It has been suggested that an organization, known herein as an "Airborne Aviation Ordnance Unit", would be of extreme value to the Army and Army Air Forces. If such a unit were formed, it would be flown to an Air Base in a foreign theatre, immediately after the Air Base had been put out of commission by the action of bombing and/or paratroopers. The purpose of the "Airborne Aviation Ordnance Unit" would be twofold: (1) They would have to be able (with the equipment taken with them) to put into service all enemy material left at the Base, when enemy evacuated the area, improvising and cannibalizing as the case may be, and, further, to set up their various shops awaiting the arrival of their parent Unit. They further would have to be in a position to service units of their Air Force with ammunition, armament and vehicle repair. (2) They would have to be in a position to put up considerable fire power to repel any enemy attempts to regain the Base. This would necessarily be limited and would be strictly of a defensive nature. Severe strain would be put on a Unit of this type, wherein all personnel would have to be experts in their line, with the ability to work intelligently under adverse conditions, minor of which would be a minimum of two (2) days of "K" Rations. It could be assumed that after two days, their Unit would have either caught up to them or more food would have been flown in. With this objective in mind, a test was made at Army Air Base, Bushnell, Florida, for ten days (6 September - 16 September) to determine the adequacy of personnel and equipment as authorized by a proposed T/O and T/E. This test was under the personal supervision of 1st Lieutenant Donald R. Matteson, who slept and ate with the men of this Unit for the entire period of the test, with the prime purpose in mind of being in a position to observe the men constantly throughout the problem. Following herewith is a report on all activities of this test with recommendations as to changes in both T/O and T/E.

N2654 Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.