112

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

1942-Contin ued

functioned satisfactorily by proximity to water at the

end of a 5-mile trajectory. This performance,

obtained with samples selected to simulate a produc-

tion lot, confirmed that the radio-proximity fuze

would greatly increase the effectiveness of anti-air-

craft batteries and led to immediate small scale pro-

duction of the fuze.

30 January The Secretary of the Navy authorized a

glider program for the Marine Corps consisting of

small and large types in sufficient numbers for the

training and transportation of two battalions of 900

men each.

1 February The Secretary of the Navy announced

that all prospective Naval Aviators would begin their

training with a three months' course emphasizing

physical conditioning and conducted by Pre-Flight

Schools to be established at universities in different

parts of the country. The training began at the

Universities of North Carolina and Iowa in May, the

University of Georgia and St. Mary's College, Calif., in

June, and at Del Monte, Calif., in January 1943.

1 February First U.S. Carrier Offensive-Task Forces

8 (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey) and 17 (Rear

Admiral Frank J. Fletcher), built around the carriers

Enterprise and Yorktown, bombed and bombarded

enemy installations on the islands of Wotje, Kwajalein,

..

. .

Attacking Japanese tOlpedo plane is shot down by antiaircraft fire

from Camel:, raiding Mw:,hall Islands 201986

Jaluit, Makin, and Mili in the Marshall and Gilbert

Islands.

12 February The Chief of Naval Operations promul-

gated an advanced base program using the code

names "Lion" and "Cub" to designate major and minor

bases, and in July added "Oaks" and "Acorns" for avia-

tion bases. This was the beginning of a concept of

functional components which developed as the war

progressed and which provided planners and com-

manders with a means of ordering standardized units

of personnel, equipment, and material to meet any

special need in any area, in much the same manner as

ordering from a mail-order catalogue.

16 February A Navy developed Air-Track blind land-

ing system was in daily use in Iceland for landing fly-

ing boats. Other blind-landing systems were in various

phases of development, and work on the Ground

Controlled Approach system had progressed to the

point that Navy personnel had made talk-down land-

ings at the East Boston (Commonwealth) Airport, Mass.

17 February Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Fleet autho-

rized removal of athwartships hangar deck catapults

from Wasp, Yorktown, Enterprise and Hornet.

21 February The seaplane tender Curtiss and

Patrol Squadron 14 arrived at Noumea, New

Caledonia, to begin operations from what became a

principal Navy base in the South Pacific during the

first year of the war.

23 February The Bureau of Aeronautics outlined a

comprehensive program which became the basis for

the wartime expansion of pilot training. In place of the

existing 7-months course, the new program required

eleven and one half months for pilots of single or

twin-engine aircraft and twelve and one half months

for four-engine pilots; and was divided into three

months at Induction Centers, three months in Primary,

three and one half months in Intermediate and two or

three months in Operational Training, depending on

type aircraft used.

24 February First Wake Island Raid-A striking

force, (Vice Admiral William F. Halsey) composed of

the carrier Enterprise with cruiser and destroyer

screen, attacked Wake Island.

26 February The Navy's Coordinator of Research

and Development requested the National Defense

Research Committee to develop an expendable radio

sonobuoy for use by lighter-than-air craft in antisub-

marine warfare.