Therefore, specially trained field engineers seemed desir- 

 able „ Preliminary discussions between the NDRC and the Navy 

 were held and it was subsequently agreed that NDRC would set 

 up a group of civilian engineers to render field engineering 

 service to the Navy. 



Since the field engineers were to deal with design in- 

 formation, and the Bureaus were responsible for design in the 

 Navy, it followed that the field engineers properly operated 

 through and for the Bureaus on design matters. Also, since 

 the Naval operating forces were the sole customer-users of 

 designed equipment, the thinking of field engineers must be 

 identified with the objectives and situations of the operating 

 forces. For these reasons it was decided that the Group 

 should be under the cognizance of the Bureau of Ships and that 

 their orders and reports should be handled through Navy chan- 

 nels . 



In keeping their civilian status, engineers would have 

 a greater freedom of movement, freedom from time-consuming 

 routine duties and certain other advantages not available 

 to officers in the Navy„ 



On 27 April 1943, Rear Admiral E, Lo Cochrane, Chief of 

 the Bureau of Ships, issued a directive to all ships and 

 stations announcing the formation of the i'ield Engineering 

 Group by the Bureau of Ships, with the assistance of the 

 NDRC, and with the cooperation of the Bureau of Ordnance, 

 the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commander in 

 Chief. 



The directive was issued on 1 May 1943 as Navy Bulletin 

 C-157 and defined the purpose, scope and mode of operation of 

 the new Group. 



Formation of the Group 



On the basis of the Navy directive, the Field Engineering 

 Group was organized and administered by Columbia University 

 Division of War Research, under an OSRD contract . T. Eo 

 Shea had general charge of the Group, and it was directed 

 first by J. W„ Kennard and later by Woodman Ferine. The 

 headquarters office was established in the Underwater Sound 

 Installation and Maintenance Section of the Radio Division, 

 Code 983, in the Bureau of Ships. The director and his 

 assistants were located there. Business management person- 

 nel and procurement of equipment and supplies were handled 

 by a small staff at 172 Fulton Street , New York City. FieU 

 Headquarters, including the training and information bureau, were 

 established at the New London Laboratory of Columbia University. 



121 



