As a security measure, the airplane windows were blacked out. US MILITARIA FORUM - COLLECTORS PRESERVING HISTORY Citation. 1946, 1947. Decorations. The 5 OG commands the following squadrons (Tail Code: MT): The group's emblem, approved in 1924, features a winged death's head as an uncompromising symbol of its combat mission. John Rodgers Airport was returned to the Territory of Hawaii for operation and maintenance. The Navy established a weather and communications facility at Upolu Airport and used it as an auxiliary field to the Naval Air Station, Hilo for training of carrier pilots. A master plan was prepared which showed one terminal building to be used jointly by all passenger carrying airlines, a freight terminal and areas for hangar facilities, aircraft parking, etc. A 1946 photograph of Barbers Point NAS shows 500 planes on its ramp, nearly wingtip to wingtip. Trans-Ocean Airlines inaugurated air service to Hawaii. Act 153, Session Laws of Hawaii 1945, appropriated $115,000 for the acquisition of lands for Lihue Airport. Today Bomb Squadrons are considered to be part of the Combat Air Force (CAF) along with fighter squadrons. Operation of the control tower at General Lyman Field was taken over by the Air Force when that organization was formed from the Army Air Corps, and continued until October 1948 when it was turned over to the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission which funded tower operation by Civil Aeronautics Administration personnel. Construction began at Barber Point Naval Air Station. Carpenter stated that Westa was relieved due to his "inability to foster a culture of excellence, a lack of focus on the strategic mission and substandard performance during several nuclear surety inspections, including the newly activated 69th Bomb Squadron." The Hickam AFB aircraft strength at beginning of year was: 117 planes, mostly obsolete. The wing, however, kept its certification to perform missions and training with nuclear weapons. Island Flight Service consolidated with Aero Service and Supply in the operation of a repair, rental and charter service. Itwas used by non-scheduled operators. Valley Isle Aviation operated from Kahului Airport, providing service on the island of Maui similar to that furnished by Maui Flying Academy. Unknown The B-24 was better suited for operations in the Pacific, having a higher speed and a larger bomb load at medium altitudes. Northwest Airlines began regularly scheduled service between Portland, Seattle and Honolulu. It had a paved runway 3,000 feet in length, and was used extensively by charter airlines and freight planes. The mission of the base, the support of Naval Air Transport Service, remains unchanged except that operations are to be conducted on a reduced sale. Capture a web page as it appears now for use as a trusted citation in the future. Want to help? The Civil Aeronautics Administration movedits communications facilities to the third floor of the Honolulu Airport terminal building and the U.S. A lease was entered into by the Aeronautics Commission with the Spencecliff Corp. for the operation of a restaurant, coffee shop and cocktail lounge (Sky Room) at Honolulu Airport. Hickam Field, TH, 8 Feb 1938; Kipapa, TH, 23 May 1942; Kualoa, TH, 9 Sep-9 Nov 1942 . In lieu of restoration, The Army paid the Territory $17,500 to match the Legislative appropriation for construction. Because of its remote location, the Aeronautics Commission did not see commercial use, but wanted to retain the strip as an emergency landing field. It covers all squadrons that were constituted or redesignated as bombardment squadron sometime during their active service. Molokai Airport (Homestead Field) was taken over and developed by the Army, but not to the extent of Hilo or Puunene. Patrols from Hawaii, c. 14 Dec 1941-Nov 1942; combat in South, Southwest, and Western Pacific, 17 Jan 1943-12 Aug 1945. The U.S. Army granted a right-of-entry into Morse Field to the Territory. While the Navy had more extensive installations and greater use of the field, the Army Air Corps continued to operate the control tower, and from Army installations served a sizeable air transport operation conducted by the 19th Troop Transport Squadron. Flown to Hill Field and later flown to Hickam Field. Remanned in Mar 1947, equipped with FB-17's and The new site is approximately four miles northwest of the village of Hana. The airportwas used mainly by commercial airlines operating between the islands. The total capacity of Oahu for aircraft is not recorded but must have been somewhere in the vicinity of 1,200. The 72d BS was inactivated late in the year and their 12 aircraft were retired. The rules regulated airport and aircraft operation and also enabled the Honolulu Police Department to enforce vehicular traffic regulations at Honolulu Airport. 23rd Bomb Squadron Association President - Capt. Naval Air Station, Honolulu, for both land and sea planes. Do you have items such as papers, photos, uniforms, gear and other artifacts? Veterans' Experiences: Coming Soon. The American Aircraft Carrier Saratoga was in San Diego, the Lexington was delivering planes to Midway Island and the Enterprise delivering planes to Wake Island. Ceram, Halmahera, and Formosa; support for ground forces in the Construction plans for the new Hana Airportwere about 30 percentcomplete. George P. Bolan, SSgt: Richard A. Dickerson, Cpl: Alfred Hays, Pvt: . Today, the 5th's B-52Hs are a major component of the USAF's strategic bombing force, alongside the Rockwell B-1B Lancer and the Northrop B-2A Spirit. A Joint Resolution of the Territorial Legislature officially changed the name of Hilo Airport to General Lyman Field. British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines inaugurated air service to Hawaii. Thus began the first U.S. air-freight service. maneuvers, staging aerial reviews, sowing seeds from the air for the May 1944; Borneo, 30 Sep 1944. During the war years, John Rodgers Airport was also home base for the Naval Utility Flight Unit, Naval Air Transport Service, 1522d AAF Base Unit, 15th Air Service Squadron and 19th Troop Carrier Squadron. In Hawaii, the B-17E-equipped 5th and 11th Bombardment Groups were used in the Battle of Midway to attack Japanese surface fleets. Two small planes from the K-T Flying Service were shot down near the entrance to Pearl Harbor and the pilots lost. ), Data from Air Force Combat Units of World War II By Maurer, Maurer, Published 1986. It was now called Dillingham Field. 5th BG "Bomber Barons": 307th BG "The Long Rangers": 868th BS "Snoopers . Performed long-range strategic reconnaissance, July 1949 October 1955, with some limited reconnaissance to September 1958. Today Bomb Squadrons are considered to be part of the Combat Air Force (CAF) along with fighter squadrons. Campaigns. 5th Bomb Group: 335th Bomb Squadron: 5th Bomb Squadron: 335th Fighter Squadron: 5th Combat Cargo Squadron: . Britain, and New Ireland. Paving of a 2,500-foot runway at Port Allen Airport began, along with an aircraft parking apron and connecting taxiway. Brig. [3], 16 September 2016 saw one of the 5th OG's largest annual readiness exercise dubbed "Exercise Prairie Vigilance" take place. Every available foot of frontage for fixed base operators at John Rodgers Airport was optioned by mid-1946. The Japanese attack sunk 18 American ships and destroyed 188 American aircraft and caused 2,335 American military deaths while losing 29 Japanese planes, damaging 50 Japanese planes and suffering fewer than 100 Japanese deaths. Aug 1944; Noemfoor, 22 Sep 1944; Morotai, Oct 1944; Samar, 5 Mar 1945; The landplane area at John Rodgers airport had been filled by spoil from seaplane channel dredging and three runways were completed. AIRCRAFT. Remained in the theater as part of Far East Air Forces after the war, but all personnel evidently had been withdrawn by early in 1946. Congress appropriated $3.3M for the dredging of the seaplane harbor at Keehi Lagoon. Scheduled airlineswere required to continue service from Barking Sands. It was anticipated that the restaurants would be an important source of non-aeronautical revenue. Used DH-4, MB-2, B-12, LB-5, LB-6, PW-9, P-12, O-19, and other Most users of the airport are commercial operators and the Army and Navy operating between the islands. Pacific Skyways, Ltd., operated from Port Allen Airport, providing services for the island of Kauai. The Civil Aeronautics Administration contributed $314,000 of national defense funds to Hilo Airport. Layout for the Seadrome as submitted by Mr. Robert Campbell in July 1941 was carried out by the U. S. Engineers and the Navy in the war development of John Rodgers Airport. The 5th Operations Group (5 OG) is an operational component of the United States Air Force 5th Bomb Wing, stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota. The airportwas one of the largest in the U.S. and comprised 4,019.476 acres. GI Flight Training under the government vocational training program for veteranswas the main source of revenue for flight schools with GI contracts This federal expenditure was a great help to the struggling private flying industry. Gen. Walter H. Frank, C. G. of the 18th Bomb Wing (B-10s), and 18th Air Base (at Wheeler Field) with Brig. and Southwest Pacific with B-17 and B-24 aircraft, served in combat They discontinued operations in August 1947. Federal funds became available for the operation of the control tower at General Lyman Field. The Secretary of the Navy redesignated the Naval Air Station, Keehi Lagoon as U.S. The Navy moved its crash-fire equipment from the south side of the airport toits main fire station on the north side. Maurer, Maurer (1983). Activities included training, participating in Army-Navy maneuvers, staging aerial reviews and sowing seeds from the air for the Territorial Forestry Division. Development was made by the Army and consisted of two runways, 4,400-feet and 3,200 feet in length. Upolu Airport had one paved runway 4,000-feet long and was the only airport in that part of the island which met the requirements for scheduled airline operation. It was built on Parker Ranch land. Upolu Airport was returned to the Territory by the Navy and civilian air service was resumed, with the Navy buildings used for terminal facilities. The 1947 Territorial Legislature recognized the need for an airport to serve the Kona area. Air service to Lanai Airport was resumed by Hawaiian Airlines with Douglas DC-3s. There were no civil airports at Kahului; that site still belonged to the Naval Air Station. The airport had two paved runways 400 feet in width and 6,900-feet and 6,000-feet in length. TheHawaiian Air Force, an integrated command for slightly more than one year, under the command of Major. Grading and paving was completed in December 1950. 1922. Brooke E Allen, 1 Nov 1942; Col Marion D Unruh, 10 Aug 1943; Lt Col web pages Unit of Service: 31st Bomb Squadron, 5th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force Location of Service: Biloxi, Mississippi; San Antonio, Texas; Saxon, Missouri; Monroe, Louisiana; Tanana, Nevada; New Guinea; Philippines; Bismarck Archipelago; Hawaii; Camp Gordon, Georgia; Pacific Theater Highest Rank: First Lieutenant Dates of Service: 1943-1945 After the war the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission leased this installation from Parker Ranch. The Hawaiian Air Force was activated (General Order 37, October 28, 1940). Kipapa Airport on Oahu may be made available for student pilot flying. An Oahu Local Air Traffic Guide published on July 15, 1944 by the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations of the 7th Air Force shows 13 airfields and a local air traffic pattern to be entered at 1,500 feet above mean sea level. The commission hired a crash-fire crew to work with two pieces of equipment procured from the Navy and to function in coordination with Navy crash fire activity on the airport. Homestead, Molokai; It hadfour paved landplane runways 200-feet wide with lengths varying from 6,200 linear feet to 7,650 linear feet. Guadalcanal, and raided airfields in the northern Solomons until Aug This amount was matched by the Civil Aeronautic Administration, providing a total of $300,00 for the project which included the acquisition of rights-of-way and lands. The airfield had four runways, each 300-feet wide, with lengths varying from 2,900 feet to 5,000 feet. Plans were being developed for a new airport in the Hana District. Haleiwa Airfieldwas on privately owned land under lease to the U.S. Army and was used by both the Army and Navy during the War. Itofficially designated an area parallel to the beach and known as Kailua airstrip to become Kona Airport. Raided the heavily defended Japanese base on Construction began on Kailua (Kona) Airport. (38th and 88thReconnaissance Squadrons.). $5 million was appropriated by Congress for the project. on the Internet. The group moved between various bases in the Southwest Pacific and by mid-1943, most B-17s were withdrawn in favor of the longer-ranged Consolidated B-24 Liberator. B-17F 41-24457 "The Aztec's Curse" of the 31st Bombardment Squadron, 5th Bomb Group, leaving the target after a strike against Japanese shipping off Gizo Island, Solomon Islands - PTO 1942 B-17E Flying Fortress of the 97th BG, 342nd Bomb Squadron - crew prepares for mission August 1942 The following airports were under the management of the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission: OahuHonolulu Airport, Bellows Field, Haleiwa Airport; KauaiPort Allen Airport; MolokaiKalaupapa Airport, Molokai (Homestead) Airport; MauiMaui Airport (Puunene), Kahului Airport, Hamoa Airport (Hana); LanaiLanai Airport; and HawaiiGeneral Lyman Field (Hilo Airport), Kamuela Airport, Upolu Airport; Morse Field (South Cape). Fencing was installed at Kona Airport to keep cattle off the runway. Helped to neutralize enemy bases on Yap and in the Truk and Palau . Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. Hawaiian Airlines started it first scheduled air freight service between the islands. 19th Pursuit: 1924-1927. They discontinued operations in April 1948. The following local fixed-base, or non-scheduled operators applied for space at John Rodgers Airport during 1946 and began operation: Andrew Flying Service, K-T Flying Service, Hawaiian Air Transport Services, Trans-Pacific Airlines, Cockett Airlines, Trans-Air Hawaii, Island Flight Service, Hawaiian Aeromotive Repair Service, Hawaiian School of Aeronautics, Rainbow Airlines, Woolley Aircraft Co., Aero Service and Supply and Purdy Aero Repair Service. 1950-16 Jun 1952. Before the Korean War, the Air Force and Navy combined airlift operations into MATS, a single-manager concept. Crest: On a wreath of the colors (argent and Army Air Forces. on May 7, 2014, There are no reviews yet. 1949-1952. At 0755 on a Sunday morning, 183 aircraft from six Japanese aircraft carriers struck American military facilities and vessels on Oahu, just as Billy Mitchell had predicted in 1924. Contact Us, If you have any data on servicemen and their units and would like to submit it to our digital library; please Contact Us, Copyright, Army Air Corps Library and Museum, Inc., All Rights Reserved. The second wave consisted of 170 aircraft. Only the Navy used the seaplane runways, operating an average of five flights per week with the Mars type seaplanes between Honolulu and California. Maui Flying Academy, operating from Maui Airport, provided service between Maui and Hana Airports on the island of Maui, in addition to general charter service to Lanai and Molokai with infrequent flights to Hilo and Honolulu. Equipped with RB-29's. Gen. Frederick L. Martin, was deployed. Stations. Morse Field at South Point on the Big Island was provided to the Territory from the Army. 55th Fighter Group: 31st Bomb Squadron: 55th Fighter Squadron: 31st Fighter Group: . The buildings and other facilities were constructed by the Navy during the War. to the neighbor islands. The use of this field by small plane operations was acquired by the Department of Public Works prior to the creation of the Hawaii Aeronautics Commission at no cost to the Territory. It had been declared surplus to the Armys needs and was in the process of being returned to the Territory. Requests for space from prospective trans-Pacific operators included the following: Pan American Airways, United Air Lines, KNILM (Dutch Airlines), Australian National Airways, Far East Air Transport, Matson Navigation Co., Transocean Airlines, Pacific Overseas Airlines, Samoan Area Airways, China National Aviation Corp., and Philippine Airlines. The Seabees began construction of a second runway at Naval Air Station Kaneohe. Aircraft: Only 79 out of 231 assigned were operational after the attack; 64 were totally destroyed; theremainder heavily damaged. Runways B and D, Keehi Lagoon, John Rodgers Airport; - Guardians of the Upper Regions. 31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS) During 1941, the 31st BS was part of the 7th Air Force and based at Hickam Field operating B-18 Bolo and B-17 Flying Fortress.