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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
C O h l h i I T M E N T S T O C H I N A A V G had already been agreed upon, but subject to the provision of a full American pursuit group in China; 6 3 and on 10 May the W a r Department informed Brereton that the 2 3d Pursuit Group, scheduled to replace the A V G , would not be assigned immediately to the Tenth.64At about the same time he learned that HALPRO, as a spe- cial bomber project, would operate in China i n d e ~ e n d e n t l y . ~ ~ A t this point, General Stilurell intervened to avoid the administra- tive inconvenience and embarrassment that would arise from the in- dependent operation of two groups, each of them larger than the entire combat strength of the theater's air force. O n 1 7 May he noti- fied the War Department that, subject to further instructions from Washington, the Tenth Air Force would have charge of all prepara- tions for reception of HALPRO, which would be assigned to the Tenth upon its arrival in the theater, and that Brereton's headquarters would control the induction of the A V G and command the 23d Group after the induction.66 And this was the policy destined ulti- mately to prevail. T h e A V G contracts were due to expire on 4 July, and the induc- tion into the AAF of such of its personnel as so elected was set for that date. It was planned to place in China by that time a small force of medium bombers in addition to the 23d Group, whose elements as they arrived in the theater moved forward to come under the com- mand of General Chennault." In recognition of the geographical distance separating China from India and of General Chennault's experience and prestige, AAF fighter and bomber units in China would be organized into the China Air Task Force (CATF) assigned to the Tenth and commanded by Chennault.68T h e date for its activa- tion also was set for 4 July. Meanwhile, AAF detachments moved into China during May and June in preparation for the change-over. T h e movement of personnel and equipment was unavoidably slow and difficult, and not without disappointment-even tragedy. The first flight of B-2 5's earmarked for the C A T F reached Dinjan on z June with Maj. Gordon Leland commanding. It was planned that on the following day the flight would be completed to Kunming after a bombing of Lashio en route. T h e planes belonged to the I I th Bombardment Squadron (M), re- cently assigned to the 7th Group and detached for service in China. In the face of an unfavorable weather report and against the advice of Colonel Haynes, the six planes took off early the next morning. T h e y 5 0 5
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