The foregoing pages tell of the results achieved by air power in each of its several roles in the war in the Pacific, including the effects of the atomic bombs. The Survey has already reported on the results achieved by air power in the European war. It remains to seek out the degree to which the Pacific study modifies, adds to or supports the signposts to the future which were suggested by the European study; to state the extent to which hindsight suggests that air power might have been differently or better employed in the Pacific; to discuss the impact of the existence of atomic bombs on the role of air power; and to state the Survey’s recommendations.
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Dec
06
2009
The Air Attack Against the Japanese Home Islands
Basic United States strategy contemplated that the final decision in the Japanese war would be obtained by an invasion of the Japanese home islands. The long-range bombing offensive from the Marianas was initiated in November 1944, with that in mind as the primary objective.
As in Europe prior to D-Day, the principal measure of success set for strategic air action was the extent to which it would weaken enemy capability and will to resist our amphibious forces at the time of landings. This led, originally, to somewhat greater emphasis on the selection of targets such as
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Dec
05
2009
Elimination of Japanese Conventional Air Power
Japanese production of aircraft of all types rose from an average of 642 planes per month during the first 9 months of the war to a peak of 2572 planes per month in September 1944. The rise was particularly great during 1943, after the Japanese had learned the lessons of the 1942 campaigns. Aggregate production during the war was 65.300 planes.
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Dec
05
2009
United States Strategic Bombing Survey, Summary Report, Pacific
WASHINGTON DC 1 JULY 1946
FOREWORD
The United States Strategic Bombing Survey was established by the Secretary of War on 3 November 1944, pursuant to a directive from the late President Roosevelt. It was established for the purpose of conducting an impartial and expert study of the effects of our aerial attack on Germany, to be used in connection with air attacks on Japan and to establish a basis for evaluating air power as an instrument of military strategy, for planning the future development of the United States armed forces, and for determining future economic policies with respect to the national defense.
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Jul
19
2009
The 11th Airborne Division was activated at Camp Mackall, North Carolina, on February 25th 1943.
During the month of December 1943, the 11th Abn Division participated in the Carolina Airborne-Troop Carrier Command Maneuvers then moved to Camp Polk, Louisiana, on January 4th 1944. It then staged at Camp Stoneman, California from April 23rd 1944 until departed San Francisco Port of Embarkation on May 8th 1944.
The 11th Airborne Division arrived in New Guinea on May 25th 1944 and left November 11th 1944 for Leyte, Philippines. It arrived in Okinawa on August 12th 1945 and arrived Japan on August 30th 1945 where the division remained active thru 1946.
Campaigns : New Guinea, Leyte, Luzon
Location August 1945 :Okinawa
11th Airborne Division – Casualties
Killed in Action : 494
Wounded in Action : 1926
Died of Wounds : 120
Overseas Wartime Assignments :
6th Army (US) : May 25 1944
10th Corps (US) : Aug 24 1944
6th Army (US) : Sep 28 1944
8th Army (US) : Dec 26 1944
6th Army (US) : Feb 9 1945
14th Corps (US) : Feb 10 1945
6th Army (US) : Jun 15 1945
8th Army (US) : Aug 15 1945
11th Airborne Division – Wartime Commander
- Maj Gen Joseph M. Swing : Feb 1943
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Jul
17
2009
Stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, as 1st Cavalry Division (Special), the unit moved to Toyahvale Texas during the 7-30 October 1939 period and returned to Fort Bliss. It moved to the Cravens-Pitkin Louisiana Maneuver Area during the 13th to 24th August 1940 and returned to Fort Bliss until participated in 2nd-3rd Army Louisiana Maneuvers on August 10th to October 4th and returned to Fort Bliss. During the period from 27th July to September 21st 1942, the 1st Cavalry Division participated in the 8th Corps Louisiana Maneuvers near Mansfield, Louisiana, and returned to Fort Bliss. The unit staged at Camp Stoneman, California from July 21st 1943 until departed San Francisco Port of Embarkation on June 26th 1943 and arrived in Australia on July 11th where the unit was re-designated 1st Cavalry Division (Special) on December 4th 1943. The 1st Cavalry Division (Special) departed then Australia on December 18th 1943 and arrived in New Guinea 2 days later by echelon, last contingent arriving on February 25th 1944. The division was then moved to the Manus Island on March 5-15 1944; left Manus Island on October 12th and landed in Leyte, Philippines, on October 20th 1944. The 1st Cavalry Division (Special) left Leyte on January 24th 1945 and landed on Luzon, Philippines, on January 26 1945. Finally, the 1st CDS arrived in Japan on September 2 1945 where it remained active untill 1946.
Apr
11
2009
The 7th Infantry Division was activated on Jul 1 1940 at Fort Ord California as 7th Division and was moved to Longview Washington on Aug 19 1941 for the Fourth Army Maneuvers. It then moved back to Fort Ord California on Aug 31 1941; arrived in San Jose California on Dec 11 1941, where the unit was re-designated 7th Motorized Div on Apr 9 1942 and was ordered to Camp San Luis Obispo, California, on Apr 24 1942. It moved then to Desert Training Center II Armored Corps Maneuvers on Aug 14 1942 and returned Camp San Luis Obispo California on Oct 20 1942 where it was redesignated 7th Infantry Division on Jan 1 1943. Sent to Fort Ord, California on Jan 15 1943 the 7th Infantry Division departed San Francisco POE on Apr 24 1943.
The unit assaulted Attu Island Aleutians on May 11 1943 and remained in Aleutians until arrived Hawaii Sep 15 1943. Invaded Kwajalein Atoll on Jan 31 1944 and arrived back in Hawaii Feb 15 1944; assaulted Leyte
Philippines Oct 20 1944 and left Mar 27 1945; assaulted Okinawa Apr 1 1945; moved to Korea Sep 8 1945 and remained there active thru 1946.
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Apr
10
2009
The 6th Infantry Division was activated on Oct 10 1939 at Ft Lewis Washington as 6th Division and moved to Fort Jackson South Carolina Nov 9 1939. It was then relocated to Fort Benning Georgia on Apr 12 1940 and in Alexandria Louisiana on May 8 1940. A little later, the 6th Inf Div was relocated to Fort Snelling Minnesota – Jun 1 1940 and sent to Lincoln Minnesota on Jul 17 1940 before it returned to Fort Snelling Minnesota Aug 19 1940; participated in Arkansas Maneuvers of Aug 1941 and Louisiana Maneuvers of Sep 1941. On Oct 10 1941, the 6-ID moved to Fort Leonard Wood 10 where it was re-designated 6th Motorized Division on Apr 9 1942 and moved to the I Corps Tennessee Maneuvers on Sep 11 1942. Sent back to Fort Leonard Wood on Nov 10 1942 the division moved to Camp Young California on Nov 29 1942 where it participated in the Desert Training Center #1 IV Armored Corps Maneuvers until Feb 22 1943. On Mar 28 1943, the 6-ID arrived at Camp San Luis Obispo, California, where it was re-designated 6th Infantry Division on Mar 21 1943 and departed the San Francisco POE on Jul 21 1943 and arrived in Hawaii on Jul 29. The 6-ID left Hawaii on Jan 26 1944 and arrived in the Milne Bay New Guinea on Jan 31 1944, assaulted Sansapor New Guinea on Jul 30 1944, assaulted Lingayen Gulf Philippines on Jan 9 1945 and arrived in Korea on Oct 18 1945 where it remained active thru 1946.
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Mar
14
2009
Category : Army Air Forces
At the peak of its strength in World War II, the United States Army Air Forces (AAF) had more than 2.400.000 men and women in uniform. There were pilots, navigators, bombardiers, gunners, and radio operators, clerks and typists, artists and flautists, teachers, mechanics, statisticians, and engineers-for it took many talents and skills to conduct and support the war in the air. All these persons, from privates to generals, had to be welded into an organization capable of giving direction and coordination to their diverse activities. For combat the men were formed into squadrons, and squadrons into groups. Above the groups were wings, and wings were organized into commands, and commands into the 16 air forces of the AAF. The upper part of the structure had to be built while the war was on, but the foundation WAS old. Some of the squadrons, two of the groups, and one wing had combat records from the First World War. One squadron, the oldest in the Air Force, could trace its history back to 1913.
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