Base Section One, later Base 1, in Australia during WW2

BASE SECTION 1, US ARMY
LATER BASE 1, USASOS
DARWIN, NT
BIRDUM, NT
ADELAIDE RIVER, NT
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

Base Section 1 was activated per G.O. 1, Headquarters USA Forces in Australia dated 5 January 1942 with its Headquarters in Darwin, Northern Territory under the command of Colonel John A. Robenson, ASN O-2880, Cavalry. At the time of activation of Base Section1, the units which comprised its organization were made up of the 147th F.A. Regiment and the 148th F.A. Bn., Co. "B", 91st QM Bn., along with a small Air Corps unit.

On 22 January 1942, per S.O. 12, Headquarters Base Section one, Darwin, NT the following units were assigned to Base Section 1 and located at Myilly Point, Darwin:-

Lt. Col. Martin W. Jones, F.A., 0166908 assumed command of Base Section One, Darwin, 24 January, 1942, per G.C. 3, Hq. Bаsе Section One, dated 24 January, 1942.

During the early periods of operations of Base Section 1, all details, from administrative duties to guard duty, were drawn from personnel of the 147th F.A. Regt. and 148th F.A. Bn. Personnel were distributed from Darwin, N,T. to Batchelor Field, N.T., an area of 75 miles in length, with not too good roads for transportation.

Authorization was given for the 1st Platoon, 453rd Ordnance Company to proceed to Batchelor Field, N.T., from Darwin for the purpose of establishing an Air Service Depot, per S.O. 20, Hq. Base Section One, Darwin, N.T., dated 30 January, 1942. This unit along with two batteries from the 147th F.A. Regt. were used as maintenance, refueling and servicing crews for air units operating between there and Java, Philippines Islands, and N.E. Indies.

A considerable amount of work was done at Base Section 1 to continue to supply personnel, parts, and supplies to points such as Soerabaja, Java, and in the N.E.I. area. Air transports were used in most cases. It was also necessary to evacuate personnel from there occasionally.

A group of fifteen Enlisted Men. and one Officer, survivors from the sunken ship "Don Isidro", were attached to 1st Platoon, Co. "B", 453rd Ordnance Company (Avn) U.S. Forces in Australia, per S.O. 41, Hq. Base Section One, Darwin, N.T. dated 23 February 1942. This was an indication of the shortage of personnel in the area at that time.

Enemy air action in the Base Section 1 area began on 19 February, 1942. An undisclosed number of Japanese bombers and fighters attacked and bombed the Darwin area on 19 February 1942.

During the week of 13 March 1942 to 20 March 1942, the RAAF Airdrome Darwin was attacked by 14 enemy aircraft flying in two formations of 7 each. Approximately 100 bombs of 500 lbs, 250 lbs and 100 Ibs, G.P. and "F" type, were dropped, mainly on the building area. The aircraft made a run from S.W. into the wind and departed on a westerly course. Casualties, RAAF personnel: killed 2; wounded 10. Extensive damage was done to officers mess, blocks and houses. Overhead wires were damaged, and electric power supply interrupted.

On 31 March 1942, the general air raid alarm was sounded in Darwin and USAAF P-40 Warhawks took off to intercept. The enemy forces consisted of 7 serials, 5 heavy bombers escorted by 12 to 15 Zero fighters. 25 bombs of 250 and 500 lbs were dropped on the RAAF Airfield and in its vicinity.

One enemy fighter was shot down and one bomber was thought to have been damaged by allied AA fire.

The first night air raid on Darwin was carried out at 2230 hours, on 31 March 1942 by three enemy aircraft which dropped three flares and 12 to 14 small bombs which fell in the scrub to the S.E. of RAAF Airfield. No casualties or damaged were sustained.

Seven enemy bombers escorted by either three or six fighters appeared over Darwin at 1533 hours on 2 April 1942. Approximately 28 bombs were dropped over Darwin. Four bombs fell in the vicinity of the Catholic Church and convent grounds. The overhead water tower in Cavanagh Square was destroyed. The bombs fell in a direct line from Cavanagh Square to the Shell Oil Company's oil tank at Harvey St.

One oil tank containing aviation gasoline was damaged by shrapnel about one third of the way up. It was estimated that there was a loss of approximately 60,000 gallons of oil. Several houses were destroyed and a number damaged.

AA fire from the 102nd S.P. Bn (CA) (AA) and allied AA batteries and fighters engaged the enemy, but no enemy losses were reported.

The enemy air offensive achieved its greatest damage when a number of ships were sunk in Darwin Harbour on 19 February 1942. The air offensive continued at Base and Section 1 vicinity during the remainder of 1942 and up to November 1943. In the last raids the enemy seemed to attack Base Section 1 and its vicinity during the full moon each month. Considerable damage was done to buildings and property. Casualties were light.

On 6 April 1942, Headquarters, Base Section 1, was moved from Darwin, N.T. to Birdum, NT, by Movement Directive, Hq. USAFIA "to get out of the area vulnerable to enemy air action."

At about the same time (April/May 942) quite a few units were moved to Darwin and its vicinity by a Movement Directive from Headquarters, USAFIA:-

During May 1942, when new units were still arriving in the Northern Territory, Base Section One with Headquarters at Birdum, N.T. established the following headquarters:-

Operations were carried out as best could be maintained with organizations and materials and supplies available. Supplies proved quite a problem as it had to be transported long distances over poor and long land routes.

Movement Directive 43, dated 12 November 1942 ordered the movement of the following units to Fenton, NT:-

At the time of operations of Base Section 1 in this area, coordination was established with the Allied Forces in the Northern Territory. A great number of supplies such as rations and fuel were furnished by the Australian Forces.

The functions of the Base at that time was to furnish supplies to Air Corps troops consisting of the 319th Bombardment Squadron and 43rd Service Squadron and attached units stationed at Fenton Field, N.T. Further to maintain road convoy service from Rear Railhead to the Advance Railhead. Units attached to the Rear Railhead consisted of:-

On 31 August 1942, Advanced Headquarters Base Section 1 was discontinued at Darwin and Rear Headquarters, Base Section 1 was redesignated "Railhead" Base Section.

On the 1 September 1942, Headquarters Base Section 1 was established at Adelaide River on Mt Bundy Station.

The Base at Adelaide River controlled all operations from that point. Warehouses were located at Mt. Isa, and Birdum, the latter being the main storage point. Issue was accomplished from the Base Headquarters, from 30 to 60 days stocks. At that time it was the Australian Army's responsibility to provide all rations and fuel for the U.S. Army in that sector; Consequently the transportation problem was negligible.

Advance Headquarters: Shipping to the Port of Darwin was at a very limited scale from the time of the first enemy air action on 19 February 1942, until May 1943. It was doubtful if 1000 measured tons of U.S. cargo arrived at the base via water during that period. Throughout the balance of 1943, cargo arrived at the rate of approximately 3000 measured tons per month (average). Out-bound cargo consisted primarily of salvage, averaging 400 measured tons per month throughout the period May to December 1943. All cargo from Advance Headquarters was received in transit warehouses and transhipped directly to Adelaide River, Fenton Field and Birdum. The operation of Advance Headquarters continued until absorbed by the whole Base Section in April 1944.

The Advance Railhead received U.S. Army cargo via U.S. Army convoys from Mt. Isa and Australian Army convoys from Alice Springs. Supplies were placed in warehouses and transhipped to Fenton and Adelaide River. In February 1943, it was decided that the volume of cargo did not warrant its existence. Warehouse space then available at Darwin and Adelaide River was sufficient to handle required stocks.

Functions at Rear Railhead continued with administration and supply duties as pertained to troops in that area. Rail and road convoy activities, warehousing and transhipment of cargo arriving from Base Section Two in Townsville continued operations. There was warehouse space for approximately 200 wt. tons of rations and Class II and III QM supplies. The road convoys were provided by the 48th Quartermaster Truck Regiment under the direction of the C.G. at Rear Railhead. The bulk of the cargo was for the Australian Army. While at Mt. Isa, U.S. Army cargo averaged about 150 wt. tons per month. In April 1943 all units other than Base Section Personnel were evacuated under the direction of the Commanding General, USASOS. The Australian Army assumed responsibility to operate road convoys. The Rear Railhead was closed in late May, 1943 and personnel returned to Base Section One, Adelaide River, N.T.

Per orders from 5th Air Force, Movement Directive 32, dated 20 May 1943, the 380th Bombardment Group (H) moved from Sydney, N.S.W. to Fenton, N.T.

On 6 April 1944, Headquarters Base Section 1 relocated from Adelaide River to Darwin.

On 1 June 1944 Base Section 1 was redesignated Base 1 and was assigned to Base Section (Australia).

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