HEADQUARTERS

40TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP

APO 631

 

                                                                                                                                                                                       28 February 1945

MEMORANDUM )

                                                :

NUMBER 35-P                     )

 

POLICY FOR SELECTION OF COMBAT CREWS FOR RETURN TO THE U.S.

 

1.                  The problem of selection of combat crews for return toThe United States is one of utmost concern to the combat crews themselves and to this Headquarters.  It is now known that it will be impossible to lay down a fixed rotation policy based on hours or on a fixed number of combat missions.  The rotation of combat crews must of a necessity be geared to the rate of arrival of replacement crews and to the maintenance of the prescribed strength of crews with the group.  Therefore, as opportunities for rotation occur the problem resloves itself into one of selecting the most deserving crews.

 

2.                  In order to evaluate the relative degree of merit for the purposes of rotation it is necessary to evaluate the specific acts that a crew can accomplish.  It shall be the policy within this organization, therefore, to establish a value, in points, for each type mission, and award extra points for such items as each one hundred combat hours, each one hundred operational hours and months overseas.  In addition, points will be awarded, upon recommendation of a board of Flight Surgeons, for exceptionally hazardous experiences to which a crew might have been subjected.  Thence, upon the occurrence of an opportunity for this Headquarters to release a crew, or crew members, those with the highest total points would be relieved from combat duty and sent back to the continental U.S.

 

3.                  The details of the plan shall be as follows:

 

a.                  For bombing primary targets in:

 

(1)         Manchuria and Japan …………………….10 points

 

(2)         China………………………………………..  8 points

 

(3)         Formosa……………………………………..  5 points

 

(4)         Burma……………………………………….  6 points

 

(5)         Thailand………………………………….….  8 points

 

(6)         Malay States……………………………..…..10 points

 

(7)         Sumatra………………………………………10 points

 

(8)         French Indo-China………………………...  8 points

 

b.                  For bombing secondary targets in:

 

(1)         Manchuria and Japan………..……….…… 7 points

 

(2)         China………………………..………………. 5 points

 

(3)         Formosa…………………………………..… 5 points

 

(4)         Burma….………………………….………... 3 points

 

(5)         Thailand………………………….………… 4 points

 

(6)         Malay States………………..………………. 6 points

 

(7)         Sumatra………………………..…………… 6 points

 

(8)         French Indo-China …………………..……. 5 points

 

c.                   For bombing last resort targets:  2 points.

 

d.                  For each 100 combat hours:  10 points.

 

e.                  For each 100 operational hours:  10 points

 

f.                    For each month since 7 December 1941 spent overseas in a Theater of active operations:  8 points.

 

g.                  For each month since 7 December 1941 spent overseas in a theater of defensive operations:  1 point.

 

h.                  For exceptionally hazardous experience:  not to exceed 10 points.

 

i.                    For any unsatisfactory performance of duty points may be deducted by the Group Commander.

 

4.                  As future target areas and type missions are encountered this policy will be supplemented accordingly.

 

By order of Colonel EAKER:

 

 

 

OFFICIAL:                                                                            FRANK W. MCWALTERS

                                                                                                Captain, Air Corps

                                                                                                Adjutant

 

FRANK W. MC WALTERS

Captain, Air Corps

Adjutant