The
y
Foreword
Contributions of the Corps of Engineers to victory in war, and to
our
country's peacetime history,
and
appreciated.
The
skill
and versatility of this talented
body of soldiers met a supreme test
in opera-
tions against the Japanese, many of which were conducted in
the most primi-
tive and undeveloped regions of the world. Engineers
built the Alaska
Highway,
Canol, and the Ledo Road in Burma. They cleared
the jungles
to build airfields for heavy bombers and supervised the
work of
Filipinos,
They
built
ports, roads, and docks where none had existed. Indeed,
one of the most
familiar recollections of the U.S. veteran
of the war against Japan is the
ubiquitous engineer operating
a
bulldozer.
Dr. Dod's subject is vast and varied, and he has worked
hard and capably
to fit it into the confines of a single volume. He has
made an original
contribution to knowledge in the highly technical areas of Engineer
prob-
lems, organization, equipment, supply, administration, and
operations.
HAL C. PATTISON
Brigadier General, USA
Ph.D.
in
history
and has taught history
U.S.
and as historian with the Historical
Division
in the Office of the Chief of
Engineers, and subsequently served in the U.S.
Army with the Field Artil-
lery.
After the war he joined the
Office of the Chief Engineer,
Army
Forces,
Pacific, as a civilian historian. In
1950 he rejoined the
Engineer Historical
member ever since. He
is coauthor of Volume
I, Engineers in Theater Operations,
and author of
Volume
of the Southwest
U.S. Army
the defense build-up in
1939 and ends with the Japanese surrender
aboard the battleship Missouri
on 2 September
1945. Geographically,
Engineer operations extended from
the Panama Canal to India and
from Alaska to Australia,
in actual or poten-
tial areas of conflict. The author has
attempted
not
only
to depict various
types of Engineer operations but also to
indicate how Engineer work helped
implement Allied
of the Engineer posi-
tion in the command structure and a general
account of both Engineer
combat and service missions within
a given theater.
Above all, the author has to indicate
the many problems that
had to be resolved—problems stemming
from terrain and climate, from
the
organizational shortcomings,
Japanese
I wish
to acknowledge my indebtedness to present
and
former colleagues
Jesse
A.
valuable advice
and encouragement. Miss Lenore Fine
offered many helpful suggestions.
Miss Louise Marr did research
and drafted sections on the defense
tri-
angle and on the 1945 Southern Philippines
Campaign. Dr. Leslie Anders
prepared the initial drafts for the
chapters on the China-Burma-India
theater. Dr.
J. Deacon wrote the first draft on
the Alcan High-
way, and Mr. David
Latt did the initial research on the engineers
in Panama
and Alaska. I am indebted to
a large
number of Engineer officers who
were
participants in the war against
Japan
errors of
In this
C.E., Maj.
H. Leavey (Ret.),
George
J. Nold (Ret.), Col. Earl
North (Ret), Maj. Gen. Bernard
L. Robinson (Ret.), Col. Harry A.
Skerry
(Ret.), Lt. Gen. Samuel D. Sturgis,
Jr. (Ret.), Maj. Gen. Leif J.
Sverdrup
ix
(AUS, Ret), Brig. Gen. Benjamin
B. Talley (Ret.), Lt. Gen. Walter
K.
Wilson, Jr., and
Col. Theodore Wyman, Jr. (Ret.). For
the facts presented,
I am
alone responsible.
Mrs. Caroline Moore and Mrs. Lois Aldridge of
the World War II Ref-
erence
Branch,
Service,
were most helpful in
locating engineer files. Many typists
in the
Historical Division labored over the manuscript,
but special credit is due
to Mrs. Margaret Lillian Tucker, who typed
the final version of the manu-
script. Mr. George H. Weitzel of the
U.S. Army Engineer District
Office
in Baltimore prepared the maps.
I am also indebted to members of
the Office of the Chief of
Military
History, especially to Dr. Stetson
Conn, Chief Historian,
and to Dr. John
Miller, jr., who, as Deputy Chief
Historian, offered numerous valuable sug-
gestions fo r improving the
manuscript. M r. David Jaffé was
responsible
for
the final editing, assisted by
Mrs. Marion P. Grimes. Miss Mary
Ann
Bacon, Chief of the Editorial Branch,
gave valuable advice in the editing
of the manuscript.
index.
Baltimore,
Maryland
18
Early War Plans and the Corps of
Engineers. 3
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Supplies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 8
War Appears
Imminent...................................
Preparations
Bataan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5
IV. BUILD-UP IN THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Australia—The First Days. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Preparing for
the Offensive................................ 153
V . FIRST OFFENSIVES:
Guinea........................ 173
Engineers in
225
Logistic Support. . . . . . . .
272
xi
Strengthening Alaska's Defenses
The Engineers Organize fo r War. . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 340
Protection Against Air
Change in O rgan iza tion
................................... 360
I X . AFTER MIDWAY
1943
387
Renewed Priority on Airfields. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
UARY 1945 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Directs a n All-out E f f o r t . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 2 6
..................................... 463
T h e Marshalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 7 6
Logistical Support From Hawaii.
..................................... 506
THE SOUTHWEST P A C I F I C . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . .
520
The
Advance
to Biak..................................... 520
Logistical S u p p o r t . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4 2
Western
and the
Moluccas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
561
P H I L I P P I N E S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . .
Leyte and Mindoro.......................................
570
of Manila Bay ........
Philippines
and
Okinawa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1942-1 OCTOBER 1 9 4 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 4
B. TYPES OF ENGINEER UNITS
AND THEIR FUNCTIONS. 685
BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
INDEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
0 5
and Lines of Engineer Technical
Super-
vision, Southwest Pacific Area, 1 May 1 9 4
2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Maps
No.
5 . Philippine I s l a n d s . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 56
6. Bataan, 1942 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 86
8. Pacific
9 . Papua . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1 7 3
10. Milne Bay, August 1 9 4 2 . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
176
xiii
13. Airfields Constructed or Improved
by the Commonwealth of Australia
fo r th e United States Army up to
31 December
1 9 4 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
14 .
Decem-
1 9 4 2 - 4 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 277
16.
Aleutian
19. Makin A t o l l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
382
388
22. T he Ledo Road. . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 474
2 3 .
Kwajalein Island. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4 7 7
24. South Marianas and S a i p a n . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 494
25. Guam, 1945 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 504
2 7 . Hollandia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 5 2 8
28. The Southern
29 .
3 1 . Okinawa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 6 4 2
32.
Pipelines
667
33. Planned Attack on J a p a n . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 676
Illustrations
Brig.
Gen. Eugene R e y b o l d . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
Malinta Tunnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
7
Maj. Gen.
Hugh J. Casey and Brig. Gen.
Leif J. Sverdrup . . . . . . . . . . . . .
131
An
142
Nouméa, N ew Caledonia . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6
T he Moresby C a u s e w a y . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
184
Buna
Area
43d at Dobodura Strip No. 1 . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Improvised
Bridge
Over
Entrance
Creek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 201
Chow Time at a Native Labor C a m p . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
204
Airstrip at Dobodura, Showing
R e v e t m e n t s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 221
xiv
Page
Moving
Supplies on the Rebuilt Railroad, N o u m é
a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
A Section of the Oro Bay-Dobodura Road. . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
A Corduroy Road, N ew Georgia
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 250
Base
Engineer Troops Making Their
Own H a r d w a r e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 262
Construction of the
First Steel Building at Milne
B a y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2 9 4
Constructing a Pacific Hut on K i s k a . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
298
Brig. Gen.
Skagway Harbor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 0 4
Trucking Supplies Through M u d . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 06
Alcan Highway
Peace River Suspension Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 6
Refinery a t W h i t e h o r s e . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 337
A Pipeline Carried on a T r e s t l e . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 338
King's
Wharf,
Butaritari,
Makin
Atoll . . . . . . . . . . .
395
Native
Bridge on the Refugee T r a i l . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 407
A Pipeline Carried on an A - F r a m e . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
442
Stringing a Ferry Cable Across the
S a l w e e n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 460
Footbridge
and Ferry on the S a l w e e n . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
461
A
Japanese Pillbox, K w a j a l e i n . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 481
Guam Landing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
Floating Ponton Pier, S a i p a n . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512
Engineers of the 1881st With Full
Jungle
5 4 5
O ro B a y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 2
Section of the Map Distribution Area, F i n
s c h h a f e n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
555
Dredging
Coral
Repairs
605
Infantry Support Rafts on the Pasig River .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 1
6
Laying
622
6 2 3
Trucks Negotiate the Villa Verde T r a
i l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 630
Filipinos Help Construct a Road, L u z o
n . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
631
Japanese Truck Supporting a
637
Airfield Construction, Iw o J i m a . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
6 5 9
Three Examples of Bridging in the C B
I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
665
All illustrations are from Department
of Defense files.
xv
on 7 December 1941 found the
Corps of
Engineers, like the rest of the
Military
Establishment, in the midst of
feverish
defense preparations. The Corps had
been
defenses in Panama, Alaska,
units were engaged in a wide
variety
of
urgent
ing
conditions,
bulwark on many fronts, the
engineers
were engaged in the vital
mission of
carry out their
fronts and
much progress had been made in the rel-
atively short time since the defense
build-up began.
of an effort gradually getting under
way
from small beginnings and destined
eventually to assume tremendous pro-
portions.
Corps
of
Engineers
The
United
with Japan for many years before
Pearl
Harbor. Soon
broke out. The first strategic
plan, War
with
the
to
seize
the
the Philippines, and
growing power and the low
state
of
dependence of the
should not
"strategic triangle," should
1) The last
1938,
sumed that after a period of
strained
relations, Japan would attack without
MAP 1
lihood seize Guam and the
Philippines.
Enemy
make
raids
on
Canal
might
be
wrecked
by
sabotage
or
by
naval
the
Pacific
Canal, while two more would be in re-
serve. Since it was assumed the
Philip-
pines would soon be
the Navy, with
Army support, would
the time
the Japanese home islands.
was
magnitude. The Army's strategic plan
fo r a war
neer
Command:
The
First
WORLD WAR II (Washington, 1962), pp. 21-30.
(2) Louis Morton, "American
(December,
Chief of Staff:
Army
Reg Doc
AND ALASKA
cavalry.
2
battalions and 13 light ponton compa-
nies would
sepa-
rate
com-
ply battalions, a topographic
An section would serve
be formed.
Corps
of
meet
Engineer
officers
183,455. There were but ten engineer
units—7 combat regiments, 2 of them
at
full strength, parts of 2
squadrons,
and
a
undermanned
units of the National Guard—18 combat
regiments, 4 squadrons, and a
general
ganization and
eral service. There were besides, 8,057
Engineer Reserve officers available fo
r
duty.
4
inade-
quate
both a combat arm and a
supply service,
would have to discharge in
the course of
a bitter and probably prolonged struggle
in the Pacific. On far-flung
battlefronts
of that enormous area engineer units
would be called upon to remove mines,
cut through barbed
pair
roads
to
enable
have to put troops across
streams. D u r -
have to try to
bridges, blowing up supplies, and at
times fighting as infantry.
missions—to build fortifications, con-
struct airfields, camps, hospitals,
operate
railroads;
5
impor-
Army; and at the same time procure
the
necessary
supplies.
6
2
4
OCE,
Covering
Mil Activities of the
CE for FY Ending 30 Jun 38, pp. 3, 4, 10, 12, 13.
5
(1) 41 Stat. 759. (2) Respo nsibility for
the repair
an d
Chester
ties, Organization,
(Washington,
its World War II mission are discussed in
Blanche
D. Coll, Jean E. Keith, and
Herbert H. Rosenthal,
The Corps of
UNITED STATES A R M Y IN WORLD WAR II
(Washington, 1958), pp. 3ff.
in time of war, their
responsibility for
military construction
in the
peacetime
was
storage space for
early 1930's,
placements and, by the late 1930's,
air-
craft
peacetime other than
force
Maj. Gen. Julian L. Schley, the
Chief
of Engineers,
in
Washington
prin-
engineer equipment.
This mission
John
J.
of the Office of the
Chief
of
Engineers.
only on-the-job
teen miles southwest
of Washington, was
specialized instruction to officers
and spe-
cially chosen enlisted
developed
construction. This, however, included
fortifications.
provement
flood control.
Corps had developed a
engineer
der the general direction of the
Chief
of
Engineers
and
office. At that time the Corps
was at
work on about
ects in the United
districts afforded
in good stead in time of war.
What is
already at hand to participate in any
de-
fense effort which might
Pacific
Outposts
against
Har-
7
(1)
OCE,
Annual Rpts Covering
Mil Activities of
the CE for FY Ending 30 Jun 37, pp. 4, 28-29;
FY
Ending 30 Jun 40, p. 39. (2) OCE,
Chart and Tabs
Engr Dept Work, FY's 1926-41,
p. 24. EHD Files. (3) Annual Rpt OCE, 1938,
p. 1.
(4) Incl, Appns for Mil and Civil Functions, CE,
to
Memo, C
6 Jun 55.
7
done and its location depended
largely
on the policies of the administration
in
Washington, the strategic planning of
the War Department, and the appropria-
tions voted by Congress. It was to be
assumed that by far the larger share
of
th e money for a defense build-up
would
it could
strengthening of seacoast defenses
bor-
dering on the Pacific.
The mounting international tension
Far East indicated that a
major
defense
build-up
Late in 1938, President Roosevelt advo-
cated that
territories,
hemisphere. Addressing
strong
million for armaments, half of it to be
spent
million dollars of the total would go
for
airplanes to bolster the air defenses
of
the
continental
prove seacoast
United States.
work
out
a
strategy
bilities, the War Department concen-
trated almost entirely on strengthening
the
United
attention, and Puerto Rico and the stra-
tegic triangle figured prominently in
the
early planning. In the words of
Brig.
Gen. George V. Strong, chief of the
War
Plans Division
chain."
9
House
during a hearing on a request for
funds,
Secretary of War Harry H. Woodring
and General Malin Craig, Chief of
Staff,
outlined their defense program. Like
the President, they
the need for
they considered the Canal Zone by far
the most important. General
there.
He
asked
for
States, the Canal Zone, and
Hawaii and
$4 million to build the first
air base in
Alaska.
would be needed to build technical
facil-
ities and temporary
requested
Framework of Hemisphere
ton,
1960),
1940 (New
(3) The Public Papers and
Addresses of Franklin D.
Roosevelt, compiled by Samuel I. Rosenman (New
York: The Macmillan Co., 1938-50),
1939 volume,
pp.
70-74.
9
GS, 6 May 39, with Incl. WPD 3807-31.
10
(1)
Statement
of
Woodring,
pp.
1-3;
(2)
State-
Affairs,
8
CORPS OF E N G I N E E R S : THE WAR
AGAINST JAPAN
Existing Defenses
the
Atlantic
posts,
the Pacific. Coast artillery and antiair-
craft batteries, searchlight positions, and
supply
on the Pacific coast, 50 air
miles
south-
Rio Hato had originally been a
private
landing strip, the property of the owner
of a nearby resort. The owner
gradu-
United States
and, in 1938, for $200 a month.
By 1939
Rio Hato had become so important for
defense that Air Corps commanders in
the Canal Zone
urged the War
ment to buy it or lease it on a
long-term
basis. In the Hawaiian chain,
almost
all
of Oahu. Here were the two
major
Army airfields, Wheeler, on the
central
plateau, and Hickam, on the southern
shore northwest of Honolulu. The
island was protected by numerous
sea-
coast batteries near Honolulu and Pearl
Harbor. Alaska had no military de-
fenses, the only Army installation in the
Territory being Chilkoot Barracks, some
15 miles south of Skagway. Army
and
Navy
planners
would
ama Canal, though
signed
and
built
more vul-
to
view when he wrote on 15
November
or carrier based aviation."
screen
of
America. There was no such barrier
in
the Pacific. The only islands on which
defenses could be built were
the
Galá-
pagos,
Cocos,
National Defense
Real
Estate Activi-
ties in the CDC, 1 Jul 46, vol I, p. 1.
(2) Preliminary
Study
6 Sep 39-31 Dec 45 (cited hereafter
as Prelim
Study),
II, 4. EHD Files. (3) Ltr, Acting SW to the
Presi-
dent, 22 Nov 39. WPD 3512-50.
12
ama) File 3, 1936-41.
HAWAII, AND
1940. By
money
War
987 for construction in the United States
and its outlying territories. The Chief
of Engineers got $2,721,960 to
improve
seacoast defenses, of which
in Hawaii.
Dur ing
the following
prove
seacoast
In July the Quartermaster
and its outlying
first money to be allotted to the War
Department for
Quartermaster Corps an additional $400,-
000 fo r the Alaskan
airfield
from the Canal Zone to Rio Hato
air-
field. By 1 September
of
$132,466,746
had
received
14
The
outbreak
fense appropriations.
1940, giving
was earmarked for Panama. Nothing
was given to the Engineers. This
was
the period of the "phony war." The
conflict
fo r funds. On 23 February, th e
Sub-
committee of the House Committee on
Appropriations began
ment had asked for
stallations in the triangle. Over $12
million was to go for a second air base
in Alaska at Anchorage and for the
stor-
age of gasoline and bombs in the Ter-
ritory. In the report made by the Ap-
propriations Committee to the House
on 3 April, the War Department's re-
quests for the
to the Senate, the
requested for Panama were only slightly
curtailed, but those for
Cong, 1st sess, 26 Apr 39.
(2) Public
(3) Public Law
Public Law 361,
Cong,
3d
sess,
Cong, 3d sess, Hearings on the Military
Establish-
ment Appropriations Bill for 1941, p. 375.
(3) Wat-
son, Chief of Staff, p. 165.
(4) S Subcom of Com on
Appns, 76th Cong, 3d sess, Hearings on
House
Report 9209, p. 5.
War Plans
revise
Plan
ORANGE
Munich, the
itself
Navy Board
began a
struggle with several countries. In
April
mittee reported that
pean axis in hostilities, the United States
could not go on the offensive in the
Pacific,
ate
task
strengthen Hawaii,
proving
the
a number of possible war situations.
These plans were given the
code
name
committee completed
I—in
outbreak
The subsequent RAINBOW plans out-
lined,
mitments
going
department engineer,
ers from the Canal Zone
and Panama.
11th Engineer Combat Regiment, headed
by
main job of the combat engineers was
to train with the Canal Zone's
defense
forces,
help with construction. Hawaii had
two engineer organizations. At Fort
Shatter,
th e office of the department
engineer,
staff of Maj. Gen. Charles
D. Herron,
manded the Hawaiian Division's 3d En-
gineer Combat Regiment, stationed at
Schofield Barracks on the central pla-
teau, the only
Corps
16
sphere Defense, pp. 7-10. (2) Ray S.
Cline,
Wash-
UNITED STATES A R M Y IN WORLD WAR II
(Washington, 1951), pp. 55-57.
HAWAII, AND
building
flood
mel was district engineer,
serving under
the
There was no
as
who was
North Pacific Division Engineer. The
defense of the Territory was the respon-
sibility of Lt.
Gen. John L. DeWitt, com-
mander of the Fourth Army, with
head-
quarters in San Francisco.
th e outlying territories would pose
diffi-
culties. There were
few resources in
The Hawaiian chain,
of some 6,200 square miles,
had a popu-
centrated on the five major islands.
Oahu, with the capital city
of Honolulu,
production of pineapples and sugar
cane.
number of workmen required for an
extensive construction program would
The
Canal Zone, a strip of land
10 miles
wide through which
ran the vital
sected, had no industry to speak of,
no construction
products, principally brick and tile. Of
the three outlying territories,
one-fifth
United States, the Territory had a
scant
75,000 inhabitants. The almost com-
plete
absence
tance,
1940, the engineers
prove
fo r by the
Much
available for the fiscal year 1940 had
to
be spent for equipment. "Our dry sea-
son," Colonel North
127; app. A,
pp. 1-2. (2) Ltr, North to C EHD, 19 Jul 57.
EHD
Files. (3) Hist
Files.
18
314.7, KCRC.
set for a
equipment is here but w e must
have a lot more money which I under-
stand ... is in the War Department
Act
make all antiaircraft batteries
on the Pacific. But up to this time,
the
War Department had authorized no ad-
ditional construction at
the batteries ex-
cept the building of more gun blocks
at
fifteen of the fixed sites. Soon
after his
arrival, Van Voorhis and his staff
began
Panamanian Republic. If the Canal
were
fenses would have
Zone.
20
tional searchlights, and build
aircraft
warning stations. In view of the great
amount
of
more important installations, including
was engaged in a
Harbor,
had little to do with
Alaska. The Navy
the first construction fo r defense
in the
Territory. With
work on its new air bases at Kodiak
and
Sitka in
in
preparations to enable work to get under
way by spring on the air base at Fair-
banks, to be called Ladd Field. (Map
2)
In August a board of officers
proposed
that the War Department build several
operating and emergency airfields in
Alaska. The Civil Aeronautics Author-
ity
gram of building and improving
airfields
pecially interested in the one on Annette
Island at the southern tip of the
Alaska
of Yakuta t at the northern end.
With
fields
be able to make the
1,500-mile trip from
safety.
Early
Ltr, North to C Constr Sec Mil Div
OCE, 27
Dec 39. 451.2 pt. 4.
20
13 Feb 40, on Ltr,
C Constr Sec Mil Div OCE to Engr
PCD, 1 Feb 40.
660.283 (Panama) File 3, 1936-41.
21
26 Apr 39. House Subcom of the Com
on Appropri-
ations, 76th Cong., 1st
Department Civil Functions Appns Bill
for 1940, p.
61 . (2) Ltr, Maj Gen William H.
Wilson, CG HD,
to
TAG,
Hawaii 1939-41.
13
directed to make surveys for the
staging
fields to be built by CAA or the
Quar-
termaster Corps in the
began
to
survey
final
with
"phony
war."
States, and
(Washington,
1947)
Navy's Bases) I,
163, 169, 174.
600.1
(Ladd
Rpt of Bd of
(Alaska) 1939.
(4) Ltr,
SW to Chmn CAA, 4 Jan 40. WPD
(5) Ltr,
Kingman to CofAC, 6 Mar 40. 686
(Annette Island,
Alaska) vol. I,
JAPAN
Congress,
items
fo r the triangle that it had cut out a few
months
Corozal
base,
El-
for
sum was to be spent for installations
in
Panama and $599,686 for those in
Ha-
waii. Of the sum for Panama, $212,193
was to be used to improve fortifications,
$328,100 to complete work
batteries, $236,520 to build storage
for
ammunition, $1,120,000 to buy and in-
stall searchlights, and $1,000,000 to
put
in access roads.
fenses. On 19 July it passed the
"Two
Ocean
Navy
August it authorized the President to
call
passed
the
it enacted
legislation authorizing
to be increased to 1400,000 men.
The Joint Board accelerated work on
the RAINBOW plans. The fall of
France
had
caused
Atlantic. D u r -
which presupposed
possible operations
in the
dent Roosevelt
concentrated on
United
States
fensive in the Pacific.
two-ocean
garded the strengthening of the Canal
Zone as more urgent
antiaircraft
bat-
the joint command post
hired labor force trained in
fortifications
work. Construction was speeded up at
Rio Hato. During the summer part
of
the
the Air Corps, and some men loaned
by the
heavy equipment, which had to be
shipped by sea, since the road
from the
Canal
Zone,
Pan American Highway, would not hold
23
Public
24
sphere Defense, pp. 34-36, 92-93. (2)
Public Law
781,
76th
prevailed from May till
was
. . . con-
struction
slow."
26
the Canal Zone,
made back in
map certain
sible a
of
Panama.
Some
would have to be located there. New
defense
installations
tional roads. A big stumbling block
was securing land
States authorities wanted in the Repub-
lic were to be secured by
negotiations
with the
worked out. The War Department and
the State Department were making little
progress in persuading the Panamanian
Government to lease land for 999
years,
as American commanders
in the Canal
Zone wished. How
land
answer
27
April 1939 and July
1940 Congress had
appropriated $1,197,332 for improving
peacetime
defense
funds for fortifications, and in this
he
was wholeheartedly supported by Col.
Albert K. B. Lyman, who became depart-
ment engineer in July 1940. Herron
wanted more airfields and seacoast
bat-
teries, more antiaircraft guns and search-
lights. He was particularly anxious to
bombproof vital
planned
against bombing and to relieve
conges-
tion at Aliamanu Crater, the main
stor-
age area, about one mile east
of Pearl
Harbor. On 5 July he appointed a
board of officers to consider
all aspects
of defense against
military installations about to begin,
the
need for more
ing. They would have to be put in to
25
Cong,
40. (2) Hist Rcd of
the 11th Engrs, 1943. 314.7.
26
Ltr, North to C EHD, 19 Jul 57.
EHD Files.
27
CofEngrs, 29 Apr 40. 660.283 (Panama)
File 3, 1936-
Sec AGO HQ
16
CORPS OF E N G I N E E R S : THE WAR
AGAINST JAPAN
provide access to the new observation
posts, ant ia i rcraf t
batteries, seacoast
operations. The
type of warfare, troops, in order
to move
forward
or
could
be
built
eral
Herron "strongly recommended" to the
War Department
that a regiment of avia-
tion engineers, less
Washington was that
28
Especially
critical
had
made
stations. The members spent ten weeks
surveying
the air and on the ground. It was ap-
parent that the configuration of the archi-
pelago limited construction to a line
extending generally northwest and south-
east from Oahu. It would be
difficult
to detect
The members
would
est islands and an information center
at
Fort Shafter. The
fixed stations were
on Kauai. (Map 3) On Oahu, the
sta-
tion would be put on
steep
Schofield Barracks, while
Haleakala .
partment authorized construction, and in
July Lyman
him with the project. Building these
stations would not be easy, for the
sites
were remote and inaccessible. The sta-
tion on Mount Kaala would require
a
cableway to the summit to bring up sup-
plies.
the summer, Lyman
cess road to the lower terminal of
the
cableway to be built to the top of
Mount
Kaala.
29
Alaska. On 10 May the War Plans Di-
vision
had
8
(1) Rad, Herron to TAG, 8 Oct 40.
WPD 1928-
27 .
Jan 41. WPD
TAG, 15 Nov 40, basic unknown. 600-B
Hawaii,
1940-42, AAF, Central Files. (4)
Interstaff
Slip, Dept Engr to CofS HD, 4 Oct 40.
Engr AGF
PAC. (5)
(Hawaii) 106.
PAC, Sig 676.3. (2) 4th Ind, TAG to
Herron, 27
Jun 40, on
to
CofEngrs,
13
bases
was imperative.
battery
of
field
artillery
be
sent
the
Simon
sible to DeWitt. The first echelon
of
the garrison, numbering 751, reached
Anchorage on 27 June and included the
32d Engineer Combat Company (Sep-
arate) of 91
Field, where they began
bat
training.
study of Alaska's
strategic position, ad-
so that
without
rein-
Conn, Rose
Engelman, and
STATES A R M Y IN WORLD WAR II (Washing-
ton, 1964),
ch. IX.
THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN
contractors being employed to build the
naval bases be used to build
posts
for
and Navy policies with to Alaskan
defenses.
31
Since
Alaska
thought
was
given
DeWitt was directed to make a
study of
the
network
Plans Division proposed for the
Terri-
tory. Included was an
tions, three of them to be near the
naval
bases
sible, the
stations were
decide
located. Colonel
would be responsible for making surveys,
preparing estimates, and constructing the
buildings for housing the equipment.
After studies
of officers,
one
tector stations should eventually be in-
creased to 13. In August General
Mar-
He was in
and Anchorage, but wanted the 5
other
sites
resurveyed.
He
inhabited territory. Of
and
of defense, the weakest
point in the line
Anchorage,
trestles, thus providing attractive targets
fo r
railroad's management
was considering
six miles north of
influ-
War Department authorized Colonel Lee
to
investigate and consider three choices:
improving the line from Seward to
Anchorage, constructing
Railroad
off. While this shortened
miles
31
40. WPD 4297. (2)
bat) (Sep) While in
Aug 40. WPD
(2) Ltr,
ACofS WPD to TAG, 29 May 40. (3)
Note
for Rcd on Memo, Acting ACofS for TAG, 9
Dec 40.
(4) Memo,
3640-6.
THE DEFENSE TRIANGLE: P A N A M A ,
HAWAII, AND
ALASKA 19
Anchor-
Canal had an advantage over Anchorage
in that it was ice
free
the
recommendation that the job be given
to the Corps of Engineers.
33
More
important
Since
thought CAA would take too long.
Convinced that Annette, especially,
recom-
fact that
province of the
commander
building
site
reservation
Department of the Interior granted tem-
porary use of the land needed, with
the
employment
extensive,
with
long,
concrete
housing, and storage for supplies,
gaso-
line,
and
oil.
Engineers,
arrived at Annette three days later
and
immediately
went
to
work
additional funds for
mental Defense Appropriation Act for
the fiscal year 1941,
in the amount of
in a war with Germany, Italy, and
Japan.
plan, which presupposed such a
turn of
events, had by fall
been worked out in
Fourth
A r m y to Lee, 15 Jul 40. (3) Rpt of
Passage
Welling,
CE, and Mr.
James G. Truitt, c. 29 Jul 40. (4)
Ltr, DeWitt to
TAG,
34
TAG to CofEngrs, 25 Jul 40, basic unknown. (3)
Ltr, Acting Secy of the Interior to
SW, 6 Aug 40.
(4) Ltr, Dunn to Lee, 5 Oct 40. All in
868
(Annet te
Island, A laska), 1940-41, vol. I. (5) Maj
Gen George
J.
Nold,
Personal
Account.
of Hemi-
emphasis
in
Washington
ask-
to a minimum. Largely for this reason,
the
Chief
substantial role in the
transferring military construction from
neers. The centralized system
depart-
Van Voorhis' staff, handled
fortifications
work, but all other military construction
was the responsibility of the
constructing
quartermaster, who reported directly
with
design and contractual matters to his
superiors in Washington. General De-
Witt was of the opinion that The
Quartermaster Corps, although it did
excellent work,
build
Engineers'
technical
ability.
37
September President bill
neers
Corps. This authority was to
expire on
30
Secretary
38
serious
atingly
It took
Con-
gress
The War Department had to put detailed
plans for building into final
form.
Workmen had to be hired and
organized
cruiting workers, the Engineers
shipped as
over sites for installations. To many in
the War Department, the possibility
of
an attack on the triangle seemed remote,
with th e need for fast action
not
apparent.
sphere Defense,
41 .
with General DeWitt, 10 Apr 57. EHD Files.
38
ALASKA
21
cess roads. They made some progress on
Rio Hato.
November,
the
11th
Roads Administration, with funds sup-
plied by the Engineers,
set
Zone's
39
get work started on the aircraft warning
stations, and in
Besides
Canal, where experimental facilities were
already in place, Van
forty-six searchlight positions, some of
the
latter
Panama.
In
addition,
build a number of auxiliary airdromes
and landing fields in the Republic.
On
11 October he gave a list of the
desired
sites to the
on 2 October 1940,
the United States about
tenure
to
the
duration
sion
manians and two
formed Van
Voorhis that
it would
and locate the owners. On 30 Decem-
ber Van Voorhis forwarded a list of
the
most urgently
occupy
the
lands.
year,
problem.
41
the panhandle. The aviation engineers
at Annette were gaining experience on
their
men began clearing the runway sites.
Such problems as Major Nold had
were
mainly
with
39
Schley, 29 Aug 40, sub: Progress on Rio
Hato Road
Panama. 611 Panam a 1940-45.
40
W PD 2674-30. (2 ) Acquisition of
Land,
PCD, pp .
W PD 2674-31. (2) Acqu isition of Land,
PCD, pp.
23-25.
Metla-
inform
supplies and that Nold had exceeded his
authority by getting water for his
camp
from a lake outside the area set
aside
for
to meet some of their demands. He
hired some fifty
at some distance from the soldiers'
bivouac to
lessen chances
of friction.
pretty well and satisfied the
Indians."
43
adequate source
Nold's
the
Indians
Under that organization's regulations,
Nold set out to have the CCC regulations
changed, but without success, at
least not
then. There
technicians about the inadequate rations
fo r the
gan to arrive. By the end of the year
the dock had been finished and the
camp was nearing
44
On 23 October Capt. Benjamin B. Talley
with Company B of the 28th Engineers
and a few civilians arrived from Annette.
No CCC labor was desired and
none
was
canning, a local company leased its
buildings,
year, clearing for the runways was
about
fields in the Alaska panhandle.
45
Engineers
to
spring on the cut-off for the
Alaska Rail-
to
Colonel
tun-
Railroad lay the track. On 9 December
the War Plans Division ordered construc-
tion of aircraft warning stations
at
Kodiak, Sitka, and Fairbanks and an in-
formation center at Anchorage. DeWitt
now recommended that one or more
sta-
Prince of
protection almost to the Arctic
Circle,
42
Island, Alaska), 1940-41, vol.
44
pt. I. (2) Ltr,
(2) Ltr, Dunn
Semimonthly
Rpt,
86 (Yak utat Airfield), pt. I.
AND ALASKA
suggestion under study. Preparations
now vitally
sance flight and Company D of the
29th
located.
only those who
roads and
trails, since
portant as building new roads.
Ur-
gently needed was a connecting link
between Wahiawa on the
supplies moving to the coastal defenses.
Also of great benefit would be
double-
tracking
part
passes where
the railroad
such
projects.
gineers began work
the aircraft warning station on Mount
Kaala. There were indications that
build-
ing
site
atop
Park. Park
but they were opposed to having
struc-
tures erected which would "materially
alter the natural appearance of the
reser-
vation." They
recruit work-
master
large part of the labor force in
the
Islands. By late 1940, various
military
units, such as the Hawaiian Separate
Coast
Division, were
trails
tional defense
workers
46
(1) 1st Ind, TAG to CofEngrs, 30 Oct 40, on
Ltr,
DeWitt
Ltr, Dunn
to
Lee,
7 Dec 40. Both in 617 (Alaska). (3)
Note for Rcd
on Memo,
Acting ACofS
WPD 3640-6. (4)
(Alaska) pt. I.
47
Incl to Ltr, Talley to C EHD, 6 Nov 57. EHD
Files.
48
4 Oct 40. (2)
Engr
Wyman, 7 Nov 40. Engr AGF PAC, 676.3.
(4) Ltr,
Short to
Hearings Before the Joint Committee on
the Investi-
gation of the Pearl Harbor Attack
(cited hereafter as
Pearl Harbor Hearings, 79th Cong, 1st
sess, pt. 30,
pp. 3005-3006). (5)
Engr AGF PAC, 611.
eration, because
of the
minister a large
number of workmen.
construction firms under lump-sum
con-
tracts. This would mean advertising
the
and
giving
tractor to finish the job within
the speci-
fied time.
struction firm under a
cost-plus-a-fixed-
fee contract. This type
especially when
and specifications. Congress had
first au-
thorized its use in August 1939 for con-
struction in Panama and Alaska. In July
1940 Congress approved its use
without
the new arrangement, the War Depart-
ment selected a firm it
considered quali-
fied and negotiated an agreement.
Ad-
vertising, receiving bids, and awarding
the job to the lowest
responsible bidder
arrangement—were eliminated.
To qual i fy for the new type
of contract a
firm
work.
by the Advisory Commission to the
Council of National Defense. The con-
tractor
furnished
his
organization
and
his
know-how
pected
additional equipment, which it
a fee, the amount of
which
which
mates
were
in peacetime. In
use.
49
In
cussed ways and means of
accomplishing
construction with Col. Warren
to the
general, Hannum
posed to using cost-plus-a-fixed-fee
con-
tracts. But in view of the fact that
the
Navy was using this type of agreement
extensively in the Islands and
since
there
fications, negotiating a cost-plus-a-fixed-
49
Remington,
Military
manuscript in
contractors, Wyman could find none
in
man
that
he
come
Rohl-Connolly Company, the W. E.
Callahan Construction
Company, and
Gunther & Shirley
Company. Rohl-
Engineers
and
other
among
them
Parker, Arizona.
Engineers,
visory Commission to the Council of
National Defense,
with the three firms, who formed
a
joint
ing
making additions to the radio station at
Fort
The
Hawaiian
Constructors
would
re-
from
would
be
responsible
of the engineer in charge of the
field area
in
which
gineer
supply
job sites, for
would be to recruit workers in the
United States to build up a
construction
construction for the Army from the
Quartermaster Corps to the Corps of En-
gineers, discussions began in the War
Department
about
trans-
Air Corps was transferred to the En-
gineers, except
in the
Air Corps
sion of responsibility
would have been
the
while in the triangle, the first ones
were
scheduled for transfer early in
1941.
Military commanders in Hawaii and
Alaska believed the transfer did not go
far enough. On 16 December,
General
DeWitt
two parts of the Anchorage
construction
. . . are
efficient and expeditious job cannot
be
done, if both the Quartermaster
Corps
50
(1)
Pearl
mony
1 0 6 0 f f .
(3) Ltr, Asst Dept IG to CG HD, 4 Nov
41. Engr
AGF
to CG CPA, 14 Mar 44. Engr AGF
PAC, Contracts,
160, vol. I.
Herron
Islands transferred to the Engineers,
radioing the War Department on 6 De-
cember 1940
work would mean duplication of organi-
zation
ing quartermaster's entire organization,
Hawaii was "not favorably
added to
their responsibilities
51
in the United States. (2) Memo, CofS
for SW, 1
Apr 41. G-4/31324. (3) Ltr,
DeWitt
40. (4) Rad, Herron to TAG, 6 Dec
40. (5)
DCofS
G-4 to TAG, 31 Dec 40. Last three in
AG
600.12
(11-19-40)
The first months
pointed
to
ican and British military and naval
planners, meeting in Washington from
late January through March to
assign
areas
of
responsibility
egy, agreed
that the
if it was drawn into the war. In
a strategy
at first defensive, American forces
would
attempt
to
hold
South
America.
sending
Britain
virtually a belligerent. A month
later,
Russia and Japan signed a 5-year
neu-
trality pact.
after Germany invaded the Soviet Union
on 22 June. With the USSR engaged
in a
desperate struggle in
sively
posts anxiety
January Secretary of the Navy Frank
Knox
Stimson of his
dissatisfaction with the
Islands; he was especially apprehensive
over the possibility of an attack by
car-
rier planes.
the urgency of preparing a
co-ordinated
defense, reassured Knox that Hawaii was
"the best
con-
all defense
to
construction
fense work, stated
might
post, he informed
General Marshall re-
1
Conn
Defense, pp. 98-99, 101. William
L. Langer and S.
Everett
Gleason,
2
3
3583-1.
4
106.
ing the Islands. He hoped to
build
roads
and
trails.
ibbean Defense Command—was estab-
lished in February under General Van
Voorhis,
who
press fo r
He
wanted
aircraft
stressed
Island in the Aleutians
take a strong interest in
CAA's plans for
a network of airfields in the
Territory.
preparations, DeWitt made repeated at-
tempts to have construction of the
fields
of military value
took over construction for the Air Corps
in Hawaii and Alaska. In
Hawaii,
the
on 1 January he had a fund of
$18 mil-
lion for such work. Most
of the con-
projects
of approximately
age for
doubtedly soon be necessary.
recom-
G-4 on 4 January directed the Engineers
to take over
later.
Ladd,
be-
ing
worked
tel, McCone, and Parsons, was 80 percent
finished. For better supervision of the
engineers' growing
office at
ferred from the 28th Engineers
at
Yakutat.
expect
an
plies and mounting transportation prob-
lems. In addition,
1st
DeWitt
Kennedy and Maj Frank M. Paul, AC, 3
Jan 41.
68 6 (Airfields) pt. 2, Serials
81-200. (2) 2d
Ind,
29
Panama
in January, a great push forward in
con-
struction
in
Panama
was
possible.
But
it
held
back
by
of land. On 5 March, the Panamanian
Government stated it would be
willing
to
turn
sites
Army,
pro-
vided
the
States occupy
final
airfields
7
the War Department directed General
Schley to
structing quartermaster in Panama to
finance work on the new
fields.
Van
pointed out
full schedule
gineer troops and the
Panama, so that assigning the jobs to the
quartermaster would seem
B. Somervell, Chief, Construction
eral,
agreed
the Engineers and have them do the jobs.
Two companies of the 11th Engineers
were assigned to the fields. In
March
the 805th Engineer Aviation Company
to help with
United
engineer was taken in May by the com-
mander of the
11th Engineers, Colonel
few
labor was almost exhausted, Young
planned to recruit additional workmen
and purchase large quantities of equip-
ment and supplies in the United
States.
of surfacing
were under
cently
season would
Somervell to CofEngrs, 12 Dec 40,
basic u n k n o w n .
Engr AGF PAC, QM 600.1 C-C
(Hawaii). (3) Ltr,
SPD
Engr
to CofEngrs, 7 Dec 40. Engr
AGF PAC.
(4) Ltr, Acting Asst CofS G-4 to
TQMG, 7 Jan 41.
G4/30436-13. (5) Lt Col
Rpt of Alaska Constr 1941-44, pp.
12, 441. C 12027,
KCRC.
7
Conn, Engelman, and
WPD for
Voorhis to TAG, 12 Apr 41. Last two in
WPD
2674-34.
8
(1)
Memo,
Engineering
(Panama)
C Fortification Sec OCE for CofEngrs, 25 Apr
41.
Both in 686 (Panama) 1940-41. (3) Prelim
Study, I,
MAP 4
begin any
the United States were not expected for
some time. In May, Andrews
put the
fact that
ting proper training as
strips
were
ways sufficiently graded to allow
planes
to land. Two auxiliary
gency strips developed into auxiliary
air-
the original plans had not
specified hard-
surfacing. The
engineers experimented
aircraft
warning
at
Almirante,
hard to
by plane or
31
sites
Van
ing the system further. The local
joint
board wanted five more stations in
Pan-
ama,
and
proposed
th e summer an fall of
1941 despite th e
downpours
tional handicaps
the "lack of money, of
authority, and of
certain equipment for special
acquisition of
land continued
the
worked
transfer of tracts. In July two U.
S.-
Panamanian
boards
other
well, and by late August the additional
tracts which Van Voorhis had requested
late in April had
been surveyed and Pan-
ama had authorized their
Canal
for airfields. Tracts needed
as enough men and materials were on
hand to make occupation practicable.
Negotiations for a permanent settlement
of the leasing
authorities or the
despite
the demands of the Air Corps. Planning
to
Andrews wanted more of the emergency
strips converted
ing of the
rainy
season
wore
stitute
for
asphalt
improvement agreed to by
Chorrera and the two at La
Joya, into
fo r the runways.
tors,
the quartermaster in Panama, would
probably have to be employed. More
money was requested but the War De-
partment did not want to ask Congress
for additional sums until more
land had
9
(1 ) Prelim Study, II , 9-12,
2 3 0 f f . (2 ) Note fo r
Rcd on Memo, WPD for C AAF, 24 Sep 41. WPD
4186-17.
10
11
Conn, Engelman,
Gleason, Un-
32
CORPS
OF E N G I N E E R S : THE WAR
AGAINST
JAPAN
projects, hoping that he would later
be
reimbursed. Improvements of airfields
construction
at
Chame
was
Chorrera
warning
stations
entry
stations on the Pacific
side, General Van
Voorhis pressed for the completion of all
seven stations. Colonel Young believed
there were
work on what he called the
"elaborate
barracks" at the stations until essential
apparatus had been installed. The
other
ress on such important installations
as
searchlights and
antiaircraft batteries.
porting men and supplies to the remote
sites, one of the prime causes of
delay.
As recommended by the local joint
board, early in September Van Voorhis
asked Washington to approve construc-
tion of several more stations in Panama
and in
devote
with a suggestion made in the
spring of
1941 by Col.
he prepared
of
se t
because the river did not present a
straight line or follow the
contours of
the Canal. The third,
by the Chemical
Van Voorhis and proved as insistent
as
his predecessor
ages of workmen and equipment. On
1
July Colonel
th e
tion. On 16 July, Young received
mission
a
week.
In
Contractors working
for the
Prelim Study, II, pp. 12-14. (3)
Memo, C Constr
Sec
Pan
Engr
CDC 686 (Airfield Facilities, Pan).
13
II, 232-34. (2) Note for Rcd
on Ltr, WPD to C AAF, 24 Sep 41. WPD
4186-17.
14
(1)
fied with
the 56-hours-a-week
others as
been
possible
except
extend the work week.
As part of an
for
fo r additional machinery.
providing housing,
and getting
m aterials.
pushed with the beginning of the dry
season in
January. Late
and in the
following months additional
difficulty arose in October when, in
a
coup d'etat, President Arias was replaced
by
th e change of
was stalemated again.
winter, the tempo of work in
Alaska
quickened.
raised from 7,300 men to over
18,500.
In May
engineer construction battalion be
sent
to Fort
gineers, who had more than enough to
do in working on facilities for their
camp, improving roads, and engaging in
combat
prepare
ing
garrison.
By
early
May
Col.
Rich-
ard
fo r
th e
housing
tion, except at the naval
stations, where
Colonel Dunn received
airfields
and
naval
arrived
in
Alaska
ardson Highway, and a number of major
routes regularly flown by
(1) Watson , Chief of Staff,
pp. 462-65. (2) 1st
Ind, 6 Aug 41, on Ltr, TAG to OCE, 29
Jul 41.
600.1 (Pan 1941-45) pt. 3. (3) Ltr, OCE
to SW , 15
Oct 41,
2250,
sition of Land, PCD, p. 40.
16
(1)
in Alaska.
(3) Ltr, Park to Schley, 8 May 41.
(4) Memo, G-4
for TAG, 18 Apr 41. Last two in
600.1 (Alaska)
May
40-Oct 41. (5) Ltr, DeWitt to
TAG, 12 Feb 41.
061.01 (Alaska) pt. 1. (6)
List
of
Units
Railroad.
17
tion
he had received and found that the
lower
one was about 35 percent above the en-
gineers' estimate
bidders,
ing to
and
ing defense construction.
delay,
The job was to begin in July.
19
General DeWitt again advocated that the
work
be
turned
airdromes in the Territory suitable for
military
were
Witt recommended that the War Depart-
ment
but did agree that the CAA program
should be
M a n y
Engineers to do the work because they
questioned whether the runways and
facilities
quate for Army planes. Countering this
view, CAA assured the War Department
tha t the facilities and runways would
be
adequate
and
th e
before
spring had come, construction could be
expedited.
fields had
others would
suaded
ment decided not to press the matter, and
by the end of June CAA had let contracts
for four additional fields.
Alaska
he
The ones at Anchorage and
Fairbanks,
begun early by the Quartermaster Corps,
were
to, or Scheduled fo r Alaska, 28 Mar 41.
WPD
4464-9.
17
(Alaska).
19
(1) Ltr , DeWitt to TAG, 1 May
41. 600.1
(Alaska) pt. I. (2) Ltr, DeWitt to
TAG, 1 May 41.
600.1 (Alaska) May 40-Oct 41. (3) DF, WPD
to
Spec Staff, Army Avn,
19 Jun 41. WPD 4503. (4)
Memo, WPD for G-4, 22 May 41. (5)
Ltr, Park to
CofEngrs, 24 Jun 41. Last two in
600.1 (Alaska)
pt. I.
35
"properly
of 500 men were nearly finished and
it
was planned to transfer many of
the
workmen
a start would soon be made on hangars
and
storage
gency
whole, progress was not as marked as
at
Yakutat. An obstacle was the muskeg,
a
encountered
April
ington
After reviewing progress of the work to
date and estimating the number
of
troops and civilians
regular runways would be
temporary
risons, which had been given
priority by
th e Navy over
some troops were already housed. On
the whole, DeWitt was
construction in both
Navy base
Fighter planes could not safely fly
the
600 miles from Kodiak, th
e nearest field,
because
the
distance
naval
argued
in the Aleutians without approval by the
Joint
other hand, pressed for the building
of
an
armies into the USSR during the
sum-
mer focused
ment feared that
Bering Strait.
the War Department increased the au-
thorized strength of the Alaskan garrison
from
Army posts at the
DeWitt that he
mili-
21
(1) Excerpts of Ltr from
DeWitt to Marshal l ,
4 Jun 41. 600.1 (Alaska) pt. I. (2)
Ltr , Nold to
C EHD, 7 Aug 57. EHD
Files.
22
(1) Ibid. (2) Ltr, Marshall
to Stark, 19 Aug 41.
WPD
4503-3.
(3)
Memo,
JAPAN
Naval
Territory.
23
"Actual
pressure,"
Talley
4th of July 1941,
from
and Alaska was psychologically and men-
tally prepared
diately after 4 July, began building
tac-
tical roads and
Engineer Aviation Battalion was
cially
men
one of the runways ready
by the end of
During August and
Combat
other
had encountered no
snow." Talley observed, "and
per se.
making
progress.
By
midsummer,
run-
ational. Ladd
was a
ing for 560 officers and men.
Elmendorf
was the largest military
base under con-
struction in the Territory. In
July
the
plies
bing the right of
tunnel at the eastern end of the line. In
September
the Seattle District advertised
fo r bids for the construction of a
dock
at
work
ing
stations
which
457.
WPD 4297-1. (3) Memo, WPD for
TAG, 9 Jul 41.
WPD 3512-120.
Ltr, Talley to C EHD, 6 Nov 57. EHD
Files.
23
KCRC. (2 ) Ltr , DeWitt to Park,
30 Jul 41. 686
(Annet te
June
Regiment as
regiment
802d Engineer Aviation
Battalion and the
27
Buell Snyder,
Seattle Engr
Rpt of
Seattle
Engr
37
Many
projects
mer,
tion on the storage
tanks for reserve gaso-
Work had been
million gallons was to be provided in
Alaska, over four million of it
near An-
chorage, but no final decision had
been
made
regarding
various airfields, with maximum disper-
sion and
the Alaska Peninsula and in the Aleu-
tians. In July, DeWitt suggested
put-
at Cold Bay, the
peninsula. He
ties than those
ing would be
for
Pen-
insula.
construct an airfield on Umnak. The
Joint
Board
postponed
first