by turning back the covering carrier force. Task Force 17 (Rear
Admiral F. J. Fletcher) with the carrier Yorktown, bombed Japanese
transports engaged in landing troops in Tulagi Harbor, damaging
several and sinking one destroyer (4 May); joined other Allied
naval units including Task Force 11 (Rear Admiral A. W. Fitch)
with the carrier Lexington south of the Louisiades (5 May); and
after stationing an attack group in the probable track of the
enemy transports, moved northward in search of the enemy covering
force. Carrier aircraft located and sank the light carrier Shoho
covering a convoy (7 May), while Japanese aircraft hit the separately
operating attack group and sank one destroyer and one fleet tanker.
The next day the Japanese covering force was located and taken
under air attack, which damaged the carrier Shokaku. Almost simultaneously
enemy carrier aircraft attacked Task Force 17, scoring hits which
damaged Yorktown and set off uncontrollable fires on Lexington,
as a result of which she was abandoned and was sunk (8 May). Although
the score favored the Japanese, they retired from action and their
occupation of Port Moresby by sea was deferred and finally abandoned.
10--The possibility of increasing the range of small aircraft,
by operating them as towed gliders, was demonstrated at the Naval
Aircraft Factory when Lieutenant Commanders W. H. McClure and
R. W. Denbo hooked their F4F's to tow lines streamed behind a
twin-engined BD (Army A-20), cut their engines and were towed
for an hour at 180 knots at 7,000 feet.
10--Ranger on a transatlantic ferry trip, reached a position
off the African Gold Coast and launched 60 P-40 Warhawks of the
Army Air Force to Accra, from which point they were flown in a
series of hops to Karachi, India, for operations with the 10th
AAF. This was the first of four ferry trips made by the Ranger
to deliver AAF fighters across the Atlantic, the subsequent launches
being accomplished on 19 July 1942, 19 January 1943, and 24 February
1943.
10--Inshore Patrol Squadron VS-4-D14 arrived in the Tonga Islands
with the base construction and garrison convoy and set up facilities
to conduct antisubmarine patrols from Nukualofa Harbor on Tongatabu.
11--The President ordered that an Air Medal be established for
award to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard after 8 September
1939, distinguishes or has distinguished himself by meritorious
achievement while participating in aerial flight.
15--The design of the National Star Insignia was revised by eliminating
the red disc in the center of the star, and use of horizontal
red and white rudder striping was discontinued.
15--The Chief of Naval Operations ordered that an Assistant Chief
of Naval Operations (Air) be established to deal with aviation
matters directly under the Vice Chief of Naval Operations and
that the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics fill the new office
as additional duty. In complying with a further provision of the
order that such readjustment of functions be made as would serve
the interest of the order, the Vice Chief of Naval Operations
subsequently concentrated the aviation functions already being
performed in his office into a new Division of Aviation. The office
was abolished in mid-June 1942.
15--A VR-2 flight from Alameda to Honolulu, the first transoceanic
flight by NATS aircraft, initiated air transport service in the
Pacific.
20--Rear Admiral J. S. McCain reported for duty as Commander Aircraft,
South Pacific, a new command established to direct the operations
of tender and shore-based aviation in the South Pacific area.
26--The feasibility of jet-assisted takeoff was demonstrated in
a successful flight test of a Brewster F2A-3, piloted by Lieutenant
(jg) C. Fink Fischer, at NAS Anacostia, using five British antiaircraft
solid propellant rocket motors. The reduction in takeoff distance
was 49 percent.
27--The transfer of Patrol Wing 4 from Seattle to the North Pacific
began with the arrival of the Commander at Kodiak, Alaska.
JUNE
3-4--In an attempt to divert forces from the Midway area, a Japanese
carrier force launched small raids on Dutch Harbor, hitting twice
on the third and once on the fourth and doing considerable damage
to installations ashore. PBY's located the carriers on the fourth
but attacks by 11th AAF bombers were unsuccessful.
3-6--The Battle of Midway--A strong Japanese thrust in the Central
Pacific to occupy Midway Island, was led by a four- carrier Mobile
Force, supported by heavy units of the Main Body (First Fleet)
and covered by a diversionary carrier raid on Dutch Harbor in
the Aleutians. This attack was met by a greatly outnumbered United
States carrier force composed of Task Force 17 (Rear Admiral F.
J. Fletcher) with Yorktown, and Task Force 16 (Rear Admiral R.
A. Spruance) with Hornet and Enterprise, and by Navy, Marine Corps,
and Army air units based on Midway. Planes from Midway located
and attacked ships of the Japanese Occupation Force 600 miles
to the west (3 June), and of the mobile Force (4 June) as it sent
its aircraft against defensive installations on Midway. Concentrating
on the destruction of Midway air forces and diverted by their
torpedo, horizontal, and dive bombing attacks, the Japanese carriers
were caught unprepared for the carrier air attack which began
at 0930 with the heroic but unsuccessful effort of Torpedo Squadron
8, and were hit in full force at 1030 when dive bombers hit and
sank the carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu. A Japanese counter attack
at noon and another 2 hours later, damaged Yorktown with bombs
and torpedoes so severely that she was abandoned. In the late
afternoon, U.S. carrier air hit the Mobile Force again, sinking
Hiryu, the fourth and last of the Japanese carriers in action.
With control of the air irretrievably lost, the Japanese retired
under the attack of Midway-based aircraft (5 June) and of carrier
air (6 June) in which the heavy cruiser Mikuma was sunk and the
Mogami severely damaged. Japanese losses totaled two heavy and
two light carriers, one heavy cruiser, 258 aircraft, and a large
percentage of their experienced carrier pilots. United States
losses were 40 shore-based and 92 carrier aircraft, the destroyer
Hammann and the carrier the Yorktown, which sank 6 and 7 June
respectively, the result of a single submarine attack. The decisive
defeat administered to the Japanese put an end to their successful
offensive and effectively turned the tide of the Pacific War.
4--The TBF Grumman Avenger flown by pilots of a shore-based element
of Torpedo Squadron 8, began its combat career with attacks on
the Japanese Fleet during the Battle of Midway.
10--Patrol planes of Pat Wing 4 discovered the presence of the
enemy on Kiska and Attu--the first news of Japanese landings that
had taken place on the 7th.
10--A formal organization, Project Sail, was established at NAS
Quonset Point for airborne testing and associated work on Magnetic
Airborne Detectors (MAD gear). This device was being developed
to detect submarines by the change that they induced in the earth's
magnetic field. Principal developmental efforts were being carried
out by the Naval Ordnance Laboratory and the National Defense
Research Committee. In view of the promising results of early
trials made with airships and an Army B-18, 200 sets of MAD gear
were then being procured.
11-13--PBY Catalinas, operating from the seaplane tender Gillis
in Nazan Bay, Atka Island, hit ships and enemy positions on Kiska
in an intense 48-hour attack which exhausted the gasoline and
bomb supply aboard the Gillis but was not successful in driving
the Japanese from the Island.
13--Loran, long range navigation equipment, was given its first
airborne test. The receiver was mounted in the K-2 airship and,
in a flight from NAS Lakehurst, accurately determined position
when the airship was over various identifiable objects. The test
culminated with the first Loran homing from a distance 50 to 75
miles offshore during which the Loran operator, Dr. J. A. Pierce,
gave instructions to the airship's commanding officer which brought
them over the shoreline near Lakehurst on a course that caused
the commanding officer to remark, "We weren't [just] headed
for the hangar." We were headed for the middle of the hangar."
The success of these tests led to immediate action to obtain operational
Loran equipment.
15--Copahee, Captain J. G. Farrell commanding, was commissioned
at Puget Sound Navy Yard, first of 10 escort carriers of the Bogue
Class converted from Maritime Commission hulls.
16--Congress authorized an increase in the airship strength of
the Navy to 200 lighter-than-air craft.
17--The development of Pelican, an antisubmarine guided missile,
was undertaken by the National Defense Research Committee with
Bureau of Ordnance sponsorship. This device consisted of a glide
bomb which could automatically home on a radar beam reflected
from the target.
17--Following the abolition of the newly created office of the
Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Air), the earlier order establishing
an aviation organization in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
was revised to the extent that the Director of the Aviation Division
became responsible directly to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations.
17--A contract was awarded to Goodyear for the design and construction
of a prototype model M scouting and patrol airship with 50 percent
greater range and volume (625,000 cu. ft.) than the K Class. Four
model M airships were procured and placed in service during World
War II.
25--Preliminary investigation of early warning radar had proceeded
to the point that the Coordinator for Research and Development
requested development be initiated of airborne early warning radar
including automatic airborne relay and associated shipboard processing
and display equipment. Interest in early warning radar had arisen
when Admiral King remarked to Dr. Vannevar Bush, head of the Office
of Scientific Research and Development, that Navy ships need to
see over the hill-i.e. beyond the line of sight.
26--Scheduled Naval Air Transport Service operations between the
West coast and Alaska were initiated by VR-2.
27--The Naval Aircraft Factory was directed to participate in
the development of high altitude pressure suits with particular
emphasis upon testing existing types and obtaining information
so that they could be tailored and fitted for use in flight. The
Navy thus joined the Army which had sponsored earlier work on
pressure suits. The NAF expanded its endeavors in the field of
high altitude equipment which then included design of a pressure
cabin airplane and construction of an altitude test chamber.
29--Following an inspection of Igor I. Sikorsky's VS-300 helicopter
on 26 June, Lieutenant Commander F. A. Erickson, USCG, recommended
that helicopters be obtained for antisubmarine convoy duty and
life-saving.
JULY
3--In the first successful firing of an American rocket from a
plane in flight, Lieutenant Commander J. H. Hean, Gunnery Officer
of Transition Training Squadron, Pacific Fleet, fired a retro-rocket
from a PBY-5A in flight at Goldstone Lake, Calif. The rocket,
designed to be fired aft with a velocity equal to the forward
velocity of the airplane, and thus to fall vertically, was designed
at the California Institute of Technology. Following successful
tests, the retro-rocket became a weapon complementary to the magnetic
airborne detector with Patrol Squadron 63 receiving the first
service installation in February 1943.
7--An agreement was reached between the Army and Navy, which provided
that the Army would deliver to the Navy a specified number of
B-24 Liberators, B-25 Mitchells, and B-34 Venturas to meet the
Navy's requirement for long range landplanes. Also, the Navy would
relinquish its production cognizance of the Boeing Renton plant
to the Army for expanded B-29 production and limit its orders
for PBY's to avoid interference with B-24 production.
12--Patrol Wings were reorganized to increase the mobility and
flexibility of patrol aviation. Headquarters Squadrons were authorized
for each wing to furnish administrative and maintenance services
to attached squadrons. Geographic areas of responsibility were
assigned to each wing, and permanent assignment of squadrons was
abolished in favor of assignment as the situation required.
19--The seaplane tender Casco established an advanced base
in Nazan Bay, Atka, to support seaplane operations against Kiska,
which included antishipping search, bombing of enemy positions,
and cover for surface force bombardments.
24--The Bureau of Aeronautics issued a Planning Directive calling
for procurement of four Sikorsky helicopters for study and development
by Navy and Coast Guard aviation forces.
AUGUST
1--A J4F Widgeon, piloted by Ensign Henry C. White of Coast Guard
Squadron 212, based at Houma, La., scored the first Coast Guard
kill of an enemy submarine with the sinking of the U-166
off the passes of the Mississippi.
7--Marine Aircraft Wings, Pacific was organized at San Diego under
command of Major General Ross E. Rowell for the administrative
control and logistic support of Marine Corps aviation units assigned
to the Pacific Fleet. In September 1944, this command was renamed
Aircraft, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific.
7 August 1942--9 February 1943--Capture of Guadalcanal--Air support
for the U.S Marines' first amphibious landing of World War II
was provided by three carriers of Air Support Force (Rear Admiral
L. Noyes), and by Navy, Marine, and Army units of Aircraft, South
Pacific (Rear Admiral J. S. McCain) operating from bases on New
Caledonia and in the New Hebrides. Carrier forces withdrew from
direct support (9 Aug) but remained in the area to give overall
support to the campaign during which they participated in several
of the naval engagements fought over the island. Saratoga
sank the Japanese light carrier Ryujo in the Battle of the Eastern
Solomons (23-25 Aug); Enterprise was hit by carrier-based
bombers (24 Aug) and forced to retire; Saratoga was damaged
by a submarine torpedo (31 Aug) and forced to retire; and Wasp
was sunk by a submarine (15 Sep) while escorting a troop convoy
to Guadalcanal. Hornet, in Task Group 17 (Rear Admiral
G. D. Murray), hit targets in the Buin-Tonolei-Faisi area (5 Oct);
attacked beached Japanese transports and supply dumps on Guadalcanal;
destroyed a concentration of seaplanes at Rekata Bay (16 Oct);
and, with the Enterprise, fought in the Battle of Santa Cruz (26-27
Oct) in which she was sunk by air attack. In final carrier actions
of the campaign, the Enterprise took part in the last stages of
the Naval Battle for Guadalcanal (12-15 Nov), assisting in sinking
89,000 tons of war and cargo ships, and in the Battle of Rennel
Island (29-30 Jan) in which two escort carriers also participated.
Ashore, air forces in great variety provided direct support. Navy
patrol squadrons flew search, rescue, and offensive missions from
sheltered coves and harbors. Marine Fighter Squadron 223 and Scout
Bombing Squadron 232, delivered by the escort carrier Long Island,
initiated operations from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal (20 Aug)
and were joined within a week by AAF fighter elements and dive
bombers from the Enterprise, and by other elements as the
campaign progressed. Until the island was secure (9 Feb), these
forces flew interceptor patrols, offensive missions against shipping,
and close air support for the Marines and for Army troops relieving
them (13 Oct). Marine air units carrying the major air support
burden accounted for 427 enemy aircraft during the campaign.
10--The headquarters of Patrol Wing 3 shifted within the Canal
Zone from NAS Coco Solo to Albrook Field for closer coordination
with the Army Air Force Command in the defense of the Panama Canal.
12--Cleveland (CL 55), operating in the Chesapeake Bay,
demonstrated effectiveness of the radio-proximity fuze against
aircraft by destroying three radio-controlled drones with four
proximity bursts fired from her 5-inch guns. This successful demonstration
led to mass production of the fuze.
12--Wolverine (IX 64) was commissioned at Buffalo, Commander
G. R. Fairlamb commanding. This ship and Sable (IX 81)
commissioned the following May, were Great Lakes excursion ships
converted for aviation training and as such they operated for
the remainder of the war on the inland waters of Lake Michigan.
They provided flight decks upon which hundreds of student naval
aviators qualified for carrier landings and many flight deck crews
received their first practical experience in handling aircraft
aboard ship.
13--The Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet directed that an Aircraft
Experimental and Developmental Squadron be established about 30
September 1942 at NAS Anacostia. This squadron, which replaced
the Fleet Air Tactical Unit, was to conduct experiments with new
aircraft and equipment in order to determine their practical application
and tactical employment.
15--Patrol Wing 11 was established at Norfolk, Commander S. J.
Michael commanding. Five days later the Wing moved to San Juan,
P.R., for operations under the Caribbean Sea Frontier.
20--The designation of escort carriers was changed from AVG to
ACV.
24--Santee, Captain W. D. Sample commanding, was placed
in commission at the Norfolk Navy Yard; the first of four escort
carriers of the Sangamon Class converted from Cimarron Class fleet
oilers.
30--The occupation of Adak by Army forces and the establishment
of an advanced seaplane base there by the tender Teal, put North
Pacific forces within 250 miles of occupied Kiska and in a position
to maintain a close watch over enemy shipping lanes to that island
and to Attu. The tender Casco, conducting support operations
from Nazan Bay, was damaged by a submarine torpedo and temporarily
beached.
SEPTEMBER
1--U.S. Naval Air Forces, Pacific, Rear Admiral A. W. Fitch commanding,
was established for the administrative control of all air and
air service units under the Commander in Chief, Pacific, replacing
the offices of Commander Carriers, Pacific, and Commander Patrol
Wings, Pacific. The subordinate commands Fleet Air West Coast,
Fleet Air Seattle, and Fleet Air Alameda were established at the
same time.
6--The first Naval Air Transport Service flight to Argentia, Newfoundland,
marked the beginning of air transport expansion along the eastern
seaboard that during the month extended briefly to Iceland and
reached southward to the Canal Zone and Rio de Janeiro.
7--Air Transport Squadron 2, based at Alameda, established a detachment
at Pearl Harbor and began a survey flight to the South Pacific
as a preliminary to establishing routes between San Francisco
and Brisbane, Australia.
16--Patrol Wing 12 was established at Key West, Captain W. G.
Tomlinson commanding, for operations under the Gulf Sea Frontier.
19--Commander Patrol Wing 1 departed Kaneohe, Hawaii, for the
South Pacific to direct the operations of patrol squadrons already
in the area. Headquarters were first established at Noumea, New
Caledonia, and subsequently at Espiritu Santo, Guadalcanal, and
Munda.
OCTOBER
1--Airship Patrol Group 3, Captain Scott E. Peck commanding, was
established at Moffett Field to serve as the administrative command
for airship squadrons operating on the west coast.
1--Three functional training commands were established for Air
Technical Training, Air Primary Training, and Air Intermediate
Training, with headquarters initially at Chicago, Kansas City,
and Pensacola respectively.
12--Naval Air Centers Hampton Roads, San Diego, Seattle, and Hawaiian
Islands, and Naval Air Training Centers Pensacola and Corpus Christi,
were established to consolidate under single commands the complex
of naval aviation facilities that had become operational in the
vicinity of certain large air stations.
15--Patrol Wing 14, Captain W. M. McDade commanding, was established
at San Diego for operations under the Western Sea Frontier and
for duties concerned with equipping, forming, and establishing
patrol squadrons.
17--Inshore Patrol Squadrons (VS), engaged in coastal antisubmarine
reconnaissance and convoy duty under the Sea Frontiers, were transferred
to Patrol Wings for administrative control.
19--The initial installation and deployment of the ASB-3 airborne
search radar was reported. This radar, developed by the Naval
Research Laboratory for carrier based aircraft, had been installed
in five TBF-1's by NAS New York and five SBD-3's by NAS San Pedro.
One aircraft of each type was assigned to Air Group Eleven (Saratoga)
and the others shipped to Pearl Harbor. Remaining sets on the
initial contract for 25 were to be used for spare parts and training.
22--Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, by amendment
to a design study contract, was authorized to construct two 19A
axial flow turbojet powerplants. Thereby, fabrication was initiated
of the first jet engine of wholly American design.
28--Procurement of the expendable radio sonobuoy for use in antisubmarine
warfare was initiated as the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet directed
the Bureau of Ships to procure 1,000 sonobuoy's and 100 associated
receivers.
31--Air Transport Squadrons Pacific was established over the NATS
squadrons based in the Pacific and those on the west coast flying
the mainland to Hawaii routes.
NOVEMBER
1--Patrol Wings were redesignated Fleet Air Wings, and to permit
the organization of patrol aviation on the task force principle,
the practice of assigning a standard number of squadrons to each
Wing was changed to provide for the assignment of any and all
types of aircraft required by the Wing to perform its mission
in its particular area.
1--Airship Patrol Group 1 at NAS Lakehurst was redesignated Fleet
Airship Group 1.
2--NAS Patuxent River was established to serve as a facility for
testing experimental airplanes, equipment and material, and as
a NATS base.
2--Fleet Air Wing 6, Captain D. P. Johnson commanding was established
at NAS Seattle.
8-11--Invasion of North Africa--Carrier aircraft from Ranger
and the escort carriers Sangamon, Suwannee, and
Santee of Task Group 34.2 (Rear Admiral E. D. McWhorter)
of the Western Naval Task Force, covered the landings of Army
troops near Casablanca (8 Nov) and supported their operation ashore
until opposing French forces capitulated (11 Nov). The escort
carrier Chenango accompanied assault forces to the area
and launched her load of 78 AAF P-40s (10-11 Nov) for operations
from the field at Port Lyautey.
13--Patrol Squadron 73 arrived at Port Lyautey from Iceland via
Bally Kelly, Ireland, and Lyncham, England. Supported by the seaplane
tender Barnegat, the squadron began antisubmarine operations
from French Morocco over the western Mediterranean, the Strait
of Gibraltar, and its approaches. Patrol Squadron 92 also arrived
at Port Lyautey on the same day via Cuba, Brazil, Ascension Island,
and West Africa.
16--Naval aviation's first night fighter squadron, VMF(N)-531,
was established at MCAS Cherry Point with Lieutenant Colonel Frank
H. Schwable in command. After initial training with SNJs and SB2A-4s,
the squadron was assigned twin-engined PV-1 aircraft equipped
with British Mark IV type radar.
23--The V-173, a full-scale model of a fighter aircraft with an
almost circular wing, made its first flight at the Vought-Sikorsky
plant, Stratford, Conn. A military version of this aircraft, the
XF5U-1, was constructed later but never flown.
DECEMBER
1--Fleet Air Wing 15, Captain G. A. Seitz commanding, was established
at Norfolk for operations under the Moroccan Sea Frontier.
1--Fleet Airship Wing 30, Captain George H. Mills commanding,
was established at NAS Lakehurst to administer Atlantic Fleet
Airship Groups and their component squadrons.
1--Airship Patrol Group 3 at NAS Moffett Field was redesignated
Fleet Airship Wing 31.
26--The Chief of Naval Operations approved the merger of the Service
Force Aviation Repair Unit and Advanced Cruiser Aircraft Training
Unit, established in October 1941 and June 1942 respectively,
to form a Scout Observation Service Unit (SOSU) with a mission
to maintain battleship and cruiser aircraft and to indoctrinate
pilots in their specialized operations. This SOSU, the first of
three established during World War II was established 1 January
1943.
27--Santee, first of 11 escort carriers assigned to Hunter-Killer
duty, sortied Norfolk with Air Group 29 on board for free-roving
antisubmarine and anti-raider operations in the South Atlantic.
31--After pointing out that the need for airborne radar was so
apparent and urgent that peacetime methods of procurement and
fleet introduction could not be followed, the Chief of the Bureau
of Aeronautics requested the Naval Research Laboratory to continue
to provide personnel capable of assisting fleet units in the operation
and maintenance of radar equipment until a special group of trained
personnel could be assembled for that purpose. This special group
developed within a few months into the Airborne Coordination Group
which provided trained civilian electronics specialists to fleet
units throughout the war and into the post-war period.
31--Essex, Captain D. B. Duncan commanding, was placed
in operating status at Norfolk; the first of 17 ships of her class
commissioned during World War II.
JANUARY
1--Naval Reserve Aviation Bases (NRAB) engaged in Primary Flight
Training in all parts of the country were redesignated Naval Air
Stations (NAS) without change of mission. This was the end of
the NRAB's except for Anacostia, which was abolished on 7 July
1943, and Squantum which became an NAS on 1 September 1943.
1--Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, was established, Rear Admiral A.
D. Bernhard commanding, to provide administrative, material, and
logistic services for Atlantic Fleet aviation in place of the
former separate commands Fleet Air Wings, Atlantic, and Carriers,
Atlantic, which were abolished. By the same order Fleet Air, Quonset,
was established as a subordinate command.
1--Ground Controlled Approach equipment (GCA) was called into
emergency use for the first time when a snowstorm closed down
the field at NAS Quonset Point a half hour before a flight of
PBYs was due to arrive. The GCA crew located the incoming aircraft
on their search radar, and using the control tower as a relay
station, "talked" one of them into position for a contact
landing. This recovery was made only 9 days after the first successful
experimental demonstration of GCA.
5--The first combat use of a proximity fuzed projectile occurred
when Helena (CL 50) off the south coast of Guadalcanal,
destroyed an attacking Japanese dive bomber with the second salvo
from her 5-inch guns.
7--A change in the pilot training program was implemented by the
opening of Flight Preparatory Schools in 20 colleges and universities
in all parts of the country. Under the new program, students began
their training at these schools with 3 months of academic work
fundamental to ground school subjects, then proceeded to War Training
Service courses conducted by the Civil Aeronautics Administration
at universities for 2 months's training in ground subjects and
elementary flight under civilian instructors; then to the Pre-Flight
Schools for 3 months of physical conditioning; and finally to
Navy flight training beginning at one of the Primary Training
Bases.
7--Development of the first naval aircraft to be equipped with
a turbojet engine was initiated with the issuance of a Letter
of Intent to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation for engineering, development,
and tooling for two VF airplanes. Two Westinghouse 19-B turbojet
engines were later specified and the aircraft was designated XFD-1.
It became the prototype for the FH-1 Phantom jet fighter.
10--Fleet Air Wing 15 headquarters was transferred from Norfolk
to Port Lyautey, French Morocco, to direct patrol plane operations
in the Mediterranean and Gibraltar Strait area.
12--The Chief of Naval Air Operational Training directed that
aircraft operating from stations under his command be marked for
identification purposes with letters and numerals in three groups
separated by a dash. The first group provided a letter identification
of the station, the second a letter identifying the unit type
and the third the number of the aircraft in the unit. The order
also provided that when more than one unit was on board a station,
a number be added to the station letter. Thus J2-F-22 identified
the aircraft as from Jacksonville, OTU #2 Fighter Training Unit,
plane number 22.
14--Independence, Captain G. R. Fairlamb Jr., commanding,
was placed in commission at Philadelphia; the first of nine light
carriers of her class constructed on Cleveland Class cruiser
hulls.
15--Captain H. S. "Seth" Warner, Head of the Flight
Statistics Desk of the Bureau of Aeronautics, introduced Grampa
Pettibone, in the BuAer News Letter. Pettibone, a cartoon character
drawn by Lieutenant Robert Osborn, was produced as a safety feature
in the hope of cutting down on pilot-error accidents. Gramps went
on to become famous through the post-war decades as Osborn, after
leaving the Navy, continued to contribute his character to Naval
Aviation News magazine.
17--Following tests conducted at NAS San Diego by six experienced
pilots flying F4U-1s, the Commanding Officer of VF-12, Commander
J. C. Clifton, reported that anti-blackout suits raised their
tolerance to accelerations encountered in gunnery run and other
maneuvers by three to four Gs.
FEBRUARY
1--Bombing Squadron, VB-127, was established at NAS Deland, Fla.,
with Lieutenant Commander William K. Gentner in command. The squadron
was equipped with PV-1 Venturas and, although not the first land
plane patrol squadron in the Navy, was the first to have the VB
designation.
1--A new specification prescribing color and marking of naval
aircraft became effective. A basic camouflage color scheme was
provided for use on fleet aircraft which consisted of semigloss
sea blue on surfaces viewed from above and non-specular insignia
white on surfaces viewed from below. The terminology "basic
non-camouflage" and "maximum visibility" were introduced
for the color schemes described in April 1942, and used on intermediate
and primary trainers.
1--Regulations governing display of National Insignia on aircraft
were again revised by the order to remove those on the upper right
and lower left wing surfaces.
11--A contract was issued to the Ryan Aeronautical Corporation
for the XFR-1 fighter. This aircraft incorporated a conventional
reciprocating engine for use in normal operations and the turbojet
for use as a booster during takeoffs and maximum performance flights.
Development and production were handled on a crash basis to equip
escort carrier squadrons at the earliest possible date. However,
numerous bugs were encountered which prevented the FR-1's assignment
to combat.
11--The Vought F4U Corsair was flown on a combat mission for the
first time when 12 planes of VMF-124 based on Guadalcanal escorted
a PB2Y Dumbo to Vella Lavella to pick up downed pilots. The flight
was uneventful. Its first combat action came 2 days later when
pilots from the same squadron ran into air opposition while escorting
PB4Ys of VP-51 on a daylight strike against enemy shipping in
the Kahili area of Bougainville.
13--The Naval Air Transport Service was reorganized and the establishment
of Wings was directed for the Atlantic and west coast squadrons.
15--The Commander in Chief U.S. Fleet assigned responsibility
for sea-going development of helicopters and their operation in
convoys to the Coast Guard and directed that tests be carried
out to determine if helicopters operating from merchant ships
would be of value in combating submarines.
16--Fleet Air Wing 16, Captain R. D. Lyon commanding, was established
at Norfolk.
17--Lighter-than-air operations over the Caribbean were initiated
from Edinburgh Field, Trinidad, by the K-17 of Airship Patrol
Squadron 51.
19--A letter of intent was issued to Vega Airplane Company for
two XP2V-1 patrol planes, thereby initiating development of the
P2V Neptune series of land-based patrol aircraft.
21 February--1 November--Advance up the Solomons Chain--In a series
of amphibious operations, directly and indirectly supported by
Marine Corps, Navy and Army units of Aircraft, South Pacific,
and Aircraft, Solomons, Central Pacific Forces moved from Guadalcanal
up the Solomon Islands towards the Japanese naval base at Rabaul.
Beginning with the unopposed landing in the Russells (21 Feb),
these forces leapfrogged through the islands establishing bases
and airfields as they went. Moving into Segi of the New Georgia
Group (21 June), through Rendova, Onaivisi, Wickham Anchorage,
Kiriwini and Woodlark (30 June), Viru (2 July), Zanana (2 July),
Rice Anchorage (5 July), Vella Lavella (15 Aug), Arundel (27 Aug),
and Treasury Islands (27 Oct), they reached Bougainville where
landings on Cape Torokina were additionally supported by carrier
air strikes (1, 2 Nov) on the Buka-Bonis airfields.
24--The Naval Photographic Science Laboratory was established
at NAS Anacostia under the direction of the Bureau of Aeronautics
to provide photographic services to the Navy and to develop equipment
and techniques suitable for fleet use.
MARCH
1--Air Transport Squadrons, West Coast, was established at NAAS
Oakland with control over all NATS squadrons west of the Mississippi
except those on the mainland to Honolulu run.
1--A revision of the squadron designation system changed Inshore
Patrol Squadrons to Scouting Squadrons (VS), Escort Fighting Squadrons
(VGF) to Fighting Squadrons (VF), Escort Scouting Squadrons (VGS)
to Composite Squadrons (VC) and Patrol Squadrons (VP) operating
land type aircraft to Bombing Squadrons (VB). This revision also
redesignated carrier Scouting Squadrons (VS) as VB and VC and
as a result the types of squadrons on Essex Class carriers was
reduced to three. In spite of this change, the aircraft complement
of their Air Groups remained at its previous level of 21 VF, 36
VSB and 18 VTB.
1--Fleet Airship Group 2, Captain W. E. Zimmerman commanding,
was established at NAS Richmond, Florida, and placed in charge
of lighter-than-air operations in the Gulf Sea Frontier.
4--Changes to the characteristics of Essex Class carriers were
authorized by the Secretary, including installation of a Combat
Information Center (CIC) and Fighter Director Station, additional
anti-aircraft batteries, and a second flight deck catapult in
lieu of one athwartships on the hangar deck.
5--Bogue, with VC-9 on board, joined Task Group 24.4 at Argentia
and began the escort of convoys to mid-ocean and return. Although
the Santee had previously operated on Hunter-Killer duty, Bogue
was the center of the first of the Hunter-Killer groups assigned
to convoy escort.
15--Fleet Air Wing 4 headquarters moved westward on the Aleutian
chain from Kodiak to Adak.
20--Forty-two Navy and Marine Corps Avengers, on a night flight
from Henderson Field, mined Kahili Harbor, Bougainville. A coordinated
attack on Kahili airfield by AAF heavy bombers contributed to
the success of this, the first aerial mining mission in the South
Pacific.
23--The Training Task Force Command was established with headquarters
at NAS Clinton, Okla., to form, outfit and train special units
for the operational employment of assault drone aircraft.
29--Tests of forward firing rockets projectiles from naval aircraft
were completed at the Naval Proving Ground, Dahlgren, using an
SB2A-4 aircraft.
29--Air Transport Squadrons, Atlantic, was commissioned at Norfolk
to supervise and direct operations of NATS squadrons based on
the Atlantic seaboard.
APRIL
1-Aircraft Antisubmarine Development Detachment, Commander A.
B. Vosseller in command, was established at NAS Quonset Point
under Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, to develop tactical training
programs and techniques that would make full use of newly developed
countermeasures equipment.
1--The first Navy night fighter squadron, VF(N)-75, was established
at Quonset Point, Commander W. J. Widhelm, commanding.
4--The Naval Aircraft Factory reported that, in tests of an automatic
flying device for use on towed gliders, the LNT-1 had been towed
automatically without assistance from the safety pilot.
14--Fleet Air Wing 16 transferred from Norfolk to Natal, Brazil,
to direct patrol plane antisubmarine operations under the Fourth
Fleet in the South Atlantic.
21--Captain Frederick M. Trapnell made a flight in the Bell XP-59A
jet Airacomet at Muroc, Calif., the first jet flight by a U.S.
Naval Aviator.
MAY
3--Air Transport Squadron 1 (VR-1), based at Norfolk, extended
the area of its operations with a flight to Prestwick, Scotland,
via Reykjavik, Iceland. This was the first R5D operation in the
Naval Air Transport Service.
4--The first regular patrols began from Amchitka, extending the
search coverage by Fleet Air Wing 4 beyond Attu toward the Kuriles.
4--To expedite the evaluation of the helicopter in antisubmarine
operations, the Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet directed that a
"joint board" be formed with representatives of the
Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet; the Bureau of Aeronautics; the
Coast Guard; the British Admiralty and the Royal Air Forces. The
resulting Combined Board for the Evaluation of the Ship-Based
Helicopter in Anti-Submarine Warfare was later expanded to include
representatives of the Army Air Forces, the War Shipping Administration
and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
7--Navy representatives witnessed landing trials of the XR-4 helicopter
aboard the merchant tanker Bunker Hill in a demonstration sponsored
by the Maritime Commission and conducted in Long Island Sound.
The pilot, Colonel R. F. Gregory, AAF, made about 15 flights,
and in some of these flights he landed on the water before returning
to the platform on the deck of the ship.
11-30--Occupation of Attu--Air support for the landing of Army
troops (11 May) and for their operations ashore was provided by
Navy and Marine units on the escort carrier Nassau (11-20 May),
and by the Navy and Army units of North Pacific Force (11-20 May).
This was the first use of CVE based aircraft in air support in
the Pacific and the debut of a Support Air Commander afloat. His
team consisted of three officers and a radioman and his post was
a card table aboard Pennsylvania. Colonel W. O. Eareckson, USA,
an experienced Aleutian pilot, was in command of the unit.
15--The Naval Airship Training Command was established at Lakehurst
to administer and direct lighter-than-air training programs at
the Naval Air Centers, Lakehurst and Moffett Field, and to direct
the Experimental and Flight Test Department at Lakehurst.
18--The program for the use of gliders as transports for Marine
Corps combat troops was canceled, thereby returning the Navy's
glider development to an experimental basis.
22--Grumman Avengers of VC-9, based on Bogue, attacked and sank
the submarine U-569 in the middle north Atlantic scoring the first
sinking of the war by escort carriers on hunter-killer patrol.
24--Special Project Unit Cast was organized at NAS Squantum to
provide, under Bureau of Aeronautics direction, the services required
to flight test the electronics equipment being developed at the
Radiation and Radio Research Laboratories.
JUNE
7--The establishment of NAF Attu, within 1 week of its capture
from the Japanese, brought Fleet Air Wing 4 bases to the tip of
the Aleutian chain, nearly 1,000 miles from the Alaskan mainland
and 750 miles from Japanese territory in the Kuriles.
7--The Commander in Chief, U.S. Fleet established a project for
airborne test, by Commander Fleet Air, West Coast, of high velocity,
"forward shooting" rockets. These rockets, which had
nearly double the velocity of those tested earlier at Dahlgren,
had been developed by a rocket section, led by Dr. C. C. Lauritsen,
at the California Institute of Technology under National Defense
Research Committee auspices and with Navy support. This test project,
which was established in part on the basis of reports of effectiveness
in service of a similar British rocket, completed its first airborne
firing from a TBF of a British rocket on 14 July and of the CalTech
round on 20 August. The results of these tests were so favorable
that operational squadrons in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets
were equipped with forward firing rockets before the end of the
year.
10--Lieutenant Commander F. A. Erickson, USCG, proposed that helicopters
be developed for antisubmarine warfare, "not as a killer
craft but as the eyes and ears of the convoy escorts." To
this end he recommended that helicopters be equipped with radar
and dunking sonar.
15--President Roosevelt approved a ceiling of 31,447 useful planes
for the Navy.
28--A change in the design of the National Star Insignia added
white rectangles on the left and right sides of the blue circular
field to form a horizontal bar, and a red border stripe around
the entire design. The following September, Insignia Blue was
substituted for the red.
29--NAS Patuxent River began functioning as an aircraft test organization
with the arrival of the Flight Test unit from NAS Anacostia.
29--Elements of VP-101 arrived at Brisbane from Perth, thereby
extending the patrol coverage of Fleet Air Wing 10 to the east
coast of Australia and marking the beginning of a northward advance
of patrol operations toward the Papuan Peninsula of New Guinea.
JULY
5--The first turbojet engine developed for the Navy, the Westinghouse
l9A, completed its 100-hour endurance test.
8--Casablanca, first of her class and first escort carrier designed
and built as such, was placed in commission at Astoria, Oreg.,
Captain S. W. Callaway commanding.
14--The Secretary issued a General Order forming the Naval Air
Material Center, consisting of the separate commands of the Naval
Aircraft Factory, the Naval Aircraft Modification Unit, the Naval
Air Experimental Station and the Naval Auxiliary Air Station.
This action, effective 20 July, consolidated in distinct activities
the production, modification, experimental, and air station facilities
of the former Naval Aircraft Factory organization.
15--New designations for carriers were established which limited
the previous broadly applied CV symbol to Saratoga, Enterprise
and carriers of the Essex Class, and added CVB (Aircraft Carriers,
Large) for the 45,000 ton class being built and CVL (Aircraft
Carriers, Small) for the 10,000 ton class built on light cruiser
hulls. The same directive reclassified escort carriers as combatant
ships and changed their symbol from ACV to CVE.
15--The airship organization of the U.S. Fleet was modified. Fleet
Airship Wings 30 and 31 were redesignated Fleet Airships, Atlantic,
and Pacific respectively. Airship Patrol Groups became Airship
Wings. Airship Patrol Squadrons became Blimp Squadrons, and the
addition of two more wings and the establishment of Blimp Headquarters
Squadrons in each wing was authorized.
18--The airship K-74, while on night patrol off the Florida coast,
attacked a surfaced U-boat and in the gun duel which followed
was hit and brought down--the only airship lost to enemy action
in World War II. The submarine, U-134, was damaged enough to force
her return to base, and after surviving two other attacks on the
way, was finally sunk by British bombers in the Bay of Biscay.
19--The Naval Aircraft Factory was authorized to develop the Gorgon,
an aerial ram or air-to-air missile powered by a turbojet engine
and equipped with radio controls and a homing device. The Gorgon
was later expanded into a broad program embracing turbojet, ramjet,
pulsejet, and rocket power; straight wing, swept wing, and canard
(tail first) air frames; and visual, television, heat-homing,
and three types of radar guidance for use as air-to-air, air-to-surface
and surface-to-surface guided missiles and as target drones.
22--Since there had been no operational need for arresting gear
and related equipment for landing over the bow of aircraft carriers,
the Vice Chief of Naval Operations approved its removal.
23--Patrol Squadron 63, the first U.S. Navy squadron to operate
from Great Britain in World War II, arrived at Pembroke Dock,
England, to assist in the antisubmarine patrol over the Bay of
Biscay.
AUGUST
2--Fleet Airship Wings 4 and 5, Captain W. E. Zimmerman and Commander
John D. Reppy commanding, were established at Maceio, Brazil,
and Edinburgh Field, Trinidad, for anti-submarine and convoy patrols
in the South Atlantic and southern approaches to the Caribbean.
4--The Chief of Naval Air Intermediate Training directed that
Aviation Safety Boards be established at each training center
under his command.
5--CominCh directed the use of Fleet Air Wing commanders in subordinate
commands of Sea Frontiers and suggested their assignment as Deputy
Chiefs of Staff for Air.
15--The arrival of Aircraft Experimental and Development Squadron
(later Tactical Test) from NAS Anacostia to NAS Patuxent River
completed the transfer of aircraft test activities.
15--The landing of U.S. Army and Canadian troops on Kiska by a
Naval Task Force made the first use in the Pacific of Air Liaison
Parties (ALP) with forces ashore. Although the enemy had deserted
the island, the landing provided opportunity to prove that the
principle of the ALP was sound and that rapid and reliable voice
communications between front line commanders and the Support Air
Control Unit afloat were possible.
18--To give naval aviation authority commensurate with its World
War II responsibility, the Secretary of the Navy established the
Office of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), charging
it with responsibility for "the preparation, readiness and
logistic support of the naval aeronautic operating forces. By
other orders issued the same day, five divisions were transferred
from the Bureau of Aeronautics to form the nucleus of the new
office and Vice Admiral J. S. McCain took command as the first
DCNO (Air).
21--Headquarters of Fleet Air Wing 7 was established at Plymouth,
England, to direct patrol plane operations against submarines
in the Bay of Biscay, the English Channel and the southwest approaches
to England.
29--The formation of combat units for the employment of assault
drone aircraft began within the Training Task Force Command as
the first of three Special Task Air Groups was established. The
component squadrons, designated VK, began establishing on 23 October.
31--Second Strike on Marcus--Task Force 15 (Rear Admiral C. A.
Pownall), built around Essex, the new Yorktown and
Independence launched nine strike groups in a day-long
attack on Japanese installations on Marcus Island, the first strikes
by Essex and Independence Class carriers, and the
first combat use of the F6F Grumman Hellcat.
SEPTEMBER
1--Two light carriers of Task Group 11.2 (Rear Admiral A. W. Radford)
and Navy patrol bombers from Canton Island furnished day and night
air cover for naval units landing occupation forces on Baker Island,
east of the Gilberts.
15--Fleet Air Wing 17, Commodore T. S. Combs commanding, was established
at Brisbane, Australia, for operations in the Southwest Pacific
area.
15--French Patrol Squadron 1 (VFP-1), manned by "Fighting
French" naval personnel trained under U. S. Navy control,
was established at NAS Norfolk.
18--A three-carrier task force (Rear Admiral C. A. Pownall), attacked
Tarawa, Makin, and Abemama Atolls in the Gilbert Islands.
18--Training was assigned as a primary mission to Fleet Air Wing
5 at Norfolk, and Fleet Air Wing 9 assumed responsibility for
all patrol plane operations in the Eastern Sea Frontier.
27--The beginning of airship operations in the South Atlantic
was marked by the arrival of the K-84, of Blimp Squadron 41, at
Fortaleza, Brazil.
30--An advance detachment of Bombing Squadron 107, equipped with
PB4Y Liberators, arrived at Ascension Island to join AAF units
on antisubmarine barriers and sweeps across the narrows of the
South Atlantic.
OCTOBER
1--Air Force, Atlantic Fleet, was reorganized and Fleet Air, Norfolk,
and Fleet Airships, Atlantic, were established as additional subordinate
commands.
1--The authorized complement of fighters in Essex Class Carrier
Air Groups was raised, increasing the total aircraft normally
on board to 36 VF, 36 VB and 18 VT. The authorized complement
for CVL groups was established at the same time as 12 VF, nine
VB and nine VT and revised in November 1943 to 24 VF and nine
VT and remained at that level through the war.
4--In conjunction with her duties in protecting North Atlantic
convoy routes to Russia, Ranger launched two strikes against German
shipping in Norway--one in and around Bodo Harbor; the other along
the coast from Alter Fjord to Kunna Head.
5--Coast Guard Patrol Squadron 6 was established at Argentia,
Newfoundland, Commander D. B. MacDiarmid, USCG, commanding, to
take over the rescue duties being performed by naval aircraft
in Greenland and Labrador.
5-6--Second Wake Raid--Task Force 14 (Rear Admiral A. E. Montgomery),
composed of six new carriers, seven cruisers, and 24 destroyers,
making it the largest carrier task force yet assembled, bombed
and bombarded Japanese installations on Wake Island. In the course
of the 2-day strikes, ship handling techniques for a multicarrier
force, devised by Rear Admiral F. C. Sherman's staff on the basis
of experience in the South Pacific, were tested under combat conditions.
Lessons learned from operating the carriers as a single group
of six, as two groups of three, and as three groups of two, provided
the basis for many tactics which later characterized carrier task
force operations.
6--The Naval Airship Training Command at Lakehurst was redesignated
the Naval Airship Training and Experimental Command.
12--The Bureau of Ordnance established a production program for
3,000 Pelican guided missiles at a delivery rate of 300 a month.
16--The Navy accepted its first helicopter, a Sikorsky YR-4B (HNS-1),
at Bridgeport, Connecticut, following a 60 minute acceptance test
flight by Lieutenant Commander F. A. Erickson, USCG.
31--Lieutenant H. D. O'Neil of VF(N)-75, operating from Munda,
New Georgia, destroyed a Betty during a night attack off Vella
Lavella, the first kill by a radar-equipped night fighter of the
Pacific Fleet. Major T. E. Hicks and Tech Sergeant Gleason from
VMF(N)-531 provided ground-based fighter direction.
NOVEMBER
1--A detachment of Bombing Squadron 145, equipped with Venturas,
began operations from Fernando Noronha Island, extending the area
of Fleet Air Wing 16 antisubmarine patrols over the South Atlantic
toward Ascension Island.
5--First Rabaul Strike--A two-carrier task force (Rear Admiral
F. C. Sherman) delivered an air attack on the naval base at Rabaul
damaging several warships of the Japanese Second Fleet.
8--The Chief of Naval Operations directed that Aviation Safety
Boards, similar to those in the Intermediate Training command,
be established in the Primary and Operational Training Commands.
8--The Naval Ordnance Test Station, Inyokern, California, was
established for research, development and testing weapons and
to provide primary training in their use. It initially supported
the California Institute of Technology which, through the Office
of Scientific Research and Development, was undertaking the development
and testing of rockets, propellants and launchers.
11--Second Rabaul Strike--Three heavy and two light carriers organized
in two carrier task forces (Rear Admirals F. C. Sherman and A.
E. Montgomery), hit Japanese naval shipping at Rabaul sinking
one destroyer and damaging ships, including two cruisers. In this
attack SB2C Curtiss Helldivers were used in combat for the first
time.
13-19--Army and Navy aircraft of Task Force 57 (Rear Admiral J.
H. Hoover), based on islands of the Ellice, Phoenix, and Samoan
Groups and on Baker Island, conducted long-range night bombing
attacks on Japanese bases in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands
as a preliminary to the invasion of the Gilberts.
18-26--Occupation of the Gilbert Islands--Six heavy and five light
carriers of Task Force 50 (Rear Admiral C. A. Pownall) opened
the campaign to capture the Gilberts with a 2-day air attack on
airfields and defensive installations in the islands (18-19 Nov),
covered the landings of Marines and Army troops on Tarawa and
Makin Atolls (20 Nov) and on Abemama (21 Nov), and supported their
operations ashore (21-24 Nov). Eight escort carriers, operating
with the Attack Forces, covered the approach of assault shipping
(10-18 Nov), flew antisubmarine and combat air patrols in the
area, and close support missions on call (19-24 Nov). After the
islands were secure (24 Nov), one carrier group remained in the
area for another week as a protective measure. The first unit
of the garrison air force, VF-1, took off from the escort carriers
Barnes and Nassau (25 Nov) and landed on Tarawa airstrip. One
escort carrier, Liscome Bay was lost (24 Nov) to submarine attack,
and the light carrier Independence was damaged (20 Nov) by air
attack. The first attempts at night interception from carriers
were made during the campaign by a team of two Hellcats and one
radar equipped Avenger operating from Enterprise and led by the
Air Group Commander, Lieutenant Commander E. H. (Butch) O'Hare.
In operation the fighters flew wing on the Avenger and after being
vectored to the vicinity of the enemy aircraft by the ship's fighter
director relied on the Avenger's radar to get within visual range.
On the first occasion (24 Nov) no intercepts were made but on
the second (26 Nov) the enemy was engaged in the first aerial
battle of its type which so disrupted the attack that the flight
was credited with saving the task group from damage.
27--The first of the Martin Mars flying boats was delivered to
VR-8 at NAS Patuxent River, Md.
30--On her first operational assignment, the Martin Mars, in the
hands of Lieutenant Commander W. E. Coney and crew of 16, took
off from Patuxent River carrying 13,000 pounds of cargo that was
delivered at Natal, Brazil, in a nonstop flight of 4,375 miles
and of 28 hours 25 minutes duration.
30--A department of Aviation Medicine and Physiological Research
was authorized at the Naval Air Material Center, to study physiological
factors particularly as related to design of high speed and high
altitude aircraft.
DECEMBER
1--Aircraft, Central Pacific, Rear Admiral J.H. Hoover commanding,
was established under Commander, Central Pacific, for operational
control of defense forces and shore-based air forces in the area.
1--The Naval Air Ferry Command was established as a Wing of the
Naval Air Transport Service. It assumed the functions previously
performed by Aircraft Delivery Units in ferrying new aircraft
from contractor plants and modification centers to embarkation
points for ultimate delivery to the Fleet.
4--At the close of the Gilberts Campaign, two groups of Task Force
50 (Rear Admiral C. A. Pownall), composed of four heavy and two
light carriers and screening ships, bombed airfields and shipping
at Wotje and Kwajalein Atolls in the Marshall Islands.
8--A striking force of two carriers, six battleships, and 12 destroyers
bombed and bombarded enemy installations on Nauru, to the west
of the Gilberts.
15--Observation Fighter Squadron 1 (VOF-1), first of three of
its type brought into existence during World War II, was established
at Atlantic City with Lieutenant Commander W. F. Bringle in command.
17--Commander Aircraft, Solomons, joined in the air campaign to
reduce the Japanese Naval Base at Rabaul with a fighter sweep
of Navy, Marine Corps, and New Zealand planes led by Marine Ace
Major Gregory Boyington. Intensive follow-up attacks through February
1944 assisted in the establishment of encircling allied bases.
Rabaul remained under air attack until the war's end, the last
strike being delivered by Marine Corps PBJ's on 9 August 1945.
18--On the basis of his belief that tests indicated the practicability
of ship-based helicopters, the Chief of Naval Operations separated
the pilot training from test and development functions in the
helicopter program. He directed that, effective 1 January 1944,
a helicopter pilot training program be conducted by the U.S. Coast
Guard at Floyd Bennett Field, under the direction of the Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations (Air).
20--The Naval Air Training Command was established at Pensacola,
Fla., to coordinate and direct, under the Chief of Naval Operations,
all naval aviation training in the activities of the Primary,
Intermediate, and Operational Training Commands.
20--Two Catalinas of Patrol Squadron 43, at Attu, flew the first
Navy photo reconnaissance and bombing mission over the Kuriles.
20--Commander Frank A. Erickson, USCG, reported that Coast Guard
Air Station, Floyd Bennett Field had experimented with a helicopter
used as an airborne ambulance. An HNS-1 helicopter made flights
carrying, in addition to its normal crew of a pilot and a mechanic,
a weight of 200 pounds in a stretcher suspended approximately
4 feet beneath the float landing gear. In further demonstrations
early the following year, the stretcher was attached to the side
of the fuselage and landings were made at the steps of the dispensary.
25--Aircraft from a two-carrier task group (Rear Admiral F. C.
Sherman) attacked shipping at Kavieng, New Ireland, as a covering
operation for landings by the Marines in the Borgen Bay area of
New Britain on the following day.
31--Fleet Air Wing 17 departed Australia and set up headquarters
at Samarai on the tip of the Papuan Peninsula of New Guinea.
JANUARY
3--Helicopter Mercy Mission--Commander Frank A. Erickson, USCG,
flying an HNS-1 helicopter, made an emergency delivery of 40 units
of blood plasma from lower Manhattan Island to Sandy Hook where
the plasma was administered to survivors of an explosion on the
destroyer Turner (DD 648). In this, the first helicopter
lifesaving operation, Commander Erickson took off from Floyd Bennett
Field, flew to Battery Park on Manhattan Island to pick up the
plasma and then to Sandy Hook. The flight was made through snow
squalls and sleet which grounded all other types of aircraft.
11--The first U.S. attack with forward-firing rockets was made
against a German U-boat by two TBF-1C's of Composite Squadron
58 from the escort carrier Block Island.
16--Lieutenant (jg) S. R. Graham, USCG, while en route from New
York to Liverpool in the British freighter Daghestan made
a 30 minute flight in an R-4B (HNS-1) from the ship's 60 by 80
foot flight deck. Weather during the mid-winter crossing of the
North Atlantic permitted only two additional flights and, as a
result, the sponsoring Combined Board for Evaluation of the Ship-based
Helicopter in Anti-Submarine Warfare concluded that the helicopter's
capability should be developed in coastal waters until models
with improved performance became available.
18--Catalinas of VP-63, based at Port Lyautey, began barrier patrols
of the Strait of Gibraltar and its approaches with Magnetic Airborne
Detection (MAD) gear and effectively closed the Strait to enemy
U-boats during daylight hours until the end of the war.
29 January-22 February--Occupation of the Marshall Islands--Six
heavy and six light carriers, in four groups of Task Force 58
(Rear Admiral M. A. Mitscher), opened the campaign to capture
the Marshalls (29 Jan) with heavy air attacks on Maloelap, Kwajalein,
and Wotje. On the first day the defending enemy air forces were
eliminated and complete control of the air was maintained by carrier
aircraft during the entire operation. Eight escort carriers, attached
to the Attack Forces of the Joint Expeditionary Force, arrived
in the area early the morning of D-day. Aircraft from the carriers
flew cover and antisubmarine patrols for attack shipping and assisted
two fast carrier groups, providing air support for landings on
Kwajalein and Majuro Atolls (31 Jan), Roi and Namur (1 Feb), and
for operations ashore. The AGC command ship, used for the first
time during this campaign, provided greatly improved physical
facilities for the Support Air Commander. Here, the Support Air
Commander first assumed control of Target Combat Air Patrol, previously
vested in carrier units, and a Force Fighter Director on his staff
coordinated fighter direction. Two fast carrier groups to the
west kept Eniwetok Atoll neutralized until the initial objectives
were achieved. Their early achievement permitted the second phase
of the campaign, Seizure of Eniwetok, earlier than the planned
date of 10 May. The landings (17 Feb) and the ground action were
supported by aircraft from one fast carrier group and one escort
carrier group. Covering operations were provided by the First
Strike on Truk (17-18 Feb), carried out by the Truk Striking Force
(Vice Admiral R. A. Spruance), built around three fast carrier
groups. In a 2-day attack, the carriers launched 1,250 combat
sorties against this key naval base and exploded the myth of its
impregnability with 400 tons of bombs and torpedoes, sinking 37
war and merchant ships aggregating 200,000 tons and doing heavy
damage to base installations. In this action the first night bombing
attack in the history of U.S. carrier aviation was carried out
by VT-10 from the Enterprise with 12 radar equipped TBF-1C's.
The attack, delivered at low level, scored several direct hits
on ships in the harbor. In a brief enemy air attack on the same
night, Intrepid was hit by an aerial torpedo. For the campaign,
night fighter detachments of VF(N)-76 and VF(N)-101 (assigned
F6F-3's and F4U-2's equipped with AIA radar) were assigned to
five carriers and, while not widely used, were on occasion vectored
against enemy night raiders.
30--To effect the neutralization of Wake Island during the Marshalls
operation, two squadrons of Coronados from Midway Island made
the first of four night bombing attacks. Repetitions of the 2,000-mile
round trip mission were completed on 4, 8, and 9 February.
FEBRUARY
2--The last of the World War II ceilings for Navy aircraft, calling
for an increase to 37,735 useful planes, was approved by the President.
3--Flight Safety Bulletin No. 1 was issued jointly by the Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations (Air) and the Chief of the Bureau of
Aeronautics, announcing their intention to issue consecutively
numbered bulletins concerning the safe operation of naval aircraft.
4--In a test of refueling operations with the CVE Altamaha
off San Diego, the K-29 of Blimp Squadron 31 made the first carrier
landing by a non-rigid airship.
4--The first photo reconnaissance of Truk was made by 2 PB4Y's
of VMD-254 on a 12-hour night flight from the Solomon Islands.
Cloud cover prevented complete coverage but the information acquired
was useful in planning the carrier strike which hit later in the
month.
15--A new command, Forward Area, Central Pacific, was established
to control the operations of shorebased air forces and naval forces
assigned to the Ellice, Gilbert, and Marshall Islands.
20--On completion of the strike on Truk, a small unit composed
of the Enterprise, one cruiser, and six destroyers (Rear
Admiral J. W. Reeves) separated from the main force and launched
two air strikes on Jaluit.
23--Two carrier groups of Task Force 58 (Rear Admiral M. A. Mitscher),
after successfully fending off a series of determined enemy air
attacks during the night, hit targets on Saipan, Tinian, Rota,
and Guam for the dual purpose of reducing enemy air strength in
the Marianas and to gather photo intelligence for the impending
invasion. The combined efforts of pilots and antiaircraft gunners
accounted for 67 enemy aircraft shot down and 101 destroyed on
the ground.
24--The first detection of a submerged enemy submarine by the
use of MAD gear was made by Catalinas of VP-63, on a MAD barrier
patrol of the approaches to the Strait of Gibraltar. They attacked
the U-761 with retrorockets, and with the assistance of two ships
and aircraft from two other squadrons, sank it.
MARCH
4--A reduction in flight training was visualized as the total
outputs for 1944, 1945, and 1946 were fixed at 20,500, 15,000
and 10,000 pilots respectively.
6--A new specification for color of naval aircraft went into effect.
The basic camouflage scheme, used with fleet aircraft, was modified
slightly to provide for use of non-specular sea blue on upper
fuselage surfaces; airfoil surfaces visible from above remained
semigloss sea blue and other surfaces visible from below, semigloss
insignia white. A new basic non-camouflage color scheme, all aluminum,
was specified for general use on aircraft not in the combat theater.
The maximum visibility color scheme used on primary trainers became
glossy orange yellow overall.
15--The twin-engined North American Mitchell, PBJ, was taken into
combat for the first time in its naval career in an attack on
Rabaul by pilots of Marine Bombing Squadron 413.
18--Task Group 50.10 (Rear Admiral W. A. Lee), composed of the
Lexington, two battleships, and a destroyer screen, bombed and
bombarded bypassed Mili in the Marshalls.
20--Two escort carriers provided cover and airspot for the battleship
and destroyer bombardment of Kavieng and nearby airfields in a
covering action for the occupation of Emirau.
22--A new specification for color of fighter aircraft went into
effect. It directed that fighters be painted glossy sea blue on
all exposed surfaces.
26--Corsairs of VMF-113 from Engebi flew the first fighter escort
for AAF B-25'S on the 360 mile bombing mission against Ponape,
and were so effective in destroying enemy interceptors that later
missions over the island were unmolested.
27--Saratoga (Captain J. H. Cassady) and three destroyers,
assigned to temporary duty with the Royal Navy, joined the British
Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean approximately 1,000 miles south
of Ceylon.
30 March-l April--Strikes on the Western Carolines--In an operation
designed to eliminate opposition to the landings at Hollandia
and to gather photo intelligence for future campaigns, a strong
Fifth Fleet force, built around Task Force 58 (Vice Admiral M.
A. Mitscher) with 11 carriers, launched a series of attacks on
Palau, Yap, Ulithi, and Woleai, and shipping in the area. Aerial
mining of Paliu Harbor by Torpedo Squadrons 2, 8, and 16, was
the first such mission by carrier aircraft and the first large
scale daylight mining operation of the Pacific war. The attacks
accounted for 157 enemy aircraft destroyed, 28 ships of 108,000
tons sunk, and denial of the harbor to the enemy for an estimated
6 weeks.
APRIL
15--Air-Sea Rescue Squadrons (VH) were formed in the Pacific Fleet
to provide rescue and emergency services as necessary in the forward
areas. Prior to this time the rescue function was performed as
an additional duty by regularly operating patrol squadrons.
16--Carrier Transport Squadron, Pacific, was established for administrative
and operational control over escort carriers assigned to deliver
aircraft, spare parts, and aviation personnel in direct support
of Pacific Fleet Operations.
18--In preparation for the campaign to occupy the Marianas, photo-equipped
Liberators of VD-3 obtained complete coverage of Saipan, Tinian,
and Aguijan Islands. For the 13-hour flight from Eniwetok and
return, B-24's of the AAF flew escort for the photo planes and
bombed the islands in a diversionary action. This was the first
mission by shore-based aircraft over the Marianas.
19--Saratoga, operating with the British Eastern Fleet, participated
in the carrier strike on enemy installations at Sabang in the
Netherlands East Indies.
21-24--Landings at Hollandia--Task Force 58 (Vice Admiral M. A.
Mitscher) supported the landings of Southwest Pacific Forces in
the Hollandia-Aitape section of the north New Guinea coast. The
force of five heavy and seven light carriers organized in three
groups, launched preliminary strikes on airfields around Hollandia
and at Wakde and Sawar (21 April), covered the landings (22 April)
at Aitape, Tanahmerah Bay, and Humboldt Bay, and supported troop
movements ashore (23-24 April). Eight escort carriers of Task
Force 78 (Rear Admiral R. E. Davison) flew cover and antisubmarine
patrols over ships of the Attack Group during the approach and
provided support for the amphibious assault at Aitape. Carrier
aircraft accounted for the destruction of 30 enemy aircraft in
the air and 103 on the ground.
23--VR-3 operated the first regularly scheduled NATS transcontinental
hospital flight between Washington, D.C., and March Field, Calif.
26--Headquarters of Fleet Air Wing 4 was established on Attu,
western most island of the Aleutians.
29 April-l May--Second Carrier Strike on Truk--Task Force 58 (Vice
Admiral M. A. Mitscher), returning to Majuro from the Hollandia
operation, launched a 2-day attack on enemy installations and
supply dumps at Truk. In addition to damage ashore, three small
ships were sunk and 145 enemy aircraft destroyed. Task Group 58.1
(Rear Admiral J. J. Clark), detached from the main force on the
second day, flew protective cover for a cruiser bombardment of
Satawan, and on 1 May supported bombardment of Ponape with air
cover and bombing and strafing attacks.
MAY
1--The command Aircraft, Central Pacific, was dissolved and its
functions assumed by Commander Marshalls Sub-Area.
4--A board headed by Rear Admiral A. W. Radford and known by his
name, submitted a report that had a direct effect on aviation
planning during the latter part of the war and, with modifications
to fit the needs of peacetime, extended its influence long after
the war. The, Integrated Aeronautic Program for Maintenance, Material
and Supply, which evolved from its recommendations, was essentially
a plan involving the assignment of new planes to combat units;
return of aircraft to the United States for reconditioning and
reassignment after specified combat tours; the retirement of second
tour aircraft before maintenance became costly; and the support
of the aeronautical organization through the use of factors and
allowances for pools, pipelines, and reconditioning kept realistic
by frequent appraisal.
8--The seaplane tender Kenneth Whiting, first of four ships of
the class, was commissioned at Tacoma, Wash., Commander R. R.
Lyons in command.
8--Commander Naval Forces, Northwest African Waters, approved
the assignment of nine Naval Aviators from Cruiser Scouting Squadron
8 (VCS-8) to the 111th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (TRS)
of the 12TH Army Air Force for flight training and combat operations
in North American P-51C Mustangs. Previous combat experience with
Curtiss SOC Seagulls and Vought OS2U Kingfishers being used in
air spotting and reconnaissance missions proved both types were
vulnerable to enemy fighters and antiaircraft fire. The higher
performance of fighters such as the P-51 was expected to result
in a reduction of casualties on these missions. A total of 11
Naval Aviators participated in combat operations from the cockpits
of P-51s while assigned to the 111TH TRS in support of the campaign
in Italy and the invasion of southern France. On 2 September 1944
all Naval Aviators assigned to the 111TH returned to their ships,
ending a four month long association between the 111TH TRS and
VCS-8.
13--To distinguish between fixed and rotary wing heavier-than-aircraft,
the helicopter class designation VH plus a mission letter (i.e.
VHO for observation and VHN for training) was abolished and helicopters
were established as a separate type designated H. The previous
mission letters thus became classes designated O, N, and R for
observation, training and transport respectively.
13--To meet the needs of the fleet for aviation personnel trained
in the use of electronics countermeasures equipment, the Chief
of Naval Operations directed that on 1 June, or as soon thereafter
as practicable, the Chief of Naval Air Technical Training establish
a school to be known as Special Projects School for Air, located
initially at NAAS, San Clemente Island, Calif.
15--The first of 16 special transatlantic flights was made by
NATS aircraft to the United Kingdom to deliver 165,000 pounds
of minesweeping gear essential to the safety of assault shipping
during the Normandy invasion. The delivery was successfully completed
23 May.
17--The Bureau of Aeronautics authorized CGAS Floyd Bennett Field
to collaborate with the Sperry Gyroscope Company in making an
automatic pilot installation in a HNS-1 helicopter.
17--Saratoga participated in the carrier air strike of
the British Eastern Fleet on the Japanese base at Soerabaja, Java.
19-20--Third Raid on Marcus--Planes from a three-carrier task
force (Rear Admiral A. E. Montgomery) hit Marcus with a predawn
fighter sweep and strafed and bombed the island for 2 consecutive
days.
23--Third Wake Raid--Carrier Task Group 58.6 (Rear Admiral A.
E. Montgomery) shifted from Marcus to hit Wake with five composite
bombing, strafing and rocket strikes.
29--The only U.S. carrier lost in the Atlantic, Block Island,
was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat while engaged in hunter-killer
operations in the Azores area.
31--Commander Training Task Force was directed to establish on
1 June, within his command at NAS Traverse City, Michigan, a detachment
to be known as Special Weapons Test and Tactical Evaluation Unit
to conduct such tests of special weapons and other airborne equipments
as were assigned.
JUNE
1--Airships of ZP-14, assigned to antisubmarine operations around
Gibraltar, completed the first crossing of the Atlantic by non-rigid
airships. The flight began 29 May from South Weymouth, Mass.,
and ended at Port Lyautey, French Morocco, covering a distance
of 3,145 nautical miles in 58 hours. Including time for stopovers
at Argentia and the Azores, the airships moved their area of operations
across the Atlantic in 80 hours.
1--Air Transport Squadron 9 (VR-9) was formed at Patuxent River
and VR-12 at Honolulu to function as headquarters and maintenance
squadrons for their respective commands, NATS Atlantic and NATS
Pacific.
4--Off Cape Blanco, Africa, a hunter-killer group (Captain D.
V. Gallery), composed of the escort carrier Guadalcanal, with
VC-8 aboard, and five destroyer escorts, carried out a determined
attack on the German submarine U-505, forcing it to surface. Boats
from the destroyer escort Pillsbury (DD 133) and the carrier reached
the submarine before scuttling charges could accomplish their
purpose and the U.S. Navy found itself with a prize of war.
5--The Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) reported that Aviation
Safety Boards, established in one large command, had in one-quarter
of operation reduced the fatal accident rate by 47 percent. He
directed the establishment of similar boards in other commands
outside of advanced combat areas and the appointment of a flight
safety officer in each squadron.
6--Allied Invasion of Normandy--Seventeen naval aviators taken
from aviation units on battleships and cruisers were assigned
to bombardment duty as part of VCS-7. They operated with units
of the British Fleet Air Arm and Royal Air Force, flying gunfire
spotting missions in RAF Spitfires over the Normandy beaches from
D-day until the June 26.
11 June-10 August--Occupation of the Marianas--Task Force 58 (Vice
Admiral M. A. Mitscher), built around seven heavy and eight light
carriers, opened the campaign to occupy the Marianas Islands with
a late afternoon fighter sweep (11 June) that destroyed one-third
of the defending air force. In bombing and strafing attacks on
shore installations and on shipping in the immediate area on succeeding
days, this force prepared the way for the amphibious assault of
Saipan (15 June), supported operations ashore with daily offensive
missions, kept the area isolated with attacks on airfields and
shipping in the Bonin and Volcano Islands to the north (15-16,
24 June, 3-4 July, 4-5 Aug), and successfully defended the operation
against an attack by major fleet forces in the Battle of the Philippine
Sea (19-20 June). On the first day (19 June) TF 58 repelled a
day-long air attack from carriers and shore bases, destroying
402 enemy planes, and the next day (20 June) launched an air attack
late in the afternoon on the retreating Japanese Fleet, sinking
the carrier Hiyo and two fleet oilers.
Air cover for assault and close air support for operations ashore
was provided by aircraft from an initial force of 11 escort carriers
attached to Attack Forces. A Navy seaplane squadron VP-16, moved
into the area (16 June) and began operations from the open sea.
Garrison aircraft were ferried in by escort carriers to operate
from captured airfields. First to arrive were Marine observation
planes of VMO-4 (17 June), AAF P-47's (22 June), and Marine Corps
Night Fighter Squadron 532 (12 July). After organized resistance
ended on Saipan (9 July), troops landed on Guam (21 July) and
on Tinian (24 July).
As the campaign neared successful completion, three groups of
Task Force 58 left the area temporarily for Strikes on the Western
Carolines (25-28 July). Palau, Yap, Ulithi and other islands were
taken under attack while photographic planes obtained intelligence
of enemy defenses. This done, the groups steamed north for the
fourth side of the campaign on the Bonins and Volcanoes. When
Guam was secure (10 Aug), carrier aircraft had accounted for 110,000
tons of enemy shipping sunk and 1,223 aircraft destroyed. In this
campaign, groups of the fast carrier force retired in turn to
advanced fleet bases for brief periods of rest and replenishment,
thus initiating a practice that became standard operating procedure
during all future extended periods of action.
12--In the first deployment of a guided missile unit into a combat
theater, elements of Special Task Air Group 1 arrived in the Russell
Islands in the South Pacific.
24--The Chief of Naval Operations promulgated plans which provided
for a drastic reduction in the pilot training program. This required
the transfer of some students already in Pre-Flight, and prior
stages of training and the retention of enough to maintain a course
in Pre-Flight schools expanded to 25 weeks. The program of "deselection"
and voluntary withdrawal of surplus students was instituted by
the Chief of Naval Air Training early in the next month. The resulting
reductions were directly responsible for the discontinuance of
the War Training Service Program in August, closing the Flight
Preparatory Schools in September and the release of training stations
which began in September.
26--The seaplane tender Currituck, first of four ships
of her class, was commissioned at Philadelphia, Captain W. A.
Evans commanding.
29--The Parachute Experimental Division was established at Lakehurst,
N.,J., for research, development, and testing of parachutes and
survival gear.
29--Carrier Air Groups were standardized for all commands under
the following designations: CVBG, large carrier air group; CVG,
medium carrier air group; CVLG, light carrier air group; CVEG,
escort carrier air group (Sangamon class); and VC, escort carrier
air group (Long Island, Charger, Bogue, and Casablanca
class).
30--The Naval Aircraft Modification Unit of the Naval Air Material
Center, Philadelphia, was relocated at Johnsville, Pa., where
facilities for intensified efforts in guided missiles development
and quantity modification of service airplanes were available.
JULY
6--A special Air Unit was formed under ComAirLant, with Commander
James A. Smith, Officer in Charge, for transfer without delay
to Commander Fleet Air Wing 7 in Europe. This unit was to attack
German V-1 and V-2 launching sites with PB4Y-1's converted to
assault drones.
6--The Bureau of Aeronautics authorized Douglas to proceed with
the design and manufacture of 15 XBT2D airplanes. The single-seat
divebomber and torpedoplane thus initiated, was designed jointly
by BuAer and Douglas engineers. Through subsequent development
and model redesignation, these aircraft became the prototypes
for the AD Skyraider series of attack planes.
14--To achieve economy of effort and unity of purpose by coordinating
all safety functions through a central organization, a Flight
Safety Council was established by the joint action of the Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations (Air)
and the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, to plan, coordinate,
and execute flight safety programs.
14--PB4Y Liberators, of VB-109 based at Saipan, made the first
strike on Iwo Jima by shore-based planes.
27--Fleet Air Wing 17 headquarters moved to Manus in the Admiralty
Islands.
29--In the first successful test of the Pelican guided missile,
conducted 44 miles offshore from NAS New York, two of the four
launched against the target ship James Longstreet were hits.
29--A detachment of Bombing Squadron 114 (Liberators) from Port
Lyautey, was established under British command at Lagens Airfield
in the Azores Islands for antisubmarine operations.
31--The Accelerated Field Service Test Unit at Patuxent River
was redesignated Service Test and established as a separate department.
AUGUST
5--The Fast Carrier Task Force was reorganized into First and
Second Fast Carrier Task Forces, Pacific, commanded by Vice Admiral
M. A. Mitscher and Vice Admiral J. S. McCain respectively.
7--Carrier Division 11 was established at Pearl Harbor, Rear Admiral
M. B. Gardner commanding. This division, composed of the carriers
Saratoga and Ranger, was the first in the U.S. Navy specifically
established for night operations.
10--Naval Air Bases commands were established within each Naval
District, the Training Command, and for Marine Corps Bases, and
were charged with the military direction and administrative coordination
of matters affecting the development and operational readiness
of aviation facilities in their respective areas.
10--The operating aircraft complement of Carrier Air Groups was
revised to 54 VF, 24 VB and 18 VT with the provision that four
night fighters and two photo planes be included among the 54 VF.
11--An electric powered rescue hoist was installed on an HNS-1
helicopter at CGAS Floyd Bennett Field. During the ensuing 4 day
test period, in which flights were conducted over Jamaica Bay,
the feasibility of rescuing personnel from the water and of transferring
personnel and equipment to and from underway boats was demonstrated.
Six weeks later, a hydraulic hoist, which overcame basic disadvantages
of the electric hoist, was installed and successfully tested,
leading to its adoption for service use.
11--Dr. M. F. Bates of the Sperry Gyroscope Company submitted
a brief report of the trial installation and flight test of a
helicopter automatic pilot (cyclic pitch control) in an HNS-1
at CGAS Floyd Bennett Field.
15-29--Landings in Southern France--Two United States and seven
British escort carriers of the Naval Attack Force (Rear Admiral
T. H. Troubridge, RN) supplied defensive fighter cover over the
shipping area, spotted for naval gunfire, flew close support missions,
made destructive attacks on enemy concentrations and lines of
communication and otherwise assisted Allied troops landing between
Toulon and Cannes and advancing up the Rhone Valley.
20-23--The nonrigid airship K-111, under command of Lieutenant
Commander F. N. Klein, operating in conjunction with the Escort
Carrier Makassar Strait off San Diego, demonstrated the feasibility
of refueling and replenishing airships from aircraft carriers.
In this operation of 72.5 hours duration, the airship's crew was
relieved every 12 hours and its engines were operated continuously.
In one evolution, the airship remained on deck for 32 minutes.
24--The first night carrier air group, CVLG(N)-43, was established
at Charlestown, R.I. Its component squadrons VF (N)-43 and VT(N)-43,
the latter the first of the night torpedo squadrons, were established
the same day.
24--Fleet Air Wing 10 moved forward from Perth, Australia, to
Los Negros in the Admiralty Islands, to support the advance of
Southwest Pacific Forces on the Philippines.
31 August-30 September--Occupation of Palau and Morotai--Simultaneous
landings by Central and Southwest Pacific Forces were preceded
by wide-flung operations of four carrier groups of Task Force
38 (Vice Admiral M. A. Mitscher), which committed only part of
its strength in direct support and operated principally in covering
action. TG 38.4 (Rear Admiral R. E. Davison) opened the campaign
with attacks on the Bonin and Volcano Islands (31 Aug-2 Sep).
The entire Fast Carrier Force hit the Palau area (6-8 Sep), leaving
TG 38.4 to maintain the neutralization of Palau, and moved against
the Philippines with fighter sweeps over Mindanao airfields (9-10
Sep) and strikes in the Visayas (12-14 Sep). Here TG 38.1 (Vice
Admiral J. S. McCain) separated to hit Mindanao (14 Sep) and to
support Landing on Morotai by Southwest Pacific Forces (15 Sep).
The landings were preceded by bombing and strafing attacks and
were supported (15-16 Sep) by TG 38.1 aircraft and additionally
by six escort carriers of TG 77.1 (Rear Admiral T. L. Sprague).
Landings on Peleliu by Central Pacific Forces (15 Sep) were preceded
by preliminary carrier air attacks (12-14 Sep) from TG 38.4 and
from four CVE's of Carrier Unit One (Rear Admiral W. D. Sample).
Continued support was given by the same fast carrier group (15-18
Sep) and until the end of the month by a total of 10 escort carriers
operating in TG 32.7 (Rear Admiral R. A. Ofstie). Carrier air
support was also provided for Landings on Agaur (17 Sep), Ulithi
(23 Sep), and the
shore-to-shore movement from Peleliu to Ngesebus (28 Sep) support
for the latter including strikes by Marine Corps land-based units
from Peleliu, the first of which, VMF(N)-541, had arrived 24 September.
Following the action at Morotai, TG 38.1 re-joined the main body
of Fast Carriers which then launched strikes on airfields and
shipping around Manila (21-22 Sep) and hit airfields, military
installations, and shipping in the central Philippines (24 Sep)
before retiring. In this month of action, carrier planes destroyed
893 enemy aircraft and sank 67 war and merchant
ships totalling 224,000 tons. Enemy weakness in the central Philippines,
uncovered by carrier air action, changed plans for reentry into
the Philippines, shifting the assault point from southern Mindanao
to Leyte and advancing the assault date from
mid November to 20 October.
SEPTEMBER
1--Project Bumblebee (as it was later known) came into being as
the Bureau of Ordnance reported that a group of scientists from
Section T of the Office of Scientific Research and
Development were investigating the practicability of developing
a jet-propelled, guided, anti-aircraft weapon. Upon completion
of the preliminary investigation, a developmental program was
approved in December by the Chief of Naval Operations. In order
to concentrate upon the guided missile phase of the anti-aircraft
problem, the OSRD and Applied Physics Laboratory of Johns Hopkins
University, completed withdrawal, also in December, from the proximity
fuze program which thus came completely under the Bureau of Ordnance.
3--Lieutenant Ralph Spaulding of Special Air Unit, Fleet Air Wing
7, flew a torpex-laden drone Liberator from an airfield at Feresfield,
England, set radio control and parachuted to ground. Ensign J.
M. Simpson, controlling the Liberator's flight from a PV, sought
to hit submarine pens on Helgoland Island; however, he lost view
of the plane in a rain shower during the final alignment and relying
only upon the drone's television picture of the terrain hit the
barracks and industrial area of an airfield on nearby Dune Island.
3--Fourth Wake Raid--A strike group of one carrier, with cruisers
and destroyers, hit enemy positions on Wake.
6--A contract was awarded to McDonnell Aircraft Corporation for
development of the Gargoyle or LBD-1, a radio controlled low-wing
gliding bomb fitted with a rocket booster and designed for launching
from carrier-based dive-bombers and torpedo planes against enemy
ships.
6--As the scope of the aviation safety program was enlarged, a
Flight Safety Section was established in the Office of the Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations (Air), and was assigned the direction
and supervision of the aviation safety program.
9--Fleet Air Wing 17 moved forward to the Schouten Islands to
direct patrol plane operations supporting the occupation of Morotai
by Southwest Pacific Forces.
11--Commander Fleet Air Wing 1, based on Hamlin, transferred from
Espiritu Santo in the South Pacific to Guam to direct the operations
of patrol squadrons in the Central Pacific.
18--The Pelican guided missile production program was terminated
and the project returned to a developmental status. Despite reasonably
successful during the preceding 6 weeks, this decision was made
because of tactical, logistic and technical problems involved
in its use.
27--Guided Missiles were used in the Pacific as Special Task Air
Group 1, from its base on Stirling in the Treasury Islands, began
a combat demonstration of the TDR assault drone. The drones had
been delivered to the Russell Islands by surface shipping and
flown 45 miles to bases in the Northern Solomons where they were
stripped for pilotless flight and armed with bombs of up to 2,000
pounds. For combat against heavily defended targets, a control
operator in an accompanying TBM guided the drone by radio and
directed the final assault by means of a picture received from
a television camera mounted in the drone. In the initial attack,
against antiaircraft emplacements in a beached merchant ship defending
Kahili airstrip on South Bougainville, two out of four TDR's struck
the target ship.
OCTOBER
1--Patrol Squadrons (VP) and multi-engine bombing squadrons (VB)
were renamed and redesignated patrol bombing squadrons (VPB).
7--A new Bureau of Aeronautics color specification went into effect
which provided seven different color schemes for aircraft depending
upon design and use. The most basic change was the use of glossy
sea blue all over on carrier based aircraft and on seaplane transports,
trainers and utility aircraft. The basic non-specular camouflage
color scheme, semigloss blue above and nonspecular white below,
was to be applied to patrol and patrol bombing types and to helicopters.
For antisubmarine warfare, two special camouflage schemes--gray
on top and sides and white on bottom, or white all over--were
prescribed with the selection dependent upon prevailing weather
conditions (this had been used by COMNAVAIRLANT since 19 July
1943). All aluminum was to be used on landplane transports and
trainers and landplane and amphibian utility aircraft. Orange-yellow
was to be used upon target-towing aircraft and primary trainers.
Another new scheme, glossy red, was specified for target drones.
7--Provision was made for the optional use by tactical commanders
of special identification markings on combat aircraft, such markings
preferably to be applied with temporary paint.
10 October-30 November--Occupation of Leyte-- The opening blow
of the campaign was struck (10 Oct) by Task Force 38 (Vice Admiral
M. A. Mitscher) against airfields on Okinawa and the Ryukyus.
This force, built around 17 carriers hit airfields on northern
Luzon (11 and 14 Oct), on Formosa (12-14 Oct), and in the Manila
area (15 Oct), destroying 438 enemy aircraft in the air and 366
on the ground in 5 strike days. These and other strikes concentrated
on reinforcement staging areas and effectively cleared the air
for the landing (20 Oct) of Southwest Pacific Army troops on Leyte.
Fast carrier support of the ground campaign was supplemented (18-23
Oct) by the action of 18 CVE's organized in three elements under
TG 77.4 (Rear Admiral T. L. Sprague).
JANUARY
1--Carrier Training Squadron, Pacific, composed of two carrier
divisions, was established in the Pacific Fleet to provide operational
control over carriers employed in training Carrier Air Groups
out of Pearl Harbor and San Diego.
2--Eighteen Fighter Bomber Squadrons (VBF) were established within
existing Carrier Air Groups to adjust their composition to the
needs of changed combat requirements in the Pacific.
2--Headquarters of Fleet Air Wing 17, based on Tangier, directed
patrol plane support of the Lingayen Gulf operations from San
Pedro Bay.
3-22--Invasion of Luzon--Southwest Pacific Force operations against
Luzon were directly supported by Seventh Fleet escort carriers
in Task Group 77.4 (Rear Admiral C. T. Durgin) and indirectly
by the fast carriers in Task Force 38 (Vice Admiral J. S. McCain)
of Third Fleet and Central Pacific Forces. Task Group 77.4, with
17 escort carriers, covered the approach of the Luzon Attack Force
against serious enemy air opposition from Kamikaze pilots which
sank Ommaney Bay (4 Jan), and damaged several ships including
escort carriers Manila Bay and Savo Island (5 Jan). It conducted
preliminary strikes in the assault area (7-9 Jan), covered the
landings in Lingayen Gulf (9 Jan), and supported the inland advance
of troops ashore (9-17 Jan). Among the ships damaged by Kamikaze
pilots opposing the landings were the escort carriers Kadashan
Bay and Kitkun Bay (8 Jan), and Salamaua (13 Jan). Task Force
38, with seven heavy and four light carriers in three groups and
one heavy and one light carrier in a night group, and accompanied
by a Replenishment Group with one hunter-killer and seven escort
carriers, concentrated on the destruction of enemy air power and
air installations in surrounding areas. In spite of almost continuous
bad weather which hampered flight operations during the entire
month, this force launched offensive strikes on Formosa and the
Ryukyus (3-4 Jan), a 2-day attack on Luzon (6-7 Jan) and on fields
in the Formosa-Pescadores-Ryukyus area (9 Jan), destroying over
100 enemy aircraft and sinking 40,000 tons of merchant and small
combatant ships in 1 week of preliminary action. During the night
(9-10 Jan) Task Force 38 made a high-speed run through Luzon Strait
followed by the Replenishment Group which passed through Balintang
Channel, for Operations in the South China Sea (9-20 Jan). Strikes
(12 Jan), over 420 miles of the Indo-China coast, reached south
to Saigon and caught ships in the harbor and in coastal convoys
with devastating results, sinking 12 tankers, 20 passenger and
cargo vessels and numerous small combatant ships, totalling 149,000
tons. Moving northward to evade a typhoon, the force hit targets
at Hong Kong, the China Coast, and Formosa (15 Jan) and next day
concentrated on the Hong Kong area damaging enemy shore installations
and sinking another 62,000 tons of shipping. As inclement weather
persisted, the force left the South China Sea with an after dark
run through Balintang Channel (20 Jan) and hit Formosa, the Pescadores,
and Okinawa against enemy air opposition which damaged the Ticonderoga
and Langley (20 Jan) and repeated the attack in the Ryukyus next
day to finish off 3 weeks of action with an aerial score of over
600 enemy aircraft destroyed and 325,000 tons of enemy shipping
sunk.
11--The Bureau of Ordnance assigned the first task on Project
Bumblebee to the Applied Physics Laboratory, thus formally establishing
the program for development of a ram-jet powered, guided, anti-aircraft
weapon from which the Talos, Terrier, and Tartar missiles eventually
emerged.
29-31--Six escort carriers of Task Group 77.4 (Rear Admiral W.
D. Sample) provided air cover and support for landings by Army
troops at San Antonio near Subic Bay (29 Jan), on Grande Island
in the same area (30 Jan) and at Nasugbu, south of the entrance
to Manila Bay (31 Jan).
FEBRUARY
6--The Chief of Naval Operations directed that, following a period
of training at NAS Kaneohe Bay, VPB Squadrons 109, 123, and 124
of Fleet Air Wing 2 be equipped to employ the SWOD Mark 9, Bat,
glide bomb in combat.
15--The West Coast Wing of the Naval Air Transport Service was
disestablished and its squadrons reassigned to the Pacific and
Atlantic Wings.
16 February-16 March--Capture of Iwo Jima--The Marine Corps assault
of 19 February was preceded and supported by two separate carrier
elements of the Central Pacific Force. The first of these was
Task Force 58 under Vice Admiral Mark A. Mitscher, the second
was Task Group 52.2 under Rear Admiral C.T. Durgin.
On 16-17 February Mitscher moved against Japan with nine heavy
and five light carriers in four groups, and two heavy carriers
in a night group. Carrier aircraft hit Japanese air bases in the
Tokyo plains. From 19 to 23 February, his forces supported Marine
Corps landings and operations on Iwo Jima and flew neutralization
strikes against the Bonins. On 25 February, he returned for a
second strike on Tokyo. On 1 March he struck at Okinawa and the
Ryukyus and then retired to Ulithi leaving in his wake 648 enemy
aircraft destroyed and 30,000 tons of merchant shipping sunk.
Task Group 52.2 began the campaign with nine escort carriers;
it was later augmented by two more escorts and one night CV. On
16-18 February, Admiral Durgin carried out air strikes on Iwo
Jima's shore defenses to reduce their resistance to the impending
Marine Corps landing. From 19 February to 11 March he flew missions
in direct support of Marine Corps ground operations and neutralized
airstrips in the Bonins.
In counter attacks, the Japanese were not entirely unsuccessful.
On 21 February a Kamikaze raid upon Task Group 52 sank the escort
carrier Bismarck Sea, seriously damaged Saratoga, and did minor
damage to Lunga Point. But new air defense elements in the U.S.
fleet were functional and noteworthy; they included the altitude-determining
radar on LSTs and a Night Fighter Director on the Air Support
Commander's organization.
Other U.S. operations deserve mention. Task Group 50. 5, under
Commodore D. Ketcham, was based in the Marianas. The Group's shore-based
aircraft conducted shipping reconnaissance and air-sea rescue
between Japan and Iwo Jima. They also flew offensive screens for
carrier raids and expeditionary forces. Similar operations were
carried out by patrol planes of Fleet Air Wing 1 from tenders
anchored in the lee of Iwo Jima (28 Feb-8 Mar). Marine Corps Observation
Squadrons 4 and 5, which arrived on CVEs and on LSTs equipped
with Brodie gear, began operations from Iwo Jima airfields on
27 February. Army fighters were flown in from Saipan on 6 March,
and Marine Corps Torpedo Squadron 242 arrived on 8 March; they
flew day and night combat air patrols and provided all air support
upon the departure of the last CVEs on 11 March. Iwo Jima was
secured on 16 March.
19--Commander Fleet Air Wing 1 went to sea aboard Hamlin
to direct patrol squadrons in support of the lwo Jima campaign
and remained in the area until the island was secure.
26--Headquarters of Fleet Air Wing 17 was established ashore at
Clark Field on Luzon.
MARCH
3--The Naval Air Transport Service was reorganized and established
as a Fleet Command with headquarters at NAAS Oakland, to operate
under the immediate direction of CominCh and CNO.
3--The Naval Air Technical Training Command was incorporated into
the Naval Air Training Command.
7--The Commanding Officer, CGAS Floyd Bennett Field reported that
a dunking sonar suspended from an XHOS-1 helicopter had been tested
successfully.
7--The tandem rotor XHRP-X transport helicopter, built under Navy
contract by P-V Engineering Forum made its first flight at the
contractor's plant at Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania with Frank N.
Piasecki as pilot and George N. Towson as copilot.
8--A rocket powered Gorgon air-to-air missile was launched from
a PBY-5A and achieved an estimated speed of 550 m.p.h. in its
first powered test flight, conducted off Cape May, N.J. under
the direction of Lieutenant Commander M. B. Taylor.
17--Responsibility for evacuating wounded personnel was assigned
to the Naval Air Transport Service.
18 March-21 June--The Okinawa Campaign--The last, and for naval
forces the most violent of the major amphibious campaigns of World
War II, was supported by three separately operating carrier forces,
by tender-based patrol squadrons, by Marine and Army air units
based in the immediate area and by Army and Navy air units based
in other areas. On 28 May a change in overall command from the
Fifth Fleet (Admiral R. A. Spruance) to the Third Fleet (Admiral
W. F. Hasley) took place, which changed all task number designations
from the 50's to the 30's. (In this account, first designations
are used throughout.)
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Historical Center home page30 June 1997
