These problems were exacerbated by events that followed the invasion of Leyte on 20 October 1944. These exercises were designed to test the Armys readiness for modern, large-scale combat operations.5 During the exercises, the engineers improved runways at sites throughout Louisiana under field operating conditions.6 Engineers also studied reports from the British Armys operations in France in May and June 1940 that also emphasized the need for mobility.7 As a result, the Army focused on providing aviation engineer battalions with light, mobile equipment that could be moved to new locations relatively easily. Some of these reports, known generally as After Action Reports (AAR), may describe the days combat in as little as a paragraph, or across several pages. Altogether, logistical problems, weather, and Japanese attacks slowed work on the Leyte airfields. Stationed at Bhamo by 1 Aug 45 (assigned to North Burma Air Task Force), (10th Chinese Engineer Regiment, attached), (12th Chinese Engineer Regiment, attached), Constituted 16 January 1918 in the National Army at Fort Myer, Virginia, as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineer Regiment, Demobilized in March 1919 at Camp Upton, New York, Reconstituted 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineers, Activated 14 July 1941 at Camp Bowie, Texas, Redesignated 1 August 1942 as the 2d Battalion, 37th Engineer Combat Regiment, Reorganized and redesignated 15 March 1943 as the 209th Engineer Combat Battalion, Inactivated 27 November 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, Redesignated 29 April 1947 as the 27th Engineer Combat Battalion, Activated 18 September 1950 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Inactivated 26 October 1950 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Activated 1 March 1951 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Redesignated 8 June 1953 as the 27th Engineer Battalion, (Lettered companies inactivated 17 October 2008 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Support Company concurrently constituted and activated), Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; 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, Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait, War on Terrorism: Campaigns to be determined, Presidential Unit Citation (Army), Streamer embroidered MYITKYINA, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1966-1967, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1968-1969, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1969, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970-1971, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2004, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2006-2007, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2009-2010, Army Superior Unit Award, Streamer embroidered 1990, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1967-1968, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class, Streamer embroidered VIETNAM 1970, Moved to Camp Anza, CA (LA POE) 13 Aug 44, arriving 30 Aug 44, Moved from Dinjan, India to Waingmaw, Burma 8 Nov 44, Transfer from 10th AF (Bhamo) to 14th AF (Kunming) 15 Mar 45 (HQ moved 3 Apr 45), Constituted 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as the 76th Engineer Company, Activated 1 June 1941 at Fort McClellan, Alabama, Reorganized and redesignated 6 October 1943 as the 76th Engineer Light Ponton Company, Inactivated 27 November 1945 at the New York Port of Embarkation, Redesignated 15 November 1946 as the 76th Engineer Light Equipment Company, Redesignated 18 December 1947 as the 76th Engineer Panel Bridge Transport Company, Activated 15 January 1948 at Camp Campbell, Kentucky, Reorganized and redesignated 3 March 1949 as the 76th Engineer Dump Truck Company, Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1954 as the 76th Engineer Company, Activated 8 July 1957 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Inactivated 24 March 1962 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Activated 24 July 1964 at Fort Lee, Virginia, Activated 6 December 1969 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Inactivated 5 April 1972 at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Activated 16 October 2005 at Fort Knox, Kentucky, Korean War:UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter; Korea, Summer 1953, Vietnam:Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II, War on Terrorism: Afghanistan: Consolidation II, Consolidation III, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered KOREA 1950-1951, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army), Streamer embroidered AFGHANISTAN 2007-2008, Constituted 1 October 1933 in the Regular Army as the 77th Engineer Company, Activated 2 June 1941 at Fort Custer, Michigan, Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1942 as the 77th Engineer Light Ponton Company, Redesignated 15 November 1946 as the 77th Engineer Combat Company, Assigned 27 February 1947 to the 25th Infantry Division, Inactivated 15 April 1953 in Korea and relieved from assignment to the 25th Infantry Division, Redesignated 8 May 1956 as the 77th Engineer Company, Activated 15 May 1956 at West Point, New York, Inactivated 15 May 1958 at West Point, New York, Activated 1 December 1961 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Inactivated 1 July 1963 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Activated 3 June 1966 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Inactivated 21 February 1973 at Fort Eustis, Virginia, Activated 16 September 2006 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, World War II:India-Burma; Central Burma, Korean War:UN Defensive; UN Offensive; CCF Intervention; First UN Counteroffensive; CCF Spring Offensive; UN Summer-Fall Offensive; Second Korean Winter; Korea, Summer-Fall 1952; Third Korean Winter, Constituted 24 March 1942 in the Regular Army as the 428th Engineer Company, Activated 22 April 1942 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, as the 428th Engineer Dump Truck Company, Inactivated 13 December 1945 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Redesignated 30 January 1947 as the 515th Engineer Dump Truck Company, Redesignated 22 March 1949 as the 515th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company, Activated 16 May 1949 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Reorganized and redesignated 29 August 1951 as the 515th Engineer Pipeline Company, Redesignated 1 December 1953 as the 515th Engineer Company, Inactivated 21 December 1956 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Activated 22 March 1968 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Inactivated 15 September 1995 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Activated 16 May 2007 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, World War II: American Theater, Streamer without inscription; Aleutian Islands; China Offensive, Southwest Asia: Defense of Saudi Arabia; Liberation and Defense of Kuwait; Cease-Fire, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for ALCAN HIGHWAY, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for SOUTHWEST ASIA 1990-1991, Constituted 19 March 1942 in the Army of the United States as the 504th Engineer Company, Redesignated 1 April 1942 as the 504th Engineer Light Ponton Company, Activated 15 May 1942 at Camp Gordon, Georgia, Redesignated 8 May 1947 as the 380th Engineer Ponton Bridge Company and allotted to the Organized Reserves, Activated 30 May 1947 at Raleigh, North Carolina, Location changed 3 July 1947 to Rocky Mount, North Carolina, (Organized Reserves redesignated 25 March 1948 as the Organized Reserve Corps; redesignated 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve), Location changed 25 March 1949 to Plymouth, North Carolina, Inactivated 1 September 1950 at Plymouth, North Carolina, Redesignated 8 May 1952 as the 380th Engineer Dump Truck Company, Activated 1 June 1952 at Burgaw, North Carolina, Reorganized and redesignated 28 February 1954 as the 380th Engineer Company, Location changed 28 May 1956 to Columbia, South Carolina, Inactivated 25 June 1959 at Columbia, South Carolina, Activated 16 September 2008 at Greenville, Mississippi, Ordered into active military service 3 January 2011 at Greenville, Mississippi, Constituted 16 February 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 1359th Engineer Dump Truck Company, Activated 1 March 1944 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, Inactivated 22 January 1946 at Fort Lawton, Washington, Redesignated 8 December 1954 as the 103d Engineer Company and allotted to the Regular Army, Activated 25 October 1954 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Vietnam:Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; 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, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1966-1967, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1967-1970, Constituted 13 August 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 778th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company, Activated 14 August 1943 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, Inactivated 2 January 1946 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, Redesignated 12 September 1947 as the 336th Engineer Dump Truck Company, and allotted to the Organized Reserves, Activated 25 September 1947 at Bristol, Virginia, Reorganized and redesignated 20 July 1953 as the 336th Engineer Company, Location changed 19 April 1956 to Clintwood, Virginia, Inactivated 11 May 1959 at Clintwood, Virginia, Activated 16 September 2008 at Weirton, West Virginia, Constituted 13 August 1943 in the Army of the United States as the 780th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company, Redesignated 22 September 1947 as the 333d Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company, and allotted to the Organized Reserves, Activated 7 October 1947 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ordered into active military service 11 September 1950 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Reorganized and redesignated 23 July 1951 as the 333d Engineer Pipeline Company, Reorganized and redesignated 24 November 1953 as the 333d Engineer Company, Released from active military service 26 May 1955 and reverted to reserve status, Inactivated 20 July 1955 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Activated 1 December 1955 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ordered into active military service 15 October 1961 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; released from active military service 4 August 1962 and reverted to reserve status, Inactivated 28 December 1965 at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Activated 30 January 1968 at West Hazelton, Pennsylvania, Inactivated 13 July 1976 at West Hazelton, Pennsylvania, Activated 16 September 2008 at Reading, Pennsylvania, Constituted 9 March 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 1380th Engineer Petroleum Distribution Company, Activated 15 March 1944 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, Redesignated 2 October 1947 as the 304th Engineer Ponton Bridge Company and allotted to the Organized Reserves, Activated 22 October 1947 at Pontiac, Michigan, Location changed 24 June 1948 to Saginaw, Michigan, Inactivated 4 December 1950 at Saginaw, Michigan, Redesignated 16 April 1959 as the 304th Engineer Company, Activated 1 May 1959 at Saginaw, Michigan, Location changed 31 January 1962 to Battle Creek, Michigan, Inactivated 31 December 1965 at Battle Creek, Michigan, Activated 16 September 2008 at Lima, Ohio, Ordered into active military service 4 April 2014 at Lima, Ohio, Constituted 20 October 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 156th Engineer Service Detachment, Activated 30 December 1944 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana, Reorganized and redesignated 11 June 1945 as the 156th Engineer Refrigeration Maintenance Detachment, Assigned 1 July 1947 to the 7th Infantry Division, Relieved 1 December 1948 from assignment to the 7th Infantry Division, Redesignated 6 May 1959 as the 156th Engineer Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army, Activated 25 June 1959 at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Inactivated 25 January 1965 at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Activated 4 May 1965 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Activated 1 September 1980 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Inactivated 15 July 1988 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, World War II:Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Streamer without inscription, Vietnam:Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; 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, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1968, Republic of Vietnam Civil Action Honor Medal, First Class for VIETNAM 1968-1970, 885th Airborne Engineer Battalion formed at Bradley Field, CT early 1943, 885th Airborne Engineer Battalion disbanded Dec 1943, HQ Co. redesignated 2070th Aviation Engineering, Utility and Firefighting Detachment, Co. A redesignated 2071st Aviation Engineering, Utility and Firefighting Detachment, Co. B redesignated 2072nd Aviation Engineering, Utility and Firefighting Detachment, Co. C redesignated 2073d Aviation Engineering, Utility and Firefighting Detachment, All units arrived in Salua Air Field, India, Apr 1944 and redesignated Aviation Engineer Utility and Fire Fighting Detachments, Constituted 13 January 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 2087th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighting Platoon, Activated 20 January 1944 at Tallahassee, Florida, Inactivated 19 January 1946 at Ondal, India, Redesignated 21 June 1948 as the 475th Engineer Fire Fighting Platoon and allotted to the Organized Reserve Corps, Activated 15 July 1948 at San Francisco, California, Inactivated 30 November 1950 at San Francisco, California, (Organized Reserve Corps redesignated on 9 July 1952 as the Army Reserve), Redesignated 5 November 1962 as the 475th Engineer Platoon, Activated 23 January 1963 at Bell, California, Location changed 10 June 1964 to Bakersfield, California, Inactivated 29 February 1968 at Bakersfield, California, Activated 1 March 1974 at El Dorado, Kansas, Ordered into active military service 15 November 1990 at El Dorado, Kansas; released from active military service 24 April 1991 and reverted to reserve status, Location changed 16 September 1996 to Creston, Iowa, Reorganized and redesignated 16 September 1998 as the 475th Engineer Detachment, Detachment ordered into active military service 7 February 2003 at Creston, Iowa; remainder of unit ordered into active military service 7 December 2003 at Creston, Iowa, Detachment released from active military service 2 May 2004 and reverted to reserve status; remainder of unit released from active military service 3 Jun 2005 and reverted to reserve status, Inactivated 15 September 2011 at Creston, Iowa, Activated 16 September 2016 at Vicksburg, Mississippi, Constituted 20 October 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 3132d Engineer Service Detachment, Redesignated 11 June 1945 as the 3132d Engineer Refrigeration Maintenance Detachment, Redesignated 30 September 1966 as the 132d Engineer Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army, Activated 1 December 1966 at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Activated 1 August 1988 at Fort McPherson, Georgia, World War II: Asiatic-Pacific Theater, Streamer without inscription, Vietnam: Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; Counteroffensive, Phase IV; Counteroffensive, Phase V, Constituted 20 October 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 3133d Engineer Service Detachment, Redesignated 11 June 1945 as the 3133d Engineer Refrigeration Maintenance Detachment, Redesignated 30 September 1966 as the 133d Engineer Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army, Activated 1 August 1988 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Inactivated 15 September 1995 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Activated 16 February 2010 at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Constituted 20 October 1944 in the Army of the United States as the 3136th Engineer Service Detachment, Redesignated 11 June 1945 as the 3136th Engineer Refrigeration Maintenance Detachment, Redesignated 13 October 1966 as the 94th Engineer Detachment and allotted to the Regular Army, Activated 1 January 1967 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Activated 1 March 1987 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Inactivated 15 August 1988 at Fort Lewis, Washington, Activated 17 October 2005 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Vietnam:Counteroffensive, Phase II; Counteroffensive, Phase III; Tet Counteroffensive; 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, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1967-1968, Meritorious Unit Commendation (Army) for VIETNAM 1970-1971, Constituted 10 September 1945 in the Army of the United States as the 3352d Engineer Utilities Detachment, Allotted 13 August 1946 to the Regular Army, Activated 28 December 1946 on Okinawa as the 3352d Engineer Utilities Detachment (Philippine Scouts), Inactivated 30 April 1947 on Okinawa; concurrently withdrawn from the Philippine Scouts, Redesignated 5 February 1953 as the 46th Engineer Utilities Detachment, Reorganized and redesignated 1 April 1954 as the 46th Engineer Detachment, Activated 25 June 1959 at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Inactivated 15 July 1982 at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, Activated 16 April 2010 at Fort Carson, Colorado. The views and opinions expressed or implied in. In 1939 Gen. Hap Arnold negotiated with the U.S. Army Chief of Engineers for a special engineer unit to work with the Air Corps. In addition, runways made of Marston mats could be built faster than asphalt runways, though they were less capable.14, Figure 3, Tsili Tsili Airfield, 11 September 194315, The airfield at Tsili Tsili supported subsequent operations during the assault on Lae. During World War II, more than 300,000 Soldiers passed through Fort Leonard Wood on their way to service in every theater of operation. While one report of his death disclosed that he was killed by a concussion, the AAR for his unit provided far more detail. While the engineers had carved out an operational fighter strip in less than a month, they found that airmobile construction equipment was less capable than their normal bulldozers, tractors, and graders. Figure 1: Allied Command Areas of Responsibility in the Pacific11. The day after the paratroopers landed, the 871st Engineer Aviation Battalion and Australian engineers flew into Nadzab and began improving the airfield. On 15th of March, 1955, all units of the 176th and 386th were redesignated as HHC, Company A, B, C, D, and E of the 386th Combat Engineer Battalion, located at Bryan, Lufkin, Brenham, Pasadena, Nacogdoches and Victoria Texas. In addition to strike missions, the fighters served as guides for the landing craft headed for the beaches of Tinian on 24 July using white stripes painted under their wings. Open9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Reported to Engineer Division #1. The 21st Engineers gained experience in an unlikely place: Louisiana. As a result, the invasion of Leyte, scheduled for 20 December 1944, was moved up to 20 October, and several preliminary operations were canceled. This regiment consisted of three aviation engineer battalions designed for independent operations and capable of independent airfield construction.4 These aviation engineer battalions provided the expeditionary airfield capabilities critical to the Pacific Theater in World War II. Japanese aircraft based at Wewak were sure to contest the attack on Lae and Salamaua. The massive German assault on 16 December quickly interrupted these routine tasks. For example, by the end of January, 1945, the 47th Infantry Regiment (which fought in France and Germany) had lost well over 100% of their strength to battle casualties, where men were either killed, wounded, missing, or taken asprisoner of war. Ultimately, by early January, sufficient aircraft were based in Leyte to gain air superiority over the central and southern Philippines. At first, responsibility for constructing heavy duty airfields remained with the Corps of Engineers, but by mid-1941, the mission of the aviation engineers expanded beyond runway repair and light runway construction. As a result, several landing craft were diverted to land their supplies and equipment near the Tacloban airfield, creating serious congestion on the ground around the strip. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. For more permanent airfields, the most common construction material was asphalt, then called bitumen. However, in practice, the reductions in capability required to achieve air mobility were not worth the cost. From 24 June to 9 July, the two squadrons flew 144 sorties over Saipan, flying from austere runways. In the early morning of 29 May 1943, the 50th Combat Engineers were the first U S Army unit encountered by the last Japanese troops on the island, making a suicide charge toward artillery atop Engineer Hill. Hi Bill. By this time the aviation engineer units were spread all the way across the theater, usually working as small detachments rather than as battalions to complete tactical bases in Tunisia and to enlarge airdromes in the Tellergma area for the heavies. The 700 engineer battalions mobilized during the war repeatedly proved to be vital components to Allied victory on all fronts. In the Pacific Theater, the U.S. Army's 42nd Combat Engineers took part in the hard-fought high casualty Battle of Attu Aleutian Islands (1943) and the Battle of Manila, Luzon Philippines (1945), earning 2 Battle Stars. 4 These aviation engineer battalions provided the expeditionary airfield capabilities critical to the Pacific Theater in World War II. An Engineer Combat Battalion (ECB) was a designation for a battalion-strength combat engineer unit in the U.S. Army, most prevalent during World War II.They are a component of the United States Army Corps of Engineers.. Also known as "Combat Engineer Battalions", they were typically divided into four companies: A, B, C, and Headquarters and Service (H&S). The views and opinions expressed or implied in WBYare those of the authors and should not be construed as carrying the official sanction of the Department of Defense, Air Force, Air Education and Training Command, Air University, or other agencies or departments of the US government or their international equivalents. Starr, Bill, - Camera bags Other units had similar grim statistics. Bill Beigel researches veterans who served and survived the war, as well as those who were WW2 casualties. My grand uncle, 2nd Lt. Robert L. Woolfolk attended UCLA and I believe he graduated in 1936. His books include Generals of the Bulge: Leadership in the U.S. Armys Greatest Battle, The Army Times Book of Great Land Battles: From the Civil War to the Gulf War, and (as a contributing author) Pershings Lieutenants: American Military Leadership in World War I edited by David Zabecki and Douglas Mastriano. Finally, in-person surveys of potential airfield sites proved invaluable. A Navy TBF Avenger would lead the P-47s toward the target and then mark the target with a machine gun burst or rocket while describing the target over the radio. I am curious to know more about him. However, AARs for smaller units, such as Field Artillery Battalions, Combat Engineer Battalions, Armored units, or Military Police outfits, tend to provide more detail in connection with the individual service of their collective soldiers. During the Battle of the Bulge, they not only fought as infantrymen but also, on December 18, 1944, blew up a key Amblve River bridge literally in the face of SS Colonel Jochen Peiper, stopping the German spearhead in its tracks. The Army Air Corps recognized that these performance improvements would require airfields to handle these faster, heavier planes. With a secondary mission of fighting as infantry when required, they were armed with .30 cal. Elements of the XXIV Corps were already at sea for the planned Yap landings. The 1st Engineer Battalion fought in four other World War II campaigns: Eastern New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. Similar reports are also called unit journals or diaries. "We don't . The day after the paratroopers landed, the 871st Engineer Aviation Battalion and Australian engineers flew into Nadzab and began improving the airfield. By the late 1930s, the speed and performance of military aircraft had dramatically increased compared to the aircraft used in World War I. Between 27 October and 31 December 1944 Japanese aircraft flew over 1,000 sorties against Leyte. - Food and Soda Drinks From 24 June to 9 July, the two squadrons flew 144 sorties over Saipan, flying from austere runways. The 21st Engineers gained experience in an unlikely place . The Navys 121st Naval Construction Battalion, Seabees, and the Armys 804th Aviation Engineering Battalion soon began repairing the airfield. These initial operations would have established airfields in Southern Mindanao, Yap in the western Caroline Islands, and the Talaud Islands between Celebes and Mindanao. This is written up the in the book "Bloody Skies: U.S. Eighth Air Force Battle Damage in World War II." They had been loaded assuming that early airfield construction was not a top priority given the reduced Japanese air threat in the Caroline Islands. Of the 48 battalions organized during World War II, only seven were in Europe when the war ended there in May 1945. Twenty-five of these planes wrecked on landing, and their removal caused further delays.