The Army Air Forces in World War II, Vol. 1 (archived PDF)

T H E A R M Y A I R F O R C E S I N W O R L D W A R I 1
noted, this convoy carried the ground echelon of the 7th Bombard-
ment Group (H), other air combat and service personnel to a total
of approximately 2,500 officers and men, 1 8 P-~o’s,and the unassem-
bled 5 2 A-24’S of the 27th Bombardment Group, in addition to large
supplies of aviation fuel and ammunition. When after crossing the
equator word came of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, protective
measures were taken, and as many guns as could be found were set up
on improvised mounts; but five of the vessels were left entirely with-
out armament. Even after picking up additional guns at Suva in the
Fiji Islands, the convoy remained ill prepared to defend itself. On 12
December, the convoy being still intact, it was decided to organize the
troops aboard into a task force under command of Brig. Gen. Julian
F. Barnes, senior officer present; and the following day General Barnes
received orders to proceed with the convoy to Australia, where he
would assume command of all U.S. troops in that country. There the
aircraft, ground crews, and other necessary equipment would be
landed, the aircraft to be assembled for immediate ferrying to Luzon,
while the convoy itself would proceed, conditions permitting, to the
Philippines. General Barnes announced on 19 December that his
command would be known as United States Forces in Australia, a
designation altered on 5 January to United States Army Forces in
Australia (USAFIA) .”
Meanwhile, preparations were under way in Australia for receiving
the convoy and forwarding reinforcements to our beleaguered forces
on Luzon. T h e U.S. military attacht, Col. Van S. Merle-Smith, acting
under instructions from Washington made preliminary arrangements
for assembly of aircraft and disposition of the vessels. General Barnes
received notice on Z I December that Maj. Gen. George H. Brett
would soon reach Australia to organize and command all American
units. But General Brett, who had served in almost every administra-
tive post in the Air Corps, was a t the time completing an official tour
of the Middle East, India, and China and did not leave Chungking for
Australia until the ~ 4 t h . ’ ~En route to his new post he conferred with
British officials in India and Dutch authorities in Java, so that his
arrival in Australia to take up the mission of establishing a supply
system for reinforcement of the Philippines was delayed until the end
of December. Pending the arrival of General Brett, General Clagett,
who had left Luzon on the ISth, assumed command when on 2 2
December he reached Brisbane. There on the same day the convoy
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