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HEADQUARTERS 18TH AIR DEPOT GROUP APO 528
11 February 1944.
SUBJECT: Unit Operational History.
TO : Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, Attention of Historian, APO 520, U.S. Army. (THRU Channels)
During the month of January preparations were being made for the movement of the unit to Italy. Colonel Jacway, the CO, had been directed by the CO, XV AFSC to establish an Air Force Advanced Depot in Italy. During this month he spent his time between the new depot location in Italy and the unit's African base, travelling by air. The Supply, Operations, Engineering, Purchasing and Contracting Officer and the Adjutant were ahead of the unit with twenty-four enlisted men to establish the depot. Colonel Jacway officially assumed command of the AD 33, effective 1 January 1944, pursuant to authority contained in GO #1, Hq XV AFSC, dated 3 January 1944.
The principal functions of the new depot are supply for all types of aircraft of the XV Air Force and maintenance of B-17's of the XV Air Force. To achieve the first objective - supply - the 23rd Depot Supply Squadron was assigned to the unit. After a few weeks on the job that squadron was recalled to XII AFSC, and a detachment of 12, later increased to 25 men and one officer from 32nd Depot Supply Squadron and one officer from 114th Air Depot Group was placed on DS. Up to the last of the month these men were to be replaced by 311 other officers and men within a few days. The result of this personnel problem was that the operation of the supply aspect of the depot was necessarily postponed.
To accomplish the engineering functions of the depot, the 84th Depot Repair Squadron was assigned, and arrived on the field on 30 December 1943. However, it had none of the necessary engineering equipment and tools, and there was no equipment on hand at the depot, so it was a question of marking time until necessary machinery and tools were made available. A number of B-17's came in for repair, and everything possible was accomplished with the few hand tools available.
Subject: Unit Operational History, 11 February 1944.
Other units assigned to the depot were the 319th Depot Repair Squadron (late arrival), 14th Medical Supply Platoon, 875th Signal Company Depot AVN, 432nd Quartermaster Platoon (immediately attached to Hq, XV AFSC) and 4264th Quartermaster Truck Company (AVN) less one platoon. This Quartermaster Truck Company was on hand for duty, having arrived on 6 January 1944. They are doing a good job with their rolling stock, 24 trucks, but are seriously handicapped by the fact that their trucks are 16 months old and there is no Ordnance MX Company available to render needed service. The 14th Medical Supply Platoon had set up a Medical Depot in Cerignola. By Special Order No. 10 dated 12 January 1944 this unit was designated to feed, pay, and attached to this unit for administration and rations. The 875th Signal Company arrived during the month and set up a signal depot in town. They were attached to this unit for administration and rations and assigned to XV AFSC for duty. At the month's end the 319th Repair and Hq & Hq Sq, 18th ADG had not yet arrived for duty.
Scarcity of building materials at the site of ADG 33 made the rehabilitation of the buildings a slow job. New buildings on the field were in the emergency, less comfortable condition as a result of earlier bombing raids. However, by month's end the main warehouse for the depot supply had been roofed and quarters for two squadrons made habitable.
At the base in Africa during the early days of the month the work of cleaning eleven abandoned air fields was completed. Over nineteen thousand gasoline drums were hauled from these fields in addition to much miscellaneous debris.
During the month all equipment not needed for current operation was boxed in preparation for movement. The squadron left its African base on 21 January 1944 for movement to Italy by boat. It arrived at port of Naples on 29 January 1944. However, at month's end personnel was still at that point awaiting unloading of all equipment.
During January ten men from Ordnance Section were transferred to new units, but had not departed at month's end, because enroute was the unit to Italy, where their new organizations were located. Two enlisted men were transferred to hospitals. One man on DS was transferred to Hq XV AFSC. The Chaplain returned from DS and one flying officer was assigned and placed on DS to XV AFSC. Total strength at month's end - 19 officers and 142 men (ten of whom were under transfer orders).
For the Commanding Officer:
[Signature] FORREST P. CARSON Captain, Air Corps, Adjutant.
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