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

T H E D E F E N S E O F A U S T R A L I A
that to maintain a defensive position in Australia called not so much
for a new allocation of air strength as rather for the building up and
preparation of air forces already allocated to the area. Earlier plans
for the reinforcement of the Philippines and the desperate hope of
halting the Japanese advance through the Netherlands East Indies had
given Australia, as the base in support of both operations, a high
priority in the allocation of available men and planes. T h e South
Pacific route would have to be strengthened, but no addition was
made to an earlier commitment to the Southwest Pacific of one light,
two medium, and two heavy bombardment groups and of four pur-
suit groups. Indeed, the forces assigned to Australia would receive
additional responsibilities for the security of the South Pacific route;
and in March, General Brett received word that instead of four pur-
suit groups he might expect a total of only three.17 In command once
more of United States Army Forces in Australia, General Brett had
stated his needs at no less than six pursuit groups and three light, three
medium, and three heavy bombardment groups, to which he added
three transport groups.l8 But like other field commanders at this time,
he would have to do with less than he felt the situation required.
At the time MacArthur arrived from the Philippines, General Brett,
with a staff headed by General Barnes as deputy commander, was
engaged in an effort to prepare and deploy his forces for defense of
Australia. It was Brett’s feeling that air units must be stationed in each
of seven widely separated areas having their centers a t Darwin,
Townsville, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Sydney.”
T h e position of chief of the air staff was held by Brig. Gen. Ralph
Royce, who had reached Java during the closing phase of operations
there.’O American strength in the air was composed chiefly of pursuit
planes. Although organized units considered ready for combat were as
yet few, there had arrived in Australia between 2 3 December 1941
and 18 March 1942 a total of 337 P-~o’s,more than I O O P-~oo’s,’ and
90 P-39’s. Of these planes, approximately 125 had been lost to enemy
action during the Java campaign, others had been lost by accident, 75
had been turned over to the RAAF, 74 were under repair or awaiting
repair, and approximately I 00 awaited complete assembly. O n I 8
March there were 33 P-39’s, 92 P-~o’s,and 5 2 P-400’s in commis-
sion.*’ T h e last of the three pursuit groups assigned to Australia,
gun in the nose instead of the 37-mm.
* An early export model of the P-39 with inferior characteristics, including a zo-mm.
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