American Airpower Comes of Age

HAWAII, GUAM, IWO JIMA, PHILIPPINES
destroyed facilities indicate how Kenney was able to have airborne
troops take Island at small cost of life. 122 Tunnel closed in
and burial grounds for anywhere from 500 to 5,000 Japs.
On to Stotsenberg 60 miles from Manila. 123 On route [sic] we
passed over many planes Jap and US, wrecked in the rice paddies.
At Stotsenburg there were at least 1,500 Jap planes in
various stages of repair, disrepair and destruction all around
the airport. To show the change in war conditions since 7
December 1941, our planes in larger numbers, wing to wing,
stand unmolested by the Japs. Landed at 9:40, met by Kenney
and Whitehead. 124
Many of the buildings at Stotsenburg have been destroyed;
about 1 ⁄ 3 of the quarters. I took a picture of the house Wainwright,
Watson and McChord had; where I stayed when I came here in
1908 and ‘09. 125 I am living in the quarters occupied by Colonel
Millar in 1914 and 1915 where Bee and I stayed during our visit
here when I was participating in maneuvers. 126
No Negritos few Filipinos of any kind. 127 Halfway point of
trip: 9,134 miles from San Francisco, 11,534 miles from
Washington. Rest for 2 hours after lunch.
Took trip around Stotsenburg and secured better background
for operations and logistics of Kenney’s Air Forces. They have
rules and techniques re placing and parking of airplanes that are
unique and could not apply any where else, all based upon impotence
of Jap Air Force: 4, 5, 6 fighters on one hard stand, planes
almost wing to wing, about 1,000 planes now at Clark.
Took a trip to Mabalacat and saw the place where I lived and
worked on mapping 37 years ago, the same church and (can’t
think of name of building) right next to church, large stone
building with extra large rooms where we had our drafting
rooms, lived and cooked our food. 128 Back to Stotsenburg via
Dow, 129 railroad connection with main line.
Conference with Whitehead, Kenney and Whitey’s top officers
on all subjects. Freddie Smith stood out like a sore thumb. 130
Had a hard time getting them to go home. Discussed:
(a) Air Commando Groups and their place in AF after
war. 131
(b) General organization [of the military] after war.
337