News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office
News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office
News Letter 1941 Jul-Dec - Air Force Historical Studies Office
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THE PURPOSE OP THIS PUBUCATION IS TO DISTRIBUTE INPORMATION ON AERONAUTICS TO THI PLYING PBIlSONN!L<br />
IN THE REGULAR ARMY, RESERVE CORPS, NATIONAL GUARD, AND OTHERS CONN!!CTBD WITH AVIATION,<br />
IDhl' <strong>Air</strong><br />
14l'ttl'r<br />
INTELLIGENCE DIVISION<br />
MUNITIONS BUILDING<br />
U. S. ARMY AIR CORPS<br />
WASHINGTON, D. C.<br />
VOL XXIV JULY 1, <strong>1941</strong> NO. 13<br />
REORGANIZATION<br />
OF THE ARMY AIR CORPS<br />
P -40<br />
Wing is Changed in Field<br />
The first known instance of a P-40 wing<br />
assembly being changed in the field, under<br />
simulated war conditions~_~ocurred recently<br />
in Michigan during a ten-11.8OY maneuver undertaken<br />
by the Fortieth Pursuit Squadron. of<br />
Selfridge Field.<br />
Need for the work arose when one P-4Q was<br />
ground-looped in a landing at Grql1ng, Mich.<br />
The right wing, center section and propeller<br />
were damaged,and both landing gear legs were<br />
broken off. Damage to the propeller also<br />
made necessary an engine change. Despite<br />
the seriousness of the damage to the ship,<br />
however! a complete repair job was done In<br />
the fie d and the airplane went back into<br />
service in the maneuver.<br />
Selfridge Field sent a crew from Base Engineering.<br />
under Tech. Sgt. Branzell, by convoy<br />
with a new wing and landing gear assembly,<br />
obtained by removal from other ships<br />
in aero-repair at Selfridge. A new engine<br />
and propeller also were brO'l.lghtto tbe scene<br />
by truck.<br />
Sgt. Branzell'. crew had to work out the<br />
technique of suspending and placing the new<br />
wing into position for installation on the<br />
spot, since they had never before encountered<br />
a similar situation. A technique waS<br />
developed successfully without delqt however.<br />
and the entire job was done una.er the<br />
most adverse conditions within three days.<br />
The <strong>Air</strong>plane waSnot back into the air within<br />
that period, however, since some minor work<br />
WaSdelayed by a shortage of parts.<br />
---000---<br />
GENERAL ANDREWS TO BUENOS .AIRES<br />
Maj. General Frank M. Andrews, Commander<br />
of the Caribbean <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>. has flown to<br />
Buenos <strong>Air</strong>es to represent the United States<br />
~ at the celebration this month of the<br />
annIversary of Argentine independence.<br />
Gen. Andrews substituted for Gen. George<br />
e Marshall the Cbief of Staff, who received<br />
the original invitation from the Arcentine<br />
Government, but was unable to leave<br />
the Uatwd Stat •• at thi. time.<br />
Arnold is "Chief of The Army <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>s"<br />
The creation of an autonomous braneh of<br />
the WarDe-oartment to be known a' "The Arrq<br />
<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>s n has been effected in one of the<br />
few major revisions of air organization in<br />
the Army since mil1tary aviation W&8 removed<br />
from the Signal COrpl and made a separate<br />
branch.<br />
Maj. General H.H. Arnold was selected to<br />
be the first Chief of the Army <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> ••<br />
Apart from his appointment, however, the<br />
most important single feature of the reorganization<br />
was the removal of the GHQ.<strong>Air</strong><br />
<strong>Force</strong> from the Jurisdiction of General Headquarters<br />
and placing it under the general<br />
supervision and control of the Chief of the<br />
.Ariny <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>l.<br />
Lieut. General Delol C. Emmonlwill CODtinue<br />
to commandthe old GHQ.<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>. which<br />
has been rechristened and henceforth will<br />
be knownas the <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong> CombatCommand.<br />
The Chief of the <strong>Air</strong> CO:l'pScontinue. to be<br />
Maj. General George H. Brett. The function.<br />
of both branches of the new Army<strong>Air</strong><strong>Force</strong>.<br />
remain virtually unchanged.<br />
The major difference is that all element.<br />
of air power now are unified in the Ar'my,<br />
with their control centered in a veteran<br />
air officer. As Chief of the Army <strong>Air</strong>Foreel,<br />
Gen. Arnold will be responl!llble only to the<br />
Chief of Staff, and Genl. Emmonsand Brett<br />
only to the Chief of the Armw <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>s.<br />
Gen. Arnold will retain his post al Deputy<br />
Chief of Staff for <strong>Air</strong>, and in that capacity<br />
will pass on air matters brought up by sections<br />
of the War D~artment General Staff<br />
and of the new <strong>Air</strong> S~aff.<br />
A Headquarters Army <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Force</strong>. wascreated<br />
with the reorfanization. It includes a<br />
Chief of the A r Staff, tbe <strong>Air</strong> Staff, the<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Inspector and the <strong>Air</strong> Adjutant General.<br />
The Chlef of the <strong>Air</strong> Staff will be :Brig.<br />
General Carl Spaatz. The <strong>Air</strong> Inspector will<br />
be Bri~. General Herbert A. Dargu.eand the<br />
<strong>Air</strong> Adjutant General 18 Lieut. Colonel William<br />
W. Dick. The Secretary of the <strong>Air</strong><br />
Staff is Lieut. Colonel Muir S. Fairchild,<br />
with Lieut. Colonel Clende Duncan and Maj.<br />
I.P. Curti ••<br />
Memberl of the <strong>Air</strong> Staff, and the d1vilionl<br />
which they will head. are:<br />
~l Divi,ion (Personnel)--Col. Ralph COU8-<br />
~Continued on page 8 )
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