Pacific Island Garrisons of the U.S. Army 1942 Initial Defense of the Line of Communication and the Pacific Air Ferry Route Before the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific, the U.S. Army had begun work on a series of airfields in the Pacific. These were to be created to allow B-17 bomber aircraft to fly directly from the United States to the Philippines. Immediately after the war began, the Army also accepted responsibility for defense of several of the larger Pacific Islands that stood on the communications and supply route from the United States to Australia. The United States initially began to reinforce the U.S. Army Air Corps units in the Philippines in 1941. At that time the new B-17 bombers could be directly ferried using the route: San Francisco, Hawaii, Midway, Wake, Clark Field. This route overflew the Japanese mandated islands and would be dangerously exposed in time of war. Therefore, the U.S. Army began work on an alternate Air Ferry Route that would skirt around the Mandates. This route was to be: San Francisco, Hawaii, Christmas Island, Canton Island, Fiji, New Caledonia, Townsville, Darwin, Clark Field. Slightly later, an additional field was authorized for Zamboanga, Mindinao but work never began. In November, 1941, work on an additional Heavy Bomber base was begun on the Del Monte plantation near Cagayan, Mindinao which also could be used as a stopover on the Air Ferry route. During 1942, Williamtown, near Sydney, and Charleville, some 430 miles inland from Brisbane were used instead of Townsville due to the latter's proximity to enemy airbases. See Note 4. Christmas and Canton Islands were jointly administered by the United States and Great Britain while Hawaii and the Philippine bases were U.S. Territory. The remaining sites were under the control of foreign governments, who agreed to undertake construction. A U.S. civilian company, Sverdrup and Parcel of St. Louis, contracted to provide architectural and engineering services for the British, French, and Australian sites. Construction was authorized on October 4, 1941 with the first 5000 foot runway to be completed at each site by January 15, 1942. Final size was to be three or more runways, each at least 7000 feet in length and 200 feet in width. Work had begun at most sites by November, 1941. Ultimately all, except Zamboanga, were to be successfully completed. Construction on all sites was primarily civilian. The only military personnel assigned pre-war were small detachments of the 804th Aviation Engineering Battalion at Christmas and Canton Island. Once war broke out, a few additional troops were assigned in an initial emergency reinforcement from the Hawaiian Garrison. Then, following an agreement between the Army and Navy, larger, permanent garrisons were dispatched from the United States. Strategic Decisions – December, 1941 Immediately following the outbreak of the war, the Army and Navy agreed on a joint defense plan for the Pacific Islands (not all agreements/decisions made at once): 1. The Navy was to continue to defend several small outposts on which it already had troops: Midway, Johnston Island, and Palmyra Island. All of these had small Marine garrisons by December 7th – a full Defense Battalion at Midway and detachments (somewhat less than 1/3 of a Defense Battalion) on Johnston and Palmyra. These were reinforced after December 7th, with both Johnston and Midway receiving forces originally intended for Wake. 2. The Navy would also defend the American Samoan Islands, a U.S. Territory governed by the Navy Department. Initially defended by a Marine Defense Battalion plus a Reserve Infantry Battalion (in the process of forming) with Samoan Natives. An additional Marine Brigade was dispatched from San Diego on January 6th, 1942 and arrived January 19th. See Note 1. 3. The Navy would provide garrisons or reinforcements for the French and British Samoan Islands. An additional Marine Brigade (the 3rd) arrived in the British Samoan Islands in May, 1942 and the 8th Defense Battalion was formed from units already on Tutuila and assigned to the French Islands. 4. The Army would relieve New Zealand in the defense of the cable station on tiny Fanning Island, located between Palmyra and Christmas Islands. 5. The Army would provide garrisons for Christmas and Canton Islands. 6. The Navy would establish a fueling base at Bora Bora, on the Panama Canal-Australia route. The Army would provide a substantial defense force. 7. The Army would provide reinforcements for the allied garrisons of Fiji and New Caledonia. As part of the New Caledonia operation, combined Army/Marine/Navy forces would be deployed to Efate, in the New Hebrides. 8. Divisional sized Army units were to be sent to Australia and New Zealand (the New Zealand bound unit was subsequently diverted to Fiji). 9. Later Tongatabu was selected as the site of a major naval base and an Army defense force was assigned (built around the 147th Infantry Regiment). This paper covers only the island garrisons of Bora Bora, Canton Island, Christmas Island, New Caledonia and, to a lesser extent, Efate, Fanning and Fiji. Bora Bora Located in the Society Group and administered by the Free French. The island was assigned the code name "Bobcat" and the reinforcement unit, officially designated Task Force 5614, was known as Bobcat Force. This force left Charleston, South Carolina, January 27th, 1942 (4 days behind schedule) and arrived Bora Bora February 17th, 1942. Task Force 5614 (Task Force Bobcat): ? 102nd Infantry Regiment (less 1st and 3rd Battalions and Detachments) – 58 Officers and 1283 Men ? Battery A, 99th Field Artillery Battalion – 4 Officers and 142 Men ? Battery C, 99th Field Artillery Battalion – 4 Officers and 144 Men ? 198th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA) – 75 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 1330 Men ? HQ & HQ Battery, 3rd Battalion and Batteries F and H, 13th Coast Artillery Regiment – 14 Officers and 340 men (equipped with 7-inch guns removed from old battleship U.S.S. Connecticut) ? 8th Station Hospital – 20 Officers and 150 Men (no female nurses) ? 2 Sections of Company C, 94th QM Battalion (Bakery) – 1 Officer and 16 Men ? 1 Radio Repair Section, 175th Signal Company – 1 Officer and 10 Men ? Detachment, Quartermaster Corps – 3 Officers and 63 Men ? 695th Signal Air Warning Company – 6 Officers and 123 Men ? Detachment, Ordnance Department – 2 Officers and 38 Men ? Detachment, Finance Department – 1 Officer and 6 Men ? HQ Staff – 3 Officers plus 1 attached Marine Officer. ? 1st Naval Construction Detachment – 8 Officers and 250 Men (not part of garrison, to be withdrawn when construction of the fuel depot was completed) ? Naval Fuel Depot Operation Unit – 6 Officers and 123 Men ? VS-2D14 (Navy) – 9 Officers and 78 Men – see Note 6 ? Two Civilian Red Cross personnel Totals: ? Army – 192 Officers, 1 Warrant Officer, 3645 Men ? Navy – 23 Officers and 451 Men ? Marines – 1 Officer ? Civilian - 2 Arrived with 120 day supply of rations and gasoline, ammunition equal to five units of fire (except AA weapons seven units of fire) and 60 days worth of other supplies. Christmas Island Christmas Island is located 1350 miles south of Honolulu at 2°00' N, 157°50' W. It is 35 miles long and 20 miles wide and is the largest coral island in the Pacific. It is not to be confused with the British controlled island of the same name located south of Java. It's modern name is Kiritimati, Kiribati Republic. Most of the population had been evacuated in 1940 and there were only 26 Polynesians and a British Resident Commissioner on the Island. A small party of military engineering Officers and Civilians left Hawaii for Christmas Island by ship on October 18, 1941. They were joined on November 18th by 4 officers and 145 enlisted men of the 804th Aviation Engineering Battalion and 70 civilians from Hawaiian Constructors and the Corps of Engineers, Honolulu District. Late in November, 1941 the Hawaiian garrison sent two 75mm Guns with 800 rounds of ammunition and a single Artillery Sergeant with instructions to train the engineers as emergency artillerymen. This was the force on hand on December 7th, 1941, commanded by Major Shield. Military-Civilian relations were very bad on Christmas Island, even before war began. Panic spread among the civilians after Pearl Harbor and Martial Law was declared on December 19th. The Army Air Force History indicates that a force of 144 Officers and Men was to sail from Hawaii mid- December, 1941 "for shipment to Canton and Christmas Islands" but, other than 10 men that arrived on Canton Island, I can find no other reference to this force. Garrison set at 1 Infantry Battalion, two Coast Artillery Battalions, and a pursuit Squadron. Total was to be about 2000 men. This force (code named Birch Force) departed Charleston, South Carolina on January 27th, 1942 and arrived February 10th. It was commanded by Col. Paul W Rutledge. The fighter Squadron was the 12th Pursuit with P-39s and the Infantry was the 1st/102nd (see Note 2). I can find no data on the artillery units (except as noted in Note 2). However, the 429th AAA Battalion (Composite) was created on Christmas Island on May 13th, 1943 from units already on the Island. Canton Island Canton Island is a narrow strip of coral enclosing a lagoon that is about 8 miles long and 4 miles wide. It is located at the North West end of the Phoenix Islands, about 2000 miles from Honolulu at 1.9? South, 171.7? West. Pan American Airways had a few facilities on the island and an Englishman operated a radio station there. On November 3, 1941 a group of 130 troops and civilians (almost all civilians) under Captain C. D. Baker arrived by transport and began work. Included was a detachment of 1 Officer and 45 Enlisted Men from the 804th Aviation Engineering Battalion on temporary assignment. The troops from the 804th were to be withdrawn as soon as replaced and moved to either Christmas Island or back to Hawaii. Plans were also being made to send a Marine Coast Defense Battery with two 5-inch guns, 2 officers and 44 enlisted men. Apparently this detachment also had some 50 Caliber AA Machine Guns. The army also allocated eight 30 Caliber AA Machine Guns for use by the army troops on the island. Actually on Canton as of December 7th, 1941 were 46 Army Engineers, 10 Medical Personnel and 300 Civilian Personnel. Immediately after Pearl Harbor, General Short in Hawaii ordered the civilians evacuated from Canton. A ship arrived December 14th, delivering 2 75mm guns, 10 Machine Guns, and 10 artillery men and removing 125 civilian workmen. Garrison set at 2 Infantry Companies, 2 Coast Artillery Battalions, and a pursuit Squadron. Total was to be about 1500 men. The 68th Pursuit Squadron was originally assigned to Canton Island but was diverted to Tongatabu and not replaced. The remaining force (Holly Force) with 1,124 officers and men arrived February 13th on the troop ship President Tyler. Infantry was Companies I and L of the 102nd Infantry (see Note 2). It is possible that the 3rd Battalion of the 198th Coast Artillery regiment as also present (see Note 7) but I have no information on the other units. Col. Herbert D Gibson was in command. A carrier task force built around USS Lexington provided cover for the landing of the garrison. Fanning Island A "small garrison" arrived April 26th, 1942 to relieve New Zealand troops defending the cable station on Fanning. The New Zealand garrison consisted of No. 3 Platoon, A Company, New Zealand Regular Force plus No. 45 Battery, New Zealand Artillery. A total of 113 New Zealand troops, relieved by about 150 U.S. Troops from Company L, 21st Infantry (from Hawaii). Fiji Fiji was declared to be "about perfect" as an airfield site. It was a British Crown Colony with it's defenses reinforced by New Zealand troops (primarily the 8th Brigade, 3rd New Zealand Division). The airfield was to be developed at an excellent site at Nandi, on Viti Levu. Cooperation from both the New Zealand and Fiji governments was excellent. Under the Arcadia Conference agreements on December 31st, 1941, Fiji was to be defended by New Zealand supplemented by air units and supplies from the United States and Britain. The initial U.S. reinforcement was to be an Air Corps pursuit unit with about 700 men. This was the 70th Pursuit Squadron, equipped with P-39s, which left Hamilton Field, California on January 12th, 1942 and arrived January 29th. Code name for Fiji was Fantan. Later, with further Japanese advances, it was decided to increase the area's defenses. The 37th Infantry Division, which had originally been assigned to New Zealand, was diverted to Fiji. The division, less the 147th Regiment, arrived June 11, 1942 in convoy 4093. The 147th had been detached enroute to garrison Tongatabu (code named Bleacher). The 129th Infantry Regiment was assigned to replace it but did not arrive until September 20, 1942. New Caledonia New Caledonia was a French Colony under Vichy control until September, 1940. Then, with considerable allied help, a bloodless Free French coup took over the Island. It had a small and weak French Garrison to which was added a few Australian Engineers, Artillerymen, and support troops erecting a coastal battery with two ex-Naval 6-inch guns. The 2/3rd Australian Independent Company was also assigned immediately after war began (see Note 3). As of December 7th, 1941 it was virtually defenseless against Japanese attack Reinforcement of New Caledonia was given high priority and a large force was quickly assembled. This force was designated Task Force 6814 and left New York on January 23rd, 1942 in company with a few units destined for Australia. The entire force arrived Melbourne on February 26th, 1942. The New Caledonia bound units left March 6th and arrived Noumea March 12th. An additional Infantry Regiment (the 164th) left San Francisco March 19th, 1942 and arrived New Caledonia April 19th (after a stopover in Australia). Accompanying the 164th were the 97th Field Artillery Battalion (pack), the 72d Field Artillery Regiment, and the 700th Signal Air Warning Company. The Americal Division was formed May 27th, 1942 from most of the units in New Caledonia. Code name for New Caledonia was White Poppy. Task Force 6814 (Task Force Poppy) Hq & Hq Det, Task Force (including attached Division Surgeon's office) Hq & Hq Co, 51st Infantry Brigade 132nd Infantry Regiment 182nd Infantry Regiment 754th Tank Battalion 180th Field Artillery Regiment (155mm), less 2 Bn 2nd Bn, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment (155mm) 70th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA, Mobile), less Band 3rd Bn plus 3rd Plat, Btry G, 244th Coast Artillery Regiment (155mm) 101st Quartermaster Rgt (less 2 Bn), section Car Platoon, section Motorcycle Plat and Maint. Platoon Co A, 82nd Quartermaster Battalion (LM) 2nd Plat, Co B, 89th Quartermaster Regiment 2nd and 3rd Plats, Co A, 96th Quartermaster Bakery Battalion 1st Bn, 108th Quartermaster Regiment 216th Quartermaster Company (Mobile Shoe and Textile Repair), less plat 705th Quartermaster Truck Company 1st Bn, 101st Engineer Regiment (redesignated enroute to 134th Engineer Regiment then disbanded and assets used to form the 57th Combat Engineer Battalion on April 23, 1942) 810st Aviation Engineer Battalion (Negro) 811th Aviation Engineer Battalion (Negro) 22nd Ordnance Medium Maintenance Company 51st Ordnance Ammunition Company 73rd Ordnance Depot Company (two storehouse sections) 676th Ordnance Company (one platoon) 9th Station Hospital 52nd Evacuation Hospital 109th Station Hospital 101st Medical Regiment (less one collecting Co, one ambulance Co, and Division Surgeon's office) 67th Pursuit Squadron 58th Interceptor Control Squadron (section) 3rd Quartermaster Aviation Supply Company (detachment) Army Airways Communications System detachment 26th Signal Company 121st Signal Radar Intelligence Company 175th Signal Repair Company (radio and wire repair sections) 162nd Signal Photo Company (unit) 65th Materiel Squadron (including attached medical personnel) 26th Military Police Company (one platoon) 502nd Army Postal Unit Finance Detachment 2nd Chemical Decontamination Company (detachment) Units for Australia sailing in company: 43rd Engineer General Service Regiment, less Band 46th Engineer General Service Regiment, less Band 694th Signal company (Hq & Hq Det) Weather Detachment 13th Reconnaissance Squadron 4th General Hospital Efate Efate was selected as an advance base for the defense of New Caledonia and, later, for support of the invasion of Guadalcanal. It is located approximately 150 miles northeast of New Caledonia, in the New Hebrides Island group. An initial holding force, drawn from Poppy Force in New Caledonia, was deployed in March, 1942. This was to be quickly reinforced by Marine units from Hawaii and Army units from the United States. Initial Force (arrived March 17, 1942): 2 Infantry Companies from 182nd Infantry Regiment 1 Platoon from 57th Combat Engineers Marine Reinforcement (these units had been enroute from Hawaii to Tongatabu but were diverted to Efate, arriving March 29th): 4th Defense Battalion (949 Officers and men) VMF-212 (Ground echelon only, the air echelon with F4F fighters was flown in from New Caledonia in June, 1942) Army/Navy Reinforcement (arrived May 4th) 24th Infantry Regiment (reinforced)** B Company, 116th Engineers 2 Companies, 3rd Naval Construction Detachment, 1st Naval Construction Battalion – see Note 5 ** Total Army force was 4900 men – approximately twice the size of an infantry regiment. Ancillary and support components were included but I have not been able to determine the source of all of the units or if the original Poppy Force Detachment is included in this total. All Army sub-units were attached to the 24th Infantry, which functioned as Efate Headquarters. Note 1: A Marine "Brigade" was generally comprised of a reinforced Infantry Regiment (similar to an Army Regimental Combat Team) plus a composite Marine Air Group. The unit dispatched to Samoa was from the 2nd Marine Division: 2nd Marine Expeditionary Brigade: Brigade HQ 8th Marine Regiment 1st Battalion, 10th Marine (Artillery) Regiment Company B, 2nd Light Tank Battalion Company C, 2nd Engineer Battalion Companies B and C, 2nd Medical Battalion Company B, 2nd Service Battalion 2nd Defense Battalion Marine Air Group 13 VMF-111 (with 19 F4F-3) VMO-151 (with 14 SBC Helldiver Bi-planes) VS-1D14 (Navy) – see Note 6 Note 2: The 102nd Infantry left behind Companies K and M (Weapons and one Infantry Company of 3rd Battalion) when it departed the U.S. These two companies and 3rd Bn were deactivated and troops transferred to 91st Division. New 3rd Bn and Companies K and M activated in 1943 (apparently on Canton Island). Most of 1st and 2nd Bns moved in 1943, with Company A remaining on Christmas Island for rest of war and Company F remaining on Bora Bora for about a year. New Company K detached to Philippines at some point. 1st and 3rd Bns deactivated at Hawaii in April, 1945, leaving 2nd Bn plus Companies A and K (and others of 3rd Bn?). Since only portions of the 99th Field Artillery Battalion and 13th Coast Artillery Regiment went to Bora Bora it is reasonable to assume that the remainder went to Christmas and Canton but I have no information as to their possible disposition. Note 3: Australian Independent Companies were organized for irregular warfare, along the lines of British Commandos. Each was commanded by a Major and nominally contained 17 officers and 256 other ranks divided into Company Headquarters, Engineer, Signals, and Medical Sections and three Platoons of three sections each. The sections were about twice the size of normal infantry sections and were commanded by a Lieutenant. They were suitable for independent deployment (one of these sections, from the 1st Independent Company (2/1st), was stationed at Efate before the war began). The 3rd Independent Company, 2nd AIF (2/3rd) arrived on New Caledonia with 21 officers and 312 other ranks. They left Australia on December 8th, 1941 and returned in July, 1942. Note 4: The distances were: Hamilton Field near San Rafael, California, to Hickam Field, west of Honolulu, was 2,398 statute miles. Hawaii to Christmas Island another 1,346 miles, then Canton Island 1,055 miles (Alternately a direct flight from Hickam to Canton Island was 1,920 miles). Canton to Nandi Airport, Fiji was 1,274-miles, then approximately 850 miles to Tontouta Airport, near Noumea. Finally another 915 miles to mainland Australia. Note 5: The 1st Naval Construction Detachment (Bora Bora) was detached from what would become the 1st Naval Construction Battalion (before individual Naval Construction Battalions were numbered). The 2nd Naval Construction Detachment (Tongatabu) and 3rd Naval Construction Detachment (Efate) were split from the 1st Naval Construction Battalion (after it was numbered) but were later merged to re-form the 1st Naval Construction Battalion (April, 1943 at Efate). The Bora Bora detachment may have been merged into the 3rd Naval Construction Battalion, beginning with the arrival of "A" Company, 3rd NCB in June, 1942. Note 6: VS-1D14 and VS-2D14 were inshore patrol squadrons assigned to the 14th Naval District (Hawaiian Islands). The suffix designation "D14" indicates 14th Naval District. These squadrons were equipped with small float planes for local patrol – primarily the J2F Duck and the OS2U Kingfisher. I have been able to find very little information on these small squadrons – histories tend to ignore them due to their mundane work and lack of combat. Three others (VS-3D14, VS-4D14, and VS-5D14) were allocated to SOPAC and at least two of these served at Tulagi or Guadalcanal. Note 7: The 373rd Anti-Aircraft battalion was created from the 3rd Battalion, 198th Coast Artillery in the Treasury Islands in 1944. A personal history of a veteran lists service with the 373rd AA Battalion on Canton Island. Since the 198th Coast Artillery was part of the force sent to Bora Bora, Canton, and Christmas it is possible that the 3rd Battalion was detached to Canton Island. However all other sources, including the detailed order of battle for Bora Bora, indicate that the entire 198th was present there. Sources: U.S. Army in World War II – Technical Series – The Corps of Engineers in the War Against Japan Center for Military History, U.S. Army 1987 U.S. Army in World War II – The War in The Pacific – Strategy and Command: The First Two Years Center for Military History, U.S. Army 1989 U.S. Army in World War II – The War Department – Global Logistics and Strategy: 1940-1943 Center for Military History, U.S. Army 1995 Order of Battle U.S. Army World War II Shelby L. Stanton, Presidio Press 1984 Bogged Down in Bora Bora Ervan F. Kushner, Ervan F. Kushner Books, 1984 (source of the detailed order of battle of Bobcat Force) Under the Southern Cross Captain Francis D. Cronin. 1951 (data extracted from web sites) U.S. Marine Corps, World War II Divisions, Brigades, and Regiments Gordon L Rottman, Brown Mouse Publishing, 1995 The Army Air Forces in World War II, Plans and Early Operations January, 1939 – August, 1942 Office of Air Force History, 1948 (reprint 1983) Australia in the War of 1939-1945, The Japanese Thrust Lionel Wigmore, Australian War Memorial 1957 (reprint 1968) Multiple additional small sources, mostly web sites, too numerous to list.