News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office

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HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCES WASHINGTON, D. C. THE AIR FORCES NEWS LETTER VOL. 24 OCTOBER, 1941 NO. 16 CONTENTS St.lFJ'(R1' cor.NAl'I)S SIKM' THEIR STUFF • . • . . • • • • . . . . . • . • " . • • . 1 The Air Forces' Role in the Louis i6119 Mllneuvers 1HE WIKJm ..0 .. FCR THE EYES
Loulsl ••• Maneuvers End Support Commands Show Their Stuff By Capt. Joseph S. Edgerton • AMERiCAN air defense today is stronger and more realistic because of the participation of uni ts of the Army Air Forces in the recently completed Louisiana maneuvers of the Second and Third Armies. Here, for the first time, the" task force" idea was carried to a logical conclusion with the creation of the Second and Third Air Task Forces, to support the Second and Third Armies, respectively. These task forces, composed of mixed aviation units, were organized to provide air activity of whatever character might be required to support the work of the ground forces. The resulting air-ground teams were an American version--not a replica--of the famous German "Blitz" teams. They were, in no sense, servile copies of foreign developnents. They were an American development, created by logical processes to meet our own problems but embodying the valuable experiences of the belligerents in the European wars. The maneuvers proved not only the soundness of coordinated training and operation of air-ground teams, but they also provided a baptism of fire for a number of the newest and fastest of American warplanes, under actual field conditions, and a test of the organization which has been built up by the Army Air Forces, the Air Force Combat Command and the Air Corps to operate, maintain and supply these new and far advanced fighting planes. Too Early To Weigh Results Although the maneuvers have been concluded, it still is too early to accurately weigh the results. They will be reflected in improvements in design, operation and maintenance of aircraft, perhaps well into the future. They will have an influence on air and ground training. They will dictate changes in comnunications. They will have an important bearing on the future of the five Air Support Commands which now are in process of organization to provide permanent air support for the four Armies and the Armored Force. It may be well to review at this point comments of the various maneuver commanders concerning the air or air-ground activities. "The bringing together of the Army, Navy and Marine Air Squadrons provided valuable experience to all in air-ground cooperation. and the vital role which aviation plays in the ~li 1itary team," Lieut. Gen. Lesley J. McNair, Chief of Staff of General Headquarters and maneuver director, said in a statement at the close of the Louisiana show. "The results obtained were surprisingly effective. 'Supply services had tremendous problems keeping up with the fast- moving situations and they performed their job well. "GHQ feels that the maneuver was highly successful as culmination of a strenuous training program and highly beneficial to all ranks of the two armies engaged, "We can never be entirely satisfied with the performance of our troops, but the soldier of 1941 will give a better account of himself than the soldier of any other period in our history." -Beyond cri ticism" Lieut. Gen. Walter Krueger, commanding general of the Third Army, at the conclusion of the first phase of the maneuvers, said that coordination of ground-air operations "proved to be technically beyond criticism and worked with a new speed and accuracy. " Lieut. Gen. Delos C. Emmons, chief of the Air Force Combat Comnand, was a personal observer of much of the maneuver activity on the part of both armies and both supporting Air Task Forces. In summarizing his impressions of the maneuvers, Gene ral Enmons said: "Air power played an important part in the first phase of the very realistic war between the Red and Blue armies. I underscore theword 'realistic' because this rnak.- :ieve conflict had all the elements of real combat conditions short of a 'shooting war.' "While the mock battles were chiefly staged as training courses for high-ranking officers in all branches of the Army, I can truly say that everyone in the air forces, from senior officers to young pilot officers, went through a highly valuable course of intense training. Among other things, air personnel learned, through actual experience, some of the problems of the ground forces with whom they were cooperating. Similarly, the ground forces were able to see for themselves how Army, Navy and Marine Aviation, in the field of pursuit, light and medium bombing, can be used in cooperation with their own war efforts. "The question asked most frequently since the first phase of these maneuvers closed is: 'Which side won?' 'My answer is: 'Victory went to those who learned 1
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Pag"! Reorganizat
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THE BIG BABY SOLOED B,19 Test Fligh
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ENLISTED PILOTS BEGIN TRAINING Gulf
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CABBAGE AND X-C DON'T MIX World War
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___ --' ...J '- _ .. ,._-J "' --l..
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SIXTEEN NEW FIELDS "CHRISTENED" A D
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MAXWELL MANEUVERS TEACH FIELD DUTIE
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FLEDGLING SON OF FAtvf.OUS FATHER C
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FRESNO BASE FIRST SINCE CIVIL WAR T
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......J .... _ ...... A rest camp f
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------- ----- -----.. ---- --- -- -
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THE JOB OF AIR CORPS TEST PILOTS Mu
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A ... .&. ... "'.....J.....J -.,.,.
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.All tb1'ee f01'lll8 of converted i
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KEEP ,EM FLYING! Blood and hunger,
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GENERAL ANDREWS COMMANDS THE CARIlm
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The Army Air Forces' first glider,
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GUDERS ••• (Ooncluded) spect
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WE LEARNED... llpee!. So8riDg 18 a0
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'The dive bomber is used to support
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THEN THIS... and we were still ing
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increased it. al t1tude of flight 4
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ALASK.A Lalld 1l.Btd: Hcmgar und e:
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LANDING various materials under con
Page 52 and 53: 8pecialized training for their part
Page 54 and 55: SOVIET .•. low al ti tude or llhe
Page 56 and 57: "VIET ." (Ooncluded) Junker-87 bomb
Page 58 and 59: WE LEAIlJWED... (Concluded) nights.
Page 60 and 61: FACILITIES. •• (Concluded) twee
Page 62 and 63: Whenever a birth occurs. all physic
Page 64 and 65: SUPPORT ••• (Concluded) deliv
Page 66: C friend? ) ( foe?) < •
Page 69 and 70: Photo Interpretation MATA HARI WITH
Page 71 and 72: , .! J, I t .':';'1 ~ ~ It':::. , .
Page 73 and 74: Our New Bases AsslgDlDent to Newfou
Page 75 and 76: THE JIR FORCES NEWS LETTER .. of th
Page 77 and 78: OVERSTUFFEDAERIAL WATCHMEN Barrage
Page 79 and 80: Warriors By Oliver Townsend from th
Page 81: RELATIVE RANK IN WORLD'S AIR FORCES
Page 84 and 85: could outdo Rube Goldberg. Be has t
Page 86 and 87: THE dIR FORCES Nr:WS U:TTr:R and ap
Page 88 and 89: Wanted: More Pilots RESERVE OFFICER
Page 90 and 91: THE AIR FORCES NEWS LETTER would be
Page 92 and 93: THE AIR FORCE8 NEW'S LETTER The que
Page 94 and 95: THE ,1IR FORCES NEIPS LETTER believ
Page 96 and 97: THE .IlIR FORCES NEWS LETTER The of
Page 98 and 99: THE AIR FORCES NEil'S LETTER CARlAD
Page 100 and 101: THE AIR FORCES NEWS LETTER fer the
Page 102: SUPPLY DIVISION KNOW YOUR AIR~RAFT
Page 107 and 108: IN THE FIELD WITH THE ARMY AIR FORC
Page 109 and 110: ---0 - - - 0- ---- THE WINGED By Ol
Page 111 and 112: Air OperadoDs In Alaska By Lieut. J
Page 113 and 114: THE AIR FORCES NEWS LETTER is about
Page 115 and 116: furways .1 rarnc \.JUIIUUI AERIAL T
Page 117 and 118: the danger from aircraft falling or
Page 119 and 120: .. An Equipment Review GERMAN AIRCR
Page 121 and 122: Graham CA-ackersfor Grounded Flyers
Page 123 and 124: A Veteran Retires FRANK P. LAHM APP
Page 125 and 126: New Marine Air Units MORE FEATHERS
Page 127 and 128: Wholesale Mess nail Feeding Them by
Page 129 and 130: The Bristol LIght Bom.ber Night Fig
Page 131 and 132: THE MONTH IN REVIEW hy FALK HARMEL
Page 133 and 134: Your Lite insurance SELF PROTECTION
Page 135 and 136: en eng ing the application. It is h
Page 137 and 138: LAHM .•• (Continued From Page 1
Page 140 and 141: "I I., K.NOW YOUR AIR~RAFT
Page 142 and 143: HEADQUARTERS ARMY AIR FORCES WASHIN
Page 144: THE .tIIR FORCES NEWS LETTER . ;:..
Page 147: THF ATR FORCES NEWS LETTER ,I I whe
Page 150 and 151: THE AIR FORCES NEWS LETTER chanical
Page 152 and 153: C I ~ . fjQ III ....
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he reports direction and distance f
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DEFENSE 0 00 (Continued From P.~. 1
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e shown repeatedly if necessar,. Fi
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THE AIR FORCES NliWS LETTER has in
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Air Forees Seareh Oeean Flight Ende
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"E" Awards at Langley Engineering M
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accessory emergency unit (emergency
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NOVEMBER F941 Further Expansion Und
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THE AIR FORCES NEWS LETTER Decorati
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would have been consumed in filling
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£AMEIlA ••• \Continued 'r_ P
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News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office

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