South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command
| South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command | |
|---|---|
 SCAT insignia |
|
| Active | August 1942 – February 1945 |
| Country | United States |
| Type | Transport |
| Role | Assault support |
| Part of | AirSols, ComAirSoPac, South Pacific Area |
| Nickname | SCAT Flying Boxcars |
| Engagements | World War II * Battle of Guadalcanal * Battle of New Georgia |
South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT) was a joint command of US military logistics units in the Pacific Ocean theater of World War II. It contributed notably to the success of U.S. forces in the battles for Guadalcanal (1942–1943) and New Georgia (1943).[1] It reported to AirSols, then to Commander, Air, South Pacific, part of the South Pacific Area.
Contents |
History [edit]
The operations of SCAT started as a response to developments in Guadalcanal, with the initial deployment of Marine Aircraft Group 25[2] in August 1942 comprising VMJ-253.[3] The composite transport group was then formally organized in November 1942. Other units in SCAT were VMR-152, VMR-153 and USAAF's 13th Troop Carrier Squadron. SCAT was dissolved in February 1945.
The nickname "Flying Boxcars" was widely used for the Douglas R4D aircraft flown by Marine units in SCAT, predating its attachment to the post-war C-119 aircraft.
Personnel [edit]
SCAT personnel who later became notable include:
- Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States, commanded SCAT cargo handling units[4] while in the U.S. Navy.
- David Douglas Duncan, photographer, who worked in the Pacific theater under SCAT orders.[5]
- William K. Lanman, who became a millionaire benefactor of Yale University.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
Notes [edit]
- ^ Sherrod History of Marine Aviation in WWII, p. 152.
- ^ Marine Air Group 25, accessed at [1] 2 August 2006
- ^ Jack McKillop, R4D, Douglas "Gooneybird" (section on Operational History) on Brown-Shoe Navy: U.S. Naval Aviation website accessed at [2] 2 August 2006
- ^ Hove, Duane T. American Warriors: Five Presidents in the Pacific Theater of WWII, Burd Street Press, 2003 ISBN 1-57249-307-0; summary accessed at [3] 2 August 2006
- ^ David Douglas Duncan Archive, Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin, accessed at [4] 2 August 2006: includes a photo of Duncan taken by Richard Nixon
Bibliography [edit]
- Sherrod, Robert. (1952). History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II. Combat Forces Press. ISBN 0-933852-58-4.
Further reading [edit]
- Capt. Robert Joseph Allen and 1st Lt. Otis Carney, The Story of SCAT: Part I and The Story of SCAT: Part II, in Air Transport magazine, December 1944 and January 1945, accessed at The DC3 Aviation Museum [5] and [6] 2 August 2006
- Capt. John M. Rentz, Marines in the Central Solomons (Ch.6, The Role of Aviation: pp. 141–145), USMC Monograph accessed at [7] 2 August 2006
- Maj.Gen. Norman J. Anderson and Col. William K. Snyder, SCAT, Marine Corps Gazette, September 1992 accessed at [8] 2 August 2006
