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03/01/42
Fifth AF
Last HB mission flown from Java."
03/02/42
Fifth AF
5 B-17's and 3 LB-30's (the last airplane taking off just before
midnight) evacuate the last 260 men from Jogjakarta, the last A/F on
Java in Allied hands. Ground forces are within 20 mi at this time.
Bataan-based P-40's attack shipping in Subic Bay. The pilots claim
considerable damage to the ships, but 4 of the few P-40's remaining
on Bataan are lost.
03/03/42
US
CCS take under consideration recommendation to continue SUPERGYMNAST
as an 'academic study' only. Thus the proposed N African venture
ceases to affect Eighth AF until it is revived later as TORCH.
03/03/42
Fifth AF
Japanese airplanes attack A/F and harbor at Broome, Australia at
1000, shortly after arrival of 8 Hbs evacuating men from Java. The
Japanese destroy 2 B-17's, 2 B-24's, 12 seaplanes, and 2 Hudsons, and
kill at least 45 Dutch civilians and 20 US airmen.
03/04/42
Seventh AF
A lone Japanese aircraft attempts to attack Honolulu but drops its
bombs short of the city. Overcast conditions prevent successful
pursuit by Seventh AF airplanes.
03/05/42
Tenth AF
Gen Brereton who arrived in India from NEI on 25 Feb, formally takes
cmd of Tenth AF, which at this time has 8 tac aircraft (B-17's).
03/05/42
ZI
Civil Air Patrol begins flying patrols off the E coast. XII IC (later
redesignated XII FC) is activated at Drew Field.
03/08/42
Tenth AF
HQ Tenth AF begins moving from Patterson Field to India. Between this
date and 13 Mar, the 8 B-17's in India transport 474 troops and 29
tons of supplies from India to Magwe and on the return flights
evacuate 423 civilians.
03/08/42
Eleventh AF
Col William O Butler assumes cmd of the Eleventh with HQ at Ft
Richardson.
03/09/42
AAF
Military reorganization, implementing Executive Order of 28 Feb,
becomes effective. The Air Corps and the US Army Air Force Combat
Cmd, which previously had made up the AAF under Gen Arnold as Chief,
are discontinued, and the AAF is reorganized with Arnold as CG. Army
Ground Forces under Gen McNair and Services of Supply (later Army
Serv Forces) under Gen Sommervell are also organized. All are under
control of Gen Marshall, CoS. In the Navy, Adm King, CinC US Fleet,
assumes additional responsibilities as he succeeds Adm Stark as Chief
of Naval Operations.
03/09/42
SE Asia
Japanese forces complete capture of Rangoon, dealing China a great
blow by cutting off supplies from Burma Road.
03/12/42
Tenth AF
10 P-40's arrive in Karachi by ship from Australia.
03/12/42
ZI
XII BC is activated at MacDill Field.
03/15/42
SOPAC
67th Ftr Sq, the first AAF tac unit in the theater, arrives on New
Caledonia.
03/15/42
Eleventh AF
XI FC is activated at Elmendorf Field cmdr is Col Norman D Sillin.
Its operational components are the 11th and the 18th Pur Sqs.
03/16/42
Fifth AF
3 B-17's of 435th Rcn Sq, 19th Bomb Gp begin evacuating Gen
MacArthur, his family, and his staff from Del Monte to Australia.
03/17/42
SWPA
Gen MacArthur arrives in Australia to assume cmd of United Nations
forces in SWPA. He actually assumed cmd on 18 Apr.
03/20/42
AAF
'Plan for Initiation of US Army Bombardment Operations in the British
Isles' further elaborates previous AAF plans outlining intention of
launching strategic bombardment from UK against facilities supporting
German national, economic, and industrial structure.
03/20/42
AAFIB
Report submitted by Gen Eaker in compliance with Gen Chaney's
instructions of 25 Feb indicates completion of studies of RAF BC
operations and of A/Fs, trg, tac doctrine, equipment, and methods of
conducting air offensive in cooperation with RAF. Report also
indicates much dependence upon British for the present but emphasizes
the apparent compatibility of the tac doctrines of the US (daylight
precision bombing) and RAF (night area bombing), and implies the
principle of coordinating these attacks to complement each other.
03/25/42
Eighth AF
Maj Cecil P Lessig becomes first Eighth AF pilot to fly a mission
over France in World War II. Flying a Spitfire with RAF 64 Sq, Lessig
participates in a 36-aircraft ftr sweep that is recalled when 50 ftrs
challenge them.
03/26/42
Fifth AF
3 B-17's of 435th Rcn Sq, 19th Bomb Gp, evacuate Philippine Pres
Quezon and his family to Australia."
03/28/42
ZI
Units of I BC engaged in antisub operations are placed under
operational control of Cmdr, Eastern Sea Frontier."
03/31/42
AAF
Gen Spaatz suggests that the now 'task-less Eighth' be made nucleus
for AAFIB.
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