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

THE dIR
FORCES Nr:WS U:TTr:R
and approximately 5,700 enlisted men; the Third
Air Task Force, 1,019 officers and approximately
6,600 enlisted men.
Following the Louisiana maneuvers, it is planned
to send these air task forces to the carolina area
to participate in exercises for which details are
to be announced later and for maneuvers, first
with elements of the First Army and the First Army
Corps, reinforced, and later with the First Army
and the Fourth Army Corps. The movement to the
Fort Bragg, N.C., area is planned during the period
October 3-8, with exercises during the period
October 9-November 1 and maneuvers with the First
Army and First Army Corps November 2-13. The final
maneuver period is scheduled for November 14-30.
To meet the increasing demands of the modern army
for the highest possible degree of mobility, especially
for all units of the Army Air Forces, the
Army Air Corps has created its first permanent
mobile repair and supply depot and assigned it to
duty in connection with the Louisiana maneuvers.
The new unit, the Fourth Air Depot Group, has
been stationed at Jackson, Miss., and is serving
aviation units of both task forces. While decreasing
to some extent the reality of the maneuvers,
this arrangement has been made necessary by the
fact that the Fourth Air Depot Group is the only
one of its kind and it is desired to give the unit
the utmost in the way of service testing.
The Fourth Air Depot Group was organized and now
has permanent station at Patterson Field, Fairfield,
Ohio. The maneuver strength of the group is five
officers and 467 enlisted men. The trip to maneuver
station was made by motor, the train including
wrecking trucks, mobile machine shops, storeS of
a irplane and engine pa rts and .other supplies.
The new group, although highly mobile and capable
of being moved into undeveloped areas and set up
rapidly, is equipped to handle the heavy work of
reclaiming and salvaging damaged airplanes and engines,
of replacing worn or damaged parts and of
carrying on emergency repair work of the many types
required if aviation units in the field are to be
maintained in operating condition away from fixed
depots.
The Fourth Air Depot Group may be the forerunner
of others intended t