Army Air Forces in World War II: Volume 1
Plans and Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942
Prepared under the editorship of
Wesley Frank Craven, Princeton University,
James Lea Cate, University of Chicago.
By Air Historical Group United States Air Force
Wilfred J. Paul, Col, USAF, Director
Albert F. Simpson, Air Force Historian
Table of Contents
Section 1: The Early Heritage
Chapter 1: Origins of a Mission
James Lea Cate, University of Chicago
Chapter 2: The Army Air Arm Between Two Wars, 1919–39
James Lea Cate, University of Chicago, Wesley Frank Craven, New York University
Section 2: Prelude to War
E: Kathleen Williams, Louis E. Asher Fellow, University of Chicago
Chapter 4: The Air Corps Prepares for War, 1939–41
James Lea Cate, University of Chicago, E. Kathleen Williams, Louis E. Asher Fellow, University of Chicago
Chapter 5: Deployment of the AAF on the Eve of Hostilities
E. Kathleen Williams, Louis E. Asher Fellow, University of Chicago
Chapter 6: Pearl Harbor and Clark Field
Richard L. Watson, Duke University
Chapter 7: Establishment of the Fundamental Bases of Strategy
James Lea Cate, University of Chicago
Section 3: Tactical Demands – Concentration versus Dispersal of Forces
Chapter 8: Air Defense of the Western Hemisphere
William A. Goss, City College of San Francisco
Chapter 9: The Early Development of Air Transport and Ferrying
John D. Carter, West Virginia University
Chapter 10: Loss of the Netherlands East Indies
Richard L. Watson, Duke University
Chapter 11: The Defense of Australia
Richard L. Watson, Duke University
Chapter 12: Drawing the Battle Line in the Pacific
Kramer J. Rohfleisch, San Diego State College
Chapter 13: The Problem of New Guinea
Richard L. Watson, Duke University
Chapter 14: Commitments to China
Herbert Weaver, Georgia Teachers College
Chapter 15: The AAF in the Battle of the Atlantic
Arthur B. Ferguson, Duke University
Section 4: Preparations for the Air War against Germany
Chapter 16: Plans, Policies, and Organization
James Lea Cate, University of Chicago
Chapter 17: Establishment of the Eighth Air Force in the United Kingdom
Alfred Goldberg, Office of Air Force History
Chapter 18: Rouen-Sotteville No. 1, 17 August 1942
Arthur B. Gerguson, Duke University
Appendix 1: Representation of Relative Strength of AAF Units, 1941
Appendix 2: Selected List of Planes in use by the AAF, December 1941–August 1942
Appendix 3: Approximate Normal Ranges of US Aircraft in statute miles
List of Maps and Charts
Hawaiian Islands – Luzon – The Philippines and Northern Australia – Northeastern Australia – Organization of Army Air Forces, March 1942 – Boundaries of Continental Defense, June 1942 – Eastern and Western Approaches to Panama Canal – Alaska and the Aleutian Islands – Principal Sea and Air Routes as Designated by Washington Conference, December 1941 – Atlantic Ferrying and Transport Routes Prior to 7 December 1941 – Principal Foreign Transport and Ferrying Routes, Army Air Forces, 30 June 1942 – The ABDA Area – Java – The Southwest Pacific – Australia and the United States – Australia and New Guinea – Island Chain of the South Pacific – The Tokyo Mission – The Coral Sea – The North Pacific – The Aleutian Islands – New Guinea and the Solomons – China–Burma–India – Sinkings of Merchant Vessels, September 1940–August 1942: – Sinkings of Merchant Vessels, September 1940–August 1942 – AAF Antisubmarine Operations – Western Atlantic Defense Areas as of 1 August 1942 – Schematic Organization Recommended by Commanding General, U.S. Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom for U.S. Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom – Schematic Organization, U.S. Army Air Forces in the United Kingdom – Eighth Air Force Installations, August 1942 – Routes of BOLERO Movement – Organization of Eighth Air Force as of August 1942
List of Illustrations
General of the Army Henry H. Arnold – The DH-4B – The Martin Bomber, 1921 – The Barling Bomber, 1923 – The B-10B – The B-18A – B-17’s in Formation, May 1937 – B-17’s Over New York, 1939 – The B-15 and a P-36 – The B-19 – Potential Spheres of Air Influence – Potential Spheres of Air Influence – Hemisphere Defense – Bases and Operating Radii B-17 and B-24 – Air Offensive Against Germany, AWPD/1 – Construction of Alaskan Landing Field, August 1941 – Construction at a Camp in Iceland, November 1941 – P-26 – P-35 – Plan for Employment of Bombardment Aviation in Defense of Oahu – Search Sectors – B-34 – P-36 – A-20 – A-24 – Japanese Photograph of Wheeler Field, 7 December 1941 – Hangar No. 11, Hickam Field – Improvised Machine Gun Nest, Hickam Field – Damage to Barracks, Wheeler Field – Damage at Wheeler Field – Cavite Navy Yards, Philippine Islands, 10 December 1941 – Port Area, Manila, 24 December 1941 – Window Display in New York Department Store – Ground Observation Posts – Operations Room, Philadelphia Information Center – B-24A’s Used in the Ferrying Command’s Pioneer North Atlantic Transport Service – LB-30 Used in Pacific Transport Service Inaugurated in the Spring of 1942 – First Test Landing on Steel Matting, Carolina Maneuvers, 1941 – Atkinson Field, British Guiana, June 1942 – Parnamirim Field, Natal, Brazil, June 1942 – BLUIE West 1, June 1942 – Reykjavik Airfield, Iceland, April 1942 – The Night Shift, Patterson Field, Iceland, 1942 – Camouflaged P-38 Belonging to 41st Fighter Squadron, 1942 – The Same Plane with Camouflage Partly Removed – Reconnaissance Photo of Vunakanau Airfield (Rabaul), April 1942 – Port Moresby, 1 June 1942 – A B-25 Ready for Take-Off from USS Hornet – One of the B-25’s Takes Off – Chinese Carry Doolittle Raiders to Safety – Japanese Carrier Under Attack by B-17’s, 4 June 1942 – Japanese Installations on North Head, Kiska, July 1942 – Headquarters, 35th Fighter Group, Port Moresby, 1942 – Headquarters, 35th Fighter Group, Port Moresby, 1942 – Karachi Air Base, 1942 – A B-18 on Patrol in the Caribbean – The AAF Officially Takes Over RAF Airdrome, December 1942 – Burtonwood as it Appeared at the Close of the War – The Spitfire MK-5 – The Spitfire MK-5, Side View – Crash-Landed Planes of the Eight Air Force – Greenland, Summer 1942 – Ceremonies Attending Transfer of Eagle Squadrons to USAAF, September 1942 – Briefing of Bomber Crews, Polebrook, August 1942 – Reconnaissance Photo, Rouen-Sotteville I