Air Evacuation Squadrons
803d Air Evacuation Squadron (See CBI Unit Histories)
|
Source:
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)
803d Medical Air Evacuation Squadron
|
821st Air Evacuation Squadron
Source:
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
|
Convalescent / Rest Camps
1st Convalescent Camp - Ledo; North Malir (1945)
2nd Convalescent Camp - Calcutta
3d Convalescent Camp - Sabathu
Emergency Rescue Squadrons
Source: Air-Sea Rescue 1941-1952; U.S. Air Force Historical Study No. 95, USAF Historical Division, 1953
|
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.)
|
7th Emergency Rescue Squadron - Argartala, India
7th Air Rescue Squadron (AF Photo No. K6239B)
Courtesy of Mr. Terry Horstead |
|
Unofficial insignia designed by Mr. Charles "Chuck" Dill of the 1st ERS while the unit was in Italy |
 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
|
8th Emergency Rescue Squadron
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.
|
10th Air Jungle Rescue Detachment (1st Air Commando Gp)
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
|
97th Emergency Rescue Boat Crew (Type III) - Calcutta, India
Hospitals (See CBI Unit Histories)
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."
Other Sites of Interest: 45th Portable Surgical Hospital Unit History
|
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
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)
|
|
...please be patient.
