297

Ltr., Maj. Gen. Ira C. Eaker, CG, VIII AF, to Maj. Gen. George E. Stratemeyer, C/AS, 2 Jan 43. See also n. 235. For fighters the tour was 150 missions or 200 operational hours of flying. The number of missions comprising a tour was increased when flying over the Continent became less hazardous.

298 lbid.

299

'Ltr., Brig. Gen. M. C. Grow, Dir. Med. Service, USSTAF, to Maj. Gen. David N. W. Grant, TAS,

302 Ltr., Col. M. C. Grow, Surg., VIII AF, to TAS, sub: Flying Fatigue in the VIII AF, 26 Mar 43. 303 Aviation medical advisers were assigned to the general hospitals first as advisers to the disposition boards and later as voting members of such boards. The policy established in the disposition of Air Forces personnel was to follow the advice of the Air Force advisers. If the Air Force adviser stated that the Air Forces desired him for limited service on a nonflying status, such disposition was made. If the Air Force adviser no longer wanted the services of the individual, it was assumed that the individual was available for limited service with any other component of the Army. Ltr., Brig. Gen. Paul R. Hawley, C Surg., SOS, ETO, to Maj. Gen. Norman T. Kirk, TSG, 8 Jul 1943.

301 See n. 302.

305

Memo for TAS from Col. M. C. Grow, Surg., VIII AF, 5 Sept 1943. Memo, Hq. VIII AF, sub.: Combat Crew Personnel Failures, 23 Aug 43.

306

307

308

VIII AF Memo, Par. 7 d.

Par. 15 b (3).

Par. 15 a.

309 Par. 15 c and d.

310 Par. 17.

811 Par. 19 a.

812 Par. 2.

813 Par. 10.

314 Par. 11a.

$15 Par. 13. Par. 14.

316

317 Maj. Douglas D. Bond, Dir/Psychiatry, VIII AF, Project No. 18, 1 Mar 45, par. 3 b.

318 Ibid., pp. 6-7.

319 2d ind. (basic Ltr., Maj. Douglas D. Bond, Dir/Psychiatry, VIII AF, to Surg., VIII AF, sub; Disposition of Combat Crews Suffering from Emotional Disorders), Brig. Gen. M. C. Grow, Dir/Med. Services, USSTAF, to TAS, 5 Apr 45.

320 See n. 299.

321 Ibid.

322

Ltr., Maj. Gen. Grant, TAS, to Brig. Gen. M. C. Grow, USSTAF, undtd.

823 lbid.

324

Memo for Col. S. T. Wray, Ch., Officers Br., MPD, AC/AS, Pers. from Col. George L. Ball, Prof. Div., AFTAS, 21 Apr 45.

325

326

R/Slip, Brig. Gen. Charles R. Glenn to Col. Hastings, Prof. Div., AFTAS, 24 May 45.

Health Status, USSTAF, Statistical material was prepared by Lt. Col. Robert E. Lyons.

327 Ibid.

325 The health data used in this chapter are derived from consolidated health reports and summaries prepared during the war by personnel of the VIII AF and Hq., US Strategic and Tactical AF in Europe.

These data include personnel all air forces and commands comprising USSTAF; namely, the VIII, IX, Air Service Comd., USSTAF, I TAF, IX TCC and other miscellaneous units. The period reported is from the week ending the first Friday in July 1942 through the week ending the last Friday in June 1945, and a period which for purpose of this study, may be considered as the 3-year period of war in which Air Force units were engaged in western Europe.

329

The data on admissions were prepared by Lt. Col. Robert E. Lyons, Ch., Biometrics Div., AFTAS. Col. Lyons was formerly chief of the Records, Sect., USSTAF.

332

The statistical data for venereal diseases were prepared by Lt. Col. Robert E. Lyons, Ch., Biometrics Div., AFTAS. The data were taken from consolidated health reports and summaries prepared by the Records Sect., USSTAF.

333

334

Rpt., Med. Dept. Activities, VIII AF, 1943, pp. 8-14.

Health Status, USSTAF. See also the section on protective armor for the effect which body armor had on these data.

337 Trend of Losses Related to Combat Crew Experience Heavy Bomber Operations, undtd.

338

Survival Table for Heavy Bomber Missions, 1 Jul 44.

339 'Berkson's data include only those missing in action, killed in action, or seriously wounded. Personnel removed from flying status for medical or administrative reasons are not included.

340

AAF Statistical Digest, Off. of Stat. Control. Dec 45, PP. 49-59.

841 See n. 335.

This section unless otherwise specified, incorporates, "Rpt. from Heidelberg" prep. by Col. Robert J. Benford, CO, 3d CME, 27 Feb 47.

343 On 7 April 44 the 3d CME unit, then known as the 9th AFCME, was activated at Sunninghill Park, Ascot, Berkshire, England, per paragraph I, GO No. 61, Hq., IX AF, dtd. 17 Mar 44, with a complement of 4 officers and 13 enlisted men assigned. The first commanding officer was Lt. Col. Charles E. Walker (MC). This unit was redesignated the 3d CME on 17 Aug 44 in accordance with para. I, GO No. 202, Hq., IX AF, 11 Aug 44, pursuant to authority contained in ltr, AG's office, 17 Jul 44, sub: Reorganization of Certain AAF Units in ETO, 5 Jun 44. The 3d CME performed the assigned duties of such an organization during final phases of the air war in Europe, being stationed successively at Chantilly, France (arriving 15 Sept 44), Bad Kissingen, Germany (arriving 8 Jun 45) and Wiesbaden, Germany (arriving 20 Oct 45). The organization was moved to Heidelberg on 8 Nov 45 in compliance with Letter Orders published by Hq., USAFE. Soon after, in December 1945, the unit was reorganized under a new table of organization designed more specifically for the mission ahead.

344

Dept. of the AF, German Aviation Medicine in World War II (2 volumes), (Wash., 1950). See also, Press Release, USAF SAM, 3 Jun 50.

345

346

'Ltr., Franklin Roosevelt to the Sec. of War, 16 Sept 44.

'Ltr., Sec. of War for Mr. Franklin D'Olier, Pres., Prudential Insurance Co. of America, 3 Nov 44. The Board of Directors included: Mr. Franklin D'Olier, Rensis Likert, Ph. D., Mr. Henry C. Alexander, Lt. Col. Richard L. Meiling, (MC).

341 The Effects of Strategic Bombing on German Morale, US Strategic Bombing Survey, Vol. II, Morale Div., (Wash., 1946), p. iii.

348 The United States Strategic Bombing Survey Over-all Report (European War) 30 Sept 45. See Organization Chart dtd. 7 Jun 45, iii.

340 The Effect of Bombing on Health and Medical Care in Germany, prep. by Morale Div., US Strategic Bombing Survey, (Wash., D. C., 1945).

350 See n. 347., p. 66.

251 See n. 347, p. 2.

352 See n. 347, P. 37.

Chapter IX

MEDICAL SUPPORT OF THE PACIFIC AIR COMBAT MISSION

Primitive conditions affected men as well as machines. In the Windswept Aleutians and the tropical jungles of other areas climate, disease, and fatigue took their toll. Aircrews and ground crews at advanced bases lived constantly in tents and on field rations. Opportunities for rest and recreation were scarce and, because of low priorities and the distance from home, it was difficult to set up a satisfactory rotation policy. The circumstances that condition morale are complex, and they certainly are not limited to physical factors; but, to the degree that they are, the Pacific and Asiatic theaters generally suffered in comparison with the ETO and MTO insofar as the AAF was concerned.1

In these words the official history of the Army Air Forces in World War II summed up the medical problems encountered by Air Force personnel in the Pacific area. Island warfare was such in the Pacific that the Air Force assault mission was "never to gain land masses or to capture populous cities, but only to establish airfields (field anchorages and bases) from which the next forward spring might be launched." 2

Seven air forces were involved. To the north, the Eleventh Air Force, under the command jurisdiction of the naval commander, North Pacific, controlled the 54th Troop Carrier Squadron and the 15th Troop Target Squadron. The medical problems of the limited numbers of Air Force personnel stationed there were not unique; they were the same as those encountered by all military personnel transferred suddenly from a temperate to an Arctic climate where the enemy was sub-zero weather and deadly monotonous environment. For Air Force flying personnel, weather conditions-clouds, fog, icewere more destructive than Japanese fighter aircraft. The hazards were mental as well as physical for the pilot knew always that, if he were forced to land or bail out, death from exposure was a very real danger. To offset this, research. and development activities, described earlier in this volume, were carried out.

3

Navigational aids were adopted which to a certain degree offset the factor of weather. In a theater that was minor throughout the war from the tactical viewpoint, the individual stationed there nevertheless waged a major battle with an environment that was a slow but deadly enemy. In the Central Pacific, the Seventh Air Force, activated 5 February 1942 at Hickam Field, Oahu, T. H., absorbed the tactical units of the 18th Wing. Until 14 July 1945 when it was absorbed by the Far East Air Forces it was under the command of Commander in Chief, Army Forces in the Pacific (CINCAFPAC). The problems of this air force are discussed as a unit with those of the Thirteenth Air Force (South Pacific) and the Fifth Air Force (Southwest) since the three were ultimately combined into the Far East Forces. The Tenth (India-Burma) and the Fourteenth (China) are considered as a single unit. The unique medical problems encountered by the Twentieth Air Force (Global) were primarily those associated with the B-29 plane and cabin pressurization and are treated in the final chapter of this volume.*

Following the evacuation of the Philippines, the majority of Air Force personnel were evacuated to the mainland of Australia. The 19th Bomb Group remained to operate from forward bases in Java until the early part of March 1942 and then pulled back to Batchlor Field which until that time had been used as a rear maintenance base. The U. S. Army Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA) was established on 6 March 1942 at Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, under the command of Lt. Gen. George H. Brett, with the Medical Section comprised of three medical officers and one enlisted man all of whom had been evacuated either from the Philippines or Java. One officer was Lt. Col. William J. Kennard (MC), formerly senior flight surgeon in the Philippines, who had been wounded during the attack on Clark Field. The Surgeon was Lt. Col. Nuel Pazdral (MC).

Upon his arrival in Australia on 17 March 1942, General Douglas MacArthur assumed command of all U. S. Army Forces in the SWPA. On 30 April 1942 United States Army Air Services was formed at Melbourne, Victoria, under the command of Maj. Gen. Rush B. Lincoln. At this time the following units were assigned to the USAAS SWPA: 35th, 36th, 45th and 46th Air Base Groups, 3d Bombardment Group (which absorbed 27th Bomb Group from the Philippines), 19th Bomb Group which consisted of personnel of 7th and 19th Bomb Groups (which had just been evacuated from Java), 35th Fighter Group which was organized from the Provisional Pursuit Units that had seen action in Java and the Philippines, and the 8th and 49th Pursuit Groups. The majority of these units operated from bases in Northern Australia, such as Darwin,

Townsville, Horn Island and Iron Range. In August the Advanced Echelon of the USAAS was moved to Brisbane, Queensland. The Medical Section remained with the Rear Echelon at Melbourne.

In early September 1942 the Fifth Air Force (successor of the Far East Air Force), was activated under the command of Maj. Gen. George C. Kenney. Col. Bascom L. Wilson (MC) became Air Force surgeon while Colonel Pazdral became surgeon for the newly activated Air Service Command. On 15 September, in order to provide a major operational headquarters for these units in the forward area, the Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force, was activated under the command of Brig. Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead and set up at Fort Moresby. In October and November the headquarters of the V Bomber Command and V Fighter Command were activated.

No further important changes occurred until the Air Task Forces, three in number, were organized for operations in combat areas in May, August, and September 1943. The Air Task Forces were designated as purely operational headquarters for advanced air operations and were not expected to perform administrative work. Flight surgeons were assigned to each of the task forces on a provisional basis until they were later activated as bomber wings. Throughout the period of operations along the coast of New Guinea to the Philippines the Air Task Forces made the initial landings closely followed by the Advanced Echelon of the Fifth Air Force at most major bases. Headquarters, Fifth Air Force, remained at Brisbane, Australia, until September 1944 when it was reactivated as Headquarters, Far East Air Forces. The Advanced Echelon, Fifth Air Force, moved to Nadzab in February 1944, and to Owi Island in the Schouten Group in June 1944. It was redesignated the Headquarters, Fifth Air Force, in June 1944, moving to Leyte in the Philippines in November of that year. Later it was moved to Mindoro (in January 1945) and then to Clark Field, Luzon, in April 1945. Its last move during the war was to Okinawa in August 1945. On 11 March 1944 Col. Robert K. Simpson (MC) succeeded Colonel Wilson as Fifth Air Force surgeon, a position he held until 15 June when he was succeeded by Lt. Col. Alonzo Beavers (MC), who had been surgeon for the Advanced Echelon of the Fifth Air Force since the death of a Lt. Colonel Searcy in January 1943.

The growth of the Medical Section of the Headquarters of the Fifth Air Force from 3 medical officers and I enlisted man paralleled the growth in tactical strength of the Fifth Air Force. Fortunately during the early period in Australia, there were relatively few medical problems encountered. Hospitalization, however, was somewhat difficult from an administrative point of view since there were no American hospitals available. All patients until June of