US War Games pre-WWII: Red and Blue Force Aircraft

[Dynoman]

Many are unfamiliar with the war games and maneuvers that took place before the US's entry into World War II in 1941 prior to the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The 1941 Carolina and Louisiana Maneuvers were particularly instrumental in the General Headquarters design, test, and assessment of tactics and doctrine, which would be used in the prosecution of the war by the US. This thread looks specifically at the aircraft that participated in the maneuvers and the lessons learned from the exercises.

Below includes some of the aircraft that fought as Red Force aircraft in the Carolina Maneuvers. These are the P-39 from the 8th Pursuit Group, Grumman F4F VMF-111 Devildogs, and a P-39 painted with high visibility yellow tail and the letters UMP for umpire of the 31st Pursuit Group Group.

 

[Dynoman]

1941 Louisiana Maneuvers Red Force aircraft. A P-40 from the 77th Group and a P-38 from the 27th Pursuit Squadron. Also F4Fs of VMF-111 flown in the war games. Link includes newspaper headlines from war games in Louisiana.

Shreveport Under Attack: A Look Back at the Louisiana Maneuvers | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans

While military maneuvers train and test a force’s capabilities, they can also seem like an “alternate history” at times. Consider these fascinating front pages from September 1941, reprinted here courtesy of The Shreveport Times, describing the US Army’s big Louisiana Maneuvers.

www.nationalww2museum.org

 

[Dynoman]

An article on how the Louisiana Maneuvers were planned.

Louisiana Maneuvers (1940-41)

In 1940 and 1941, American soldiers participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers, a series of war games that forged a common experience, trained them for combat and identified their future commanders.

www.historynet.com

 

[Dynoman]

From what I understand the Blue Forces had white crosses and the Red Forces had red crosses. Also, I've read that squadrons were split in half with one half identified as Red and the other half as Blue force aircraft.

An O-47 from the 104th Observation Squadron in the Carolina Maneuvers (note the white cross under the wing).

 

[Dynoman]

Article on the Louisiana Maneuvers phase by phase.

The Louisiana Maneuvers | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans

Americans like to think of World War II as a “great crusade,” but if it was, the country certainly didn’t seem all that fervent about rushing into it. Think of it: by the usual reckoning, World War II lasted six years, from the invasion of Poland on September 1, 1939, to Japan’s surrender on...

www.nationalww2museum.org

 

[Dynoman]

Blue force Piper observation aircraft in Louisiana Maneuvers lands to get fuel in rural town. Another recon aircraft being engaged by ground forces.

 

[Dynoman]

Blue and Red Force A-20s and Red Force personnel.

 

[Dynoman]

A critical review of the war games and lessons learned.

https://www.3rdattackgroup.org/resources/Maneuvers_1941/Louisiana%20Hayride%20by%20Garrett%20Underhill.pdf

 

[Dynoman]

Curtiss SBC-4 Helldiver in 1941 Maneuvers.

 

[Dynoman]

Unusual camo pattern for YB-17 applied for the Louisiana Maneuvers from the 20th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group, Langley Field.

 

[Dynoman]

Blue Force P-40 Warhawks fly in support of Blue Force ground troops in 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers. Motorcycle soldier firing at Wildcat.

 

[Mark Nankivil]

I have some photos around here somewhere of the 110th Missouri National Guard participating with their O-47s and at least one BC-1. Will dig those up.

Thanks! Mark