COMMAND STRUCTURE IN THE SOUTH WEST
PACIFIC AREA
DURING WW2
Not long after the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbour, the 8 ships of the American Pensacola Convoy arrived in Brisbane on 23 December 1941 with approximately 2,400 United States Army Air Corps Troops, 2 Field Artillery Regiments, and over 70 aircraft. This was the first major influx of American personnel into Australia.
On 28 December 1941, Lt. Gen. George H. Brett arrived in Australia to take command of all United States forces. General Barnes was his Chief of Staff and General Brereton was in command of all Air Forces. The Americans headquarters moved from Brisbane to Melbourne. The Americans needed to establish an organisation structure to distribute supplies and personnel throughout Australia. The set up what was known as numbered Base Sections of the United States Armed Forces in Australia (USAFIA).
General Douglas MacArthur escaped the Philippines, and arrived in Melbourne on 21 March 1942. He was appointed Supreme Commander of all Allied Forces in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). On about 9 April 1942 work started to fit out the empty Trustees Executive building at 408 Collins Street, Melbourne to be MacArthur's headquarters.
Supreme
Allied Command South West Pacific Area
18 April 1942 - 3 May 1942
Allied
Air Force Headquarters
Victoria Barracks, Melbourne
Air Defence Areas for Australia
Composition of the Australian Army in Australia in September 1939
Composition of the Australian Army in Australia in April 1943
Composition of the Australian Army in Australia in September 1943
Command
Structure for Allied Intelligence Organisations
in SWPA, May 1943
RAAF Central Area Headquarters
AMERICAN COMMANDERS
| General Douglas MacArthur | General George Churchill Kenney | |
| Major-General Lewis Hyde Brereton | Brigadier- General Martin F. Scanlon | General Kenneth Walker |
| General Ralph G. Royce | Lieutenant General Robert Eichelberger | Lieutenant
General Hap Arnold Chief of Staff of the Army Air Corps |
| Colonel Le Grand A. "Pick" Diller | Brigadier
General Richard Marshall MacArthur's Deputy Chief of Staff |
Lieutenant General Richard Sutherland |
| Major General Charles Andre Willoughby | Brigadier General Julian F. Barnes | Vice Admiral Leary |
| Colonel Ross G. Hoyt | Colonel Edwin S. Perrin | Colonel Eugene L. Eubank |
| Lt.-Gen. Ennis C. Whitehead | Brigadier General Henry B. Clagett | Eleanor
Roosevelt Wife of the American President |
| Lt. Col. Lloyd A. Lehrbas | Major
Charles H. Morhouse Aide-de-Camp to General MacArthur |
Brigadier General Harold H. George |
| Lt. Col. Francis H. Wilson | Lt. Col. Sidney L. Huff | Admiral William "Bull" Halsey, Jr. |
AUSTRALIAN COMMANDERS
| General Sir Thomas Blamey | Major General Cyril Clowes | Group Captain William Henry "Bull" Garing |
| Air Commodore A.H. Cobby | General Gordon Bennett | Air Chief Marshall Sir Charles Burnett, |
| Air Vice Marshall Bostock | Air Commodore Joseph C. Hewitt | Wing Commander Walters |
| Group Captain Cam S. Wiggins | Wing Commander Hancock | Group Captain F.R.W. Scherger |
| Air Vice Marshall Jones | Air Commodore McCauley | Air Commodore Wrigley |
| Air Commodore G.J.W. Mackinolty | Lt. Gen. Lavarack | Lt. Gen Morsehead |
| Lt. Gen Mackay | Maj. Gen A.S. Allen | Air Commodore Lukis |
More to come yet!
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American Base Sections in Australia during WW2
Air Defence areas for Australia
REFERENCE
"They Passed This Way"
by Barry Ralph
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This page first produced 20 August 2000
This page last updated 06 February 2011
AUSTRALIA
@ WAR
