MEDICAL SERVICE UNITS

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MEDICAL SERVICE UNITS

Source:

Development of Aeromedical Evacuation in the USAF, by Dr. Robert F. Futrell (1960)

Air Force History Index

Mr. Clifford Emling, 803d MAES

Mr. Bernie Shearon

Lineage: Activated December 1942 as 803rd Medical Air Evacuation Transport Sq; Redesignated 1943 as 803rd Medical Air Evacuation Sq.

Assignments: 349th Air Evacuation Gp 1942-1943, India-China Div, Air Tpt Cd.

Stations: Bowman Fld, KY 1942; overseas movement Sep-Oct 1943; Chabua, India Oct 1943-1945; Kunming 1945-.

After the defeat of Japan, squadron established a detachment in Kunming for examination of recently released POWs held in China by the Japanese.

Air Evacuation of Casualties (USAF CBI memo, 29 Jan 44)

Source:

Development of Aeromedical Evacuation in the USAF, by Dr. Robert F. Futrell (1960)

Mr. Bernie Shearon

Lineage: Activated 1943 as 821st Medical Air Evacuation Transport Sq, redesignated 1943 as 821st Medical Air Evacuation Sq, active through 1 May 45.

Assignments: 349th Air Evacuation Gp - Jun 43, Unknown - Jul 44, India-China Wg, Air Tpt Cd -Nov 44, Tenth AF - unknown, India-China Division, Air Tpt Cd.

Stations: Bowman Fld KY 1943-1943, unknown -Jul 44, Bombay -Jul 44, Chabua -Dec 44, Ledo - unknown, later may have been at Hickam Fld.

Source: Mr. Ralph Breckenridge, Winter Park, FL

Formed at Bowan Field, Louisville, KY. Traveled aboard the Gen. George M. Randall via Newport, Panama Canal, Perth, Bombay, then via train to Calcutta, Kanchrapara, Chabua, Ledo.

Plaque located in Memorial Park
National Museum of the United States Air Force

Air-Sea Rescue in the China-Burma-India Theater

Rescue operations in China and India during World War II were of no great importance to the history of air-sea rescue, since most of the flying in both regions was over land. The history of the 8th Emergency Rescue Squadron, stationed in China, does not include a single instance of air-sea search or rescue, and 50 per cent of the 7th Squadron operations in India were concerned with land rescue. The period of operations was not long in either case. The 8th Squadron did not arrive in China until May 1945, and the 7th was operational in India only from March until July 1945.

India

A small AAF rescue detachment was attached to the RAF for operations in June 1944. With two PBY's and only one crew, this unit afforded rescue cover for many XX Bomber Command long-distance missions.

Rescue provided by the British began to prove inadequate late in 1944, when XX Bomber Command missions were stepped up. Requests for more rescue facilities were met by stationing the British No. 212 Squadron at Karachi, with the mission of providing rescue aid in the Bay of Bengal and along the west coast of India. This proved insufficient, however, and the AAF 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron was activated on 25 January 1945. Two flights of the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron were deployed from Italy to serve as the nucleus of the new organization, which was authorized personnel and equipment under the provisions of T/O & E 1-987*. OA-10's, B-17's, L-5's, and PT-19's made up the squadron's aircraft.

(* On 21 December 1944 the War Department prescribed a revised T/O & E (1-987). Personnel authorized under the new regulation increased the size of emergency rescue squadrons to 93 officers and 328 enlisted men. Aircraft equipment was changed to include eight B-17's, four helicopters, and four L-5's with floats. Each squadron was to retain 12 OA-10's.)

Operational flying began in March, and the first month's activities included 43 missions and 16 rescues. Over one-half of the missions were flown over land areas, and land search and rescue became increasingly important in the following months as the India-based bombers moved to bases closer to Japan.

In August 1945 the squadron moved to Okinawa, but did not arrive there until after the end of hostilities.

China

On 18 May 1945 the Air Search and Rescue Section of the China Air Service Command was established in Headquarters, XIV Air Force Service Command. The section was to be the control center for distress data in China, and in that capacity evaluated and passed on for action all distress information. The 8th Emergency Rescue Squadron was charged with carrying out the section's directives for search and rescue activity.

Two days after this organization was formed, the first incident - a C-47 search operation - took place. The first rescue, on 27 May, was accomplished by three helicopters of the 8th ER Squadron. By 15 June six more helicopter rescues had been accomplished. From its formation until 10 September 1945 the rescue section received 138 reports of distress cases. Search operations were carried out in 110 instances, and 43 rescues were accomplished.

The 8th ER Squadron was the only unit among those engaged in World War II to be equipped solely with helicopters and C-47 search aircraft. The mountainous terrain in which the squadron operated provided a thorough test of the helicopter's proficiency in rescue operations, and the results were extremely satisfactory. On the basis of helicopter performance in China, the Chief of Air Staff, Headquarters, AAF was told, "Helicopters are providing an important addition to AAF emergency rescue facilities… this is especially gratifying in view of the fact that helicopters are now standard unit equipment for emergency rescue squadrons." (Memo for C/AS AAF, "Emergency Rescue Helicopter Program", 22 June 1945.)

Plaque located in Memorial Park
National Museum of the United States Air Force

Source: Army Air Forces in WWII, Volume VII; Services Around the World, Chapter 15

(excerpt) Similarly, in North Africa and throughout the Mediterranean the AAF depended heavily upon the RAF's superior experience and organization. Not until the summer of 1943 did the AAF have a rescue organization of its own-a detachment equipped with three or four worn-out Catalinas, which had been flown by ATC from Florida.

Planes and crews belonged to the Twelfth Air Force, but they operated closely with British units under NAAF's Coastal Command. At the end of the year the crews of this detachment, no doubt because of their experience, were ordered home to serve as instructors at the newly established Emergency Rescue School at Keesler Field in Mississippi, where the AAF now undertook to organize and train its own rescue units. Appropriately, the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron was assigned to the Mediterranean, where it began operations in April 1944. Early in 1945 two of its three flights were reassigned to India as the nucleus of a newly established 7th Emergency Rescue Squadron.

Source: Mr. Bernie Shearon

The 7th Emergency Resuce Sq was activated 25 Jan 45, and was originally intended to serve in the CBI Theater, being stationed for a while at Argatala, India. It moved to the Pacific in the summer of 1945 and served at Okinawa before returning to Hawaii (Wheeler Field?) before inactivation 15 May 47. Postwar it was redesignated the 7th Rescue Sq and activated 1 Sep 49 at Wiesbaden AB, Germany. It was redesignated the 7th Air Rescue Sq 10 Aug 50 and the 7th Air Rescue Group 14 Nov 52, moved to Wheelus AB, Libya at about the same time and was inactivated 8 Dec 56.

Source: Air Force History Index

Post-WWII Lineage: 7 Rescue Squadron activated 1 Sep 1949 at Wiesbaden, Germany. Squadron made up of Flight A, Wiesbaden; Flight B, Lajes Field, Azores; Flight C, Wheelus Field, Tripoli, Libya; Flight D, Dhahran Airfield, Saudi Arabia. Squadron redesignated 7 Air Rescue Squadron (ARS) 10 Aug 1950. Flight A relocated to Wheelus and then Sidi Slimane, French Morocco Jan 1952.

Military Air Transport Service (MATS) General Order issued 31 Oct 1952 redesignating 7 Air Rescue Squadron as 7 Air Rescue Group. Support squadrons include 56, 57, 58, and 59 Air Rescue.

7 Air Rescue Group Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) established early 1953. Operational control of 56, 58, and 59 Air Rescue Squadrons delegated to the Commander, 7 Air Rescue Group, enabling him to coordinate rescue activities more effectively.

Aircraft: H-5H (-1954), H-19 (1954-), C- 47, C-82, B-17, SB-17, SA-16, F-84.

Commanders: Lt Col James L. Jarnagin 3 Jul 1952-mid 1953; Col Herbert S. Ellis mid-1953-7 Jun 1955; Col Horace A. Stevenson 7 Jun 1955-8 Dec 1956.

Operations: The Group is to perform search and rescue missions, provide route, area, and strike force search and rescue service within assigned areas of responsibility, render search and rescue service upon request to civil aviation of the united states and civil and military aviation of other countries, and maintain assigned squadrons in operational readiness to permit deployment in support of combat air operations.

Other Sites of Interest: 1st & 7th Emergency Rescue Squadrons

Source: Air Force Special Operations Command - AFSOC CSAR Heritage

Stationed at Chanute Field, 14 Mar 45-19 Apr 45. The 8 ERS arrived in China in May of 1945 with R-6 helicopters and C-47 search support aircraft. Designed for land rescue, the 8 ERS completed 43 saves in difficult, mountainous terrain that more than proved the value of the vertical lift R-6s.

First Helicopter Medical Evacuation in 1944

The China-Burma-India "Hump" airlift operation was the theater for what was probably the first use of a helicopter in a combat rescue. In April 1944, TSgt Ed "Murphy" Hladovcak of the 1st Air Commandos, piloting a Stinson L-1 Vigilant with three wounded British soldiers on board, was forced down over 100 miles (160 km) behind Japanese lines, 15 miles (25 km) west of Mawlu, Burma. Deep in the jungle where an airplane could not land, unable to hike out because of the injured passengers, and with ground-rescue forces days away, the downed men hid from nearby Japanese soldiers. A newly-delivered Army Sikorsky YR-4B helicopter, piloted by Lt. Carter Harmon, with a 175-horsepower engine, was dispatched to try a rescue. In the heat and humidity of Burma, the YR-4B could carry only one passenger at a time, straining its engine past the redline just to lift off. Despite these difficulties, over the two day period 25-26 April 1944, four trips were made in and out to a secure location where the men could safely transfer to a Stinson L-5 Sentinel. The final hasty liftoff was accomplished just as shouting soldiers burst from the jungle. As Lt. Harmon learned later, the soldiers were not Japanese, but an Allied land rescue party that had finally reached the crash site. The great success of the mission encouraged the advocates of helicopters, but few other missions actually took place during WW II.

Other Sites of Interest:

Fact Sheets: Jungle Rescue (National Museum of the USAF)

The Hoverfly in CBI - First Recorded Military Rescue by Helicopter

Igor Sikorsky's R-4 Hoverfly Helicopter

WW II Helicopter Evacuation

Source:

U.S. Army Office of Medical History

Medical Department in China, Burma, and India

Surgery in World War II

World War II Combat Medic

China-Burma-India Theater of World War II

CBI Message Center (Mr. Tom Miller)

WWII Medicine (http://www.ww2medicine.org - no longer active)

U.S. Army Hospital Types

HOSPITAL TYPE	PATIENT CAPACITY	OFFICERS	NURSES	ENLISTED	TOTAL	NOTE
General	1000	75	120	500	692
Evacuation	750	47	52	318	417
Convalescent	3000	28	0	189	217
Surgical	400	50	60	275	385
Field	400	22	18	182	222
Station	750	49	90	390	529	For station with 15,000 troops
Station	500	35	60	275	370	For station with 10,000 troops
Station	250	20	30	150	200	For station with 5,000 troops

U.S. Army Hospital Units

Seagraves Hospital Unit

Namkham (pre-1942); Ramgarh (1942); Myitkyina (1944)

2nd Station Hospital - activated in China 21 Jun 45

14th Evacuation - Ledo Rd, mile marker 19 (1943-1945)

43d Evacuation Hospital was activated June 1, 1941 and redesignated the 14th Evacuation Hospital on August 15, l942.

Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Sep 43-1 Sep 44, GO 220, Hq USF IBT, dtd 27 Sep 45.

Other Sites of Interest:

18th Field - Kanchrapara (1945)

18th General - Ledo / Myitkyina (1945) (1000 bed)

19th Evacuation - China / Burma

20th General - Ledo (1943) (2000 bed)

Meritorious Unit Commendation: 15 Apr 43-1 Sep 44, GO 220, Hq USF IBT, dtd 27 Sep 45.

Other Sites of Interest: Profiles in Penn History

21st Field - Paoshan (1944) (See CBI Unit Histories)

Assigned to Y-Force

22nd Field (See CBI Unit Histories)

Lineage: Activated at Camp White, Ore., on Aug. 1, 1942; deactivated 1 Dec 1946. Relieved and replaced by the 70th Field Hospital, 16 Sep 45.

Assignments: Y-Force

Stations: Ledo, Kunming, Mito, Chanyi

24th Station - Jorhat; North Malir (1945) (250 bed)

25th Field - Ledo / Lashio (1943) (See CBI Unit Histories)

27th Field - Tsuyung (1944)

Assigned to Y-Force

28th Portable Surgical ("China Dragons") - China (1943)

Source: U.S. Army Center for Military History - Special Designations

The unit coin for the 28th Combat Support Hospital (pictured above) prominently features its special designation CHINA DRAGONS. The designation stems from the hospital's service as portable surgical hospital in China during World War II, which is symbolized on its distinctive unit insignia by a dragon.

Source: Fort Bragg (28th Combat Support Hospital)

The 28th Combat Support Hospital was organized in May 1943 as the 28th Portable Surgical Hospital and activated in June of that year at Fort Meade, Maryland. During World War II the unit served in the Asiatic Pacific theater and participated in the China Defensive Campaign. Following the war, the 28th was deactivated in India in December 1945. It was reactivated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina on 25 July 1967 as the 28th Combat Support Hospital (CSH), becoming operational as an inflatable M.U.S.T. equipped hospital.

In 1990, the 28th Combat Support Hospital was the first Army Hospital to be deployed and operational in support of Operation Desert Shield, during Operation Desert Storm. The 28th CSH crossed into Iraq to support XVIII Airborne Corps and continued to provide medical care to U.S. Soldiers and Iraqi POWs as well as civilians 30 days after the termination of hostilities.

In August 1992, the 28th CSH deployed to Homestead, Florida in support of Hurricane Andrew Relief Operation.

In September 1994, the 28th CSH deployed to Haiti in support of Operation Uphold Democracy.

In October 1995, the 28th CSH deployed to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands in support of the Hurricane Marilyn Relief Operation.

Unit decorations include streamers embroidered: "China Defensive", "Defense of Saudi Arabia", and "Defense and Liberation of Kuwait".

Today the Hospital stands ready to support the XVIII Airborne Corps anywhere in the world at a moments notice.

Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History (28th Combat Support Hospital)

Lineage:

Constituted 25 May 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 28th Portable Surgical Hospital
Activated 14 June 1943 at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland
Inactivated 20 December 1945 in India
Redesignated 18 April 1967 as the 28th Surgical Hospital and allotted to the Regular Army
Activated 25 July 1967 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Reorganized and redesignated 21 December 1972 as the 28th Combat Support Hospital

Campaign Participation Credit:

World War II: China Defensive; China Offensive
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait

Decorations: Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

Lineage and Honors Information as of 14 December 1999

30th Station - Panagarh (1943-1945) (250 bed)

32nd Portable Surgical - China (1943)

34th Portable Surgical - Hunan Province (1944)

Assigned to Y-Force

35th Portable Surgical

Assigned to Y-Force

36th Portable Surgical

Assigned to Y-Force

40th Portable Surgical - Ledo; Wayao, China

Assigned to Y-Force

42nd Portable Surgical - Ledo (1943); Wallabum (1944); Myitkyina

Assigned to NCAC

43d Portable Surgical - Ledo (1944); Kamaing, Burma (1944) (Assigned to NCAC) (See CBI Unit Histories)

43d Surgical Hospital

Distinctive Unit Insignia Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of a silver Burmese lion on a blue background between on left a silver disc charged with a blue Indian Asoka wheel and on right a red and blue Taeguk sitting on a horizontal maroon billet surmounted by a silver cross, the vertical arms extending over the billet; all encircled by a continuous silver scroll, the upper area bearing the inscription "BEST CARE ANYWHERE" in blue letters and curving in base behind and below the horizontal sides of the billet.

Symbolism: Maroon and white are the colors used for Medical organizations. The Hospital's service in India and Burma during World War II is symbolized by the Indian Asoka wheel taken from the Indian National flag, and the Chimche or Burmese lion taken from the seal of Burma. The Taeguk alludes to the unit's service in Korea. The cross, symbolic of aid and assistance, and the billet, a heraldic symbol for a building or quarters, represent the Hospital.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 15 January 1970. It was amended to correct the description on 7 July 1970.

44th Portable Surgical (Assigned to NCAC) (See CBI Unit Histories)

44th Surgical Hospital

Distinctive Unit Insignia Description: A gold color metal and enamel device 1 3/16 inches (3.02 cm) in height consisting of a gold Korean temple centered upon a white cross and across the center of the temple a row of three small rectangles, one blue between two red; above the temple and partially obscured by the upper arm of the cross a blue wheel flanked by two sprigs of laurel, the bottom of the cross enclosed by a semi-circular maroon scroll bearing the motto "TO AID THE FALLEN" in gold letters, the scroll terminating at either side of the cross.

Symbolism: White and maroon are the colors of the Army Medical Department. The cross, representing the Hospital function, is white in recognition of the importance of cleanliness and antiseptics in surgery. The blue wheel at top is from the flag of India and represents service in the India-Burma campaign of World War II. The unit's two Korean War campaign credits are represented by the Korean temple at center with the colors red and blue referring to the Korean flag and the gold laurel sprigs alluding to an award of the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service in Korea.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 21 January 1970.

Source: Mr. Phil McGonagle

Myitkyina, Bhamo (1944): 1st platoon kept moving, following the 475 Infantry Reg. and ended up at Seagrave's Hospital in Namkham (Feb-Nov 1945), there we serviced troops moving over the Ledo-Burma road; 2nd & 3d Platoon remained at Bhamo (Feb-Nov 1945).

45th Portable Surgical - Kanchrapara (1943); Kamaing; Mogaung; Shaduzup (1944); Kunming; Kweilin; Luichow; Shanghai

45th Surgical Hospital

Distinctive Unit Insignia Description: A silver color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of a black Chinthe astride a silver cross issuing from a Taeguk between two maroon fleams. All in front and below a stylized palm branch with two oak leaves proper.

Symbolism: Maroon and white are the colors used for the Medical Department. The Chinthe or Burmese griffin, taken from the seal of Burma, refers to the Hospital's service in that area during World War II. The Taeguk alludes to the Hospital's service in Korea and together with the two fleams (a heraldic surgical instrument used in early medicine) represents the two campaigns in Korea. The fleams and cross further symbolize the basic mission of the Surgical Hospital. The palm symbolizes long life and the oak leaves strength and bravery.

Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 3 September 1969.

Source: Mr. Paul Theobald: "I was the head surgical technician of the 45th Portable Surgical Hospital for over 2 years serving in CBI. We were originally scheduled to go to China, but when India was threatend by Japanese invasion we were sent into Burma over the Ledo Road. We were in Kamaing for a while and took care of Wingate's raiders as they came out from behind Japanese lines. We spent the monsoon season in Mogaung and then headed south on the "Jeep" railroad to near Bhamo and then were flown into Kunming, China at Christmas time. We were in Kweilin, Luichow and among the first into Shanghai at the end of the war. We were with the Chinese when they invaded Formosa after the war was over. They had expected some resistance but not a shot was fired. There are only about four enlisted men and one officer from our outfit that are still alive. Several years ago I wrote a monthly newsletter and sent it to the remaining 45th members at that time. It was recollections from my diary and also contained many pictures which I had taken in CBI."

46th Portable Surgical - Ledo (1943-44); Hsipaw, Burma (1944-46)

Assigned to NCAC

47th Portable Surgical - Wayao, China (1944); I-liang, China (1945)

Assigned to Y-Force

Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History (47th Combat Support Hospital)

Lineage:

Constituted 21 December 1928 in the Regular Army as the 47th Surgical Hospital
Redesignated 31 May 1943 as the 47th Portable Surgical Hospital
Activated 7 June 1943 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
Inactivated 3 November 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
Redesignated 24 November 1952 as the 47th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital
Activated 2 February 1953 in Korea
Reorganized and redesignated 25 March 1953 as the 47th Surgical Hospital
Inactivated 15 November 1957 at Fort Riley, Kansas
Activated 10 January 1968 at Fort Lewis, Washington
Reorganized and redesignated 21 May 1973 as the 47th Combat Support Hospital

Campaign Participation Credit:

World War II: China Defensive
Korean War: Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953
Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire

Decorations:

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for KOREA
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA

Lineage and Honors Information as of 24 March 1998

Other Sites of Interest: Surgery in World War II, Chapter XIV, India-Burma & China Theaters

48th Evacuation - Margherita; Ramgarh; Tincha; Myitkyina; North Malir

48th Portable Surgical - Wayao, China (1943-45)

Assigned to Y-Force

Source: 48th Combat Support Hospital (US Army Reserve)

Lineage:

Activated: 7 June 1943, 48th Portable Surgical Hospital
Inactivated: 20 December 1945
Activated: 2 February 1953, 48th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH)
Inactivated: 1 May 1964
Activated: 15 October 2000, 48th Combat Support Hospital

Campaign Participation:

WWII - AP
China Defensive
Third Korean Winter
Korea, Summer 1953

Decorations:

Meritorious Unit Commendation: 15 Apr 43-1 Sep 44, GO 220, Hq IBT, dtd 27 Sep 45.
Streamer Embroidered Korea

Emblem: Consists of a gold field tent upon a grassy field emitting rays above a blue area at bottom all enclosed by a rectangular maroon tripartite scroll issuing from a green wreath of laurel in base and inscribed "One Army" on the left and "One Mission" on the right in gold, at bottom a maroon cross and overall a white sword point down entwined by a green serpent.

Symbolism: Maroon and white are the colors traditionally used by the Medical Corps; the cross represents the organization's medical support and service to the United States forces. The sword underscores the combat aspect of the mission and forms the allusion of the numeral "1", reflecting the unit's motto. The serpent and sword recalls the rod of Aesculapius, symbolizing medical care and healing. Laurel is emblematic of excellence and high achievement; green is the color of regeneration and growth. The field tent highlights mobility and total readiness; the blue area below the tent alludes to the Swaleen River and the unit's baptism of fire during World War II.

Article about 48th Combat Support Hospital:

"Support hospital unfurls its colors" (See CBI Unit Histories)

Other Sites of Interest: 48th Combat Support Hospital

49th Portable Surgical - Activated 15 Aug 43 at Camp Ellis, Lewistown, IL; Burma (1944)

50th Portable Surgical

Activated 15 Aug 43 at Camp Ellis, Lewistown, IL

Assigned to Y-Force (China, 1944)

53d Portable Surgical

Activated 15 Aug 43 at Camp Ellis, Lewistown, IL

Assigned to Y-Force (China, 1944)

58th Portable Surgical

Activated 15 Aug 43 at Camp Ellis, Lewistown, IL

Ledo (1944); Myitkyina (1944)

60th Portable Surgical

Activated 15 Aug 43 at Camp Ellis, Lewistown, IL

Ledo (1944); China (1944-45)

69th General

Source: 69th General Hospital War Log 1943-1945, courtesy of Mr. Russell Melton

Activated 25 Jun 43 at Camp Ellis, Lewistown, IL

Camp Swift, TX, 9 Sep 43

Camp Patrick Henry, VA (Hampton Roads POE), 27 Mar 44

Bombay, India 1 Jun 44

Declared operational at Margherita, 5 Aug 44

Closed 25 Jul 45

Departed India 5 Aug 45

70th Field - Ledo (1944); Chengtu (1945); Kunming; Calcutta

235th Medical Dispensary (Avn)

71st Field - Bombay / Kanchrapara (1944)

72nd Field - Tezpur (1944); Yenshan (1945)

73d Evacuation - Ledo (1943); Shingbwiyang (Ledo Rd, mile marker 103) (1944)

Meritorious Unit Commendation: 15 Apr 43-1 Sep 44, GO 220, Hq USF IBT, dtd 27 Sep 45.

94th Station - Kharagpur (1944); Piardoba (1945) (150 bed)

95th Field - Kunming (1945)

95th Station - Chabua / Kunming (1943-45)

96th Field - Central Burma, Shanghai (1945)

97th Station - Agra (1942-1945) (100 bed)

98th Station - Ramgarh (1942-43); Chakulia (1943-45); Shingbwiyang (1945); North Malir (1945) (200 bed)

99th Station - Gaya (1942-1945) (100 bed)

100th Station - New Delhi (1942-1945) (150 bed)

111th Station - Chabua (1943)

Meritorious Unit Commendation: Jul 44-Aug 44, GO 181, Hq USF IBT, dtd 22 Aug 45.

From Mr. Frank C. Wilkosz: "The 111th Station Hospital was activated at Camp Wheeler, Ga. early in 1943. After about 3 months training as a unit it was moved to Camp Anza, Calif. for preparation overseas. The unit boarded the USS Uraquay on Aug. 2, 1943 and arrived at Chabua early in October. Six or 7 months later the unit was upgraded and became 234th General Hospital. Col. Bennett G Owens, MD, commanded this organization from beginning until near it's disbandment after WWll ended. Major Willard F. Fischer, MAC, was in charge of the enlisted personel. This unit had about 80 physicians and dentists, 80 or 90 nurses and approximately 600 enlisted men with over 750 beds. I served with those units for over 2 years."

112th Station - Calcutta (1943)

Source: CBIVA Sound-off, Summer 1984 issue

The 112th Station Hospital broke ground as the U.S. Army Hospital in Calcutta in early April 1943 on Southern Ave. using two 3-story apartment buildings as a beginning. Over a year later, after many wards and other buildings were built, the 112th was redesignated the 263d General Hospital. In November 1944 this unit was replaced by the 142nd General Hospital, the designation of the facility until the war's end.

118th General - Karachi

131st Station - North Malir (1945) (50 bed)

142nd General - Lake Dhakuria (Calcutta) (1944) (2000 bed)

Former 112th Station Hospital, 263th General Hospital

159th Station - Karachi (1942)

Later redesignated 181st General Hospital

172nd General - Kunming (1944)

Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History (455th Field Hospital)

Lineage:

Constituted 23 February 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 172d General Hospital
Activated 29 July 1944 at Camp Barkeley, Texas
Inactivated 30 April 1946 in China
Redesignated 23 May 1949 as the 455th General Hospital and allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps
Activated 26 May 1949 at Providence, Rhode Island
(Organized Reserve Corps redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve)
Location changed 1 April 1960 to Warwick, Rhode Island; on 1 February 1976 to Providence, Rhode Island
Reorganized and redesignated 17 September 1993 as the 455th Field Hospital

Campaign Participation Credit: World War II: India-Burma

Decorations: None

Lineage and Honors Information as of 30 June 1994

178th Station - Lalmanirhat (1943-1945) (100 bed)

181st General - Karachi (1943); North Malir (1945) (500 bed)

198th Station - Dacca (450 bed) (See CBI Unit Histories)

234th General - Chabua (1945) (1000 bed)

Meritorious Unit Commendation: Jul-Aug 44, GO 181, Hq USF IBT, dtd 22 Aug 45.

(See note for 111th Station Hospital, above.)

259th Station - Activated 25 Mar 43, New Orleans POE; Kweiyang (1945)

263d General - Karachi / Calcutta (1943)

Redesignated from 112th Station Hospital; inactivated 11/44; replaced by 142nd General Hospital

335th Station - Tagap-Ga (Ledo Rd, mile marker 80) (1944); North Malir (1945) (100 bed)

Activated 15 Aug 43, Fort Huachuca, AZ

Other Sites of Interest: 335th Station Hospital

371st Station - Ramgarh (c. Oct 44), Kanchrapara (1945) (500 bed)

Detachment - Angus Mills (1945)

372nd Station - Kaliakunda (200 bed)

383d Station - Tagap-Ga (Ledo Rd, mile marker 52) (1944)

14th Evacuation Hospital at Mile 19 on the Ledo Road

View of the enlisted men's area at the 14th Evacuation Hospital in
Assam, India, shown from the top of a water tank.
U.S. Army photo taken Dec. 16, 1944 (Ex-CBI Roundup, May 1952 issue)

20th General Hospital main entrance

Nurses quarters at the 20th General Hospital, August 1945

An injured Chinese soldier is treated at the 25th Field Hospital in northern Burma, 1944

Personnel of the 45th PSH moved to Kamaing on June 23,1944.
We set up shelters under tarps and air-drop parachutes for living tents.
(Photo by Dr. Paul Theobald)

73d Evacuation Hospital at Shingbwiyang, Burma, Mile 103 on the Ledo Road

Seagrave Hospital Unit at Tagap Ga, Burma, August 1943

Aerial view of Myitkyina airstrip from the south after the fall of Myitkyina.
Left arrow indicates the general area of the 42nd Portable Surgical Hospital; right arrow, Seagrave's hospital.
A road leads off at the left to a water point about 1 mile distant.

IBT Roundup, 15 Mar 45 Issue
Courtesy of Mr. Carl Weidenburner

B-25 BOMBERS BLAST NIPS AND MOSQUITOES

HQ., INDIA-BURMA AIR SERVICE COMMAND - Originally, the B-25 Mitchell bomber came to India and Burma to blast Japs, but since its arrival, this plane has taken up the task of exterminating another kind of insect - the malaria-giving Anopheles mosquito.

For waging war against the mosquito, the B-25's have been re-fitted with special tanks to spray DDT solution, the new mosquito destroyer, on large areas of swamp land and infected jungle.

The idea of spraying insecticide from a swiftly-moving airplane is not new, but it is believed that the actual spray ship constructed at the Bangalore Air Depot is the first of its kind. The present project is the outgrowth of U.S. Medical Officers' campaign to control the ravages of malaria.

Behind the successful application of the DDT bomber lies the teamwork of numerous American military and civilian mechanical experts of the Air Service Command's Bangalore Air Depot, Mr. Christian J. Ohlschlager, American Technical Instructor, had much to do with the creation of a workable tank and spray system. Working with him on this were Robert T. Wise, an American engineer, and U.S. mechanical experts Daniel Chako and John J. Uebele, both veterans of the Orient.

Expert Indian airplane mechanics, who participated in the conversion work, were H. N. Delawala and A. G. Khan.

When the tank, valve and spray pipe system had been built and installed, Lt. Dodge E. Leary stepped in to test-fly this new weapon against our enemy.

These men had much to do with conversion of B-25's to Malaria Control Spray units. Lt. Dodge E. Leary, Cambria, Wis., test-flew the airplanes. Robert T. Wise, Cleveland, O., John J. Uebele, Pittsburgh, Pa., and Daniel Chako, Girard, O., American civilians at Bangalore Air Depot of Air Service Command, participated in the tank and spray installations.

Departed U.S. 20 Jan 43 on U.S.S. Monticello. Arrived Bombay 3 Mar 43. Moved to Ledo and later Myitkyina.

685th Medical Collection Co.
889th Ambulance Co. (Motor)

Source: US Army Center of Military History (64th Medical Detachment)

Lineage:

Constituted 23 April 1943 in the Army of the United States as the HH Veterinary Detachment
Activated 25 July 1943 at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana
Reorganized and redesignated 5 August 1944 as the 90th Medical Composite Section
Redesignated 3 April 1945 as the 90th Veterinary Food Inspection Detachment
Inactivated 30 October 1945 in India
Redesignated 28 October 1954 as the 64th Medical Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army
Activated 17 December 1954 in Germany

Campaign Participation Credit:

World War II
India-Burma
War on Terrorism
Afghanistan:
Consolidation III
Transition I
(Additional campaigns to be determined)

Decorations:

Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered IRAQ 2009
Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2011-2012

9th Medical Lab - Chabua

242nd Medical Maintenance Det - Calcutta

240th Medical Supply Det - Myitkyina
241st Medical Supply Det - Myitkyina

562nd Dental Operating Det - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
563d Dental Operating Det - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
564th Dental Operating Det - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
565th Dental Operating Det - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
566th Dental Operating Det - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
567th Dental Operating Det - Ledo (activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater)
568th Dental Operating Det - Ledo
569th Dental Operating Det - Ledo
570th Dental Operating Det - Ledo
571st Dental Operating Det - Ledo
572nd Dental Operating Det - Ledo
573d Dental Operating Det - Ledo
574th Dental Operating Det - Ledo
575th Dental Operating Det - Ledo
576th Dental Operating Det - Ledo

81st Dental Prosthetic Det (Fixed) - Calcutta
82nd Dental Prosthetic Det (Fixed) - Chabua

Medical Dispensaries

14th Medical General Dispensary - New Delhi
15th Medical General Dispensary - New Delhi
16th Medical General Dispensary - New Delhi

164th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - 1337th AAFBU, Sookerating, India

Activated 5 Apr 43, Presque Isle AAB, ME
Campaign Credit: India-Burma

165th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Tezpur, India

Campaign Credit: India-Burma

166th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Mohanbari, India

Activated 5 Apr 43, Morrison Fld, FL
Campaign Credit: India-Burma

167th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Chabua, India

Activated 5 Apr 43, Camp Luna, NM
Campaign Credit: India-Burma

168th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Jorhat, India

Campaign Credit: India-Burma

169th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Misamari, India

Activated 5 Apr 43, Long Beach AAB, CA
Campaign Credit: India-Burma

224th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - (20th AF, 58th Bomb Wing)

Activated 25 Nov 43 at Drew Field, Tampa, FL

225th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Calcutta, India

Activated 25 Nov 43 at Drew Field, Tampa, FL

226th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Calcutta, India
230th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Dinjan; Piardoba; Bhamo

Activated at Robins Field, GA on 24 Dec 43
Inactivated 15 Dec 45

231st Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Kharagpur, India

Activated 15 Nov 43 at Robins Field, GA
Moved to Bombay, India
Unit assigned Kuinglai, China sometime in 1945.

232nd Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Kharagpur, India

Activated 4 Jan 44 at Robins Field, GA
Assigned to India-Burma Sector c. Spring 1944
Moved to Yunannyi, China to operate air base dispensary
Campaign Credit: China Defensive, 6 Jun-23 Aug 44

233d Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Kharagpur, India; Kwanghan, China

Organized at Robins Field, GA Dec 43
Formally activated 4 Jan 44
Deactivated 1 Dec 45.

234th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - 14th Air Service Command

Activated 1 Jan 44. Assigned to India
Personnel move from India to China c. Apr 45
Located Kiangwan Air Base, Shanghai, China

235th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - 14th Air Service Command (70th Field Hospital - Chengtu)

Activated at Robins Field, GA, 1 Jan 44
Arrives Kunming, China, 28 Aug 44
Operated at Base Dispensary, Sian Army Air Base, China
Deactivated 6 Dec 45 at Camp Anza, CA

236th Medical Dispensary (Avn)

Located at Lakeland Army Air Field, FL Aug 44
Transferred to Kalaikunda Army Air Base c. Oct 44 (2nd Air Commando Gp)

238th Medical Dispensary (Avn)

Activated 15 Mar 44 at Robins Field, GA
Transferred to Pandeveswar, India c. spring 45
Campaign Credit: India-Burma, Central Burma

239th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Depot Fld (later Harmon Fld), Guam

activated c. Spring 1944
Bronze Service Star for participation in Western Pacific Campaign awarded for period 15 Jun 44-18 Feb 45

240th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Chittagong, India

Campaign Credit: India-Burma, Central Burma, China Offensive

241st Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Feni; Pandaveswar by 1 Aug 45

Activated 15 Mar 44, Robins Field, GA
Campaign Credit: Central Burma

283d Medical Dispensary (Avn) - 1st Combat Cargo Gp

Activated 3 Oct 44 at Robins Field, GA
Relocated to India on 19 Dec 44
Inactivated c. Fall 1945
Campaign Credit: Central Burma

284th Medical Dispensary (Avn) - Ondal, India (1st Air Commando Gp)
285th Medical Dispensary (Avn)

Activated 1 Sep 44 in India
Stationed at Asansol by 1 Aug 45 (1st Air Commando Gp)
Returned to U.S. during Sep 45
Campaign Credit: India-Burma, Central Burma

354th Medical Dispensary - Myitkyina; Parbatipur
355th Medical Dispensary - Kanchrapara
356th Medical Dispensary - Pandu
357th Medical Dispensary - Kanchrapara
358th Medical Dispensary - Tinsukia
536th Medical Dispensary - Yunnanyi - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
537th Medical Dispensary - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
538th Medical Dispensary - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
539th Medical Dispensary - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
540th Medical Dispensary - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
541th Medical Dispensary - activated 6 Jun 45 in IB theater
548th Medical Dispensary - North Malir by Sep 45
549th Medical Dispensary - North Malir by Sep 45
550th Medical Dispensary - North Malir by Sep 45
837th Medical Dispensary
838th Medical Dispensary - Kanchrapara
839th Medical Dispensary - Kanchrapara
840th Medical Dispensary - North Malir
841st Medical Dispensary - North Malir
842nd Medical Dispensary - Kanchrapara

Medical Platoons

4th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - 48 ADG, Agra, India

Det - Chabua, India

8th Medical Supply Platoon

Assigned to 301 ASG
Attached to 68th ASG 13 Mar 44

16th Medical Supply Platoon *
22nd Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - 22 ADG, Kharagpur, India

Moved to Okinawa from India c. Aug 45

25th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - 83 ADG, Titagarh, India

Activated 1 Sep 42 at Warner Robins, GA
Transfered to Orlando Army Air Base, 9 Jan 43
Unit transferred operations to 18 Medical Supply Platoon and prepared to transfer to Wilmington, CA, Feb 44
Movement orders changed to transfer unit to Camp Patrick Henry, VA, Mar 44

48th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - Bengal Air Depot, India
52nd Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn)

Activated at Robins Field, Warner Robins, GA, 15 Mar 43
Arrived Bally Jute Mill, Howrah District, India, 6 Nov 43

75th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - 28 ADG (arrived 31 Mar 45)

Unit activated 29 Jun 44
Immediately transferred to Robins Field, GA
Moved to Kelly Field, TX, 2-9 Nov 44
Assigned to 28th air depot group, India, arriving 31 Mar 45

76th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - 47 ADG

Unit activated 29 Jun 44, Kelly Field, TX
Transferred less personnel and equipment to Robins Field, GA
Departed for Calcutta, India by way of Bombay, arriving at port 10 Mar 45
Unit relieved of assignment India-Burma Theater and assigned to China Theater (14 ADG) effective 24 Sep 45
Unit left Bengal Air Depot and went to Shanghai via Calcutta and Singapore, arriving 9 Nov 45
Inactivated 18 Mar 46

78th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - Tezgaon, India

Organized 5 Jul 44, Robins Field, GA
Activated 16 Oct 44, Kelly Field, TX
Assigned China-Burma-India Air Service Command, 16 Oct 44
Sailed for overseas destination, 27 May 45

79th Medical Platoon (Supply, Avn) - Calcutta, India

Meritorious Unit Commendation: 1 Dec 44-1 Mar 45, GO 220, Hq USF IBT, dtd 27 Sep 45

* Source: various issues of Ex-CBI Roundup

Veterinary Service Units

Source: Army Veterinary Service

The Army Veterinary Service is a component of the Army Medical Service and as such shares the responsibility of safeguarding the health of the Army. It fulfilled a vital mission in World War II by inspection of the food intended for troop consumption at the time of its purchase and receipt, as well as during its storage and shipment. As part of this mission, Veterinary Corps personnel inspected civilian as well as government installations to insure proper sanitation and techniques of storage and handling of all meat and meat products, marine and dairy products, and nonanimal products.

In the early months of 1944, the Army Veterinary Service with USAFCBI had approximately 90 officers and twice that number of enlisted personnel; numerically, it was almost equally divided between the India-Burma and the China sectors, and only a third were on duty at U.S. services of supply and air force installations, while two-thirds of them were being utilized for instructing, on liaison duty with, or providing supporting veterinary animal services to, the Chinese armies in India and in China. By mid-June 1944, the veterinary officer strength was increased to 141. These officers were assigned to duty as follows:

Theater Surgeon's Office, Headquarters, USAFCBI

Surgeon's Office, Headquarters, Services of Supply, at New Delhi:

Base Section 1, at Karachi
Base Section 2, at Calcutta
Base Section 3, at Ledo
Advance Section 1, at Kunming
Advance Section 2, at Chabua
Station complement, Ramgarh Training Center
War Dog Detachment
Services of Supply Remount Service
Services of Supply General Depot 1
Services of Supply General Depot 2
1st Veterinary Company (Separate)
9th Medical Laboratory
- Meritorious Unit Commendation: Feb-Mar 45, GO 111, Hq USF IBT, dtd 5 Jun 45.

Theater troops:

Company E (Veterinary), 13th Mountain Medical Battalion
5307th Composite Regiment (Provisional)
Ramgarh Training Center (instructional staff)
X-Force Operations Staff
Y-Force Operations Staff
Z-Force Operations Staff

Surgeon's Office, Headquarters, AAF, India-Burma Sector:

China-Burma-India Air Service Command
Fourteenth Air Force
India-China Wing, Air Transport Command

13th Mountain Medical Battalion - Shaduzup (1944) (See CBI Unit Histories)

43d Veterinary Animal Service Detachment

Source: U.S. Army Center of Military History (43d Medical Detachment)

Lineage:

Constituted 20 March 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 43d Veterinary Detachment
Activated 6 July 1944 in China
Reorganized and redesignated 16 March 1945 as the 43d Veterinary Animal Service Detachment
Inactivated 20 September 1945 in China
Redesignated 13 August 1951 as Headquarters, 43d Veterinary Service Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army
Activated 22 August 1951 at Camp Carson, Colorado
Reorganized and redesignated 15 January 1953 as Headquarters, 43d Medical Detachment
Reorganized and redesignated 3 December 1954 as the 43d Medical Detachment
Inactivated 23 February 1967 in France
Activated 26 May 1967 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas
Inactivated 26 December 1971 in Vietnam
Activated 1 October 1993 at Fort Hood, Texas

Honors

Campaign Participation Credit:

World War II: China Defensive; China Offensive
Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V; Counteroffensive, Phase VI; Tet 69/Counteroffensive; Summer-Fall 1969; Winter-Spring 1970; Sanctuary Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase VII; Consolidation I; Consolidation II

Decorations: None

Lineage and Honors Information as of 22 May 2001.

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