Unit History | July 1944 | |415th Air Depot Squadron

415TH DEPOT REPAIR SQUADRON 41ST AIR DEPOT GROUP APO 520

ATSO 556, 31 July 1944.

SUBJECT: Historical Records.

TO : Commanding General, Fifteenth Air Force, Attention, Historian. (Through Channels).

Unit History of the 415t Depot Repair Squadron, 41st Air Depot Group, for the period of 1 July 1944 to 31 July 1944:
a. The present designation of the unit is 415t Depot Repair Squadron, 41st Air Depot Group.
b. Changes in organization: None.
c. Strength, Commissioned and Enlisted: (1) Month of July 1944: (a) At beginning: 346 (b) Net increase: 4 (c) At end: 350
d. Station: Gioia del Colle, Italy.
e. Movements: None.
f. Campaigns: None.
g. Operations: (1) A total of seventy-six (76) aircraft was repaired and flown away from this Depot during the month of July, bringing the total number of aircraft repaired at this Depot since February to the impressive number of two hundred twenty-five (225), including forty (40) Radar Modifications. Thirty-four (34) aircraft awaiting completion of repairs remain in the Depot. Progress with (50) aircraft salvage during the month to bring the total salvaged since the creation of this department to seventy-eight (78). This total looms more impressive when viewed in the light of the fact that every aircraft salvaged makes possible the return of eight (8) aircraft to duty. Three thousand (3,000) AOG parts left the Salvage Yard during the month of July, four thousand (4,000) serviceable items were sent to Depot Technical Supply; also, one hundred thirty-eight (138) tons of scrap metal was shipped to APOD #5. It is estimated that 90% of all War Weary - Non-Crash Airplanes are put back into service.

(2). In addition to their part in the consolidated results listed above, there was much additional production turned-out by the various shops of the Depot, some of which is described below:

(a) Electric Shop:

1. The electric shop put into action during

the month the following three (3) test panels designed by the men in the shop: a. Multiple Arc Test Stand b. Electronic Super-Charger Special Test Stand c. Generator Test Stand: Turned out approximately fifty (50) serviceable generators, two hundred (200) voltage regulators, and a varying number of landing-light and panel-light set-ups each week.

2. The electric shop has undertaken the following

three (3) major modification projects, which, when working at capacity, will most likely supply the needs of Italy:

a. Electrically Heated Clothing: Re-

conditioning approximately one hundred (100) suits each week.

b. Link Trainer Junctions.

c. Added Power Units for turret radios.

(b) Machine Shop:

1. The Machine Shop was one of the busiest

shops in the Depot during the month of July. With the aid of the Depot Drafting Department, this shop designed and built a reciprocating press for the manufacture of radio modification parts, designed and manufactured punches and dies to be used in Sheet Metal Manufacture, started work on the modification of General Motors Products Tail Turrets, which will soon be in full production, and the manufacture of gland-tightening tool for intake manifold for B-24's.

1. Most important work in the hydraulic shop

during the month was the repair of supercharger regulators, turned out on the average of fifty (50) a week, in addition to main and nose landing gear repair.

(d) Propeller Shop:

1. The Prop Shop continues to turn out their

usual quota of eighty (80) governors and fourteen (14) complete propellers each week.

(e) Fabric Shop:

1. The Fabric Shop was chiefly occupied with

the manufacture of wheel and hydraulic-strut arm covers and nose wheel curtains for B-24's in accordance with new Storage-During- Overhaul T/O.

(f) Power Plants:

This new department was opened during the month

for the repair of all portable generators used in the field, which has reduced maintenance costs a great deal.

(g) Sheet Metal Department:

1. The Sheet Metal Department, through detached

crews, placed eight (8) aircraft back into service during the month.

2. An extension was built for the heat-treat furnace ovens to facilitate heat-treating 72" long material and bulk heads,

whereas the ovens could previously handle material over 36" long. To simplify fabrication of various parts, bulkheads and belt frames throughout the aircraft, a 70"-extension was devised for the 75-ton Hydraulic Press.

3. In the plexiglass department, all items in

the aircraft, with the exception of the nose turret and Martin Dome, can now be manufactured at this Station. There is an acute shortage of 1/8" glass which has stopped production on turrets. Approximately seventy- five (75) AOG plexiglass assemblies were manufactured during July. Four dinghy do-dads (guides for facilitating or and is salvage from pilot were completed during the month. Two (2) new developments were brought forth during the month: Ball Type Antenna Blisters were manufactured for Radar Applications, and a process whereby Pilot and Co-Pilot Blisters can be blown from the original flat windows in less than an hour, including the time needed for re-installation on the ship.

4. The sheet metal repair department had undertaken three (3) big jobs during the month:

a. The manufacture of Bomb-bay Doors.

b. Making serviceable Air Ducts, which

is a very critical item in this area.

c. The manufacture of Nose-Wheel Doors.

5. All items in salvage that were repairable

were cleared through the department during the month.

(h) Line:

One of the depot craftsmen has designed a

tire-puller which makes it possible to break and remove the 56" casing in fifteen (15) minutes, a new record for this operation.

(3) The Depot Operations Section, consisting chiefly of personnel from this organization, had a very busy month. Three hundred sixty-six (366) replacement ships were received during the month, all were checked for normal flight requirements. The total arrivals for the month were six hundred twenty-seven (627), including planes of all types, even to a PBY. Minor repairs were completed on thirty-two (32) ships by the Operations Section.

(4) A crash-landing strip was completed during the month, and other necessary steps towards equipping this field as a "Crash Field" were undertaken, not a moment too soon as events later proved. We had three (3) crash landings on the field during the month, one of which proved the old one about "The Ill Wind----" as nine (9) planes were put back into the air with parts salvaged from the wreck.

h. Commanding Officers in Important operations: None.

i. Losses in action, Officers and Men: None.

j. Members who have distinguished themselves: None.

For the Squadron Commander:

JESSE D. HILCHER,

2d Lt., Air Corps,

Intelligence Officer.

July 1944

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