89th Airdrome Squadron | 10th AAF CBI | "Cantrell's Kittens" | theater made patch

[walika]

89th Airdrome Squadron | 10th AAF CBI | "Cantrell's Kittens"

 

Lineage

1 Apr 43:  The 89th Airdrome Sq. was activated at Hunter Field, Savannah, GA. Maneuvers and duty at Lebanon, TN Airport with Tennessee Air Support Command from Aug-Oct 43.

 

6 Dec 43:  Unit began travel to overseas duty; departed from Camp Patrick Henry, Newport, VA, on 13 Dec 43 by liberty ship SS William H. Mulholland. Arrived and debarked at Oran, Algeria c. 1 Jan 44 and moved on to Algiers before boarding a ship for transport to a permanent assignment at an Indian location.

 

3 Jan 44:  89th Airdrome Sq broken up and personnel placed under administrative control of the China-Burma-India Chinese American Operational Training Unit (CAOTU).

 

25 Jul 45:  Per General Order 166, Headquarters Army Air Forces, India Burma Theater, the 89th Airdrome Squadron was relieved from assignment to Army Air Forces, India Burma Theater Training Center, assigned to India Burma Air Service Command and further assigned to Central India Air Depot.

 

28 Jul 45:  89th Airdrome Squadron departed for Agra aboard a Special Train.

 

Nickname

Cantrell’s Kittens, nicknamed after its unit commander W. E. Cantrell.

 

In the course of overseas operations it was not unusual for the air and ground echelons of a combat group to become separated; this occurred most frequently in the Pacific theaters when leapfrog, or island-hopping, campaigns were under way. In order to provide for such situations, the AAF authorized creation of special maintenance units, called airdrome squadrons. These units performed the same function as the ground echelons of regular squadrons and were substituted for them when a high degree of mobility was desired of the combat groups. Advance airdromes were prepared and occupied by the special squadrons, thus permitting air echelons to hop forward without being limited by the slower movement of their supporting elements. Training of these units, which included some ASWAAF as well as AAF personnel, was delegated primarily to the domestic air forces. The period of instruction was two months, during which basic military, technical, and unit field training were given under supervision of the squadron's officers.

 

Theater made | Multi-color hand embroidery on blue muslin, India.

 

 

 

Sources:

The Army Air Forces in World War II. Vol VI. Men and Planes. p 658

CBI History.