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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
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 the Commanding General, AAF, in order to relieve it from the control of any local, regional command. It would confine its opera- tions to the American coastal waters, but would be free to send detachments or task forces to other parts of the world. It would work in conjunction with naval forces and under their operational control “wherever this may be desirable,” leaving the convoying of ships clearly a Navy responsibility. In short, he proposed to create a unified force of land-based aircraft, built solidly around the radar- equipped B-24, capable of waging offensive war against an elusive and mobile enemy.*’ Formal action on the long-discussed command began in Sep- tember. The final settlement was, however, less radical than that favored by Dr. Bowles. It retained only those reforms suggested by Army planners that did not specifically reduce the over-all authority of the Navy. On 14 September, General Marshall wrote to Admiral King: “Experience with the First Bomber Command in antisubmarine operations since March indicates that the effective employment of air forces against the submarine demands rapid communications, mo- bility, and freedom from the restrictions inherent in command sys- tems based upon area responsibility.” Accordingly, he proposed to create the “First Antisubmarine Army Air Command,’’ which would absorb those portions of the I Bomber Command engaged in anti- submarine work. Control of the new unit would be centralized in the War Department in order that it might be promptly dispatched to zones of submarine activity wherever they might develop. It would begin operation in Atlantic coastal waters, the Gulf, and the Carib- bean; its expansion to other areas would depend upon the planes available. Operations “naturally will be under the operational control of the sea frontier concerned.” The closest co-operation with the Navy, especially in the transmission of intelligence which could only be compiled through naval sources, would be essential to the proper functioning of this command. Provision would therefore have to be made for liaison between “our immediate headquarters.” 83 On 2 2 September, General McNarney instructed General Arnold to organize the new command, using I Bomber Command as cadre. It was activated on 15 October 1942, under the designation, Army Air Forces Antisubmarine Command. SubseqGent orders clarified its mission and- command status. It was to attack hostile submarines “wherever they may be operating,” which gave it considerable lati- 5 5 2
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