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SATURDAY, 6 DECEMBER 1941
The combat organization of the US Army Air Forces at 2400 hours Eastern Standard Time, 6
December 1941 (0500 GMT, 7 December 1941)is listed below. An asterisk (*) indicates an
attached unit.
I. AIR FORCE COMBAT COMMAND, Bolling Field, DC
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NEWFOUNDLAND BASE COMMAND, US ARMY
NEWFOUNDLAND, Newfoundland Airport, Gander Lake
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41st Reconnaissance Squadron (Heavy) (B-17B)
*41st Reconnaissance Sqd (Heavy), Newfoundland Airport(B-17)
(Later to become the 327th Bomb Squadron, assigned 92nd Bomb Group, 40th Wing, 8th USAAF)
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GROUND ECHELONS ENROUTE FROM U.S. TO OVERSEAS
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ENROUTE to Newfoundland
49th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy)
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========================================================== SUNDAY, 7 DECEMBER 1941
CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS (Hawaiian Air Force): The first wave of Japanese
carrier-based airplanes (almost 200) hit Hickam Field and the US Naval base at Pearl
Harbor at 0755 local (1325 Eastern Standard Time,
1825 GMT). Attacks follow quickly against Wheeler and Bellows Fields. A second wave of
Japanese airplanes strikes other naval and military facilities. The Hawaiian Air Force
loses 163 men, with about 390 others wounded or missing; has 64 of its 231 assigned
aircraft destroyed. Only 79
of the remaining aircraft are deemed usable, and much of the Air Force's ground facilities
are destroyed. These losses are light in comparison with the US Navy's: more than 2,000
killed or missing, and more than 900 wounded; 4 battleships sunk; 3 battleships, 3
cruisers, and 3 Destroyers damaged; and over half of the Navy's 169 airplanes in the area
destroyed.
The Japanese lose 20 aircraft over Hawaii, including 4 claimed destroyed by Second
Lieutenant George S Welch of the 47th Pursuit Squadron (Fighter),15th Pursuit Group
(Fighter) piloting a P-40, one of the few US fighters to
successfully attack airplanes during the day. About 20 other aircraft are lost by the
Japanese during carrier landings. Altogether the Japanese pay a
small price for the damage done to the Americans on Oahu. For the remainder of the day,
following the attacks, the Army Air Forces carries out fruitless searches for the
carriers.
The air echelons of the 38th and 88th Reconnaissance Squadrons (Heavy),
1st Bombardment Wing, begin operating from Hickam Field where they arrived during the
Japanese attack. The crews of the 38th are dissolved and personnel are assigned to other
units; the 88th will operate from Hickam Field until Feb 42.
INTERNATIONAL
Japan attacks Hawaii and other US and British possessions in the Pacific without warning.
Japan already is at war with China, and Great Britain is at war with the Axis powers,
Germany and Italy, which control most of
Western Europe. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is conducting an aerial offensive against
Germany, and the Luftwaffe is engaged in a campaign against Britain. Russians are fighting
German forces that have invaded the USSR.
British troops are battling Italians and Germans in Africa.
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