INITIALLY 5TH AACS SQUADRON
REDESIGNATED 68TH AACS GROUP
68TH ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM
BRISBANE, QLD
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The mission of AACS was to provide three basic services:-

• communications from station to station along the airways and between ground stations and the man in the air

• dissemination of weather data from points of observation throughout the system to every unit having need for this information

• control of air traffic through radio and other navigational aids

In September 1942, the AACS activated the 5th AACS Region for Australia, so designated because the American Fifth Air Force operated in that region. The October 1943 Telephone Directory for GHQ, SWPA refers to the Fifth Airways Communications Squadron.

In January 1943, the Pacific Airways Communications Area was activated at Hickham Field, Hawaii for control of the 5th and 7th Regions.

TELEPHONE
DIRECTORY

December, 1942

RESTRICTED

AIRWAYS COMMUNICATION REGION: (Old Courier bldg)

    Regional Control Officer:
        Major R.G. Nichols
    Operations:
        Capt. J. Glass
    Engineer:
        Lt. J. L. Wicker

TELEPHONE
DIRECTORY

October, 1943

RESTRICTED

FIFTH AIRWAYS COMMUNICATIONS SQ. AAF.:

    Administration:
        Commanding Officer:
            Capt. Howatt, E.D.
        Adjutant:
            Lt. Murphy, Jr., V.J.
        Orderley Room
    Regional Communications Security Officer:
        Lt. Little, R.A.
    Cryptographic Room and Message Center
    Operations:
        Communications:
            Lt. Wyman, A.S.
        Operations and Training
        Radio Station Control Room
        Radio Range
        Remote Receiver
        Remote Transmitter
        Supply and Services:
            Supply
        Consairways:
            Office
            Kitchen
            Quarters
            Station MGR
 

TELEPHONE
DIRECTORY

May, 1944

RESTRICTED

ARMY AIRWAYS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

REGIONAL CONTROL OFFICE (Old Courier Bldg. & Amberley Field):
    Regional Communication Control Officer:
        Lt. Col. Nichols, R.G.
    Assistant Regional Comm. Control Officer:
        Major Wicker, J.L.
    Regional Engineering Officer:
        Major Crossin, P.J.
    Regional Comm. Security Officers:
        Capt. Ltiile, R.A.
        Capt. Horton, A.R.
    Regional Operations Officers:
        Capt. Dean, W.C.
        W/O Jones, W.H.
    Regional Army Comm. Services Officers:
        Major Garvey, H.B.
        Lt. Ruth, L.E.

FIFTH AIRWAYS COMM. SQUADRON (Amberley Field):
    Commanding Officer:
        Capt. Howatt, E.D.
    Adjutant:
        Lt. Murphy, Jr., V.J.
    Special Service Officer:
        Capt. Munn, R.H.
    Supply & Services
    Personnel & Finances
    Duty Officer

TRANSOCEANIC RADIO STATION (Amberley Field):
    Officer in charge:
        Capt. Annable, P.G.
    Security Officers:
        Capt. Hulsey, R.R.
        Lt. Madsen, W.G.
    Communication Officers:
        Capt. Wyman, A.S.
        W/O Barkley, W.P.
    Message Center
    Radio Control Room
    Transmitting Station
    Receiving Station
    Radio Range Station

ARCHERFIELD CONTROL TOWER:
    Control Operator on Duty

EAGLE FARM CONTROL TOWER:
    Control Operator on Duty

In May 1944 Pacific Airways Communications Area became the 7th AACS Wing with jurisdiction over the 5th, 7th and 20th Squadrons which were in turned redesignated the 68th, 70th and 71st AACS Groups.

The 68th AACS Group was based in Brisbane during WWII with Detachments at the following location:-

• Amberley WYVP (139th AACS Squadron - See Note below)

• Sydney WXXN

• Rockhampton WXXA

• Townsville WYVD (Det #4, 139th AACS Squadron - See Note below)

• Mackay V03

• Mareeba WXXB

• Iron Range WXXC

• Cooktown WXXH

• Charter Towers Homing only

• Cloncurry WXXJ

• Horn Island WXXK

• Fenton Airfield WXXI

• Port Moresby WXXD

• Jondaryan WXXR

• Merauke WZPQ

• Nadzab WXXP

• Dobodura WXXG

• Fall River WXXF

• Kiriwina Range & Homing

• Woodlark WXXL

• Lae WXXQ

• Gusap WXXS

• Finschhafen WXXT

• Arawe WXXU

• Cape Gloucester WXXO

• Saidor WXXY

• Project 143 WXXM

• Project 156 WXXZ

• Hollandia WXXW

Note:- The 139th AACS Squadron was Section D of the 68th AACS Group

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"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 22 May 2021

This page last updated 23 May 2021