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

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the most.' -This trial war is the largest ever staged in this country and it gave military aviation vast opportunity to demonstrate its usefulness. About 850 Army, Navy and Marine Corps planes took part. It was a severe test of men and machines and I am happy to say that they stood up well under the grueling grind of day and night operations, in many cases from small airdromes and under emergency conditions. -In the first phase, these planes flew 40,000 hours and covered about 8,000,000 miles on between 3,000 and 4,000 airplane missions. During this phase alone, the planes consumed about 4,000,000 gallons of gasoline. Had they been carrying real bombs and firing real bullets, they would have dropped some 10,000,000 pounds of bombs and shot approximately 7,500,000 rounds of ammunition. "There were, it is true, a few accidents and some unfortunate fatalities. But considering the large scale operation in small fields and the fact that many of the pilots have only recently graduated from training centers, the accident rate so far has been extremely low. Improved Technique -During the maneuver, members of the Air Force also had an opportunity to improve their technique in many phases of aerial warfare. For instance, the officers and men operating the new secret interceptor eonmand radio locaters were ab I e to track large numbers of planes for the first time. Operations of the air support control and the bomber units, wherein liaison officers with ground forces ask by radio for aviation support, were also carried out under condi tions similar to those of actual war-time. The observation units, operating with divisions and corps, acted as the eyes of the Army and much valuable experience for both ground and air units was obtained. -Another outstanding experience of this first phase was the mass attack by parachute troops. Pursuit units were assigned to protect the parachutists, while others were ordered to 'destroy' the air-borne troops before they could go into action. "All in all, there is every reason for the Air Force Combat Command to feel pleased with the lessons learned in these exerc ise s . We still have much to learn, but it is only through simulated war conditions such as these that we can test and develop tactics and theories for the real thing if it should ever come." ..Splendid Conduct" Maj. Gen. Millard F. Harmon, commanding the Second Air Task Forces, in a message of congratulations to offic~rs and men of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps units of his command, praised them for -their splendid conduct and high order of discipline." He said that leadership in all echelons was excellent and missions were conducted in a hi ghly e ff ici en t manner and 011 time. Gen. Harmon expressed gratification with the work of the service command, the engineers, medical and signal units and the staffs of the Task Force, Wings and Groups. "Due to the necessary dispersion of airdromes and squadrons wi th the consequen t problems of supply of such essentials as food and clothing and the handling of a tremendous tonnage of bombs and ammunition involved, an efficient, well organized service command is an absolute essential for successful operations, "General Harmon said. 'TIle service ceerrnand 0 f the Second Ai r Task Force organized and established under the supervision of the Third Air Force and commanded by Lieut.Col. L.L. Koontz, functioned throughout the maneuver with a high degree of efficiency." One of the outstanding lessons learned from the maneuvers, General Harmon said, is that 'proper indoctrination of combat units to insure uniformity of method and procedure in tactics and technique is most essential in order that orders and directives of the commander may be translated into action by the combat units." • Tb e rnemhe rs of these uni t s should have a full concept of the purpose and method intended to insure proper execution with a minimum of detailed instnlctions," General Harmon explained. Pursuit Forces Necessary General Harmon also stressed the fact that the necessity for security that can only be provided by adequate pursuit forces has been 'forcibly emphasized"during the maneuvers. Speaking of the serviceabili ty of the newer types of airplanes used on the maneuver, specifically such airplanes as the B-25 medium bomber, the A-20A light bomber and the P-39 pursuit, General Harmon said; 'The performance of these planes was very gratifying, as was the ability of young and relatively inexperienced officers in handling this equipment, in taking off, in the air and in landing." General Ilarmon emphasized the value of cooperation between the Army and NaVy-Marine Corps units during the maneuver and said of the Navy and Marine Corps personnel that' they are greatly to be admired for the adaptability which they have shown in functioning with the land components and in their willingness to extend themselves to make the war games successful from an air standpoint." TIle purpose of the Task Forces created for the Louisiana maneuvers was explained by Maj. Gen. Herbert A. Dargue, commanding the TIlird Air Task Force, as follows: "What is the TIlird Air Task Force? It is simply an organization of air and ground units of the Army Air Forces and, more particularly of the Air 2 OCTOBER 1941
IN THE FIELD WITH THE ARMY AIR FORCES Pictures from the Louisiana" Front" TARGETS Just before the battle BIGWIGS ARRIVE General Emmons, General Harmon, Mr. Lovett, and General Arnold AIRACOBRAS AwaitinR "go" signal QUICK WORK This warehouse erected in 11 hours OCTOBER 194f AERIAL UMPIRES They picked the winners 3 LEATHERNECK One of the Marine planes participating
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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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------- ----- -----.. ---- --- -- -
Page 25 and 26:
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
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8pecialized training for their part
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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 105: Loulsl ••• Maneuvers End Supp
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 ....
Page 154 and 155: he reports direction and distance f
Page 156 and 157:
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
Page 176:
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News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office

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