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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.
“King”32 pages
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 except for aircraft, there would be no further reinforcement of Java. General Wavell was informed that he might draw on U.S. aircraft in Australia and available naval units at his discretion, but that ground forces would be held for defense of Burma, Ceylon, and Australia.” As the situation rapidly worsened, it became evident that the limits of resistance in Java would soon be reached, that the hope even of reinforcement by air would have to be surrendered, and that decisions were required on the question of withdrawing key personnel for the direction of operations outside Java, which alone now offered promise of weakening the enemy. Attention already had been given in Wash- ington to establishment of an American air force in India, and Brett’s assignment of Brereton to that area was accordingly accepted.” But General Brett himself was ordered to Australia, where, rather than in India, the Americans were to develop a major base for their In Java, General Wavell closed his personal headquarters on 2 5 Feb- ruary, at which time the ABDA Command passed to the Dutch. The decision not to dissolve the command itself was in keeping with a purpose that Allied units in Java should continue to operate as long as it was po~sible.’~American aircrews for whom there were planes, together with minimum maintenance personnel, were to remain, as also would Colonel Eubank, now the ranking American air officer on the island. The chief remaining hope of reinforcements rode with a shipment of P-40’s which had left Australia on z z February. As early as the 7th of the month, when the difficulties of the ferry route through Timor and the risk of its being cut at an early date were apparent, General Barnes had been instructed to prepare for shipment of pursuit planes by water.” Within two days it had been decided to send from Melbourne on I z February four vessels carrying the headquarters and ground personnel of a bombardment and two pursuit groups and numerous service units in addition to planes. On 1 1 February the 13th Pursuit Squadron (Prov.), together with personnel of the 33d Squadron which had not yet joined Major Pel1 a t Darwin, received orders to fly thirty-six p-40’~across the continent to Perth in accord- ance with a plan to load them at near-by Fremantle on the seaplane tender Langley for shipment to Java in company with the four vessels on their way from Melbourne.gs When the five ships weighed anchor and moved out from Fre- 396
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