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johnbruning -> 105's C-46s and air transport (1/3/2003 3:19:15 PM)
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Pbear,
Historically, those 105mm's, or lack of them, caused great angst during the Buna campaign since the 32nd Inf. Division left them behind when they moved up to New Guinea. George Kenney, the commander of the 5th Air Force, convinced MacArthur to let him move one regiment of the 32nd up to New Guinea from Australia. MacArthur's staff thought the whole idea nuts. Nevertheless, Kenney got the green light after a smaller-scale experiment. Indeed, Kenney got the troops to New Guinea faster than the Navy, and didn't lose a man in the process. Unfortunately, the trade off was the artillery got left behind. Kenney promised his aircraft would serve as flying artillery, but communication between ground and air units proved so inadequate, that close air support at Buna really didn't work. So, lots of GI's and Aussies died because they didn't have any heavy support to deal with the bunkers and pillboxes the Japanese constructed around Buna & Gona.
Later, Kenney's troop carrier guys figured out ways to move just about anything by C-47. They even took to cutting 2 1/2 ton trucks in two, packing one half in one C-47 and the other half in a second one, then fly them up to whatever remote jungle base needed them. Once unloaded, the support troops there welded them back together. Amazing stuff, really, but just one of a hundred examples of the dynamic & innovative nature of the 5th Air Force's leadership and men.
Regards,
JohnB
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