1943-Contin ued

27 November The first of the Martin Mars flying

boats was delivered to VR-8 at NAS Patuxent River, Md.

30 November On her first operational assignment,

the Martin Mars, in the hands of Lieutenant Com-

mander W. E. Coney and crew of 16, took off from

Patuxent River, Md., carrying 13,000 pounds of cargo

that was delivered at Natal, Brazil, in a nonstop

flight of 4,375 miles and of 28 hours 25 minutes

duration.

30 November A department of Aviation Medicine

and Physiological Research was authorized at the

Naval Air Material Center, to study physiological fac-

tors particularly as related to design of high speed and

high altitude aircraft.

1 December Aircraft, Central Pacific, Rear Admiral

John H. Hoover commanding, was established

under Commander, Central Pacific, for operational

control of defense forces and shore-based air forces

in the area.

1 December The Naval Air Ferry Command was

established as a Wing of the Naval Air Transport

Service. It assumed the functions previously performed

.

.

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

133

by Aircraft Delivery Units in ferrying new aircraft from

contractor plants and modification centers to embarka-

tion points for ultimate delivery to the fleet.

4 December At the close of the Gilberts Campaign,

two groups of Task Force 50 (Rear Admiral Charles A.

Pownall), composed of four heavy and two light carri-

ers and screening ships, bombed airfields and ship-

ping at Wotje and Kwajalein Atolls in the Marshall

Islands.

8 December A striking force of two carriers, six bat-

tleships, and 12 destroyers bombed and bombarded

enemy installations on Nauru, to the west of the

Gilberts.

15 December Observation Fighter Squadron 1

(VOF-l), first of three of its type brought into exis-

tence during World War II, was established at Atlantic

City, N.J., with Lieutenant Commander William F.

Bringle in command.

17 December Commander, Aircraft, Solomons,

joined in the air campaign to reduce the Japanese

Naval Base at Rabaul with a fighter sweep of Navy,

Marine Corps, and New Zealand planes led by Marine

ace Major Gregory Boyington. Intensive follow-up

attacks through February 1944 assisted in the establish-

-- --

Mwjne's top

ace, Pappy

Boyington,

reads an order

to pilots of his

fighter

squadron in

the South

Pacific

lO6l487