108

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

1941-Continued

and the practice of assigning students to

training in either fighters, scout bombers

planes began.

specialized

or torpedo

25 July Thirty P-40s and three primary training

planes of the 33rd Pursuit Squadron, Army Air Forces,

were loaded aboard Wasp at Norfolk, Va., for transport

to Reykjavik, Iceland.

28 July To establish a continuing organization for

training flight crews, the Chief of Naval Operations

directed that action be taken as expeditiously as prac-

ticable to provide additional gunnery and tactical train-

ing in the pilot training program; to establish within

the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets at Norfolk, Va., and San

Diego, Calif.; Advanced Carrier Training groups to

indoctrinate newly designated Naval Aviators in the

operation of current model carrier aircraft; and to

assign a number of patrol squadrons in each fleet the

primary task of providing familiarization, indoctrina-

tion, advanced gunnery and tactical training for new

flight crews.

28 July The Operational Training Squadron of the

Atlantic Fleet, and the Test, Acceptance and

Indoctrination Unit of the Pacific Fleet were redesig-

nated Transition Training Squadron, Atlantic and

Pacific, respectively.

29 July The Secretary of the Navy approved the

installation of a Radar Plot aboard carriers as "the

brain of the organization" protecting the fleet from air

attack. The first installation was planned for the island

structure of Hornet.

1 August A Microwave (AI-lO) radar developed by

the Radiation Laboratory and featuring a Plan Position

Indicator (PPI) was given its initial airborne test in the

XJO-3 at Boston Airport. During the test flights, which

continued through 16 October, Radiation Laboratory

scientists operated the radar and devised modifications

while naval personnel from Project Roger (usually

Chief Aviation Pilot C. 1. Kullberg) piloted the aircraft.

During the tests, surface vessels were detected at

ranges up to 40 miles; radar-guided approaches

against simulated enemy aircraft were achieved at

ranges up to 3.5 miles. Operational radars which were

developed from this equipment were capable of

searching a circular area and included the ASG for K-

type airships and the AN/APS-2 for patrol planes.

1 August The Bureau of Aeronautics requested the

Naval Research Laboratory to develop radar guidance

equipment for assault drones, both to relay target

information to a control operator and to serve as auto-

matic homing equipment. This marked the initiation of

radar applications to guided missiles.

6 August Patrol Squadrons 73 and 74 initiated rou-

tine air patrols from Reykjavik, Iceland, over North

Atlantic convoy routes.

6 August In recognition of the radical change which

radar was causing in the method of using fighters to

protect the fleet, the Chief of Naval Operations issued

a "Tentative Doctrine for Fighter Direction from

Aircraft Carriers" and directed that carriers and other

ships equipped with radar immediately organize fight-

er direction centers.

7 August The Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics issued a

preliminary plan for installing radar in naval aircraft.

Long range search radar (British ASV or American

ASA) was to be installed in patrol planes. Short range

search radar (British Mk II ASV modified for Fleet Air

Arm or American ASB) was to be installed in one tor-

pedo plane in each section commencing with the TBF

while space needed for search radar was to be

reserved in new scout-dive-bombers and scout-obser-

vation planes. Interception equipment, when available,

would be installed in some F4Us and a British AI Mk

IV radar was being installed in an SBD with a view to

its use as an interim interceptor. The plan also includ-

ed installation of appropriate radio altimeters in patrol

and torpedo planes, and recognition equipment in all

service airplanes.

5 September Artemus 1. Gates, Naval Aviator No.

65 and member of the First Yale Unit of World War I,

took the oath of office as Assistant Secretary of the

Navy for Aeronautics; the first to hold the office since

the resignation of David S. Ingalls in 1932.

9 September The Bureau of Aeronautics requested

the National Defense Research Committee and the

Naval Research Laboratory to develop an interceptor

radar suitable for installation in single engine, single

seat fighters such as the F4U.

1 October The Aviation Supply Office was estab-

lished at Philadelphia, Pa., under the joint cognizance

of the Bureau of Aeronautics and the Bureau of

Supplies and Accounts, to provide centralized control

over the procurement and distribution of all aeronauti-

cal materials regularly maintained in the general stock.

8 October Organizational provision for guided mis-

siles was made in the fleet by the establishment of