Warbird Information Exchange

Hi Guys:
I was looking through some of my photos tonight and came across photos that I had taken of my grandfathers discharge papers from the A.A.F. during the war. There were two things I don't understand what the "code" is. Obviously understand the Pilot four and twin engine part, but the rest is a mystery to me. Before he died I wanted to travel to him to interview him about his war experiences, but I never took the chance. I'd like to start finding out what he did during the war, his role was just as important as his brother's who was killed in a B-29 over Japan. I've heard he was a B-24 and/or C-47 pilot, but not even sure of this. Any help would be appreciated. This is what it says:
Military Occupational Specialty: "Pilot Four & Twin Engine 1024 1051"
Battles and Campaigns: "China Defensive GO 75 WD 45 India-Burma GO 22 4(?)D 45"

-Jonas

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"According to the map, we've only gone 4 inches."

From AAF Manual 35-0-1, Revised through July 1, 1945 :

MOS 1024
Pilot, Four-Engine
Pilots four-engine aircraft and commands crew. Ascertains, prior to mission, that aircraft has been properly inspected by crew members; takes off, operates, and lands airplane under varying flying conditions and such hazards as adverse weather, enemy attacks, and low-altitude and night flying; maintains flight records and reports observations made during mission.
Must have thorough knowledge of general and local flying regulations and meteorology. Must meet prescribed physical standards.
Must be a rated pilot and have completed transition training in four-engine aircraft.


MOS 1051
Pilot, Two-Engine
Pilots two-engine aircraft and commands crew. Ascertains, prior to mission, that aircraft has been properly inspected by crew members; takes off, operates, and lands airplane under varying flying conditions and such hazards as adverse weather, low-altitude and night flying; maintains flight records and reports observations during mission.
Must have thorough knowledge of general and local flying regulations and meteorology. Must meet prescribed physical standards.
Must be rated pilot and have completed transition training in two-engine aircraft.


Note about the only difference between the two as far as operations go is the four-engine mentions " under enemy attack ", while the two-engine does not. I would guess this was because the 4-engine would usually be a bomber, while the 2-engine would be a cargo type.


GO 75 WD 1945 tranlates to " General Order No. 75, War Department, 1945 " This would be the 75th General Order issued by the War Dept. in 1945 .... they started off each new year at GO No. 1 "

Same for GO 22 WD 1945...... These General Orders specified exactly by dates and physical boundaries what constituted the various Campaigns during WWII. For example, one might say " From latitude XXX.XO and running SSE in a line 1000 miles, then in a line following longitude XX.XX 725 miles, then ..... " etc.

The China Defensive dates were 2 July 1942 to 4 May 1945.
India-Burma Campaign was 2 April 1942 to 28 Jan. 1945.

So, and military personnel assigned to duty within the prescribed boundaries, during the prescribed times, would be eligible for the corresponding Campaign credit.

See links for histories of both campaigns below.

http://www.history.army.mil/brochures/72-38/72-38.HTM

http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA ... index.html

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SHAEF1944
American Veterans Museum

With the campaign references, He flew in China and in Burma/India. With the 4 engine tag, probably means that he flew bombers in some fashion and either cargo or armed twins. If your can find any unit listings the papers or decern any id marks in any of the photos, it would give you a starting point on tracking down some of his history.

I agree with CVAIR ..... with the campaigns, just off the top, sounds like a " Hump " pilot. C-47's, C-46's, and the B-24 / four-engine could be the C-87 or gas hauler versions. Just be aware that a unit shown on his discharge papers may not .... in fact probably is not ... the unit he served with while overseas. Tons of guys were rotated home and assigned to state-side units while waiting for separation from the service. This state-side unit is what shows up on discharge papers. Relatively few personnel rotated home as part of their overseas units, as the " Points system " sent men home at various times depending on points, and many " Units " remained overseas as occupational forces with new personnel assigned as older vets gained overseas " points " to rotate home.

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SHAEF1944
American Veterans Museum