Background
The War Department on 16 August 1941 approved large-scale reinforcement of the Philippines. General MacArthur was notified that the first units would sail in September. When Chief of Staff George C. Marshall asked MacArthur if he needed a National Guard division for USAFFE, MacArthur declined the offer, stating: "Equipment and supply of existing forces are the prime essential. I am confident if these steps are taken with sufficient speed, that no further major reinforcement will be necessary for accomplishment of the defense mission." Marshall replied: "I have directed that United States Army Forces in the Philippines be placed in highest priority for equipment ... (and) ... men." Reinforcement convoys began in September and continued through November 1941, escorted from Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, by a naval vessel.
Pensacola's convoy included the gunboat USS Niagara; the U.S. Navy transports USS Republic and USS Chaumont; the U.S. Army transport ships USAT Willard A. Holbrook and USAT Meigs; the U.S. merchant ships SS Admiral Halstead and SS Coast Farmer; and the Dutch merchant ship Bloemfontein.
The convoy was carrying a brigade from the U.S. Field Artillery Corps, made up of 2,000 National Guard troops:
- 2nd Battalion, 131st Field Artillery (Texas National Guard)
- 1st and 2nd Battalions, 147th Field Artillery (South Dakota National Guard)
- 1st Battalion, 148th Field Artillery (Idaho National Guard)
2,600 U. S. Army Air Forces personnel were also on board, along with aircraft shipped disassembled in crates: 52 Douglas A-24 dive bombers of the 27th Bombardment Group (Light) sent on the Meigs and 18 Curtiss P-40 fighter planes of the 35th Pursuit Group (Interceptor) on the Halstead. 48 pursuit pilots of the 35th PG traveled on the Republic and 39 newly-graduated but unassigned pilots were aboard the Holbrook.
Materiel transported included: 20 75 mm field artillery pieces, AA ammunition, 2,000 500-lb bombs, 3,000 30-lb bombs, 340 motor vehicles, 9,000 barrels of aviation fuel, 500,000 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition and 9,600 rounds of 37 mm anti-aircraft shells.
Read more about this topic: Pensacola Convoy
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