1.
Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker
–
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is a military aerial refueling aircraft. It and the Boeing 707 airliner were developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype and it is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transport aircraft. The KC-135 was the US Air Forces first jet-powered refueling tanker, the KC-135 entered service with the United States Air Force in 1957, it is one of six military fixed-wing aircraft with over 50 years of continuous service with its original operator. The KC-135 is supplemented by the larger KC-10, studies have concluded that many of the aircraft could be flown until 2040, although maintenance costs have greatly increased. The aircraft will eventually be replaced by the Boeing KC-46 Pegasus, like its sibling, the commercial Boeing 707 jet airliner, the KC-135 was derived from the Boeing 367-80 jet transport proof of concept demonstrator, which was commonly called the Dash-80. The KC-135 is similar in appearance to the 707, but has a fuselage and is shorter than the 707. The KC-135 predates the 707, and is quite different from the civilian airliner. Boeing gave the future KC-135 tanker the initial designation Model 717, in 1954 USAFs Strategic Air Command held a competition for a jet-powered aerial refueling tanker. Lockheeds tanker version of the proposed Lockheed L-193 airliner with rear fuselage-mounted engines was declared the winner in 1955, in the end, orders for the Lockheed tanker were dropped rather than supporting two tanker designs. Lockheed never produced its jet airliner, while Boeing would eventually dominate the market with a family of airliners based on the 707. In 1954, the Air Force placed an order for 29 KC-135As. The first aircraft flew in August 1956 and the initial production Stratotanker was delivered to Castle Air Force Base, California, the last KC-135 was delivered to the Air Force in 1965. These basic features make it resemble the commercial Boeing 707 and 720 aircraft. The USAF EC-135 Looking Glass was subsequently replaced in its role by the U. S. Navy E-6 Mercury aircraft, the KC-135Q variant was modified to carry JP-7 fuel necessary for the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, segregating the JP-7 from the KC-135s own fuel supply. The tanker also had special fuel systems for moving the different fuels between different tanks, the only external difference between a KC-135R and a KC-135T is the presence of a clear window on the underside of the empennage of the KC-135T where a remote controlled searchlight is mounted. It also has two ground refueling ports, located in rear wheel well so ground crews can fuel both the body tanks and wing tanks separately. Eight KC-135R aircraft are receiver-capable tankers, commonly referred to as KC-135R, All eight aircraft were with the 22d Air Refueling Wing at McConnell AFB, Kansas, in 1994. They are primarily used for extension and Special Operations missions
2.
Andersen Air Force Base
–
Andersen Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 4 miles northeast of Yigo near Agafo Gumas in the United States territory of Guam. Along with Naval Base Guam, Andersen AFB was placed under the command of Joint Region Marianas on 1 October 2009, the two bases are about 30 miles away at opposite ends of the island. Administration offices for Joint Region Marianas are about half-way in between, at Nimitz Hill, the host unit at Andersen AFB is the 36th Wing, assigned to the Pacific Air Forces Thirteenth Air Force. A non-flying wing, the 36 WGs mission is to support to deployed air and space forces of USAF and foreign air forces to Andersen. Andersen AFB was established in 1944 as North Field and is named for Brigadier General James Roy Andersen, the 36th Wing Commander is Brig. Gen. Douglas A. Cox. The Vice Wing Commander is Colonel Scott Hurrelbrink and the Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Orlando Ureña, Andersen is one of four bomber forward operating locations in the US Air Force. These locations provide forward support to bomber crews deploying overseas in Europe, Southwest Asia, the Air Force is establishing forward-deployed bomber beddown support at key locations throughout the world and Andersen is one of two critical bases in the Asia-Pacific region. The other location is Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Guams almost unrestricted airspace and the close proximity of the Farallon de Medinilla Island, a naval bombing range 184 miles north, makes this an ideal training environment. General Andersen graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1926, served at various army installations, during 1943–1944 he served on the War Department General Staff. In January 1945, General Andersen was assigned to HQ AAF and he died on 26 February 1945 in the crash of a B-24 Liberator aircraft between Kwajalein and Johnston Island while en route to Hawaii. Andersen Air Force Bases origins begin on 7 December 1941 when Guam was attacked by the forces of Imperial Japan in the Battle of Guam three hours after the Attack on Pearl Harbor. The United States Navy surrendered Guam to the Japanese on 10 December, at the height of the war, approximately 19,000 Japanese soldiers and sailors were deployed to the island. Guam was liberated by the United States Marine Corps 3rd Amphibious Corps on 21 July 1944, in the Battle of Guam, the Japanese managed to contain the marines on two beachheads, but their counter-attack failed. The marines renewed their assault, and reached the tip of the island on 10 August 1944. Japanese guerrilla activities continued until the end of the war, Guam was considered as being ideal to establish air bases to launch B-29 Superfortress operations against the Japanese Home Islands. The Marianas Islands are about 1,500 miles from Tokyo, most important of all, it could be put on a direct supply line from the United States by ship. North Field, as Andersen AFB was first named, was the first air base built on Guam after its liberation, the first host unit at North Field was the 314th Bombardment Wing, XXI Bomber Command, Twentieth Air Force. The 314th arrived on Guam on 16 January 1945 from Peterson Field, the 314th controlled four operational B-29 bomb groups, the 19th, 29th, 39th, and 330th
3.
United States
–
Forty-eight of the fifty states and the federal district are contiguous and located in North America between Canada and Mexico. The state of Alaska is in the northwest corner of North America, bordered by Canada to the east, the state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The U. S. territories are scattered about the Pacific Ocean, the geography, climate and wildlife of the country are extremely diverse. At 3.8 million square miles and with over 324 million people, the United States is the worlds third- or fourth-largest country by area, third-largest by land area. It is one of the worlds most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations, paleo-Indians migrated from Asia to the North American mainland at least 15,000 years ago. European colonization began in the 16th century, the United States emerged from 13 British colonies along the East Coast. Numerous disputes between Great Britain and the following the Seven Years War led to the American Revolution. On July 4,1776, during the course of the American Revolutionary War, the war ended in 1783 with recognition of the independence of the United States by Great Britain, representing the first successful war of independence against a European power. The current constitution was adopted in 1788, after the Articles of Confederation, the first ten amendments, collectively named the Bill of Rights, were ratified in 1791 and designed to guarantee many fundamental civil liberties. During the second half of the 19th century, the American Civil War led to the end of slavery in the country. By the end of century, the United States extended into the Pacific Ocean. The Spanish–American War and World War I confirmed the status as a global military power. The end of the Cold War and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 left the United States as the sole superpower. The U. S. is a member of the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Organization of American States. The United States is a developed country, with the worlds largest economy by nominal GDP. It ranks highly in several measures of performance, including average wage, human development, per capita GDP. While the U. S. economy is considered post-industrial, characterized by the dominance of services and knowledge economy, the United States is a prominent political and cultural force internationally, and a leader in scientific research and technological innovations. In 1507, the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller produced a map on which he named the lands of the Western Hemisphere America after the Italian explorer and cartographer Amerigo Vespucci
4.
United States Air Force
–
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a branch of the military on 18 September 1947 under the National Security Act of 1947. It is the most recent branch of the U. S. military to be formed, the U. S. Air Force is a military service organized within the Department of the Air Force, one of the three military departments of the Department of Defense. The Air Force is headed by the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, who reports to the Secretary of Defense, the U. S. Air Force provides air support for surface forces and aids in the recovery of troops in the field. As of 2015, the service more than 5,137 military aircraft,406 ICBMs and 63 military satellites. It has a $161 billion budget with 313,242 active duty personnel,141,197 civilian employees,69,200 Air Force Reserve personnel, and 105,500 Air National Guard personnel. According to the National Security Act of 1947, which created the USAF and it shall be organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations. The stated mission of the USAF today is to fly, fight, and win in air, space and we will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all Air Force resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Reach and it should be emphasized that the core functions, by themselves, are not doctrinal constructs. The purpose of Nuclear Deterrence Operations is to operate, maintain, in the event deterrence fails, the US should be able to appropriately respond with nuclear options. Dissuading others from acquiring or proliferating WMD, and the means to deliver them, moreover, different deterrence strategies are required to deter various adversaries, whether they are a nation state, or non-state/transnational actor. Nuclear strike is the ability of forces to rapidly and accurately strike targets which the enemy holds dear in a devastating manner. Should deterrence fail, the President may authorize a precise, tailored response to terminate the conflict at the lowest possible level, post-conflict, regeneration of a credible nuclear deterrent capability will deter further aggression. Finally, the Air Force regularly exercises and evaluates all aspects of operations to ensure high levels of performance. Nuclear surety ensures the safety, security and effectiveness of nuclear operations, the Air Force, in conjunction with other entities within the Departments of Defense or Energy, achieves a high standard of protection through a stringent nuclear surety program. The Air Force continues to pursue safe, secure and effective nuclear weapons consistent with operational requirements, adversaries, allies, and the American people must be highly confident of the Air Forces ability to secure nuclear weapons from accidents, theft, loss, and accidental or unauthorized use. This day-to-day commitment to precise and reliable nuclear operations is the cornerstone of the credibility of the NDO mission, positive nuclear command, control, communications, effective nuclear weapons security, and robust combat support are essential to the overall NDO function. OCA is the method of countering air and missile threats, since it attempts to defeat the enemy closer to its source
5.
Aerial refueling
–
The procedure allows the receiving aircraft to remain airborne longer, extending its range or loiter time on station. A series of air refuelings can give range limited only by crew fatigue, alternatively, a shorter take-off roll can be achieved because take-off can be at a lighter weight before refueling once airborne. Aerial refueling has also considered as a means to reduce fuel consumption on long-distance flights greater than 3,000 nautical miles. Potential fuel savings in the range of 35-40% have been estimated for long haul flights, usually, the aircraft providing the fuel is specially designed for the task, although refueling pods can be fitted to existing aircraft designs if the probe-and-drogue system is to be used. There is no known regular civilian in-flight refueling activity, for instance, in the Gulf War and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait and the Iraq War, all coalition air sorties were air-refueled except for a few short-range ground attack sorties in the Kuwait area. The first mid-air refueling, based on the development of Alexander P. de Seversky, as the 1920s progressed, greater numbers of aviation enthusiasts vied to set new aerial long-distance records, using inflight air refueling. One such enthusiast, who would revolutionize aerial refueling was Sir Alan Cobham, member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, and a pioneer of long-distance aviation. During the 1920s, he made long-distance flights to places as far afield as Africa and Australia and this craft was eventually modified by Airspeed to Cobhams specification, for a non-stop flight from London to India, using in-flight refueling to extend the planes flight duration. Meanwhile, in 1929, a group of U. S. Army Air Corps fliers, led by then Major Carl Spaatz, set an endurance record of over 150 hours with the Question Mark over Los Angeles. Aerial refueling remained a dangerous process until 1935 when brothers Fred and Al Key demonstrated a spill-free refueling nozzle. They exceeded the Hunters record by nearly 100 hours in a Curtiss Robin monoplane, the US was mainly concerned about transatlantic flights for faster postal service between Europe and America. In 1931 W. Irving Glover, the assistant postmaster, wrote an extensive article for Popular Mechanics concerning the challenges. In his article he even mentioned the use of Aerial refueling after take off as a possible solution, by 1931 they had demonstrated refueling between two Vickers Virginias, with fuel flow controlled by an automatic valve on the hose which would cut off if contact was lost. Royal Air Force officer Richard Atcherley had observed the dangerous aerial-refueling techniques in use at barnstorming events in the US and determined to create a workable system. In 1934, Cobham sold off the airline Cobham Air Routes Ltd to Olley Air Service, atcherlys system was bought up by Cobhams company, and with some refinement and continuous improvement through the late 30s, it became the first practical refueling system. Sir Alan Cobhams Grappled-line looped-hose air-to-air refueling system borrowed from techniques patented by David Nicolson and John Lord, and was publicly demonstrated for the first time in 1935. In the system the aircraft, at one time an Airspeed Courier, trailed a steel cable which was then grappled by a line shot from the tanker. The line was drawn back into the tanker where the receivers cable was connected to the refueling hose
6.
Air Mobility Command
–
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U. S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, the Commander of AMC is Gen Carlton D. Everhart II, with Lt Gen Wayne Schatz Jr as Vice Commander and CMSgt Shelina Frey as Command Chief Master Sergeant. Air Mobility Command was established on June 1,1992 and it was formed from elements of the inactivated Military Airlift Command and Strategic Air Command. AMC melded a worldwide system with a tanker force that had been freed from its strategic nuclear strike commitments by the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Air Mobility Commands mission is to provide global air mobility, the command also plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian support at home and around the world. Many special duty and operational aircraft and stateside aeromedical evacuation missions are also assigned to AMC. U. S. forces must be able to provide a rapid, tailored response with a capability to intervene against a foe, hit hard. Rapid global mobility lies at the heart of U. S. strategy in this environment, without the capability to project forces, there is no conventional deterrent. As the number of U. S. forces stationed overseas continue to decline, global interests remain, Air Mobility Command also has the mission of establishing bare air bases in contingencies. To accomplish this mission, AMC established two Contingency Response Wings, and operates the Eagle Flag exercise, in addition to its status as a MAJCOM of the Air Force, AMC is also the Air Force component command of the United States Transportation Command. It provides airlift, special missions, aerial refueling, and aeromedical evacuation for the United States armed forces]], AMC also operates VIP flights such as Air Force One, Air Force Two, and other Special Assignment Airlift Missions. Finally, AMC acts as the manager, on behalf of United States Transportation Command. Principal aircraft assets of the include, C-17 Globemaster III, C-5 Galaxy, C-130 Hercules, KC-135 Stratotanker, KC-10 Extender, C-40 Clipper, C-37 Gulfstream V. As of 2015, the command is preparing for the addition of the KC-46 Pegasus. Additional aircraft in support of high-profile VIP airlift include, VC-25, C-32, C-20 and these units train and exercise frequently and routinely provide augmentative operational support to AMCs active duty forces. Instead, they report to AMC via the National Guard Bureau, civil Reserve Air Fleet AMC has undergone considerable change since its establishment. Focusing on the mission of strategic air mobility, the command divested itself of infrastructure. The Air Rescue Service, intratheater aeromedical airlift forces based overseas, as a result of the Global War on Terrorism, on October 1,2003, AMC underwent a major restructuring, bringing a war fighting role to its numbered air force
7.
World War II
–
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted from 1939 to 1945, although related conflicts began earlier. It involved the vast majority of the worlds countries—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing alliances, the Allies and the Axis. It was the most widespread war in history, and directly involved more than 100 million people from over 30 countries. Marked by mass deaths of civilians, including the Holocaust and the bombing of industrial and population centres. These made World War II the deadliest conflict in human history, from late 1939 to early 1941, in a series of campaigns and treaties, Germany conquered or controlled much of continental Europe, and formed the Axis alliance with Italy and Japan. Under the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939, Germany and the Soviet Union partitioned and annexed territories of their European neighbours, Poland, Finland, Romania and the Baltic states. In December 1941, Japan attacked the United States and European colonies in the Pacific Ocean, and quickly conquered much of the Western Pacific. The Axis advance halted in 1942 when Japan lost the critical Battle of Midway, near Hawaii, in 1944, the Western Allies invaded German-occupied France, while the Soviet Union regained all of its territorial losses and invaded Germany and its allies. During 1944 and 1945 the Japanese suffered major reverses in mainland Asia in South Central China and Burma, while the Allies crippled the Japanese Navy, thus ended the war in Asia, cementing the total victory of the Allies. World War II altered the political alignment and social structure of the world, the United Nations was established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. The victorious great powers—the United States, the Soviet Union, China, the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the United States emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the Cold War, which lasted for the next 46 years. Meanwhile, the influence of European great powers waned, while the decolonisation of Asia, most countries whose industries had been damaged moved towards economic recovery. Political integration, especially in Europe, emerged as an effort to end pre-war enmities, the start of the war in Europe is generally held to be 1 September 1939, beginning with the German invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. The dates for the beginning of war in the Pacific include the start of the Second Sino-Japanese War on 7 July 1937, or even the Japanese invasion of Manchuria on 19 September 1931. Others follow the British historian A. J. P. Taylor, who held that the Sino-Japanese War and war in Europe and its colonies occurred simultaneously and this article uses the conventional dating. Other starting dates sometimes used for World War II include the Italian invasion of Abyssinia on 3 October 1935. The British historian Antony Beevor views the beginning of World War II as the Battles of Khalkhin Gol fought between Japan and the forces of Mongolia and the Soviet Union from May to September 1939, the exact date of the wars end is also not universally agreed upon. It was generally accepted at the time that the war ended with the armistice of 14 August 1945, rather than the formal surrender of Japan
8.
New Georgia Campaign
–
The New Georgia Campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied strategy in the South Pacific, the campaign took place in the New Georgia group of islands, in the central Solomon Islands from 20 June through 7 October 1943. The Japanese had captured New Georgia in 1942 and built an airbase at Munda Point which began operations in December 1942 to support the Guadalcanal offensives, the Imperial Japanese Navy preferred to delay the Allied advance for as long as possible by maintaining a distant line of defence. In early 1943, Japanese defenses were prepared against possible Allied landings on New Georgia, Kolombangara and Santa Isabel. By June 1943, there were 10,500 troops on New Georgia and 9,000 on Kolombangara, all under the command of General Minoru Sasaki, well dug in and waiting for an Allied attack. By early 1943, some Allied leaders had wanted to focus on capturing Rabaul, instead, on the initiative of the U. S. The Allied base at Guadalcanal continued to suffer from Japanese bombing raids even after the island was declared secured on 9 February 1943. The Japanese airfield at Munda made these raids easier by giving Japanese planes a convenient place to refuel on the way to, the Allies attempted to neutralize Munda with repeated bombing raids and naval shelling, but the Japanese were always able to repair the airfield in short order. The Allied command thus determined that Munda had to be captured by ground troops, since the New Georgias lay within the South Pacific Area, the operation would be the responsibility of Admiral William F. Halsey, headquartered at Nouméa on New Caledonia. In early February, he instructed Rear Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, formerly his Deputy Commander and now his Commander Amphibious Force, to undertake Operation Cleanslate. Beginning 21 February, Admiral Turner landed the 43rd Infantry Division under Maj. Gen. John H. Hester, “Harry the Horse” Liversedge on the Russells, a total of approximately 9,000 troops and their equipment. These landings were unopposed because, unbeknownst to the Allies. In fact, the men landing on nearby Banika Island were greeted by two coastwatchers with the offer of a cup of tea, in their turn, the Americans continued attempting to subdue Munda field with naval shellings of dubious effectiveness. Stanton “Tip” Merrill encountered the Japanese destroyers Murasame and Minegumo as they were returning up Kula Gulf from delivering food, in the ensuing action, known as the Battle of Blackett Strait, both Japanese destroyers were sunk. The Americans next attempted to interdict the Japanese supply lanes by mining the approaches to Vila. This proved as ineffective as bombardment had been, since the Japanese were able to sweep up the mines readily, the Allies had plenty of time to plan Operation Toenails, as the invasion of the New Georgias was called. The plan called for simultaneous landings on 30 June at four places, during the entire New Georgia Campaign, the resolution and resourcefulness of the British Commonwealth coastwatchers proved invaluable to the Allied cause. Even if the Japanese come, we stay with you and in the end they will be driven out. ”In the event
9.
Battle of Vella Lavella (land)
–
The Battle of Vella Lavella was fought from 15 August –9 October 1943 between Japan and the Allied forces from New Zealand and the United States. Vella Lavella is a located in the Solomon Islands that had been occupied by Japanese forces. The Allies successfully recaptured the island, barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella was later the homebase of VMF-214 Blacksheep and its CO Major Gregory Pappy Boyington. The main New Zealand combat elements were drawn from the 14th Brigade, a Campaign on Two Fronts, Barrowclough in the Pacific. Kia Kaha, New Zealand in the Second World War, mcGee, William L. Occupation of Vella Lavella. The Solomons Campaigns, 1942–1943, From Guadalcanal to Bougainville—Pacific War Turning Point, breaking the Bismarcks Barrier, vol.6 of History of United States Naval Operations in World War II. Rottman, Gordon L. Duncan Anderson, ed, Japanese Army in World War II, The South Pacific and New Guinea, 1942–43. The Official History of New Zealand in the Second World War, 1939–1945, I, craven, Wesley Frank, James Lea Cate. Vol. IV, The Pacific, Guadalcanal to Saipan, August 1942 to July 1944, the Army Air Forces in World War II. U. S. Office of Air Force History, 3rd NZ Division in the Pacific. Archived from the original on 2006-10-15, the U. S. Army Campaigns of World War II. United States Army Center of Military History, UP THE SLOT, Marines in the Central Solomons. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps, miller, John, Jr. CARTWHEEL, The Reduction of Rabaul. United States Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific, Office of the Chief of Military History, U. S. Department of the Army. Marines in the Central Solomons, CHAPTER5, Central Solomons Mop Up, historical Branch, Headquarters, U. S. Marine Corps. History of U. S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II
10.
Bougainville Campaign
–
The Bougainville Campaign was a series of land and naval battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II between Allied forces and the Empire of Japan. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied grand strategy in the South Pacific, the campaign took place in the Northern Solomons in two phases. The first phase, in which American troops invaded and held the perimeter around the beachhead at Torokina, before the war, Bougainville had been administered as part of the Australian Territory of New Guinea, even though, geographically, Bougainville is part of the Solomon Islands chain. As a result, within the accounts of the campaign it is referred to as part of both the New Guinea and the Solomon Islands campaigns. During their occupation the Japanese constructed naval aircraft bases in the north, east, and south of the island and they developed a naval anchorage at Tonolei Harbor near Buin, their largest base, on the southern coastal plain of Bougainville. On the nearby Treasury and Shortland Islands they built airfields, naval bases and anchorages, to the Allies, Bougainville would later also be considered vital for neutralizing the Japanese base around Rabaul. In March–April 1942, the Japanese landed on Bougainville as part of their advance into the South Pacific, at the time, there was only a small Australian garrison on the island which consisted of about 20 soldiers from the 1st Independent Company and some coastwatchers. Shortly after the Japanese arrived, the bulk of the Australian force was evacuated by the Allies, once secured, the Japanese began constructing a number of airfields across the island. The airfield at Kahili was known by the Japanese as Buin Airfield, at the opening of the Allied offensives, their estimates of Japanese strength on Bougainville varied widely, ranging between 45,000 and 65,000 Army, Navy, and labour personnel. These forces constituted the Japanese 17th Army, commanded by General Harukichi Hyakutake, hyukatake reported to General Hitoshi Imamura, commander of the Japanese Eighth Area Army, headquartered at Rabaul on New Britain Island. Naval command at Rabaul was the responsibility of Vice Admiral Jinichi Kusaka, the level of cooperation between these two officers was greater than that usually found between the branches of the Japanese armed forces. The 17th Infantry occupied northern Bougainville, while the 6th had responsibility for the south of Tarina. Reduction of the main Japanese base at Rabaul was the goal of the Allied offensive in the Solomons. To achieve this, Allied planners formulated Operation Cartwheel, by 1943 Rabaul was already within range of Allied heavy bombers, but a closer airfield was needed for light bombers and escort fighters. Thus, the island of Bougainville did not need to be occupied. According to Morison this was the one and only reason why the JCS authorized Halsey to seize a section of Bougainville, the area around Cape Torokina was settled on since, among other things, the Japanese were not there in force and had no airfield there. Bougainville lay within the Southwest Pacific Area, so operations were nominally under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, whose headquarters were in Brisbane, Australia. Although MacArthur had to all major moves, he gave planning and operational control to Admiral William F. Halsey
11.
South West Pacific theatre of World War II
–
The South West Pacific theatre, during World War II, was a major theatre of the war between the Allies and Japan. It included the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies, Borneo, Australia and its mandate Territory of New Guinea and this area was defined by the Allied powers South West Pacific Area command. In the South West Pacific theatre, Japanese forces fought primarily against the forces of the United States, New Zealand, the Netherlands, the Philippines, United Kingdom, and other Allied nations also contributed forces. The South Pacific became a theatre of the war following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941. Initially, US warplans called for a counteroffensive across the Central Pacific, during the First South Pacific Campaign, US forces sought to establish a defensive perimeter against additional Japanese attacks. This was followed by the Second South Pacific Campaign, which began with the battle of Guadalcanal, shortly after the collapse of ABDACOM, supreme command of the South West Pacific theatre passed to MacArthur who was appointed Supreme Allied Commander South West Pacific Area on 30 March 1942. In the other theatre in the Pacific region, known as the Pacific Ocean theatre. Both MacArthur and Nimitz were overseen by the US Joint Chiefs, most Japanese forces in the theatre were part of the Southern Expeditionary Army, which was formed on November 6,1941, under General Hisaichi Terauchi. The Nanpo gun was responsible for Imperial Japanese Army ground and air units in Southeast Asia, the Combined Fleet of the Imperial Japanese Navy was responsible for all Japanese warships, naval aviation units and marine infantry units. The Official Chronology of the U. S. Navy in World War II, a Battle History of the Imperial Japanese Navy. The American Heritage Picture History of World War II, in the Service of the Emperor, Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army. Griffith, Thomas E. Jr. MacArthurs Airman, General George C, kenney and the War in the Southwest Pacific. From Down Under to Nippon, Story of the 6th Army in World War II, United States Army Center of Military History. Japanese Operations in the Southwest Pacific Area, Volume II – Part I, - Translation of the official record by the Japanese Demobilization Bureaux detailing the Imperial Japanese Army and Navys participation in the Southwest Pacific area of the Pacific War
12.
Korean War
–
The Korean War began when North Korea invaded South Korea. The United Nations, with the United States as the principal force, China came to the aid of North Korea, and the Soviet Union gave some assistance. Korea was ruled by Japan from 1910 until the days of World War II. In August 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on Japan, as a result of an agreement with the United States, U. S. forces subsequently moved into the south. By 1948, as a product of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States, Korea was split into two regions, with separate governments, both governments claimed to be the legitimate government of all of Korea, and neither side accepted the border as permanent. The conflict escalated into open warfare when North Korean forces—supported by the Soviet Union, on that day, the United Nations Security Council recognized this North Korean act as invasion and called for an immediate ceasefire. On 27 June, the Security Council adopted S/RES/83, Complaint of aggression upon the Republic of Korea and decided the formation, twenty-one countries of the United Nations eventually contributed to the UN force, with the United States providing 88% of the UNs military personnel. After the first two months of war, South Korean forces were on the point of defeat, forced back to the Pusan Perimeter, in September 1950, an amphibious UN counter-offensive was launched at Inchon, and cut off many North Korean troops. Those who escaped envelopment and capture were rapidly forced back north all the way to the border with China at the Yalu River, at this point, in October 1950, Chinese forces crossed the Yalu and entered the war. Chinese intervention triggered a retreat of UN forces which continued until mid-1951, after these reversals of fortune, which saw Seoul change hands four times, the last two years of fighting became a war of attrition, with the front line close to the 38th parallel. The war in the air, however, was never a stalemate, North Korea was subject to a massive bombing campaign. Jet fighters confronted each other in combat for the first time in history. The fighting ended on 27 July 1953, when an armistice was signed, the agreement created the Korean Demilitarized Zone to separate North and South Korea, and allowed the return of prisoners. However, no treaty has been signed, and the two Koreas are technically still at war. Periodic clashes, many of which are deadly, continue to the present, in the U. S. the war was initially described by President Harry S. Truman as a police action as it was an undeclared military action, conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. In South Korea, the war is referred to as 625 or the 6–2–5 Upheaval. In North Korea, the war is referred to as the Fatherland Liberation War or alternatively the Chosǒn War. In China, the war is called the War to Resist U. S
13.
Vietnam War
–
It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vietnam and the government of South Vietnam. The war is considered a Cold War-era proxy war. As the war continued, the actions of the Viet Cong decreased as the role. U. S. and South Vietnamese forces relied on air superiority and overwhelming firepower to conduct search and destroy operations, involving ground forces, artillery, in the course of the war, the U. S. conducted a large-scale strategic bombing campaign against North Vietnam. The North Vietnamese government and the Viet Cong were fighting to reunify Vietnam and they viewed the conflict as a colonial war and a continuation of the First Indochina War against forces from France and later on the United States. The U. S. government viewed its involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and this was part the domino theory of a wider containment policy, with the stated aim of stopping the spread of communism. Beginning in 1950, American military advisors arrived in what was then French Indochina, U. S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s, with troop levels tripling in 1961 and again in 1962. Regular U. S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965, despite the Paris Peace Accord, which was signed by all parties in January 1973, the fighting continued. In the U. S. and the Western world, a large anti-Vietnam War movement developed as part of a larger counterculture, the war changed the dynamics between the Eastern and Western Blocs, and altered North–South relations. Direct U. S. military involvement ended on 15 August 1973, the capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese Army in April 1975 marked the end of the war, and North and South Vietnam were reunified the following year. The war exacted a huge human cost in terms of fatalities, estimates of the number of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians killed vary from 966,000 to 3.8 million. Some 240, 000–300,000 Cambodians,20, 000–62,000 Laotians, and 58,220 U. S. service members died in the conflict. Various names have applied to the conflict. Vietnam War is the most commonly used name in English and it has also been called the Second Indochina War and the Vietnam Conflict. As there have been several conflicts in Indochina, this conflict is known by the names of its primary protagonists to distinguish it from others. In Vietnamese, the war is known as Kháng chiến chống Mỹ. It is also called Chiến tranh Việt Nam, France began its conquest of Indochina in the late 1850s, and completed pacification by 1893. The 1884 Treaty of Huế formed the basis for French colonial rule in Vietnam for the seven decades
14.
Distinguished Unit Citation
–
The unit with the most Presidential Unit Citations is the USS Parche with 9 citations. The Army citation was established by Executive Order 9075 on 26 February 1942, superseded by Executive Order 9396 on Dec.2,1943, as with other Army unit citations, the PUC is in a larger frame than other ribbons, and is worn above the right pocket. All members of the unit may wear the decoration, whether or not they participated in the acts for which the unit was cited. Only those assigned to the unit at the time of the action cited may wear the decoration as a permanent award, for both the Army and Air Force, the emblem is a solid blue ribbon enclosed in a gold frame. The Air Force PUC was adopted from the Army Distinguished Unit Citation after the Air Force became a military branch in 1947. By Executive Order 10694, dated Jan,10,1957 the Air Force redesignated the Distinguished Unit Citation as the Presidential Unit Citation. The Air Force PUC is the color and design as the Army PUC but slightly smaller. The Citation is carried on the units colors in the form of a blue streamer,4 ft long and 2.75 in wide. For the Army, only on rare occasions will a larger than battalion qualify for award of this decoration. The Navy citation was established by Executive Order 9050 on 6 February 1942, the Navy version has blue, yellow, and red horizontal stripes, and is the only Navy ribbon having horizontal stripes. These are only worn by persons who meet the criteria at the time it is awarded to the unit, unlike the Army, those who later join the unit do not wear it on a temporary basis. The current decoration is known as the Department of Homeland Security Presidential Unit Citation. A Coast Guard version of the award was awarded to all U. S. Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel responding to Hurricane Katrina by President George W. Bush for rescue, the United States Public Health Service Presidential Citation was established in 2015. The design was finalized by the Army Institute of Heraldry on 17 August 2015, two units of the Free French Forces were awarded Presidential Unit Citations during World War II. On April 22,1986, the 1st Fighter Group Força Aérea Brasileira was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for its actions in the Po Valley region of Italy in World War II. The Brazilians, operating in Italy in support of Allied forces, destroyed in one day over 45 vehicles, strafed pontoon bridges on the River Po, eleven missions of 44 sorties were flown destroying nine motor transports and damaging 17. One Belgian-Luxembourgian battalion of the Belgian United Nations Command was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation once for actions during the Battle of the Imjin River, the Colombia Battalion received the citation while attached to the American 21st Infantry Regiment in 1951. One Dutch unit, the Netherlands Detachment United Nations, part of the Regiment Van Heutsz, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation twice for actions during the Korean War, the first citation was awarded after the battle near Wonju and Hoengson in February 1951
15.
Navy Unit Commendation
–
The Navy Unit Commendation is a United States Navy unit award that was established by order of the Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal on 18 December 1944. Normal performance of duty or participation in a number of combat missions does not, in itself. An award will not be made to a unit for actions of one or more of its component parts, unless the unit performed uniformly as a team, the NUC may be conferred upon the armed forces of friendly foreign nations serving with the U. S. Armed Forces, provided such units meet the established for Navy. Additional awards of the Navy Unit Commendation are denoted by 3⁄16 inch bronze stars, Military awards of the United States Armed Forces Military awards of the United States Department of the Navy An official Navy Unit Commendation, 2004-2005
16.
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award
–
The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award is one of the unit awards of the United States Air Force. It was established in 1954 and was the first independent Air Force decoration created, the Air Force Longevity Service Award would follow in 1957 with most of the standard Air Force awards established in the early to mid 1960s. The Outstanding Unit Award is awarded to any unit of the U. S, multiple awards of the Outstanding Unit Award are denoted by oak leaf clusters on the ribbon. Until 2004, the Outstanding Unit Award was the senior most unit award in the U. S. Air Force and it is awarded to personnel who were assigned or attached to the unit receiving the award during the period it was awarded for. Non-USAF personnel personnel assigned to USAF units awarded the Outstanding Unit Award are also eligible to wear the ribbon on their uniforms, however, the ribbon does not come in the larger size of unit awards common to the U. S. Army
17.
Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation
–
In recognition of allied military service to South Korea during the Korean War, all United States military departments were authorized the unit award for that period. When the Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation is worn on the South Korea military uniform it is as a ribbon 1 3⁄8 inches wide surrounded by a gold frame, the ribbon is white, with a 15⁄64 inch red above blue Taeguk in the center. No ribbon devices are authorized for wear with this award, U. S. Marine Corps for service in South Korea between 9 December 1999 to 24 April 2002. 2nd Infantry Division was recognized in 2011, for their support of South Korea over the preceding 60 years, seventh Air Force was recognized in October 2013, for longstanding achievements in operational readiness and force employment in South Korea. Eighth Army was recognized on October 1,2014, for outstanding performance in defense of the Republic of Korea, first Marine Division, Reinforced for operations from 15 September to 11 October 1950, including the Inchon landing and the battle for Seoul. 58th Engineer Treadway Bridge Company for their bridge building efforts with the X Corps at the Chosin Reservoir, the first was for service at Inchon, the second for service during the period of 1950-1953, and finally for deployment to the Korean Peninsula from 1945-1948 and 1953-1971. One Italian unit, the Ospedale da Campo n°68 of Corpo Militare della Croce Rossa Italiana, was awarded battle honour twelve, October 6,1952. One unit of the U. S. Armys 3rd Infantry Division, the first was for service in the Uijongbu Corridor in June 1951. The second was for service in the Iron Triangle at Hill 717 in July 1951, one South African unit, the 2 Squadron SAAF was also awarded this battle honour. It was presented on November 1,1951 and it reads This unit was dispatched from South Africa in support of the United Nations Forces in Korea. It was equipped with P-51 aircraft and has functioned continually in support of operations of the Eighth Army, through all gallantry and devotion to duty of its personnel it has earned high praise and its losses in pilots have been heavy. It continued to meet cheerfully all tasks allotted to it,16 Field Regiment of the Royal New Zealand Artillery. A Dutch battalion embedded into the US 2nd Infantry Division was awarded the U. S, Presidential Unit Citation in February 1951, for the capture of Hill 325, north of Manjong Station. The under-strength A Company, reinforced by personnel from B and heavy weapons companies, was ordered to recapture Hill 325 on the 15th of February 1951. At 0230 hrs the next morning, the Dutch were beaten back by heavy fire, at 0345 hrs they tried again. Just before dawn the exhausted Dutch, their ammunition almost expended, fixed bayonets and, shouting their battle cry, for these actions the Van Heutsz received its first U. S. This came at a cost, however, as the battalion had suffered over a hundred casualties. watv. org
18.
Gallantry Cross (Vietnam)
–
The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross also known as the Vietnam Gallantry Cross or Vietnam Cross of Gallantry is a military decoration of the former Government of South Vietnam. Individuals who received the medal, ribbon, and a citation were personally cited at the Armed Forces, Corps, Division, the Republic of Vietnam authorized members of units and organizations that were cited, to wear the Gallantry Cross Unit Citation Emblem with Palm and Frame. The medal is gold in color,35 mm wide and it consists of a Celtic cross with two crossed swords between the arms. The cross is superimposed over a wreath, the center of the cross contains a disc with the outline of the country of Vietnam between two palm branches joined at the bottom. A scroll is on top of the map and is inscribed QUOC-GIA LAO-TUONG, the suspension ribbon of the medal is 35 mm wide and is made up of the following stripes,9 mm of Old Glory Red,17 mm center stripe in Golden Yellow. The center stripe has sixteen strands of Old Glory Red, and 9 mm of Old Glory Red, degrees The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross was awarded in four degrees, with a basic medal followed by higher degrees which were the equivalent of personal citations on an organizational level. U. S. Marine Corps uniform regulations in 2003, state the recipient should wear only one Gallantry Cross award regardless of the number received, for multiple awards, wear as many authorized devices as will fit on one medal suspension ribbon or ribbon bar. Wear the devices for subsequent awards in order of seniority from the wearers right, the first palm is 1 7⁄16 inches on the suspension ribbon or 6⁄8 inch on the service ribbon. Subsequent palms are 6⁄8 inch on the ribbon or 3⁄8 inch on the service ribbon. Service versions The Gallantry Cross was awarded to members of all branches, as well as service members of foreign. The similarly named decorations were the Air Gallantry Cross and Navy Gallantry Cross and these decorations were awarded under a different authority, with different criteria, and were considered separate decorations. The former Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces awarded the Gallantry Cross to specific units that distinguished themselves to the same level as would be required for the individual award. Regulations for the issuance of the Vietnam Gallantry Cross permit the wearing of both the individual and unit award simultaneously since both are considered separate awards, the Gallantry Cross was awarded to every Allied nation which provided support to South Vietnam. The Gallantry Cross became the most commonly awarded Vietnamese decoration to foreigners, Fourragere The South Vietnamese military Fourragere in the colors of the Gallantry Cross represented a military unit cited two times. It was a brilliant golden-yellow, with red intermixed, Department of the Army message 111030Z from April 1974, established the policy that only one emblem for a unit award was authorized to be worn at a time. This change resulted in the fourragere being no longer authorized for wear, U. S. authorization Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, U. S. Department of Defense, U. S. The United States military began authorizing the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross in March 1968 with retroactive presentation of the decoration to 1961, the full medal and or unit citation award are both considered foreign military awards and are not issued to Vietnam veterans by the NPRC. John Beal, film and television composer, was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm, george R. Christmas, USMC Lieutenant General who was awarded the RVN Gallantry Cross with palm
19.
22d Operations Group
–
The 22d Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 22d Air Refueling Wing. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and is assigned to the Air Mobility Command Eighteenth Air Force, the 22d OG primary mission is to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed. The group directs the 22d Refueling Wings KC-135R Stratotanker refueling and airlift operations in support of worldwide AMC, transportation Command, Air Force, Department of Defense, and allied operations anywhere in the world. It operated primarily in the Southwest Pacific Theater as a B-25 Mitchell unit assigned to Fifth Air Force, during the early years of the Cold War, the group moved temporarily to Okinawa in July 1950 and attached to Far East Air Forces for duty in the Korean War. It began combat immediately, and until October 1950 attacked marshalling yards, bridges, highways, airfields, Lieutenant Colonel Ross F. Cole was the first Group Commander. The Group was located at Langley Field, Virginia and its first aircraft were a few B-18 Bolo bombers, with a few B-25 Mitchell bombers allocated to the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron. In 1941 the Group transitioned to B-26 Marauder bombers, a fast bomber with very specialized aerodynamic capabilities and these capabilities included short, stubby wings, which led the plane to be known as The Flying Prostitute. However its flying characteristics led to crashes, which also led to the plane being known as The Flying Coffin. Throughout 1941 the 22d BG trained extensively, increasing in intensity in November 1941. It was so combat ready that 16 hours after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, a ground crew team left San Francisco on 31 January 1942 for Brisbane, Queensland in Australia. On 6 February 1942, the Groups aircraft were shipped to Hickam Field, on 22 March 1942, the first flight of the 22d air echelon arrived at Amberley Field. Near Brisbane in Australia, and became the first fully armed Air Force Group to fly the Pacific en masse and they were warmly welcomed by the Australians who were concerned that, while the Japanese were threatening Australia, its troops were fighting the Germans in the Middle East. 33d Bombardment Squadron was based Antill Plains,20 miles South of Townsville, on 5 April 1942, the 22d BG took off from Garbutt Field for its first combat action, an attack on Rabaul in New Britain. In this attack on the Japanese Naval Base, the Group sunk a ship but lost a plane. These planes, piloted by 1st Lieutenant Herbert C, mayes and 1st Lieutenant James P. Muri attacked the Japanese Naval Invasion Force, focusing torpedo and strafing action on its aircraft carrier. Lt Muris plane, badly damaged with over 500 bullet and shrapnel holes, in 1944, the group converted from medium, twin engined B-25 Mitchell and B-26 marauder bombers to heavy four engined B-24 Liberator bombers. Following its conversion to B-24 Liberators, on 11 February 1944 the 22d Bomb Group was redesignated 22d Bomb Group, the Group was tasked to bomb Japanese airfields, shipping, and oil installations in Borneo, Ceram, and Halmahera. It began raiding the southern Philippines in September 1944 to neutralize Japanese bases in preparation for the invasion of Leyte
20.
McConnell Air Force Base
–
McConnell Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located four miles southeast of the central business district of Wichita, a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. The base was named in honor of Wichita brothers Fred and Thomas McConnell and it is the home of Air Mobility Commands 22d Air Refueling Wing, Air Force Reserve Commands 931st Air Refueling Group, and the Kansas Air National Guards 184th Intelligence Wing. McConnells primary mission is to global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where. The Commander of the 22d Air Refueling Wing is Colonel Albert G. Miller, the Vice-Commander is Colonel Bruce P. Heseltine, Jr. rather, the group and squadron provide additional personnel to augment the active duty personnel of the 22d ARW. Tenant Units, 184th Intelligence Wing 127th Command and Control Squadron McConnell Air Force Base was known during the first part of its existence as the Wichita Municipal Airport. Although the field was designed originally to serve only municipal civil airport needs, mcConnells history began in October 1924, when the city of Wichita hosted more than 100,000 people for the National Air Congress. The event was used by city planners to raise funds for a proposed Wichita Municipal Airport, the event was a success and ground-breaking ceremonies for the airport were held on 28 June 1929. In August 1941, the Kansas National Guard 127th Observation Squadron was activated as the first military unit assigned to the Wichita airport, the units limited equipment included one BC-1A, one C-47, and four L-1 aircraft. This was the start of a relationship between the people of Wichita and military aviation. On 6 October 1941, the unit was ordered to extended active duty and remained a part of the United States Army Air Corps until 6 October 1945, with duty assignments in Tennessee. The airport, at time, was located about six miles from the city of Wichita. The runways were adequate, were five runways each 150 feet wide, two were 7,500 feet, one 7,100 feet, one 6,000 feet, all had a wheel load capacity of 60,000 pounds. A parking apron with dimensions of 8,373 by 931 feet, other facilities at the airport, however, were meager. The field could boast of one hangar and three small warehouses. No facilities were either for troop housing or troop messing. No fuel storage facilities existed, and all supplies were handled by commercial contract. A lease between the government and the city was concluded and on 1 March 1942, the AAF Materiel Center. As soon as permitted, the headquarters of the district was established in the administration building of the municipal airport
21.
Pease Air National Guard Base
–
Pease Air National Guard Base is a New Hampshire Air National Guard base located at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease in New Hampshire. Pease AFB was closed pursuant to 1991 Base Realignment and Closure Commission action, with the 509 BW transferring to Whiteman AFB, Missouri. In 1983, investigations had shown soil and water contamination with degreasers and JP-4 jet fuel, as of 2015, after 25 years of the Pease Development Authority’s work, Pease International Tradeport has 275 businesses employing close to 10,000 civilian workers. The 157 ARW was a tenant activity at Pease AFB. As of 2011, the population is 380 full-time military personnel with a monthly surge of up to 950 when part-time military personnel are included. Pease Air National Guard Base is approximately 220 acres in size and it is 55 miles north of Boston and 3 miles south of Kittery, Maine. Pease Air Force Base started as the 300-acre Portsmouth Municipal Airport in the 1930s, with the onset of World War II, the U. S. Navy used it for its base location. The U. S. Air Force assumed control in 1951, purchase of additional land for expansion of the base started in 1952 and was completed in 1956. Ground breaking for the new SAC facilities took place in 1954, renamed Portsmouth Air Force Base, the installation formally opened on 30 June 1956. On 7 September 1957, it was renamed as Pease Air Force Base in honor of New Hampshire native Captain Harl Pease, Jr. USAAF and their mission was strategic warfare in the event of war. From 1956 until its closure in 1991, Pease Air Force Base maintained a force for long range bombardment. The 100th Bombardment Wing was converted in June 1966 to a reconnaissance wing and transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB. This left the 509th Bombardment Wing as the principal host wing for Pease AFB, from 1 April to 1 October 1968 and from 26 March to 20 September 1969, more than one-half of the wing was deployed in Southeast Asia. The 509th supported SAC combat and contingency operations in Southeast Asia with KC–135A aircraft and crews from 1966 to 1975, by 1 December 1969, the wing had transferred all its B-52D aircraft to other SAC units in preparation for transition to the General Dynamics FB-111A. The wing resumed flying training with the FB-111 in December 1970, during this time, the 509th won the SAC Bombing and Navigation Competition and the Fairchild Trophy in 1979,1981,1982, and 1983 and the Sanders Trophy for best air refueling unit in 1982. In 1966, the New Hampshire Air National Guard relocated the 157th Military Airlift Group from the deactivating Grenier AFB in nearby Manchester, New Hampshire, operating the C-97 Stratofreighter, the group transitioned to the C-124 Globemaster in 1968 and to the C-130 Hercules in 1971. The mission of the group was changed in 1975 when it was designated as the 157th Air Refueling Group, the 157th later transitioned to the KC-135E in 1984 and in 1993 transitioned to the KC-135R, the aircraft it currently flies. In August 2014, the Air Force announced that the 157 ARW would become the first Air National Guard unit to equip with the new Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft
22.
157th Air Refueling Wing
–
The 157th Air Refueling Wing is a unit of the New Hampshire Air National Guard, stationed at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, United States. If activated to service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Missions are as follows, Federal government, Staff, equip and train combat flying, State government, Provide units trained and equipped to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order and public safety. Community, To participate in local, state, and national programs that add value to the community, 64th Air Refueling Squadron The direct predecessor to the 101st Air Refueling Wing is the World War II 311th Fighter Group. The 311th was one of three groups to use the A-36 Apache dive bomber version of the P-51 Mustang. It was created in 1942 as a bombardment group, training with the Vultee Vengeance. Moved to India, via Australia, July–September 1943, operating from India and using A-36A Apaches. The red nose was also a squadron marking, many planes of this group had a girls name on the nose, but very few had any artwork. Converted to P-51C Mustangs in May 1944, moved to Burma in July and continued to support ground forces, including Merrills Marauders, also flew numerous sweeps over enemy airfields in central and southern Burma. Moved to China in August 1944 and assigned to Fourteenth Air Force, escorted bombers, flew interception missions, struck the enemys communications, and supported ground operations, serving in combat until the end of the war. Ferried P-51s from India for the Chinese Air Force in November 1945, returned to the US in December 1945. The 134th FIS becoming the flying squadron. Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 101st Material Squadron, 101st Air Base Squadron, the 101st Fighter Group was assigned to the Maine Air National Guard 101st Air Defense Wing. The wartime 311th Fighter Group was re-designated as the 101st Fighter Group and it was organized at Camp Keyes, Augusta, Maine, and was extended federal recognition on 4 April 1947 by the National Guard Bureau. The 101st Fighter Group was bestowed the lineage, history, honors, and colors of the 311th Fighter Group, the group was assigned to the Massachusetts ANG 67th Fighter Wing, operationally gained by Continental Air Command. The three squadrons were all re-designations of the 311th Fighter Groups operational squadrons during World War II, all were initially equipped with F-47D Thunderbolts, with a mission of air defense of their respective states. In the summer of 1948, the 132d Fighter Squadron replaced their F-47 Thunderbolts with jet F-80C Shooting Stars and were re-designated with the Jet Propelled suffix on 1 August, the 134th received Very Long-Range F-51H Mustangs in the summer of 1950. The unit assumed the F-94 Starfire aircraft of the 134th FIS, by April 1958, the 101st counted nearly 700 officers and airmen
23.
New Hampshire Air National Guard
–
The New Hampshire Air National Guard is the air force militia of the State of New Hampshire, United States of America. It is, along with the New Hampshire Army National Guard, as state militia units, the units in the New Hampshire Air National Guard are not in the normal United States Air Force chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the Governor of New Hampshire though the office of the New Hampshire Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the President of the United States. The New Hampshire Air National Guard is headquartered in Portsmouth, under the Total Force concept, New Hampshire Air National Guard units are considered to be Air Reserve Components of the United States Air Force. New Hampshire ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are gained by a Major Command of the USAF if federalized. The 64th Air Refueling Squadron is a part of the 22nd Operations Group, McConnell Air Force Base, the partnership was formed as part of the Active Associate concept where Active Duty Airmen are assigned to an Air National Guard unit. These unit designations were allotted and transferred to various State National Guard bureaus to provide them unit designations to re-establish them as Air National Guard units. The New Hampshire Air National Guard origins date to the formation of the 133d Fighter Squadron at Grenier Field, Manchester and it was equipped with F-47D Thunderbolts and its mission was the air defense of the state. On 25 June 1950, the New Hampshire Air National Guard was federalized and placed on active duty, the squadron was then attached to the Air Defense Command 23d Fighter-Interceptor Wing at Presque Isle AFB, Maine, on 1 April 1951 with no change of mission. It was reassigned to the 4711th Defense Wing on 6 February 1952 at Presque Isle AFB and it was released from active duty and returned to the control of the State of New Hampshire on 1 November 1952. In 1960, the mission of the NH Air National Guard changed to air transport in time for their participation in the Berlin Crisis of 1961 and this is also when they received their present 157th designation. In the mid-1960s, the 157th moved to Pease Air Force Base, in 1974, the NH Air National Guard received its current mission as in-flight refuelers. Within hours of the September 11 attacks in 2001, the NH Air Guard began refueling the fighter jets patrolled the airspace over major U. S. cities. The 157th was later deployed overseas in support of the War on Terror, the NH National Guard responded to Operation Iraqi Freedom in what was the largest call up of New Hampshire troops since World War II. Over half of New Hampshires soldiers and airmen served overseas, conducting security and infantry missions, providing medical care, building schools. The 157th refueled planes further forward in the conflict than at any time in their history. After the September 11th,2001 terrorist attacks on the United States, also, New Hampshire ANG units have been deployed overseas as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, as well as other locations as directed. This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http, 157th Air Refueling Wing History of the NH ANG
24.
South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command
–
South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command was a joint command of US military logistics units in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It contributed notably to the success of U. S. forces in the battles for Guadalcanal and it reported to AirSols, then to Commander, Air, South Pacific, part of the South Pacific Area. The composite transport group was formally organized in November 1942. Other units in SCAT were VMR-152 and VMR-153, and the 13th Troop Carrier Squadron of the United States Army Air Forces, SCAT was dissolved in February 1945. The nickname Flying Boxcars was widely used for the Douglas R4D aircraft flown by Marine Corps units in SCAT, vMJ-152 received a Presidential Unit Citation for executing the longest over-water flight in a two engine aircraft for their initial flight to Guadalcanal from Camp Kearney Mesa in 1942. They arrived in September, carrying General Geiger and his staff with them, SCAT personnel who later became notable include, Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, commanded SCAT cargo handling units while in the United States Navy. David Douglas Duncan, photographer, who worked in the Pacific theater under SCAT orders, William K. Lanman, who became a millionaire benefactor of Yale University. List of inactive United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons United States Marine Corps Aviation Sherrod, history of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. John M. Rentz, Marines in the Central Solomons, USMC Monograph accessed at 2 August 2006 Maj. Gen. Norman J. Anderson and Col. William K. Snyder, SCAT, Marine Corps Gazette, September 1992 accessed at 2 August 2006 Seth P. Washburne, The Thirsty 13th
25.
Portland International Airport
–
It is located within Portlands city limits just south of the Columbia River in Multnomah County,6 miles by air and 12 mi by highway northeast of Downtown Portland. Portland International Airport is often referred to by its IATA airport code, the airport is a secondary hub for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, with Seattle–Tacoma International Airport as the primary hub for Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air. The airport also serves as a facility for Horizon Air. Regional carrier PenAir operate their Pacific Northwest hub at PDX, general aviation services are provided at PDX by Atlantic Aviation. The Oregon Air National Guard has a base located on the southwest portion of the property grounds, and is also the host unit of the 142d Fighter Wing. Local transportation includes the MAX Red Line light rail, which takes passengers between PDX and Downtown Portland, as well as farther west to Beaverton, Oregon, there is also Interstate 205, which connects to southwestern Washington along with many suburbs of Portland. In 2013, a Travel+Leisure magazine readers poll named PDX as the best US airport, based on its record, dining, shopping. In 2015,10 new restaurants were opened at PDX, making it a foodie haven according to travelers, PDX also got significant recognition for its unique carpet pattern, which was replaced throughout the entire airport with newer carpet that contains a similar design. In 2006,2007,2008, and 2010, PDX was identified as the top airport for business travelers in the United States by Condé Nast Traveler magazine. The 2015 and 2016 J. D. Power and Associates rankings for US Large Passenger Airports lists PDX at the #1 spot and it scored Portland International Airport as average in the categories of check-in/baggage check, security check, and baggage claims. It also scored at the bottom of several categories, including overall airport satisfaction, airport accessibility, terminal facilities and food, in 2015 the Air Line Pilots Association, International, Airport and Ground Environment Group recognized Portland International Airport as the recipient of the Airport of the Year. The award was given as a result of the collabaration and partnering between PDX and ALPA on important on-going airport safety and construction issues, a work station and assembly for repairing bicycles is located at the lower terminal roadway near the TriMet MAX Red Line station. There is also a Tool check-out located at the Oregon Welcome Center, in February 2017, the Hollywood Theatre, opened a microcinema at the Portland International Airport. This one-of-a-kind theatre features seventeen seats, with room for standing only. The theatre location is post-security in the C concourse, near gate C5, the award recognizes the House Spirits immersive retail experience at Portland International Airport and its offerings of product tastings, branded apparel and distilled beverages for purchase. House Spirits Distillery operates at PDX as the first distillery in the world to operate a spirits tasting room at an airport location. In addition to selling spirits and other curated items, House Spirits Distillery will also provide classes to introduce PDX fliers to their products during airport down time. The new retail experience is inspired by their new facility in Southeast Portland which opened in November 2015, there is one passenger terminal in the airport, with five concourses split between two sides
26.
Niagara Falls International Airport
–
Niagara Falls International Airport is 4 mi east of downtown Niagara Falls, in Niagara County, New York. Owned and operated by the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, the airport shares its runways with the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, a new terminal building opened in 2009. Niagara Falls International Airport opened in 1928 as an airport with four crushed-stone runways. During World War II, Bell Aircraft established a manufacturing plant next to the airport. Bell employed over 28,000 at the plant, after the war, the plant was the development site of the Bell X-1 used by Chuck Yeager to break the sound barrier in 1947. The airfield was improved with macadam runways, 4000x150, 4000x150, 4200x300, 4000x150, including many taxiways, both wings are operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command. The main runway was extended to over 9,000 feet in 1959 to handle military aircraft. For all practical purposes, the facility is a small Air Force base, in November 2013 Calspan Air Services became the fixed-base operator for the airport, including refueling, ramp assistance, deicing, transportation & maintenance services. On August 4,2014, an Air France Boeing 747-428 flight AF356 from Paris Charles-de-Gaulle was diverted from Toronto due to the closing of Toronto Pearson International Airport. Landing and take-off was on Runway 28R, american Airlines served Niagara Falls until 1956. In 1980–84 Air Niagara, an airline flew to Newark Airport. Empire Airlines also served the airport at one time, flying to Syracuse, kiwi International Air Lines briefly served the airport in 1998 with nonstop Boeing 727-200 jet service to Newark Airport. In March 2007 Direct Air began flying to Myrtle Beach, this ended in March 2012, in September 2009 a new terminal complex was completed, intended to attract airlines. In October 2010 Spirit Airlines announced service to Fort Lauderdale and Myrtle Beach, in November 2010 Vision Airlines announced service to Destin/Fort Walton Beach, FL and Miami, FL. Allegiant Airlines began service in 2009 and serves Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Orlando/Sanford, the airport is in Class D airspace and has a FAA control tower. With 69, 430-square-foot, it has four gates, and has room for a Boeing 747 in size, the exterior is designed to reflect Niagara Falls water flow. Cost was an estimated $42.5 million, $31.5 million for the terminal and $11 million for runway apron and landside improvements. In 2015, Niagara Falls International served 233,302 passengers, of which 118,154 were outbound passengers, an estimated 80% of the passenger traffic at the airport comes from Canadians
27.
700th Airlift Squadron
–
The 700th Airlift Squadron is part of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia. It operates C-130 Hercules aircraft providing global airlift, maintain combat ready aircrews and aircraft capable of deploying in response to worldwide contingencies and emergencies. Both elements met at Wendover Army Air Field, Utah on 8 June 1943, the squadron moved to Sioux City Army Air Base, Iowa in July 1943 to complete training. In September the squadron began to receive B-24H aircraft, the model of the Liberator they would fly in combat, on 20 October 1943 the ground echelon moved to Camp Shanks, New York and embarked on the RMS Queen Mary on 26 October 1943, sailing next day. The unit arrived in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland on 2 November 1943, the air echelon departed Sioux City late in October 1943 and flew to the United Kingdom via the southern route, Florida, Puerto Rico, Brazil, and West Africa. Upon arrival, the squadron was stationed at RAF Tibenham as part of the 2nd Combat Bombardment Wing, the group was initially given a fuselage code of IS. The 700th entered combat on 13 December 1943 by attacking U-boat installations at Kiel and this was the longest running continuous air battle of World War II - some two and a half hours of fighter attacks and flak en route and leaving the target area. Bomb damage assessment photographs showed that the plant was knocked out of production indefinitely, the unit occasionally flew air interdiction and air support missions. It helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by bombing airfields, V-1 and V-2 launch sites and it attacked shore installations on D-Day,6 June 1944, and supported ground forces at Saint-Lô by striking enemy defenses in July 1944. During the Battle of the Bulge, between December 1944 and January 1945 it bombed German communications, on occasion the unit dropped propaganda leaflets and hauled fuel to France. It was awarded the Croix de guerre with Palm by the French government for operations in the theater from December 1943 to February 1945 supplying the resistance, by far, the 700ths most tragic mission is the attack on Kassel of 27 September 1944. After the bomb run, the group was alone in the skies and was attacked from the rear by an estimated 150 Luftwaffe planes, resulting in the most concentrated air battle in history. The Luftwaffe unit was a Sturmgruppe, a unit intended to attack bombers by flying in tight formations of up to ten fighters in line abreast. This was intended to break the formation at a single pass. The 361st Fighter Group intervened, preventing complete destruction of the group, twenty-nine German and 25 American planes went down in a 15-mile radius. Only four of the 445th groups planes made it back to the base – two crashing in France, one in Belgium, another at RAF Old Buckenham, only one of the 35 attacking aircraft was fit to fly next day. After the end of the air war in Europe, the 700th flew low level Trolley missions over Germany carrying ground personnel so they could see the result of their efforts during the war. The groups air echelon departed Tibenham on 17 May 1945, the 700th ground echelon sailed on the USAT Cristobal from Bristol
28.
Airlift
–
An airlift is the organized delivery of military supplies or military personnel primarily via military transport aircraft. Airlifting consists of two types, strategic and tactical airlifting. Typically, strategic airlifting involves moving material long distances, whereas a tactical airlift focuses on deploying resources, depending on the situation, airlifted supplies can be delivered by a variety of means. When the destination and surrounding airspace is considered secure, the aircraft land at an appropriate airport or airbase to have its cargo unloaded on the ground. However, when the area is too small for this method, as with a base, and/or is too dangerous to land in. Serbian Air Force, made first transport of wounded soldiers from Serbia through Albania to Corfu and that was the first Medevac operation in air history. April 1923 aircraft of the RAFs Iraq Command flew 280 Sikh troops from Kingarban to Kirkuk in the first British air trooping operation, the worlds first long-range combat airlift took place in July 1936. Luftwaffe Ju 52 and Italian Air Force Savoia-Marchetti SM.81 were used by the Spanish Nationalists to transport troops from Spanish Morocco to Spain at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War. Airlifts became practical during World War II as aircraft became large and this joint effort is estimated to have saved more than a million lives in Biafra. Most airplanes departed from the Portuguese colony of Sao Tome and Principe to the landing strip of Uli, the only operational airport in Biafra. Flights were made flying at night all lights off and under near-total radio silence to avoid Nigerian MIG aircraft. All the airplanes, crews and logistics were paid, set up, JCA and their crews and aircraft kept flying into Biafra at the cost of many crews lives. Strategic airlift is the use of transport aircraft to transport materiel, weaponry. Typically, this involves airlifting the required items between two airbases which are not in the same vicinity and this allows commanders to bring items into a combat theater from a point on the other side of the planet, if necessary. Aircraft which perform this role are considered strategic airlifters and this contrasts with tactical airlifters, such as the C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160, which can normally only move supplies within a given theater of operations. This difficulty has prompted investment in lighter armoured fighting vehicles, as well as some research into alternative airlift technologies such as ground effect vehicles. Civilian aircraft are commonly used for transportation. For some civilian airlines, such as Miami Air International and Volga-Dnepr Airlines, tactical airlift is a military term for the airborne transportation of supplies and equipment within a theatre of operations
29.
Southwest Asia
–
Western Asia, West Asia, Southwestern Asia or Southwest Asia is the westernmost subregion of Asia. The concept is in limited use, as it overlaps with the Middle East. The term is used for the purposes of grouping countries in statistics. The total population of Western Asia is an estimated 300 million as of 2015, in an unrelated context, the term is also used in ancient history and archaeology to divide the Fertile Crescent into the Asiatic or Western Asian cultures as opposed to ancient Egypt. As a geographic concept, Western Asia almost always includes the Levant, Mesopotamia, the term is used pragmatically and has no correct or generally agreed-upon definition. In contrast to this definition, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in its 2015 yearbook also includes Armenia and Azerbaijan, unlike the UNIDO, the United Nations Statistics Division excludes Iran from Western Asia and include Turkey, Georgia, and Cyprus in the region. These four countries are listed in the European category of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, the Olympic Council of Asias multi-sport event West Asian Games are contested by athletes representing these thirteen countries. Among the regions sports organisations are the West Asia Basketball Association, West Asian Billiards and Snooker Federation, West Asian Football Federation, Western Asia was in use as a geographical term in the early 19th century, even before Near East became current as a geopolitical concept. Use of the term in the context of contemporary geopolitics or world economy appears to date from the 1960s, Western Asia is located directly south of Eastern Europe. The region is surrounded by seven major seas, the Aegean Sea, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. The Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut deserts in eastern Iran naturally delimit the region somewhat from Asia itself, three major tectonic plates converge on Western Asia, including the African, Eurasian, and Arabian plates. The boundaries between the plates make up the Azores-Gibraltar Ridge, extending across North Africa, the Red Sea. The Arabian Plate is moving northward into the Anatolian plate at the East Anatolian Fault, several major aquifers provide water to large portions of Western Asia. In Saudi Arabia, two large aquifers of Palaeozoic and Triassic origins are located beneath the Jabal Tuwayq mountains and areas west to the Red Sea. Cretaceous and Eocene-origin aquifers are located beneath large portions of central and eastern Saudi Arabia, including Wasia, flood or furrow irrigation, as well as sprinkler methods, are extensively used for irrigation, covering nearly 90,000 km² across Western Asia for agriculture. Western Asia is primarily arid and semi-arid, and can be subject to drought, the region consists of grasslands, rangelands, deserts, and mountains. Water shortages are a problem in parts of West Asia, with rapidly growing populations increasing demands for water. Major rivers, including the Tigris and Euphrates, provide sources for water to support agriculture
30.
Military exercise
–
A military exercise or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations, either exploring the effects of warfare or testing strategies without actual combat. This also serves the purpose of ensuring the readiness of garrisoned or deployable forces prior to deployment from home base / home station. Exercises in the 20th and 21st centuries have often identified by a unique codename in the same manner as military contingency operations. The more typically thought of exercise is the exercise, or the full-scale rehearsal of military maneuvers as practice for warfare. In a field exercise or fleet exercise, the two sides in the battle are typically called red and blue, to avoid naming a particular adversary. This naming convention originates with the inventors of the table-top war-game, a Command Post Exercise typically focuses on the battle readiness of staffs such as a particular Unified Combatant Command or one of its components at any level. It may run in parallel with an FTX or its equivalent, other types of exercise include the TEWT, also known as a sand table, map or cloth model exercise. This type of exercise allows commanders to manipulate models through possible scenarios in military planning and this is also called warfare simulation, or in some instances a virtual battlefield and in the past has been described as wargames. Said forces may be different branches of the forces from one country or may be armed forces from different countries. These latter events incorporating multiple nations have often referred to as NATO exercises, Coalition exercises, Bilateral exercises, Multilateral exercises. The modern use of military exercises grew out of the military need to study warfare, during the age of Kabinettskriege, Frederick the Great, King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786, put together his armies as a well-oiled clockwork mechanism whose components were robot-like warriors. No individual initiative was allowed to Fredericks soldiers, their role was to cooperate in the creation of walls of projectiles through synchronized firepower. This was in the pursuit of an effective army. Disciplined troops should respond predictably, allowing study to be confined to maneuvers and these first wargames were played with dice which represented friction, or the intrusion of less than ideal circumstances during a real war. 21st century militaries still use wargames to simulate future wars and model their reaction, according to Manuel de Landa, after World War II the Command, Control and Communications was transferred from the military staff to the RAND Corporation, the first think tank. Von Neumann was employed by the RAND Corporation, and his theory was used in wargames to model nuclear dissuasion during the Cold War. Thus, the US nuclear strategy was defined using wargames, SAM representing the US, early game theory included only zero-sum games, which means that when one player won, the other automatically lost. Thus, betrayal was considered as the most rational thing to do and this modelization gave the basis for the massive retaliation nuclear doctrine
31.
22d Air Refueling Wing
–
The 22d Air Refueling Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Mobility Commands Eighteenth Air Force. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas and also functions as the host wing for McConnell and its primary mission is to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed. It is one of only three supertanker wings in the Air Force, with four Regular Air Force air refueling squadrons and its origins date to 1940 as the 22d Bombardment Group. The group was one of the first United States Army Air Forces units to be deployed into the Pacific Theater after the Pearl Harbor Attack with the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber, the 22d Operations Group carries the lineage and history of its highly decorated World War II predecessor unit. Active for over 60 years, the 22 ARW and its designation as the 22d Bombardment Wing, was a component wing of Strategic Air Commands deterrent force during the Cold War. The 22d Air Refueling Wing is commanded by Colonel Albert G. Miller and its Vice Commander is Colonel Bruce P. Heseltine, Jr. The wings Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Shawn M. Hughes, in addition to its primary mission to provide global reach by conducting air refueling and airlift where and when needed. Additionally, the 22d Comptroller Squadron reports directly to the wing staff, for additional history and lineage, see 22d Operations Group Established as 22d Bombardment Wing, Medium, on 28 July 1948. The new wing was assigned to March Air Force Base, California on 10 May 1949 and it was not operational, so it shared a commander with the 1st Fighter Wing. The 22d Bomb became operational on 1 July 1949, the 1st Fighter Wing was attached to it and both wings shared the same commanding officer. Detached from the wing, the 22d Bombardment Group deployed its B-29s in early July 1950 to Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, on 13 July, the group flew its first mission, against the marshalling yards and oil refinery at Wonsan, North Korea. During four months of combat, the group flew 335 sorties with only fourteen aborts and it redeployed to the United States in late October and November 1950. It trained for proficiency in strategic bombardment, adding air refueling to its mission in 1952. The wing deployed at RAF Mildenhall, England, September–December 1951, from April to July 1957, it deployed to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. SAC began phasing the B-47 out of the beginning in 1962, sending the last of the wings aircraft to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The wing was not tactically operational 11 March 1963 –15 September 1963, while converting to B-52D bombers, the wing supported Fifteenth Air Forces post-attack command and control system with EC-135s from, September 1964 – March 1970. The 22d was a wing from 1966–1971, with two bombardment and two tanker squadrons. In 1971 the Air Force retired all of its B-52C aircraft, the last airplane of this series was flown from March to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona for storage on 29 September 1971
32.
403d Operations Group
–
The 403d Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force Reserve 403d Wing. It is stationed at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi, the 403 OG performs missions including airlift of personnel, equipment and supplies. Additionally, the group is the unit in the Department of Defense tasked to organize, equip, train. Transported men and supplies to areas in the Solomon Islands and flew passenger and cargo routes to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji. The group also moved personnel of Thirteenth Air Force units to the Southwest Pacific theater, supported campaigns in New Guinea and the Philippines by transporting men and cargo to combat areas, evacuating casualties, and landing or dropping supplies for guerrilla forces. On 23 February 1945, dropped paratroops at Laguna de Bay, Luzon, from the Philippines, ferried occupation troops to Japan, evacuated liberated prisoners, and flew cargo and passenger routes to Japan and Australia. From June 1949 until 1 April 1951, when it was called the active duty, in Mar and April 1952, moved to Japan for operations against communist forces in Korea. Using C-119s, the group dropped paratroops and supplies, transported personnel and equipment, on 1 January 1953, relieved from active duty and inactivated in Japan. It activated again as a unit, training for airlift, air evacuation. From 1992, the group flew Air Force Reserve airlift and weather reconnaissance missions, including Hurricane Hunter missions. afhra. af. mil/
33.
419th Operations Group
–
The 419th Operations Group is an operational component of the 419th Fighter Wing, stationed at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 419 OG plans and organizes programs and establishes policies and procedures for operational training functions. It directs, monitors and supports operations programs, including operations, standardization/evaluation, weapons and tactics, intelligence, operations and training. The groups designated flying squadron is the 466th Fighter Squadron, pilots from the unit train for both air-to-air and air-to-ground attack missions in the F-16 C/D model aircraft. Activated on Guam on 31 January 1945, the detachments operated transportation terminals that assisted in moving troops, equipment, food, and mail to, and in evacuating personnel from, combat areas. When activated again, the 419th controlled several Reserve units at five separate locations, in mid-1949 the group moved without personnel or equipment to Scott AFB, IL, where it became the combat component of the new 419th Troop Carrier Wing. Group pilots trained in T-6, T-7, T-11, and C/TC-47 aircraft until c, beginning July 1956, the group trained in C-123 assault airlift operations. For the next 16 months the group airlifted, airdropped, and airlanded troops and cargo to support operations, special missions. From August 1992 it trained for and flew fighter missions, between December 1994 and February 1995, took part patrols to enforce the no-fly zone over northern Iraq. afhra. af. mil/. Air Force Combat Units Of World War II, maxwell AFB, Alabama, Office of Air Force History
34.
403d Wing
–
The 403d Wing is a unit of the United States Air Force assigned to the Air Force Reserve Command. It is located at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi and employs a military manning authorization of more than 1,400 reservists and it also controls an active duty associate airlift squadron consisting of active duty regular Air Force personnel integrated into the operations of its reserve airlift squadron. The 403d Wing provides command and staff supervision to assigned squadrons and these missions include airlift of personnel, equipment and supplies. Additionally, the wing is the unit in the Department of Defense tasked to organize, equip, train. At Portland, the wing trained under the supervision of the 2343d Air Force Reserve Flying Training Center, the wing was manned at 25% of normal strength but its 403d Troop Carrier Group was authorized four squadrons rather than the three of active duty units. The wing was mobilized on 1 April 1951 for duty during the Korean War, the 403d was one of six reserve troop carrier wings mobilized for service with Tactical Air Command. The reserve wings were assigned to Eighteenth Air Force, which was composed entirely of reserve troop carrier units. The wing departed the United States on 29 March and by 14 April, it was in place at Ashiya Air Base, the wings 403d Troop Carrier Group spent its first month at Ashiya training on its new C-119s. This action finally solved the Far East Air Force’s year-old problem of providing the Army with sufficient lift to handle the 187th Regimental Combat Team intact, the new arrangement was soon put to the test. In May 1952, the 403d airlifted the 187th to Pusan in an expedited movement incident to quelling a communist prisoner of war riot at Koje Do Island and it engaged in a number of airborne training missions with the 187th. The 403d performed routine airlift training the reserve, during the first half of 1955, the Air Force began detaching Air Force Reserve squadrons from their parent wing locations to separate sites. As it finally evolved in the spring of 1955, Continental Air Command ’s plan called for placing Air Force reserve units at fifty-nine installations located throughout the United States. In one of the first three moves to implement this program, ConAC detached the 65th Troop Carrier Squadron from Portland to Paine Air Force Base, Washington. In time, the detached squadron program proved successful in attracting additional participants The Joint Chiefs of Staff were pressuring the Air Force to provide more wartime airlift, at the same time, about 150 C-119s became available from the active force. Consequently, in November 1956 the Air Force directed ConAC to convert three fighter wings to the troop carrier mission by September 1957. In addition, within the Air Staff was a recommendation that the fighter mission given to the Air National Guard. Cuts in the budget in 1957 also led to a reduction in the number of wings from 24 to 15. The reduction impacted the 403d Wing, which was replaced at Portland by a single squadron, the wing was not inactivated, however
35.
928th Troop Carrier Group
–
The 928th Airlift Wing is an inactive United States Air Force Reserve unit. The squadrons were not all located with their parent wings, but were spread over thirty-five Air Force, Navy, communities were more likely to accept the smaller squadrons than the large wings and the location of separate squadrons in smaller population centers would facilitate recruiting and manning. However, under this concept, all organizations were located with the wing headquarters. Although this was not a problem when the wing was called to active service, mobilizing a single flying squadron. This weakness was demonstrated in the mobilization of reserve units during the Berlin Crisis of 1961. To resolve this, at the start of 1962, Continental Air Command and this reorganization would facilitate mobilization of elements of wings in various combinations when needed. Along with group headquarters, a Combat Support Squadron, Materiel Squadron, if mobilized, the group was gained by Tactical Air Command, which was also responsible for its training. The group was equipped with Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcars for TAC airlift operations, in 1963, it moved US troops to the Dominican Republic and airlifted Christmas gifts destined for US servicemen in Vietnam. In 1979 started a rotation with other Reserve and National Guard units that took them to Panama to support the operations of the U. S. Rotations to the Central American country lasted 2–3 weeks at a time, was upgraded to first-line C-130H transports during the 1980s, retiring the first-generation C-130As. Elements of the group were part of Operations Desert Shield in 1990, in 1994 was expanded to a wing level. Took part in Operation Uphold Democracy and Operation Safe Borders. afhra. af. mil/, citizen Airmen, a History of the Air Force Reserve, 1946-1994. Air Force History and Museums Program, Maurer, Maurer, ed. Combat Squadrons of the Air Force, World War II. Washington, DC, Office of Air Force History, Air Force Combat Wings, Lineage & Honors Histories 1947-1977. Washington, DC, Office of Air Force History, AFHRA search 928th Tactical Airlift Group AFHRA search 928th Airlift Wing
36.
Bowman Field (airport)
–
Bowman Field is a public airport five miles southeast of downtown Louisville, in Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The airport covers 426 acres and has two runways, the FAA calls it a reliever airport for nearby Louisville International Airport. Bowman Field is Kentuckys first commercial airport and is the oldest continually operating airfield in North America. The airport has played a role in the growth of the countrys aviation industry. Bowman leased a parcel of land east of Louisville from the U. S. Government in 1919 to operate the airfield, the first business ventures began with the aerial photography business in 1921, and the 465th Pursuit Squadron began operations at Bowman Field in 1922. Charles Lindbergh landed the Spirit of St. Louis at the airport in 1927, during the Great Depression, Louisvillians would often come to the Art Deco terminal building to watch airplanes depart and land as a form of inexpensive entertainment. During the 1920s and 1930s, Eastern Air Lines, Trans World Airlines, commercial airline service continued until 1947 when operations were transferred to Standiford Field. During World War II, Bowman Field was one of the nations most important training bases as well as the nations busiest airport. The facility became known as Air Base City when a bomber squadron moved in, the United States Army Air Forces school for flight surgeons, medical technicians, and flight nurses also called Bowman Field home. Bowman Field was used in the James Bond film Goldfinger as the base for Pussy Galores Flying Circus, principal photography of hangars, aircraft, in 1988 three adjacent buildings at the airport were added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Bowman Field Historic District. They are the airport Administration Building, the Curtiss Flying Service Hangar, since many urban airports are located in industrial areas, this verdant setting is unusual and contributes to the ambience of the Bowman Field Historic District. The dominant landmark of Bowman Field is its terminal, known as the Administration Building, as built in 1929 it was a fairly modest two-story structure with one-story wings, housing administrative and communications offices, weather station, and restaurant. During 1936 and 1937 it nearly tripled in size and this was accomplished by demolishing the east wing and retaining the west and central sections as west wings of the new building. The Administration Building faces a landscaped island surrounded by a driveway. The 1920s Art-Deco style Le Relais French restaurant has made its home in the historic terminal for more than 25 years. Bowman Field is surrounded by tree-lined suburban neighborhoods, but accidents are relatively rare, as of 2008, the most recent two landing accidents had occurred in April 2008 and April 2002. and Louisville Executive Aviation. Several flight schools operate there as well, for the 12-month period ending September 23,2013, the airport averaged 203 aircraft operations per day, 47% Local general aviation, 47% transient general aviation 5% air taxi and <1% military. 193 aircraft are based at airport,159 single-engine,33 multi-engine,3 jet
37.
Alliance Municipal Airport
–
Alliance Municipal Airport is in Box Butte County, Nebraska, three miles southeast of the city of Alliance, which owns it. Great Lakes Airlines scheduled passenger flights are subsidized by the Essential Air Service program, boutique Airlines will take over Great Lakes service in JuneTemplate, Which year. Great Lakes suffers a $2,450,711 annual operating loss providing service to Alliance, the airline receives a $2,619,729 annual subsidy from the U. S. Department of Transportation for the service. Federal Aviation Administration records say the airport had 1,786 passenger boardings in calendar year 2008,1,395 in 2009 and 1,416 in 2010, the National Plan of Integrated Airport Systems for 2011–2015 categorized it as a general aviation facility. Alliance Municipal Airport was built during World War II by the United States Army Air Forces It was one of eleven USAAF training airfields in Nebraska during World War II, on April 14,1942, the Secretary of War authorized the establishment of the field. It was built between summer 1942 and August 1943, the 4, 205-acre site is bordered by low rolling sandhills to the east, and a wide plain on the north, west and south. Snake Creek flows through the section of the property. During construction over 5,000 workers came from all over the country, the population of Alliance doubled almost overnight. Workers moved into garages, store rooms, cellars, attics, many of the workers were Sioux Indians from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations, Mexicans from the Southwest, and blacks from Wichita and Kansas City. Some were brick and steel, such as hangars. Tar paper and plywood were generally used for walls and flooring, as the buildings were considered temporary, the airfield had a railroad spur, power plant, waterworks, sewage system and 35,503 feet of runways. The airfield had been planned as a facility for paratroops and air commandos. On August 22,1943, a crowd of 65,000 people gathered for the dedication of Alliance Army Airfield. Between the opening of the airfield and spring 1944, the I Troop Carrier Command, the 411th Army Air Force Base Unit commanded the support elements at Alliance as part of Air Technical Service Command. In addition to the C-47s, the unit repaired B-17 Flying Fortress, Alliance AAF was divided into air operations, quartermaster, troop cantonment, and gunnery ranges. The airfield was home to as many as 14,000 paratroops in the area, using C-47 Skytrains as powered troop carriers, the sandhills were thought to provide a softer landing than wooded areas for jumping paratroops. Known units that trained at Alliance AAF were, 403d Troop Carrier Group The group eventually moved to the South Pacific as part of Thirteenth Air Force, 434th Troop Carrier Group The group eventually moved to England as part of Ninth Air Force. 436th Troop Carrier Group The group eventually moved to England as part of Ninth Air Force, 439th Troop Carrier Group The group eventually moved to England as part of Ninth Air Force
38.
Pope Field
–
Pope Field is a U. S. military facility located 12 miles northwest of the central business district of Fayetteville, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. Formerly known as Pope Air Force Base, the facility continues to be used by the United States Air Force but is now operated by the U. S. Army as part of Fort Bragg, the United States Army Fort Bragg Garrison is the host organization at Pope Field. The garrison provides support, security, and protection to include emergency medical and fire response, aircraft security. The United States Air Force 43d Airlift Group was activated at Pope on March 1,2011, furthermore, the 43 AMOG has responsibility supporting training missions for the Fort Braggs XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division paratroopers. In 1918, Congress established Camp Bragg, an Army field artillery site named for the Confederate General Braxton Bragg, an aviation landing field was added a year later. The War Department officially established Pope Field in 1919, and it ranks as one of the oldest installations in the Air Force. Pope AFB is named after First Lieutenant Harley Halbert Pope who was killed on January 7,1919, after five years, Camp Bragg became a permanent Army post renamed Fort Bragg. Original operations included photographing terrain for mapping, carrying the mail, observation planes and observation balloons occupied Pope Field for the first eight years. In December 1927, Pope Field played a role in the development of tactics that would prove important in shortening World War II. The 1930s saw the first major expansion of the facilities at Pope, in 1935, Pope Field hosted 535 aircraft in one day as the United States Army Air Corps practiced large scale operations along the East Coast. In 1940, paved runways replaced dirt open fields, much of the parking ramp space remained unpaved until after World War II. The tempo of activities at Pope quickened with the outbreak of World War II. During the 1940s, the base swelled as a carrier training site. Hangars 4 and 5 and the Pope Air Force Base Historic District were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991, after the war, Pope Field became Pope Air Force Base with the creation of the United States Air Force on 18 September 1947. The base served as the home of the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group and it was redesignated as the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Group in June 1948. At Pope, the 10th flew the P/F-51 Mustang, as well as its photo recon variant the F-6, later redesignated the RF-51. Operational squadrons were, 1st Photographic Reconnaissance 15th Photographic Reconnaissance The 10th TRG was inactivated on April 1,1949 and it was transferred to Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, on August 20,1954. On September 21,1954, Ninth AF turned Pope over to the 464th Troop Carrier Wing which transferred from Lawson AFB, the wing provided aeromedical airlift and flew humanitarian missions as required
39.
Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station
–
Fort Wayne Air National Guard Station is a United States Air Force base, located at Fort Wayne International Airport, Indiana. It is located 7.6 miles south-southwest of Fort Wayne, largely turned over to civil control after the war, the Air Force has maintained control over a small section of the civil airport for reserve training and Air National Guard use. Since 1952 it has been the station of the Indiana Air National Guard 122d Fighter Wing. A unit of the United States Air Force, in a national emergency, the 122d FW is available on orders from the Governor of Indiana to assist local authorities in the event of a disaster, disturbance or other emergency. The units of the 122d FW are capable of supporting rescue and relief operations, aiding in recovery from disaster, along with protecting the citizens of Indiana. He continued to fly after the war, opening air mail routes in South America and he was killed on 9 December 1930 while flying mail and passengers for Chinese Airway Federal, Inc. His Loening C-2-H amphibian crashed on takeoff from Shanghai, China and he is buried in Fort Wayne. Baer Field was unique in that its establishment at Fort Wayne was at the request of the city, the location for many airbases was often a decision by the War Department with little input by the people affected. The citizens of Fort Wayne wanted the base, and the city took options to buy 700 acres for that purpose should the War Department decide to build a field there, the decision to build at Fort Wayne came quicker than expected. Early in January 1941 the War Department told the town it would locate a base there if possession of the land could be had by February 1 and that was less than 30 days away. It was simply not possible to handle the real estate and financial matters that quickly, however the situation was saved by 30 businessmen, who signed notes totaling the $125,000 needed. Then four of the local banks advanced the city that amount to buy the land, land owners were told to be ready to vacate in 15 days. The federal government signed a $1 annual lease, and now the construction could begin, the land was cleared and the site prepared for construction. There were eight homes, seven barns, and some buildings to be razed. The ground station, located to the north of the airfield, consisted of more than one hundred buildings, Station buildings and streets were also constructed, the buildings consisting primarily of wood, tar paper, and non-masonry siding. The use of concrete and steel was limited because of the critical need elsewhere, most buildings were hot and dusty in the summer and very cold in the winter. Water, sewer and electrical services were also constructed, initially there was no paving to the streets, compressed earth served immediate needs. The major part of the building project was finished by July 1941
40.
Tontouta Airfield
–
La Tontouta International Airport or Nouméa – La Tontouta International Airport is the main international airport on New Caledonia. The airport is in the municipality of Païta, approximately 52 km northwest of Nouméa, in 2006,415,813 passengers used the airport. United States Army Air Forces units based here included, 64th Troop Carrier Squadron operating Douglas C-47 Skytrains in 1943 and this article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http, //www. afhra. af. mil/
41.
New Caledonia
–
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean,1,210 km east of Australia and 16,136 km east of Metropolitan France. The Chesterfield Islands are in the Coral Sea, locals refer to Grande Terre as Le Caillou. New Caledonia has an area of 18,576 km2. Its population of 268,767 consists of a mix of Kanak people, people of European descent, Polynesian people, the capital of the territory is Nouméa. The earliest traces of human presence in New Caledonia date back to the Lapita period, the Lapita were highly skilled navigators and agriculturists with influence over a large area of the Pacific. British explorer Captain James Cook was the first European to sight New Caledonia, on 4 September 1774 and he named it New Caledonia, as the northeast of the island reminded him of Scotland. The west coast of Grande Terre was approached by Jean-François de Galaup, comte de Lapérouse in 1788, shortly before his disappearance, from then until 1840, only a few sporadic contacts with the archipelago were recorded. Contacts became more frequent after 1840, because of the interest in sandalwood from New Caledonia, the trade ceased at the start of the 20th century. The victims of this trade were called Kanakas, like all the Oceanian people, the first missionaries from the London Missionary Society and the Marist Brothers arrived in the 1840s. In 1849, the crew of the American ship Cutter was killed, cannibalism was widespread throughout New Caledonia. On 24 September 1853, under orders from Napoleon III, Admiral Febvrier Despointes took formal possession of New Caledonia, a few dozen free settlers settled on the west coast in the following years. New Caledonia became a colony, and from the 1860s until the end of the transportations in 1897, about 22,000 criminals. Among the convicts were many Communards arrested after the failed Paris Commune, including Henri de Rochefort, between 1873 and 1876,4,200 political prisoners were relegated in New Caledonia. Only 40 of them settled in the colony, the rest returned to France after being granted amnesty in 1879 and 1880. In 1864, nickel was discovered on the banks of the Diahot River and with the establishment of the Société Le Nickel in 1876, mining began in earnest. The French imported labourers to work in the mines, first from neighbouring islands, then from Japan, the Dutch East Indies, the French government also attempted to encourage European immigration, without much success. The indigenous population was excluded from the French economy, even as workers in the mines, and they were ultimately confined to reservations. This sparked a violent reaction in 1878 as High Chief Atal of La Foa managed to unite many of the central tribes, the Europeans brought new diseases such as smallpox and measles
42.
Espiritu Santo
–
Espiritu Santo is the largest island in the nation of Vanuatu, with an area of 3,955.5 km2 and a population of around 40,000 according to the 2009 census. It belongs to the archipelago of the New Hebrides in the Pacific region of Melanesia and it is in the Sanma Province of Vanuatu. The town of Luganville, on Espiritu Santos southeast coast, is Vanuatus second-largest settlement, roads run north and west from Luganville but most of the island is far from the limited road network. Vanuatus highest peak is the 1879 metre Mount Tabwemasana in west-central Espiritu Santo, in 1998, Santo hosted the Melanesia Cup. A Spanish expedition led by Portuguese explorer Pedro Fernandes de Queirós, during World War II, particularly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the island was used by Allied forces as a military supply and support base, naval harbor, and airfield. In highly fictionalized form, it is the locale of James Micheners Tales of the South Pacific, the presence of the Allies later contributed to the islands diving tourism, as the United States dumped most of their equipment and refuse at what is now known as Million Dollar Point. Another wreck off Espiritu Santo, the SS President Coolidge, is also a diving spot. The SS President Coolidge was a luxury liner that hit a mine during the war. Between May and August 1980 the island was the site of a rebellion during the transfer of power over the colonial New Hebrides from the condominium to independent Vanuatu, a Republic of Vemerana was proclaimed on May 28. France recognized the independence on June 3, on June 5 the tribal chiefs of Santo named the French Ambassador Philippe Allonneau King of Vemerana, Jimmy Stevens became Prime Minister. The troops were recalled shortly before independence, following independence, Vanuatu, now governed by Father Walter Lini, requested assistance from Papua New Guinea, whose forces invaded and conquered Espiritu Santo. Santo, with many wrecks and reefs to be explored, is a popular tourist destination for divers. Champagne Beach draws tourists with its sand and clear waters. The Western Side of the island many caves which may be explored. The local people make their living by supporting the tourist trade, by cash-crop farming, mostly copra but some cacao and kava as well as peanuts, the largest church groups on the island are the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu, the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Melanesia. Also active are the Apostolic Church, the Church of Christ, the Seventh-day Adventist Church, customary beliefs of a more modern sort are found among followers of the Nagriamel movement based in Fanafo. For almost all Santos people custom plays a part in their lives. The chief system continues strongly in most areas, the people of Santo face some health problems, especially malaria, and tuberculosis
43.
Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)
–
Henderson Field is a former military airfield on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands during World War II. Originally built by the Japanese, the conflict over its possession was one of the battles of the Pacific war. Today it is Honiara International Airport, the airfield on Guadalcanal was first surveyed by Japanese engineers when they arrived in the area in early May, and was known as Lunga Point, or Runga Point to the Japanese, and code named RXI. The airfield would allow Japanese aircraft to patrol the southern Solomons, shipping lanes to Australia, Construction was observed and reported by Coastwatchers, and the airfields presence spawned American plans to capture Guadalcanal and use the airfield for Allied aircraft. About the middle of July,250 additional civilians of the Hama Construction Unit arrived under the command of Inouree Hama, also, specialists from the 14th Encampment Corps established radio stations on Tulagi, Gavutu and at RXI. Local labor was used in the construction. S. The Allies also intended to use Guadalcanal and Tulagi as bases to support a campaign to capture or neutralize the major Japanese base at Rabaul on New Britain. The Marines overwhelmed the outnumbered Japanese defenders and captured Tulagi and Florida, surprised by the Allied offensive, the Japanese made several attempts between August and November 1942 to retake Henderson Field. Reconnaissance work was carried out by specially fitted Navy Liberator bombers operating from Henderson Field on Eniwetok, royal New Zealand Air Force squadrons were using the air base during October and November 1944 for patrols and searches. Henderson Field was abandoned after the war, the field was modernized and reopened in 1969 as Honiara International Airport, the main airport for the Solomon Islands. In the late 1970s the runway was expanded and lengthened, 44th FS 38th BG, 70th BS Fiji January – Feb 4,1943 Fiji 42nd BG, 69th BS New Hebrides January – Oct 43 PDG 42nd BG, 75th BS. – Oct 21,1943 Renard 38th BG, 70th BS Fiji. afhra. af. mil/
44.
Guadalcanal
–
Guadalcanal is the principal island in Guadalcanal Province of the nation of Solomon Islands in the south-western Pacific, northeast of Australia. Its European discovery was under the Spanish expedition of Álvaro de Mendaña in 1568, the name comes from Guadalcanal, a village in the province of Seville, in Andalusia, Spain, birthplace of Pedro de Ortega Valencia, a member of Mendañas expedition. During 1942–43 it was the scene of the Guadalcanal Campaign, at the end of the war, Honiara, on the north coast of Guadalcanal, became the new capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate. Guadalcanal is mainly covered in tropical rainforest and it has a mountainous interior. A Spanish expedition from Peru under the command of Álvaro de Mendaña de Neira discovered the island in the year 1568, Mendañas subordinate, Pedro de Ortega Valencia, named the island after his home town Guadalcanal in Andalusia, Spain. The name comes from the Arabic Wādī l-Khānāt, which means Valley of the Stalls or River of Stalls, in 1932, the British confirmed the name Guadalcanal in line with the town in Andalusia, Spain. In the months following the attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, the Japanese drove the Americans out of the Philippines, the British out of British Malaya, the Japanese reached Guadalcanal in May 1942. When an American reconnaissance mission spotted construction of a Japanese airfield at Lunga Point on the north coast of Guadalcanal, Guadalcanal became a major turning point in the war as it stopped Japanese expansion. After six months of fighting, the Japanese ceased contesting the control of the island and they finally evacuated the island at Cape Esperance on the north west coast in February 1943. Immediately after landing on the island, the US Navy Seabees began finishing the airfield begun by the Japanese and it was then named Henderson Field after a Marine aviator killed in combat during the Battle of Midway. Aircraft operating from Henderson Field during the campaign were a hodgepodge of Marine, Army, Navy and they defended the airfield and threatened any Japanese ships that ventured into the vicinity during daylight hours. However, at night, Japanese naval forces were able to shell the airfield and deliver troops with supplies, the Japanese used fast ships to make these runs, and this became known as the Tokyo Express. So many ships from both sides were sunk in the engagements in and around the Solomon Island chain that the nearby waters were referred to as Ironbottom Sound. The Battle of Cape Esperance was fought on 11 October 1942 off the northwest coast of Guadalcanal. In the battle, United States Navy ships intercepted and defeated a Japanese formation of ships on their way down the Slot to reinforce and resupply troops on the island, American authorities declared Guadalcanal secure on 9 February 1943. Two US Navy ships have been named for the battle, USS Guadalcanal, USS Guadalcanal, an amphibious assault ship. Munro provided a shield and covering fire, and helped evacuate 500 besieged Marines from a beach at Point Cruz, during the Battle for Guadalcanal, the Medal of Honor was also awarded to John Basilone who later died on Iwo Jima. Immediately after the Second World War, the capital of the British Solomon Islands Protectorate was moved to Honiara on Guadalcanal from its previous location at Tulagi in the Florida Islands
45.
Biak
–
Biak is a small island located in Cenderawasih Bay near the northern coast of Papua, an Indonesian province, and is just northwest of New Guinea. Biak is the largest island in its archipelago, and has many atolls, reefs. The largest population centre is at Kota Biak on the south coast, the rest of the island is thinly populated with small villages. Biak is part of the Biak Islands, Biak was first sighted by Europeans by the Portuguese navigator Jorge de Menezes in 1526. The Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra sighted the island on 24 June 1528, in World War II, a strategic airfield of the Imperial Japanese Army was located there, serving as a base for operations in the Pacific theatre. American forces eventually captured the island during the Battle of Biak, the captured airfield was renamed Mokmer Airfield and later transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force. It was transferred from Dutch rule, along half of New Guinea. On 1 July 1998, the anniversary of the unsuccessful 1971 Papuan declaration of independence, native Papuan people and members of the Organisasi Papua Merdeka, raised their traditional flag, The Morning Star, at Kota Biak water tower and camped there for the next six days. At 05,30 on 6 July 1998 the demonstration was fired upon by the Tentara Nasional Indonesia, many were shot while attempting to flee. Survivors were rounded up and forced to the docks where they were kept for the days while further demonstrators were caught. About 200 of the demonstrators were forcibly loaded onto two Indonesian naval vessels and taken to two different locations to be thrown into the ocean. In the following days, bodies washed up on Biaks shores, the TNI explained that the bodies turning up belonged to victims of the Aitape tsunami which occurred approximately 1,000 kilometres away in Papua New Guinea. The people of Biak are predominantly Melanesians and the religion is Christianity. The official language is Indonesian and the local language is Biak. Other languages such as Dutch and English are also used, administratively there are 12 kecamatan, covering only the island itself, having 112,873 people in the 2010 census. Biak features a tropical rainforest climate with nearly identical throughout the course of the year. The average annual temperature in the city is 26 °C, which is generally the average temperature of each day in Biak. The city sees a good amount of precipitation in every month throughout the course of the year and its driest months November, average a little under 200 millimetres of rain per month
46.
Wakde Airfield
–
Wakde Airfield is a World War II airfield located on Wakde Island, off the northern coast of New Guinea in West Papua Province, Indonesia. The airfield was abandoned after the war and today is almost totally returned to its natural state, the airfield was constructed by the Japanese and was first noted by the Americans in February 1943. By June 1943, a single coral–surfaced 5,400 x 390 runway, with areas off the northern side was identified. By September, the Japanese had expanded the base further with a radio station, wadke Airfield was seized by the United States Army on 15 May 1944. Construction work was begun to repair the airstrip once the battle was over on 18 May, the airfield was repaired and put into use by the 5th Air Force as a forward operations base. From Wakde, the first American reconnaissance mission of the Philippines since the fall of Corregidor in 1942 was undertaken, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Office of Air Force History
47.
Numfor
–
Numfor is one of the Schouten Islands in Papua province, Western New Guinea, northeastern Indonesia. It was the site of conflict between Japanese and the Allied forces during World War II, and was major airbase for both sides, the island is located on the northern side of large Cenderawasih Bay of New Guinea island. Approximately oval shaped, it has an area of 335 square kilometres and it is mostly surrounded by coral reefs, with the exception of some points on the southeastern coast. Also found on the southeastern coast are low, steep cliffs, most of the interior is composed of forest. The island is jurisdictionally within the Biak Numfor Regency of Papua province and it has a population of 9,336 people in 2010 census covering 5 kecamatan. The first sighting by Europeans was by the Spanish navigator Álvaro de Saavedra on 24 June 1528 when he was trying to return from Tidore to New Spain. The indigenous population at the time numbered about 5,000 people, the island was also hosting about 1,100 laborers taken to Numfor by the Japanese,600 members of a Formosan auxiliary labor unit and 500 Indonesian civilian forced laborers. These were the survivors of more than 4,000 laborers taken to Numfor by the Japanese, the Japanese built three airfields on the island, turning it into a significant air base. Kornasoren Airfield/Yebrurro Airfield, located toward the end of the island Kamiri Airfield, on the northwestern edge of the island Namber Airfield. Bombing of the island by United States and Australian aircraft began as early as April 1944, Allied units landed on the island, from July 2,1944. Although the island is surrounded by an almost solid ring of coral, troops initially landed around Kamiri Airfield on the northwest edge of the island. Although there were extensive Japanese defensive preparations in the Kamiri area, in the words of the US Navy official history, Japanese encountered around the airfield were so stunned from the effects of the bombardment that all the fight was taken out of them. The following day, as a precaution against Japanese resistance elsewhere,2,000 US paratroopers from the 503 Parachute Infantry Regiment were dropped onto the island, the second base captured by US forces, Yebrurro Airfield, was secured by 4 July 1944. On July 5, there was an unsuccessful Japanese counter-attack and that same day, a detachment of US forces from Numfor also secured the smaller neighboring island of Manim. Namber Airfield came under Allied control, without resistance, on July 6, the island was officially declared secure on July 7. However, individual Japanese soldiers continued guerrilla activities, and it was August 31 before all fighting had ceased, by August 31, the Allies had lost 66 killed or missing and 343 wounded. It had killed approximately 1,714 Japanese and taken 186 prisoners, according to the US Army official history, only 403 of the original 3,000 Javanese civilian laborers were alive by August 31. About 10-15 were reported to have been killed accidentally by Allied forces, the rest had died from maltreatment before the invasion
48.
Dulag Airfield
–
Dulag Airfield is a World War II airfield located near Dulag in the province of Leyte, Philippines. It was closed after the war, the airfield was built by the Japanese during the Occupation of the Philippines in 1943. A road runs along the position of the main runway. A memorial is built at the airfield, with a plaque. The memorial plaque reads, World War II Airfield - Brgy, constructed by the Japanese Imperial Army supported by free labor from the Dulagnons. Taken over by the Allied liberation forces in 1944, improving and widening the area with steel matting runways, fighter and bomber planes were stationed here through the war days. USAAF in the Southwest Pacific This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http, Air Force Combat Units Of World War II. Maxwell AFB, Alabama, Office of Air Force History
49.
Leyte
–
Leyte /ˈleɪtɛ/ is an island in the Visayas group of the Philippines. Politically, the island is divided into two provinces, Leyte and Southern Leyte, territorially, Southern Leyte includes the island of Panaon to its south. To the north of Leyte is the province of Biliran. The major cities of Leyte are Tacloban, on the shore at the northwest corner of Leyte Gulf. The island was once the location of Mairete, a community which was ruled by Datu Ete. Before being colonized by Spain, the island was home to indigenous animist Warays to the east. Leyte today is notable for the electric power plants near Ormoc. However, Leyte is most famous for its role in the reconquest of the Philippines in World War II. On 20 October 1944, General Douglas MacArthur waded ashore on Leyte, saying, I have returned, the convergence of naval forces resulted in the four-day Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle in history. The island measures about 180 kilometres north-south and about 65 kilometres at its widest point, in the north it nearly joins the island of Samar, separated by the San Juanico Strait, which becomes as narrow as 2 kilometres in some places. The island province of Biliran is also to the north of Leyte and is joined to Leyte island by a bridge across the narrow Biliran Strait, to the south, Leyte is separated from Mindanao by the Surigao Strait. To the east, Leyte is somewhat set back from the Philippine Sea of the Pacific Ocean, Samar to the northeast, to the west is the Camotes Sea. Leyte is mostly forested and mountainous, but the Leyte Valley in the northeast has much agriculture. The Leyte Provincial capital is the seat of the government where there is a historic mural depicting the First Mass of Limasawa in the Orient. The MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park in Red Beach, Palo and it also has a lagoon where a life-size statue of Gen. MacArthur stands. MacArthurs true landing took place at Dulag, Leyte, lake Danao is a violin-shaped lake hemmed by cloud-capped mountain ranges. Kalanggaman Island in Palompon, Leyte is an island with pure white sand. The ecological atmosphere of the island had been preserved by the municipality, nino Shrine and Heritage Museum boasts the painting of the fourteen stations of the cross done by Filipino artists and a bas-relief of the legend of the first Filipino man and woman
United States
United States Air Force
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
