AUGUST 1944
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SQUADRON HISTORY
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On the 2 August 1944, the destination of
Flight "C"1 was changed from APO 322,
(Milne
Bay, New Guinea2)
to APO 713 #1
(Nadzab,
New Guinea2) and the advanced echelon of this flight
departed from APO 503.
(Oro
Bay, New Guinea2) The balance of personnel left at APO 503
were not fully
disposed of until the 27th of August 1944, at which time the rear echelon of Flight
"C" departed. All members of this squadron were transported by air. Due to the
lack of aircraft in the immediate area, this movement required several weeks to be
completed.
At APO 920
(Biak
Island2)
operations were in full swing. On the 10 August 1944,
Major Dwight F. Lewis, ASN 0-373823, enroute
from the United States rejoined the organization and resumed command. Planes operating
from this station were flying in strikes over the
Halmahera Islands, the
Celebes and the
Philippines. One hundred and six missions (106)
totaling eight hundred and thirty seven hours (837) were flown by the six planes assigned to the two flights assigned
at this station. The average length of the time required for a mission was eight (8)
hours. No combat losses were experienced during this period. A roster of aircrews is
attached.
On the 19 August 1944, Major Lewis,
commanding officer, was placed in Temporary Duty and
Captain
Benjamin B. Mathis, ASN 0-412178, assumed command of the
organization. On the 22 August 1944
1st Lt. Eugene J. Regan, ASN 0-576017, Adjutant, was relieved from assignment to this
organization and
1st
Lt. Kenneth O. Eddins, ASN 0-576988, was appointed
Adjutant.
On the ground, building the squadron area and improving the conditions
for work on the line became a full time job. During the day when the ships were flying,
all of the men worked with a will towards having the best area at the station. In the
evening when the ships had returned from their missions, maintenance work was completed.
Due to the lack of OA-10A aircraft in
this area, parts that were worn or defective had to be requisitioned from the Navy or
replaced by sending the ship to the depot in Australia. Ships that were sent to the depot
were a loss for from two (2) to six (6) weeks and placed an added burden on the ships left
flying.
On the 23 August 1944, this Squadron was relieved
from assignment to the Fifth Air Force and assigned to the V Bomber Command per paragraph
2,
General
Order #420,
Headquarters, Fifth Air Force, dated 23 August 1944. This order was
classified "Secret" and is not available, at the present time, for the
transmittal with this history. [This order does not exist in
the US Air Force Archives]
The total gain for this period was thirty-three (33) Enlisted Men
and twenty-one (21) Officers. This gain was due mainly to the transfer of personnel from
the Air-sea Rescue organization that was already in operation in the area. Four (4)
aircraft were also assigned through this transfer bringing the total number of aircraft in
this Squadron to sixteen (16).
[Also on the 23 August the
ground eschelon arrived at Milne Bay, New Guinea on the S/S Roseville from the United States. See the
ship's log1
that shows the
voyage.]
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Download the
History
for
August 1944
on .pdf |
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Download the
Rescues
for
August 1944
on .pdf |
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