South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command

South Pacific Combat Air Transport Command (SCAT) was a joint command of US military logistics

Military logistics

Military logistics is the discipline of planning and carrying out the movement and maintenance of military forces. In its most comprehensive sense, it is those aspects or military operations that deal with:...

units in the Pacific Ocean theater

Pacific Ocean theater of World War II

The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....

of World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. It contributed notably to the success of U.S. forces in the battles for Guadalcanal (1942–1943) and New Georgia

Battle of New Georgia

The New Georgia Campaign was a series of battles of the Pacific campaign of World War II. It was part of Operation Cartwheel, the Allied grand strategy in the South Pacific...

(1943).

History

The operations of SCAT started as a response to developments in Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal

Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...

, with the initial deployment of Marine Aircraft Group 25 in August 1942 comprising VMJ-253. The composite transport group was then formally organized in November 1942. Other units in SCAT were VMR-152

VMR-152

Marine Transport Squadron 152 was an air transport of the United States Marine Corps that was responsible for the movement of personnel, equipment, and supplies. The squadron flew fixed-wing cargo aircraft to include the R4D Skytrain and the R4Q Flying Boxcar...

, VMR-153 and USAAF's 13th Troop Carrier Squadron

13th Troop Carrier Squadron

The 13th Troop Carrier Squadron is an inactive unit of the United States Air Force. Its last assignment was with the 403d Troop Carrier Group, stationed at Nichols Field, Luzon, Philippines. It was inactivated on 15 October 1946.-Overview:...

. SCAT was dissolved in February 1945.

The nickname "Flying Boxcars" was widely used for the Douglas R4D aircraft flown by Marine

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...

units in SCAT, predating its attachment to the post-war C-119 aircraft.

Personnel

SCAT personnel who later became notable include:

Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...

, 37th President of the United States, commanded SCAT cargo handling units while in the U.S. Navy.
David Douglas Duncan
David Douglas Duncan
David Douglas Duncan is an American photojournalist and among the most influential photographers of the 20th century. He is best known for his dramatic combat photographs.-Childhood and Education:...

, photographer, who worked in the Pacific theater under SCAT orders.
William K. Lanman
William K. Lanman
Colonel William Kelsey Lanman Jr., was a notable benefactor of Yale University. He served as an aviator in the United States Marine Corps from 1935 to 1955, and later took up real estate and investment management....

, who became a millionaire benefactor of Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...

.

History

Personnel

See also

Further reading