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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.
“Nevers”44 pages
N O T E S T O P A G E S 2 1 3 - 1 6 30th Bomb. Sq.; Fisher talk and Fisher report, confirmed in statement to the author in interview of 17 June 1947; Combs interview.) There is some evi- dence that several planes had been left in an unusually exposed position. (Ind, Butunn, p. 1 0 1 . ) Ft should be emphasized, however, that the bombing did little damage, and that the low-flying enemy pursuits picked out the B-17’s wherever they were and riddled them. Although this fact does not excuse a lack of pre- caution, it is nevertheless true that unless the B-17’s could have been completely hidden, the widest possible dispersal would have made little difference. 53. See sources in n. 5 1 and Summary of Activities, 9 Dec. 1941, 0954, where “Nichols Field reports 1 2 casualties-4 serious, 3 killed.” The enemy had planned a full-scale attack on the fields near Manila, but weather restricted their effort to an attack by seven planes on Nichols. (Operations of the Japanese Navy in the Invasion of the Philippines.) 54. See again sources in n. 51 and also Fisher talk. 5 5 . Msg. #736, T A G to C G USAFFE, 7 Dec. 1941. 56. History, 24th Pursuit Gp.; Obert statement; Ind, Bataun, pp. I I 1-12. 57. Report by Lt. Col. S.M. Mellnik, AA in the Philippines, Doc. 24, in His- tory, Fifth Air Force, Pt. I , App. 11. 58. 19th Gp. Operations Record. But see Summary of Activities, 9 Dec. 1941, 1100, where “C.O. Del Monte reported that 16 B-17’s on way to Clark Field” and in a garbled message indicated one or more had turned back “with wounded crew members.” The original plan for a mission at dawn under Field Order No. z (see Summary, 8 Dec. 1941, 1550) seems to have been changed by Field Order No. 3, transmitted to “C.O. Bomber Command, Clark Field” at 2356, 8 December. 59. Adm. Thomas C. Hart, Narrative of Events, Asiatic Fleet. 60. Sheppard and Gilmore statement; GO 48, Hq. USAFFE, 21 Dec. 1941; Summary of Activities, 10 Dec. 1941, where under 0 2 2 0 appears this entry: “P-40 off OZ:IOshould be in between 690 0 3 :0 ~ 3 :30. Lt. Mahoney pilot”; and there follows under 0513: “Mahoney to Brady-six transports off Vigan Bay-1 I Naval vessels off Vigan.” 61. History, 24th Pursuit Gp.; 19th Gp. Operations Record; Robb statement; GO 48, Hq. USAFFE, Z I Dec. 1941; USSBS Intr. 90, Capt. Kawakita Ishihara, n.d.; USSBS Intr. 331, Cap! Mitsugo Ihara, 10 Nov. 1945. According to the officer who took Marett’s place as com- manding officer of the 34th Squadron, a Japanese air raid resulted in the destruc- tion of twelve P-36’s shortly after they landed from the Vigan mission. (Brown statement, as cited in n. 46.) See also Summary of Activities, 10 Dec. 1941, 0530, 0625 which notes that “8 B-17’s loaded, left Clark for attack on vessels, priority transports and landing parties,” and 1 2 1 1 where “Grover reports 2nd Observation Sqdn. (P-35) reports attack on 7 transports at Vigan with .so cal. 3 P-35’s were lost in the encounter including sqdn commander at 09: 1 5 . One transport blew up.” 62. This is the only loss which has been confirmed by the Joint Army-Navy Assessment Commission. (Japanese Naval and Merchant Losses during World W a r 11, Feb. 1947, prepared by the Joint Army-Navy Assessment Commission [ JANACI.) 63. 19th Gp. Operations Record; GO 2, Hq. Southwest Pacific Command, Lembang, 15 Feb. 1942. USSBS reports indicate that there were no aircraft carriers or battleships involved in the Vigan and Aparri landings. (See also Summary of Activities, 10 Dec. 1941, under 0925.) 64. 19th Gp. Operations Record. 65. Ltr., Col. E.L. Eubank to CG FEAF, 19 Feb. 1942, Narrative Report of Flight of Capt. Colin P. Kelly, Doc. 25 in History, Fifth Air Force, Pt. I , App. 11. 66. Zbid., msg., Manila to T A G , 1 1 Dec. 1941; msg., MacArthur to T A G , 28 Dec. 1941; msg. #s, Java to TAG, 1 5 Feb. 1942; Summary of Activities, 10 Dec. 1941, 1700. 67. USSBS Intrs. 33, Vice Adm. Kazutaka Shiraichi, 15 Oct. 1945; 90,
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