Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

Size: 14 × 17 inches

This exceptionally rare, museum-grade World War II artifact is an original CONFIDENTIAL double-sided pilot’s flight chart, dated January 1944, and specially produced by the Assistant Chief of Air Staff Intelligence - Headquarters Army Air Force (Washington, D.C.). Issued in extremely limited quantities, this chart was distributed only to USAAF Squadron Groups and Headquarters, intended for use aboard operational aircraft under the supervision of commanding officers.

Due to its highly sensitive nature, if an aircraft carrying this chart was forced down over enemy territory, the classified material was to be destroyed by burning. If ditched at sea, it was to be sunk “by the most practical method” to prevent it from falling into Japanese hands. Containing critical flight navigation and runway landing assistance for islands throughout the Pacific Theater, this chart was an essential tool for World War II pilots.

Titled "Hawaiian Islands," this U.S. Army Air Force flight chart provides detailed navigational aids, including the precise locations of airfields, seaplane anchorages, and elevations across the Hawaiian Islands and Pearl Harbor. The reverse side focuses specifically on Oahu, featuring military intelligence photographs offering aerial perspectives used by pilots, copilots, and navigators to determine their exact positioning. These CONFIDENTIAL images provided essential real-time reference points, mirroring what aircrews would see during their operations over the Hawaiian Islands during the war.

This artifact is a remarkable piece of aviation and military history, offering a rare glimpse into the top-secret intelligence materials that guided U.S. forces during World War II.

The U.S. Military in the Hawaiian Islands During World War II: A Focus on 1944-1945 and the Role of the U.S. Army Air Force

During World War II, the Hawaiian Islands served as a critical hub for U.S. military operations in the Pacific Theater. By 1944, the islands, particularly Oahu, had transformed into one of the most fortified and strategically vital military outposts in the world. The U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps maintained a strong presence, but it was the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) that played a pivotal role in the Pacific War’s final phases, conducting reconnaissance, bombing operations, and supporting the island-hopping campaigns against Japan. As the war progressed toward its climax in 1944 and 1945, Hawaii's military installations and airfields became the launching point for large-scale operations aimed at dismantling Japan’s defensive perimeter and ultimately bringing the war to an end.

Hawaii’s Military Infrastructure and Role in 1944-1945

By 1944, the Hawaiian Islands had become the logistical and operational nerve center for the Pacific War. The attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, had exposed vulnerabilities in U.S. defenses, leading to an urgent expansion of military installations across the islands. Oahu, home to Pearl Harbor Naval Base, Hickam Field, Wheeler Army Airfield, and several other key installations, served as the primary base for operations. The islands housed thousands of U.S. troops, supply depots, aircraft hangars, and fuel reserves, all of which were critical for sustaining the U.S. offensive in the Pacific.

The U.S. military's role in Hawaii by 1944 had shifted from defensive readiness to an aggressive offensive strategy aimed at supporting operations in the Mariana Islands, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, and later Okinawa. Hawaii's airfields served as refueling and staging areas for B-24 Liberator bombers, B-17 Flying Fortresses, P-38 Lightning fighters, and other aircraft conducting long-range reconnaissance and attack missions against Japanese-held territories.

The U.S. Army Air Force Operations in Hawaii and the Pacific

The U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) played a crucial role in offensive operations from Hawaii, with its primary responsibilities including aerial reconnaissance, bombing raids, pilot training, air defense, and logistical support. Hickam Field, located adjacent to Pearl Harbor, was the headquarters of the Hawaiian Air Depot and home to numerous bomber squadrons. From this location, USAAF pilots trained for long-range missions over the vast Pacific, learning to navigate the open ocean and coordinate air-to-ground operations.

One of the most important contributions of the Hawaiian-based USAAF squadrons was their role in supporting Operation Forager, the U.S. campaign to seize the Mariana Islands in mid-1944. The capture of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam would allow the deployment of B-29 Superfortress bombers, which had the range to strike mainland Japan. Air crews stationed in Hawaii conducted practice bombing runs and simulated long-range navigation flights in preparation for these critical missions.

Additionally, Hawaiian airfields supported aircraft involved in air-sea rescue operations, ensuring that pilots downed in combat zones had a higher chance of survival. Planes such as the Consolidated OA-10 Catalina (a seaplane used for rescues) were stationed in Hawaii, ready to respond to distress calls from the Pacific battlefronts.

Air Reconnaissance and Strategic Bombing Preparations

Reconnaissance flights launched from Hawaii were instrumental in mapping enemy positions, photographing Japanese fortifications, and gathering intelligence on upcoming battle zones. USAAF reconnaissance aircraft, including modified F-5 Lightnings (a reconnaissance variant of the P-38), provided high-altitude aerial photography of key islands such as Iwo Jima and Okinawa before their invasions. These flights helped planners assess enemy airfields, anti-aircraft defenses, and troop movements.

The Hawaiian Islands also served as a training ground for B-29 Superfortress crews before they were deployed to the Marianas in late 1944. The massive B-29s, designed for high-altitude strategic bombing, required skilled crews, and much of their preparation took place in Hawaii before moving forward to Saipan and Tinian. By early 1945, these bombers were launching devastating firebombing campaigns over Tokyo, culminating in the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945.

The Final Push: Hawaii’s Role in the Last Year of the War

As the war moved closer to Japan’s doorstep in 1945, Hawaii’s military bases became even more active, preparing for what many believed would be the final, most costly invasion—Operation Downfall, the planned assault on the Japanese home islands. The 509th Composite Group, which was responsible for dropping the atomic bombs, trained extensively in the Pacific, with Hawaii playing a key role in logistical and operational planning.

Additionally, the Battle of Iwo Jima in February–March 1945 and the Battle of Okinawa in April–June 1945 relied heavily on Hawaii-based aircraft for refueling, repair, and medical evacuations. Many wounded soldiers and pilots were transported back to Hawaii for treatment at Tripler Army Medical Center, a key military hospital on Oahu.

During this period, fighter squadrons from Hawaii were also deployed to escort bombers, provide air cover for naval operations, and engage in aerial dogfights with Japanese forces. The P-51 Mustang, introduced late in the war, became a dominant force in air superiority missions, with some squadrons transitioning from Hawaii to forward bases closer to Japan.

Hawaii’s Legacy in World War II

By the end of the war in August 1945, the Hawaiian Islands had played an indispensable role in the logistical, strategic, and operational success of the U.S. military. From the devastation of the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 to the offensive operations that ultimately led to victory, Hawaii had become the heart of the U.S. Pacific Command.

The contributions of the U.S. Army Air Force and its pilots stationed in Hawaii were vital in securing American victories across the Pacific. Their efforts in bombing campaigns, air reconnaissance, and pilot training ensured that the United States maintained aerial superiority over Japan. The airfields and bases that were rapidly constructed in Hawaii during the war would continue to play a major role in American military strategy, shaping the Pacific’s geopolitical landscape for decades to come.

Hawaii’s strategic importance during World War II cannot be overstated. It was the launching pad for victory in the Pacific, the training ground for some of the most crucial aerial missions of the war, and the stronghold that allowed the United States to project power across the vast oceanic expanse.