1946 Formation of the Hawaii Air National Guard

SOME OF THE FIRST HANGmen AT BELLOWS FIELD, 23 November 1946. Seated: 1st Lt George R. Duncan, 1st Lt Walter F. Judd, 1st Lt John L. Perry, unknown, 1st Lt David L. Withington, 1st Lt Russell L. Smith, Capt Charles C. Royce, Capt Walter J. Kirschke, 1st Lt Alfred D. Shaheen, 1st Lt Edward L. Stuart, Capt William D. Weichert, 1st Lt Robert M. Barry, Capt John M. Becker, unknown, Lt Alexander R. Anderson, Maj Leonard S. Marshall (SAI). Kneeling: SSG Donald I. Carpenter, ? M. S. Padeken, SSG Richard S. O. Lee, Sgt Earl T. Padeken, unknown carpenter, unknown carpenter, Pvt Richard L. Wong, SSG Harold J. Martinez, unknown, TSG Winton O. Sanson, SSG Oscar H. Weiss, Cpl Will K. Brown, unknown. Standing: Capt Valentine A. Siefermann, MSG Merlin J. Davidson, SSG Edward R. Watson, SSG Ernest B. Holmwood, Cpl Charles L. Flanery,? Donald Hopkins, Pvt Simeon Domingo, Cpl Lemuel A. Jones, Pvt Richard M. Uchida, SSG Herbert Ing, TSG Robert A. Kemp, unknown, unknown, Pvt Irving R. Apana, Sgt Frederick H. Rittmeister, SSG Colburn S. Thrum, SSG Joseph L. Barnett, ? W. C. Hill, SSG Clydesdale L. LaPointe, SSG Sigund B. Jensen, unknown guard, Maj William F. Nolan (Comdr).
SOME OF THE FIRST HANGmen AT BELLOWS FIELD, 23 November 1946. Seated: 1st Lt George R. Duncan, 1st Lt Walter F. Judd, 1st Lt John L. Perry, unknown, 1st Lt David L. Withington, 1st Lt Russell L. Smith, Capt Charles C. Royce, Capt Walter J. Kirschke, 1st Lt Alfred D. Shaheen, 1st Lt Edward L. Stuart, Capt William D. Weichert, 1st Lt Robert M. Barry, Capt John M. Becker, unknown, Lt Alexander R. Anderson, Maj Leonard S. Marshall (SAI). Kneeling: SSG Donald I. Carpenter, ? M. S. Padeken, SSG Richard S. O. Lee, Sgt Earl T. Padeken, unknown carpenter, unknown carpenter, Pvt Richard L. Wong, SSG Harold J. Martinez, unknown, TSG Winton O. Sanson, SSG Oscar H. Weiss, Cpl Will K. Brown, unknown. Standing: Capt Valentine A. Siefermann, MSG Merlin J. Davidson, SSG Edward R. Watson, SSG Ernest B. Holmwood, Cpl Charles L. Flanery,? Donald Hopkins, Pvt Simeon Domingo, Cpl Lemuel A. Jones, Pvt Richard M. Uchida, SSG Herbert Ing, TSG Robert A. Kemp, unknown, unknown, Pvt Irving R. Apana, Sgt Frederick H. Rittmeister, SSG Colburn S. Thrum, SSG Joseph L. Barnett, ? W. C. Hill, SSG Clydesdale L. LaPointe, SSG Sigund B. Jensen, unknown guard, Maj William F. Nolan (Comdr).
(Picture from the HANG 25 History of Hawaii Air National Guard)

The Hawaii National Guard was re-established following the end of World War II by Governor Ingram M. Stainback’s Executive Order of 3 August 1946. The Governor formally accepted National Guard troop units and strength the following day as recommended by the new Adjutant General, Brigadier General Fred W. Makinney. Among these were four Army Air Force units with an aggregate authorized strength of 353 personnel: I 99th Fighter Squadron (SE); 199th Utility Flight; Detachment C, 199th Air Service Group (Ftr); and the 199th Weather Station (Type A).

These Army Air Force units, new to the Hawaii National Guard, were organized 10 September 1946 by Military Department, Territory of Hawaii, General Order No. 4, with temporary station at the Honolulu Armory.

The first commanding officer of the 199th Fighter Squadron (SE) was Lt Col Walter H. Dillingham, who resigned inasmuch as he was actively campaigning for the Territorial Legislature. He was followed by Major William B. Morgan who resigned due to pressure of business. Captain Frank R. Harlocker, the senior officer of the fighter squadron, then assumed command.

By the end of October sufficient personnel had been recruited to meet the minimum requirements for federal recognition. Seventy-four personnel were on the rolls and in the ranks when the units were inspected at 1930 hours, 4 November 1946, by an Army Air Force Inspection Team from Hickam Field. Captain Valentine A. Siefermann, then on active duty awaiting separation, was also present.

199th Fighter Squadron (SE). Capts: Frank R. Harlocker (C.O.), Charles 0. Royce, Vernon L. Smith, and William D. Weichert. 1st Lts: John A. Bogard, James T. Coleman, Henry F. Davis Jr, George R. Duncan, Walter F. Judd, William E. Magie, Charles K. Sey, Alfred D. Shaheen, Russell L. Smith Jr, Edwin L. Stuart, and David L. Withington. 2d Lts: Letwell P.A. Duvauchelle, George T. Harris, Richard F.K. Ludloff, and Lucius C. Thompson. MSG Max G. Morris. TSG Winton 0. Sanson. SSGs: Joseph L. Barnett, Robert W. Clevenger, Ernest B. Holmwood, Herbert Ing, Clydesdale L. LaPoint, Edgar Lott, Thomas J. Mennig, Edward R. Watson, and Oscar H. Weiss. Sgts: Philip T. Batis, Henry Dela Cruz, Robert B. Dow, and Milo Pelton. 199th Utility Flight. Capt Walter J. Kirschke (C.O.). 1st Lts: Douglas E. Guy, Kenneth H. Ing, Harry L. Warren, and William J. Wingfield. 2d Lt George D. Mahi Jr. TSG James H. Dugan. Sgts: Robert D.W. Choi, Jose Padilla, and Frederick H. Rittmeister. Cpls: Theodore J. Burgess and William E. Morrison.

Detachment C, 199th Air Service Group (Ftr). Capt John M. Becker (C.O.). 1st Lt Henry R. Nash. 2d Lt Robert W. Hagood. MSG Merlin J. Davidson. TSGs: Robert A. Kemp and Harold E. Sackett. SSGs: Donald F. Burke, Donald J. Carpenter, Rufus F. Hogan, Sigurd B. Jensen, Harold J. Martinez, and George C. Stevens. Sgts: Richard S.O. Lee, Earl T. Padeken, John A. Paiva, and Colburn S. Thrum. Cpls: Will K. Brown, Alan P. Edwards, Charles L. Flanary, Jack W. Maison, Alfred Nakaima, and Billy R. Pearson. Pfc Richard S. Endo. Pvt Richard M. Uchica.

199th Weather Station (Type A). Capt Robert M. Walck (C.O.). Pvts: Walter K.Y. Chun, Jesus 0. Rendon, and Robert K. Yogi.

There was an active recruiting drive of eight weeks duration which commenced on 11 November 1946 and doubled unit strength. Major William F. Nolan assumed command of the 199th Fighter Squadron (SE), 18 December 1946. Major Leonard S. Marshall arrived in December 1946 to become the first Senior Air Instructor. He was relieved 31 March 1947; Major Gwynne S. Curtis Jr temporarily filled this position until the arrival of Col Harold J. Rau on 29 May 1947. Major Chester G. Livingston became Air Officer on the Adjutant General’s staff.

A portion of Bellows Field was made available for the exclusive use of the air units by the end of 1946. The area included two main runways, one Butler hangar, three large warehouses, administration building, parachute building, and a motor pool. Former quarters were also made available-some of the 56 fulltime employees (44 federal caretakers and 12 state employees) moved in. Unit training assemblies were held initially on Monday nights at the Honolulu Armory during this formulative period. Sixty-five members turned out for their first Bellows Field Saturday afternoon drill in late November. Most of the drills were devoted to organizing and recruiting, with military and technical training on a secondary basis. There was no master training schedule, and each unit made up its own.

The first aircraft received was B-26C no. 433 on 19 March 194 7. By the end of the fiscal year, nine aircraft had been delivered to the fledgling air units: 2 AT-6s, 4 B-26s, I C-46, and 2 L-5s. No tactical aircraft, P-47N THUNDERBOLTS, had been received. An initial utter lack of parts and equipment hampered maintenance efforts. There were many “scrounge” runs to Hickam Field. These “raids were accomplished via the C-46, and the outfit became known by the nickname-“Nolan and his Forty
Thieves”.

There were very few maintenance workstands to work on the aircraft; 55 gallon drums were very
convenient. Oil to service aircraft was obtained from storage in the “hills” by use of 5 gallon can~. A combination fire and crash truck was manned by flight line personnel for most landings. Maintenance operational high speed checks with AT-6s and B-26s were accomplished on the back runway by “unlicensed pilot” mechanics. High speed checks were also accomplished for stock cars during darkness. One result was that a Studebaker overshot the runway and was abandoned as quite a complete loss.

Flying time was naturally slim. The Control Tower was operated by a radio man and manned only during known flying. Occasionally it was unmanned due to unknown flying schedules. Bellows Field was a fair distance from where most of the pilots lived and worked. An AT-6 TEXAN was kept at Honolulu Airport-in the custody of two of the pilots who had a flying business there, Lts Aimoku Duvauchelle and George Harris. A regular run was also made with the C-46 COMMANDO to bring pilots from Honolulu Airport to Bellows Field for “training”.

Inspections by the Hawaiian Ordnance Depot on 26 March 1947 and Headquarters, Hawaii National Guard on 16 April 1947 found many deficiencies. Bellows Field, due to its geographical location, was considered not the most feasible site for Hawaii Air Guard operations. The roads were not as good as they are today, making it difficult for personnel to attend drills. Considerable time was lost going to and from supply points at Hickam Field. Looking far, far ahead, it was felt that the flying approaches and airfield limitations would make Bellows Field undesirable for future jet operations (at that time the F-80 was coming into the AAF inventory).

The former 19th Troop Carrier Squadron area (Block 65) on Hickam Field was surveyed as a potential location on 6 May 1947. A request was immediately initiated for a revocable permit for this portion of Hickam.

By the end of this formative period, 30 June 1947, the fledgling Hawaii Air Guard had about half of its men (mostly untrained) and a quarter of its T / O&E property (but no tactical aircraft). Virile, but no operational capability!

– HANG 25 History of Hawaii Air National Guard pp. 10-11