Headquarters - 1st Combat Cargo Group - July 1945

S E C R E T

Auth: CO, 1st CC Gp

Date: 21 Sept. 1945

Initials:___________

H E A D Q U A R T E R S

1ST COMBAT CARGO GROUP

APO 284

HISTORY

JULY 1945

HQ. 1st CC Group …….…………………………….. . Myitkyina East, Burma

2nd CC Squadron ……..…………………………….. Bhamo, Burma

3rd CC Squadron …………………………………… Myitkyina East, Burma

4th CC Squadron …………………………………… Hathazari, India

345th Airdrome Squadron ……………………………. Bhamo, Burma

346th Airdrome Squadron ……………………………. Myitkyina East, Burma

347th Airdrome Squadron ……………………………. Hathazari, India

The total strength of the entire organization at the close of this period was one thousand, three hundred and five (1305) Officers and Enlisted Men.

OPERATIONS IN CHINA

Operations during this period were still being carried out in both the India-Burma and China Theaters of War. The 2nd and 3rd CC Squadrons continued operating over the “Hump” into bases located in South Central China, under the operational control of the Air Transport Command, India-China Division.

These two (2) squadrons were flying payloads of mules, Chinese personnel, rations and arms, into the Nanning area, in support of the Chinese Sixth Army forces, fighting in the Liuchow and Kweilin areas. It was during this period that the important town and airbase of Liuchow fell into Chinese hands, and gave ample indication that the desired breach of the Japanese North and South Empires was close at hand, plus the fact that the Japanese were pulling north to establish a less-extended, and less-vulnerable defense line, which might possibly be as fa south as th eYellow River. During the course of these operations into China the 2nd CC Squadron lost two (2) aircraft due to accidents. For information concerning these accidents, see Aircraft Accidents.

OPERATIONS IN BURMA

The 4th CC Squadron continued to operate into Southern Burma, and was under the operational control of the British 342 Wing. These operations being flown into Southern Burma, were made in support of British 12th Army troops who were engaging a stubborn enemy, which was offering stiff resistance in the Kalaw and Sitting Chaung areas. While accomplishing these missions in support of the 12th Army, the 4th CC Squadron was at the same time continuing the transition course of instruction, for both ground and air crews, on the type C-46 aircraft. To continue operations and training simultaneously, the 4th CC Squadron was forced to devote one (1) day to operations, and the next to training, and although a decrease in the amount of tonnage delivered over this period was shown, more than half of the entire organization have completed their course of training, and are now checked-out, and ready to operate in C-46’s. This monthly period of operations and training was accomplished without accident or loss of life, despite the use of a new type aircraft.

The total amount of deliveries made during this period by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th CC Squadrons was 7,674,816 pounds, or 3847 tons and a daily average per three (3) squadrons of 274,575 pounds or 124 tons.

AIRCRAFT ACCIDENTS

Two (2) major accidents occurred during this period, the first of which occurred on the 16th, when aircraft #43-15885, type C-47, piloted by 2nd Lt. Clyde L. Johnston, Jr., 0889837, 2nd CC Squadron, crashed and burned ten (10) minutes west of Mengsa, China.

The aircraft had departed from Luliang, China and was returning empty to its home base, at Bhame, Burma. The left engine failed and caught fire forcing the crew to bail out. All four members of the crew bailed out, but only three (3) have been accounted for. Sgt. Owen A. Ayette, 36866002, 2nd CC Squadron, the aerial engineer, was seen to have bailed out, but has never been found, and is presently being reported as missing in action. The crew members after parachuting out of the disabled aircraft, saw it smash into the side of a mountain and explode.

The responsibility for the accident is placed one-hundred (100) percent due to engine failure.

On the 24th, aircraft #44-76233, type C-47B, piloted by 2nd Lt. James J. Krajicek, 2nd CC Squadron, crashed upon landing at Nanning, China.

Upon Landing at Nanning, the right tire blew out, causing the aircraft to swerve to the right, and hit a drainage ditch, which ran parallel to the runway. The landing gear was completely ripped away, the struts were jammed into the wings, and the propeller of the left engine sheared off, entering the side of th pilots compartment, causing major injury to the pilot’s left leg. Other crew members and thirty-five (35) Chinese troops escaped injury.

The aircraft was salvageable to the point of radio equipment, and the engines, wings and fuselage were completely washed out.

The cause for accident was placed at one-hundred (100) percent mechanical failure, as the pilot not knowing of the flat tire, did not have enough time to take any corrective measures to avoid accident.

INTELLIGENCE

Missions into China were carried out under a standard operating procedure and this factor allowed the intelligence sections of the 2nd and 3rd CC Squadrons the opportunity of selecting the types of briefing, they deemed necessary to successful operations. The 4th CC Squadron continued their operations with the assistance of a British Air Liaison Officer, who assisted the Squadron S-2, and Operations Officer in their daily briefing of crews.

The regular monthly security check was made, and all units were found to be in sound function, in regards to being security minded, which since the organization’s activation has been a well established fact.

Censorship of mail continued under the guidance of Group S-2, which function was carried out without incident. The only unusual concern regarding censorship, occurred when a new censorship regulation was issued concerning the privilege of including the units location with the body of personal correspondence. This matter was looked into, and it was found permissible to include the unit location, provided it was operating in what was considered a non-combat zone. This organization allowed this privilege for a few days, provided the mention of the location was general rather than specific, for instance; you could say I am located “somewhere in the Myitkyina area”, whereas you couldn’t say, “I am located in Myitkyina”, and within the same letter mention the fact that you went swimming in the Irrawaddy River. This instance did not in any way cause any unusual circumstances because after a few days, the imminence of a move into China, which was an active theater, became a possibility and disallowed the use of present location because of a possible move into an active theater.

PERSONNEL

The processing of personnel records continued throughout this period. An increased number of both Officers and Enlisted Men were returning to the Zone of Interior, under the Personnel Readjustment Plan. Excess crews were likewise returning to the Zone of Interior in increased numbers.

Rest leaves for all personnel that could possibly be spared, were made possible, and practically all the Group and Squadron personnel have been give the opportunity of going to rest camp, for ten (10) day period.

It was during this period, that the organization was awarded its third battle star, for participation in the Central Burma campaign.

SUPPLY

Supply activities for this period, included the inventory and return of excess equipment, which was returned to the 52nd Air Service Group.

The processing of men returning to the Zone of Interior continued throughout the entire organization.

All APCC items were picked up in Calcutta, through the cooperation of the 52nd, which unit has been exceedingly cooperative, and has gone out of their way to render good service to this organization.

The convoy of fifteen (15) trucks following the route from Chittagong to Sylhet by train, thence by road through Shillong, Gauhati, Chabua, Ledo, finally arrived in Myitkyina on the 12th.

The only mishap during the entire trip was the loss of a water carrier, which was hit from behind by a six by six truck, and was rendered to damaged to continue the remainder of the trip. The convoy was forced to leave the disabled water carrier on the side of the road between Shillong and Gauhati, and notified the base organization at Shillong, who later picked it up.

The housing facilities for all units ere more than adequate, and an improved grade of food is now being received by all units.

MEDICAL

Conditions improved in all units. Communicable disease rates were very low. Five (5) cases of what appeared to be Lymphocytic Choric-meningitis were experienced in the units located at Myitkyina East, but diagnosis at the 18th General Hospital was not made, as they were merely designated as “Fever of Undetermined Origin”. All cases recovered fully.

The venereal disease rates for units of this organization were as follows: Headquarters 1st CC Group 00.00, 2nd CC Squadron 00.00, 3rd CC Squadron 65.33, 4th CC Squadron 00.00, 345th Airdrome Squadron 82.28, 346th Airdrome Squadron 00.00, 347th Airdrome Squadron 00.00,. There were no cases of malaria throughout the entire period.

ENGINEERING

The maintenance of all aircraft throughout the organization could be considered top-flight for this period. The 4th CC Squadron and 347th Airdrome Squadron were faced with the problem of continuing maintenance on C-47’s for operational purposes, and also were receiving a transition course on the maintenance of C-46’s for training purposes, at the same time.

Most of the C-47’s that started overseas with the unit one year ago, have seen their better days and will probably be sent to the Bengal Air Depot fir DIR. An inspection of these older aircraft revealed that they have taken quite a pounding in carrying out what was probably the most important phase of air-supply in the war.

The usual amount of twenty-five (25), fifty (50), and one-hundred (100) hour inspections of aircraft have been accomplished during this period.

COMMUNICATIONS

A monthly inspection of all squadron communications sections has revealed all to be in sound condition.

The course of Loran instruction was now in its last stages, and should be concluded early next month. These courses in Loran continued on ground mock-ups.

SPECIAL SERVICE

Special Service activities remained much the same as those of preceding periods.

At least three (3) movies were available weekly at Myitkyina East, and every night at Bhamo and Hathazari. We had a faulty projector at Myitkyina East, plus an unpredictable generator, both of which effected the movie showings at that base. Later in the month, a new projector was received and the showings from then on, were suitable to all concerned. The best feature picture shown during this period was “Objective Burma” starring Errol Flynn and Henry Hull. This picture was well received because it was an almost completely vivid description of the natural Burma we were then enduring, and it was likewise good to know that the people back home were getting a somewhat realistic view of what it looks like on this side of the world.

The delivery of news sheets, and the oral recitation of the news over the public address system prior to each movie performance continued.

USAFI courses were still accessible to all who were interested, and those already enrolled continued working toward the completion of their courses.

Squadron Day Rooms were in good order, and every effort has been made to insure the receipt of all necessary equipment to make these Day Rooms as homey, and comfortable as possible.

Reading material has been distributed throughout the units, and all units seemed satisfied with the variety and quantity of reading material available.

The PX continued to operate to the satisfaction of all concerned.

Softball and volley-ball tournaments remained impossible, due to weather conditions.

RED CROSS

The number of cases handled by the Red Cross Field Director, for this period, was exactly the same as that of last month, which totaled sixty-nine (69). In a few instances, some personnel were returned to the Zone of Interior on emergency leave, when through Red Cross channels, matters of major importance, demanding the return of such personnel, were made apparent.

The number of loans allowed decreased over this period, and the six (6) loans made, were all for personnel going on rest leave.

The Red Cross Field Director, no longer serves the 283rd Dispensary, as it has become detached from this organization.

While at Myitkyina East, Burma the Field Director, Mr. MacKenzie, assisted the four (4) Red Cross girls, who ran a canteen on that base. The Red Cross Club, which was the first located on any base we have operated from, offered much in the lines of simple diversion, and had a morning and evening doughnuts and coffee snack time. The Red Cross Club also had a tennis and volley-ball court and these were put to good use by the Enlisted Men. Ping Pong, bridge, and pinochle tournaments were other highlights of the many recreational activities offered by the Red Cross.

Relationship between the Red Cross and this organization remained excellent.

CHAPLAIN

During this period an evening fellowship service created a thriving interest in Bible Study. Much satisfaction was derived by those participating and many, for the first time, dis some well disciplined reading of the Bible.

On the occasion of the Chaplain’s temporary illness an Enlisted Man willingly stepped in and took full responsibility for two (2) Sunday services. He was ably assisted throughout by the Chaplain’s assistant, Cpl, Walter E. Anderson, who was also responsible for conducting a third service.

Catholic mass was made possible every Sunday, by a visiting priest from the Myitkyina area.

JAMES D. GRIFFIN

Major, Air Corps

Historical Officer

APPROVED:

WILBUR B. SPRAGUE JR.

Major, Air Corps

Commanding

1st Combat Cargo Group Unit History July 1945

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