Procurement and Distribution of Spare Parts

During the first year of war the CWS concentrated on the procurement of end items and paid little attention to the procurement of spare parts. The procedure for procuring parts was simply to divert a portion of components to the Indianapolis Depot or in certain instances to the Edgewood Depot or to one of the chemical sections of the War Department depots. The quantity of materiel being set aside as spare parts proved entirely inadequate so that by the spring of 1943 the Office of the Chief, 

In February 1942 the Chief, Supply Division, OC CWS, decided to have CW spare parts stored at the Indianapolis Depot. Interv, Hist Off with Col Oscar Gullans, 6 Dec 54. Gullans commanded this depot in World War II. ASF did not officially designate the place as a spare parts depot until 14 May 43, under ASF Memo S-50-3-43. 

The first important step to improve the spare parts situation in the CWS was the activation of a Spare Parts and Catalog Branch in the Field Requirements Division in July 1943. This branch, headed by Maj. John L. Eddy and located at Edgewood, prepared standard nomenclature and price lists, compiled requirements of spare parts, and prepared the spare parts catalogs for issuance to the field. The catalogs contained photographs and sketches to permit easy identification in field use. 

A further step toward the solution of the spare parts problem was taken as the result of an ASF policy announced on 6 July 1943. This policy provided that spare parts were to be issued to provide maintenance for not less than 12 months or more than 18 months and that such parts were to be delivered simultaneously with equipment deliveries. To carry out this directive the CWS made provisions in its Procurement Plan for 1944 to step up the production and distribution of spare parts. Under the 

Spare Parts for CWS Equipment (Report). ASF, G-4 Chemical Warfare Rpt 102, Apr 43. CG, ASF File. 

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