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This is Volume One of The Army Air Forces in World War II, titled Plans and Early Operations, January 1939 to August 1942, edited by Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate. The University of Chicago Press first published it in 1948, and the Office of Air Force History reprinted it in 1983. The front matter explains how the AAF historical program was set up during the war. The index covers Pacific, Atlantic and European operations, and nothing in the text concerns unidentified aerial phenomena.
“The Wash”17 pages
P E A R L H A R B O R A N D C L A R K F I E L D It required some time to bring in all of the bombers from patrol, but shortly after I I 30 all American aircraft in the Philippines, with the exception of one or two planes, were on the ground. Recently recalled B-17’s at Clark were being made ready for the Formosa mission; 3 8 planes of the 20th Pursuit Squadron a t Clark and of the 17th a t Nichols had returned to their bases for refueling; those of the 3d a t Iba, the 21st a t Nichols, and the 34th at Del Carmen stood ready to take off upon receipt of ~ r d e r s . ~ ~ ~ A n djust about this time the plotting board at Nielson Field began to receive reports of a formation of enemy air- craft coming in over northern Luzon. Unlike other flights reported that morning, this one did not break up as it proceeded south. Warn- ing was sent to Clark Field by normal teletype channels, and according to Col. A.H. Campbell, then chief of Aircraft Warning Service, its receipt there was confirmed.*’ Back at Nielson, an entry in the Sum- mary of Activities reads: “ I I : 37 Operations Board report flight of enemy planes, number unknown now located about 70 miles west of Lingayen Gulf, headed south I I: 2 7 A.M.” As soon as the enemy force was believed to be within operating range of American pursuit planes, Colonel George of V Interceptor Command took necessary steps to provide protection for vital points.41 For the approaches to Manila, the 17th Squadron was ordered to cover Bataan peninsula, the 2 1st to patrol the Manila area itself, and the 34th to provide a cover for Clark Field, where the zoth, just in from patrol, was being refueled. T h e 3d Squadron, at Iba, was dispatched on what proved to be a fruitless flight over the South China Sea, where an enemy formation had been From this point on, a confused record reflects chiefly the general confusion and bad luck which attended the American air effort on that first day of hostilities in the Philippines. The Summary of Activi- ties for Headquarters, Far East Air Force, notes: “11:56 General Brereton communicated with General Sutherland and complete report was given General Sutherland of the air situation a t this time including fact that it was planned to move the B-17’s now at Del Monte to San Marcelino and to bomb Taiwan fields a t late afternoon today.” Then the summary jumps to 1240 to record a report that “10 planes, 6,000 feet, nationality unknown, headed for Manila. This information from the Navy.” Under 1255 appears another report that “large force of planes, about 25, heading south reported in vicinity of Tarlac at 12:~s.”Under 1257 one reads of a Japanese propaganda mission 209
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