Expeditionary Air Forces' Roots in the Past: Cactus Air Force
Abstract
This paper is primarily a description of the state of aircrew training and the maintenance and logistics practices employed by an early example of an Expeditionary Air Force: the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal in 1942. Secondarily it compares the training, maintenance and logistical problems dealt with by Cactus personnel with the modern AEF now in development. Information for WWII-era Cactus Air Force issues was obtained by literature review and archive research. Current AEF information is from open sources and is widely available. Problems faced and solved by Cactus Air Force are lessons learned that we may be able to use to save time, money, and lives as we develop AEF concepts. The paper examines and enumerates Cactus problem areas and some of their solutions. The lack of training for the crews who arrived on Guadalcanal, codenamed Cactus, on 20 and 22 August 42 caused a number of pilots to lose their lives. The lack of preparation for the conditions they would be working and living under dramatically affected how the maintenance was handled. Enemy activity prevented the initial supply stocks from disembarking, and subsequent sustainment operations were chronically threatened. The greatest assets the Cactus Air Force people had were a diehard attitude and a will to win. The technological leap forward from World War II to This paper is primarily a description of the state of aircrew training and the maintenance and logistics practices employed by an early example of an Expeditionary Air Force: the Cactus Air Force on Guadalcanal in 1942. Secondarily it compares the training, maintenance and logistical problems dealt with by Cactus personnel with the modern AEF now in development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1999
- Accession Number
- ADA397327
Entities
People
- Michael F. O'neal
Organizations
- Air University