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

Air Force Historical Studies Office · 863 pages · text from the file's own layer

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.

  • p. 386 …More threatening were Rommel’s forces in North Africa, for the very existence of the air…
  • p. 387 …the route over which the Far East Air Force had received its thirty-five heavy bombers…
  • p. 551 …Formerly commander of the Far East Air Force in the Philip- * See above, pp. 396-97…
  • p. 561 …of an air force, depended upon a line of communications extending across the Indian and At…
  • p. 570 …the American air force would be used in the Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean area…
  • p. 571 …Accordingly, on 24 May the order committing the Tenth Air Force to operations under RAF supervision…
  • p. 577 …involved in estab- lishing and operating an air force in Asia. The report of the Grady…
  • p. 630 …Policy for Disposition of US and British Air Forces.” l6 This memorandum greatly extended the scope…
  • p. 797 …MacArthur argued that now was a pro- pitious moment to rush forces from the Indian and…
  • p. 819 …5 8 - 6 7 Eighth Air Force, I, 326ff.; Achtung Indianer, a history of VIII FC…
  • p. 850 …See also CBI; Air Forces, Tenth AF. 336407 3537 356, 3803 395-96, q857 496 India…
P L A N S , P O L I C I E S , A N D O R G A N I Z A T I O N
OBIECTl VES
5. Objectives suitable for the day bomber offensive under Phases I and
z are listed in the attachment hereto. The target list for Phase 3 will be issued
later.
ROLE OF BRITISH DAY BOMBER FORCE
6. During the development of the day offensive, British day bomber
forces are to be used in the secondary role to add weight to British diver-
sionary operations and to maintain the attacks during periods unsuitable for
the operation of the American heavy day bombers.
MACHINERY FOR IMPLEMENTING T H E PLAN
7. During Phase I , it will be the responsibility of the Commanding
General of the American Bomber Command to initiate offensive opera-
tions, making preliminary arrangements for fighter co-operation with the
Commanding General, the American Fighter Command. It will be the re-
sponsibility of the latter to ensure full consultation with the Air Officer
Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Command. When the general plan is settled,
it will be the responsibility of the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter
Command to nominate the British Fighter Group Commander, who is to
draw up the detailed fighter plans, reinforcing the Fighter Group as neces-
sary in conjunction with the Commanding General, American Fighter Com-
mand in respect of American pursuit reinforcements. Thereafter, detailed
planning and the conduct of the fighter operation will be the responsibility
of the Commanding General, American Bomber Command, and the British
Fighter Group Commander concerned.
8. When Phase 3 is reached, it will be the responsibility of the Com-
manding Generals of the American Bomber and Fighter Commands together
to make the general and detailed plans and to conduct the operations under
the direction of the Commanding General, 8th Air Force. It will be the
responsibility of the Commanding General of the American Fighter Com-
mand to arrange with the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Fighter Com-
mand for such ground facilities and fighter co-operation as may be required
from the British Fighter Command.
9. The Air Officers Commanding-in-Chief, Bomber, Fighter and Coastal
Commands, and the Commanding Generals of the American Bomber and
Fighter Commands will at all times keep each other informed of operational
intentions and together make such adjustments to plans as may be necessary
to ensure proper co-ordination.
10. At some moment during Phase z it will be necessary to change from
the co-ordination machinery for Phase I to that agreed for Phase 3. The
moment of change-over will be decided by the Commanding General, 8th
Air Force and the British Air Ministry (hC.A.S.(Ops) ) conjointly, having
regard to the available strength of American pursuit forces available which
are armed with American type fighters, and the degree of operational ex-
perience which they have acquired.227

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