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for assignment to AAF units abroad, leaving the other commands to supply ASF and AGF WAC requirements overseas.  Underlying this recommendation was the belief that the Air WAC recruiting drive could be even further  stimulated if AAF could publicize the fact that it offering opportunities for overseas service to a number of its Wacs.  Service Forces, asked by the War Department to comment on this proposal, suggested that AAF supply AAF overseas needs, and ASF the overseas requirements of ASF units, to the maximum extent possible, but that AAF and ASF continue to supply their proportionate shares of the total numbers of Wacs sent overseas, according to their domestic strengths. If AAF overseas requests for Wacs did not total 43 percent of all overseas requests for Wacs, AAF would under this plan, contribute to ASF shipments, to the extent necessary to brings its contributions up to 43 percent (AAF's percentage of the domestic WAC strength).  The War Department (G-1) approved this compromise proposal in late January, and on 22 February 1944 the first group of Wacs to be drawn exclusively from Air Forces in this country arrived in the European Theatre of Operations for duty with air forces in that theatre.

Shipment Procedure Established

This unit brought to nearly 1000 the number of Wacs serving with the Eighth Air Force, but AAF units in ETO had


early as 30 August 1943 Air Forces had sent a paper to the War Department (Disposition Form to Operations Division), subject: Request for WAAC for APO 677, dated 30 August 1943) suggesting the possibility of AAF training and supplying Wacs for AAF units abroad.


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