RAF - Anti-insect Flights - also US equivalent?

[Leendert]

During WW II the RAF waged another air battle: against insects. Types as Vincents in Iran (and East Africa?) and Vengeances in Ghana (Gold Coast) were involved in spraying insecticides to stop locusts and mosquitoes (malaria).
Also FAA 721 Squadron at Kai Tak had some DDT spraying Vengeances in its inventory after the war.

I wonder if the USAAF had similar flights or at any time was engaged in such activities?

Thanks for any info,

Leendert

[DavidIsby]

Yes. The USAAF made extensive use of aircraft spraying, especially in the Pacific theaters.

C-47s were extensively used in this mission. I mention it in my Osprey on C-47 series units in the Pacific/CBI.

[Leendert]

David,

Thanks.
Found now that there was a dedicated India-Burma Malaria Spraying Flight with 3 x B-25 and 6 x L-5 in Assam.
Also anti-malaria operations in Italy (A-20), Brazil (A-24), Panama (B-25) and C-47 (Philippines, Okinawa).
One C-47 crashed while on ops on Okinawa, 11 April 1945, 9th TCS, crew killed, with malaria expert Lt. John D. Sample, USNR, among them.

Role of USN/USMC next.

Regards,

Leendert

[Stig Jarlevik]

Leendert

Don't know basically anything about this spraying business, but I believe USAAF used a few PT-17Bs for training back in the USA.

The attached photo is supposed to be one of them.

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Stig,

Thanks for taking an interest. Did some further browsing.

In Italy (Naples area, Sicily, Sardinia) it was the 327th Ferrying Squadron that did anti-malaria ops with 10 x A-20, 3 x PT-17 and 2 x L-5 a/c. Also operated over Corsica.

In Morocco they had some PT-17s for test spraying, in 1943.

Anti-malaria C-47 that crashed on Okinawa (11 Apr 1945) is listed as 42-100299, but this must be a mistake, because this serial was for a B-24 batch.

Regards,

Leendert

[dsetzer]

When it was decided that the 57th Bomb Wing and other Allied Air Force elements were going to be using Corsica for their bases in March 1944, the first order of business was to send an advance group in flying A-20's to spray for mosquitoes.

The people of Corsica were very aware of the improvement in their quality of life due to the US efforts to eliminate malaria which had plagued them for centuries.

Here is a link to a photo of the A-20 eradication ships in action:

https://books.google.com/books?id=Ju...cation&f=false

[Col Bruggy]

Originally Posted by Leendert

Stig,

Thanks for taking an interest. Did some further browsing.

In Italy (Naples area, Sicily, Sardinia) it was the 327th Ferrying Squadron that did anti-malaria ops with 10 x A-20, 3 x PT-17 and 2 x L-5 a/c. Also operated over Corsica.

In Morocco they had some PT-17s for test spraying, in 1943.

Anti-malaria C-47 that crashed on Okinawa (11 Apr 1945) is listed as 42-100299, but this must be a mistake, because this serial was for a B-24 batch.

Regards,

Leendert

The C-47 that crashed on Okinawa, was in all probability, C-47A 42-100799 which was Condemned Inventory (Salvaged), 11 June, 1945, after a landing accident. David Isby might have more.

Col.

[Leendert]

Indeed, also went thru Joe Baugher's website and #799 more/most likely.
Other C-47s in the 100436-101035 range ending on #99 have non- corresponding fates and/or dates.

Regards,

Leendert